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Are they desirable? We’ve had the whimsical fantasy settings of King’s Quest and the light-hearted storylines of Phoenix Wright, but what about a 2D game where you explore dark and gritty environments without sugar-coating the experience with zany characters? Would it still be as appealing as long as the narrative and gameplay is up to scratch? That’s what I’m wondering to myself.

There are plenty of recent 3D (and 2.5D) adventure games out there that base themselves in the dark depths of reality, solving malevolent murder cases, but not very often do you see a 2D-only game presenting mature themes in a realistic way.

In art and design, being “realistic” simply means expressing an awareness of things as they really are. This doesn’t mean that you’re condemned to photorealism for your backgrounds. A realistic style is just as valid as a cartoonier or abstract style, so why don’t we see many realistic 2D games?

There are loads of potential reasons and the same can be applied for the lack of mature themes. It could be due to the shortage of 2D adventure games nowadays, or that quirky settings and themes allow for more creativity (and possibly challenge) in game design. Maybe 2D just doesn’t lend itself to realistic depictions of a world as much as a 3D engine does. Then there’s the notion that the simplicity of 2D games appeal more to casual gamers, the majority of which may not want a thought provoking, story-driven experience.

Is it time for someone to attempt a mature 2D game e.g. Mindtank Studios? Let us know what you think…and let us know of any games that fit the description. We’d love to play them.