Summary
Drawing something by hand well is a valuable talent even in the modern day where computers are in charge of everything. The video games below understand this well since they all include some type of drawing mechanic. Some of them encourage players to unleash their inner artist and put their imagination into the game, while others use it to activate abilities.
They all deserve special praise for coming up with ingenious ways for players to interact with them. Fortunately, these are all great games outside of the drawing mechanic too, even if the drawing is a central feature of the adventure.
These games are ranked based on their drawing mechanics and not the quality of the rest of the game.
Okami’sgraphics already look like one is playing within a painting. It makes sense for the main mechanic to be the Celestial Brush. There are a few select moments where players actually make a design to put somewhere, but the majority of its utility is interacting with the game world to solve puzzles or reach certain areas.
Players draw certain patterns to activate an ability, and they unlock more as they progress. It is a lot like the Ocarina or the Windwaker from the respectiveZeldagames.Okamiis an incredible game that still holds up today,but its drawing mechanic is more of a tool than a creative outlet, which is why it places so high on the list.
WithOkami2officially announced, one can only imagine what use the Celestial Brush will have.
Kirby is no stranger to entire games dedicated to a unique mechanic.The Game Boy AdvancehadTilt n' Tumblewhere players physically tilted the console to move the titular character around.Canvas Curseon the Nintendo DS similarly utilizes the touchpad.
Players draw paths for Kirby to move forward, taking care to avoid hazards. There are also puzzles that involve drawing to some extent.Canvas Curseexecutes its premise well and does not overstay its welcome. Unlike a lot of the games on this list, drawing is an active part of the game and not a leisure activity.
TheJackboxseries is perhaps the best party game around since it can be played with phones as controllers. The games are also perfectly understandable to non-gamers. Lastly,Many of the games encourageparticipants to be creative in some way, like the popularQuiplash.
A handful of games require players to draw.Drawfull Animatehas players make two-frame animations, Tee-KO is all about absurd T-shirt designs, and Weapons Drawn tasks players with hiding a letter within a drawing.
The main goal of theJackboxgames is to have a good time, so players can have plenty of fun even if they are not naturally gifted artists.
Graffiti Kingdomis not just any ordinary action-adventure game. In this title, players craft monsters from scratch to use in battle. It starts with drawing individual body parts and then giving them unique moves and characteristics.
This is still a video game with a progression system, so not all the creative tools are available from the start. The actual gameplay is not quite up to the standards of the best action-adventure games of the day, but the title is still worth one’s time for the creation mechanic alone.
Drawing mechanics basicallyinvent themselves on the Nintendo DSthanks to its stylus and touchscreen. While many games utilize the stylus,Drawn to Lifelets players create their own playable characters from scratch.
Drawing is not done once the main characters are given life, however. Players also get to draw weapons and additional in-game items. Drawing is a central mechanic in the game and not just something players do in the beginning before an entirely different game starts.
Chicoryis one of those unique adventure games that manages tocraft a compelling adventure without any combat.The only real battles occur during bosses, and those are skippable.
Instead,Chicory isabout exploring a colorless world and solving puzzles using a painting mechanic. Drawing plays a role in solving most puzzles, and more abilities are revealed as the game goes on. It is not specifically about creating something from the imagination, but artistry and being an artist are important themes of the story.
Developer Media Molecule took their ideas of letting players edit their own levels to the extreme withDreams. Unlike the established format and aesthetic ofLittle Big Planet,Dreamsis essentially a gamified form of a game engine. This also includes the ability to make and mold characters either in 2D or 3D.The best thing aboutDreamsis not the game-like experiences.
It is the smaller projects that feel more like pieces of art than video games, whether they be interactive or not. The game did not take off like it should have and is no longer supported with updates, but players can still make and share levels and play other people’s creations. The editor inDreamswas not the simplest tool, but its flexibility makes it one of the best tools for drawing in a video game.
