Heart of Darkness (1998)

The most brutal platformer

This game looked like a children’s book come to life, but don’t be fooled—it was brutal. Heart of Darkness had some of the most gruesome deaths I had ever seen in a 2D platformer, but its beautiful, hand-drawn visuals and eerie shadow creatures kept me hooked.

Andy’s adventure to rescue his dog from a nightmarish world was cinematic and challenging, full of puzzle-platforming and trial-and-error gameplay. It was one of those games that felt magical and terrifying all at once.