SIDE SCROLLING GAMES
Explore our collection of Side Scrolling games. From classics to new releases, find your next favorite game.
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Showing games 1 - 50 of 672
Side Scrolling Games
Side scrolling games place you in a world that moves from left to right, sometimes up and down, as you guide your hero across a 2D stage. This perspective first wowed arcades in the late 1970s, then became a household favorite with titles like Super Mario Bros. and Sonic the Hedgehog. Their easy to read layouts and simple controls helped shape video gaming for decades.
The core loop is clear. You move, jump and attack while the camera follows from the side. Tight controls and readable visuals make each leap or dodge feel fair. Power ups and hidden paths reward curiosity, adding a gentle layer of exploration that keeps the action fresh. Progress feels constant, whether you clear a tricky gap or defeat a towering boss.
Side scrolling is more than platforming. Beat em ups let friends clean up city streets together, run and gun shooters test reflexes with walls of projectiles, and Metroidvania adventures open new zones once you earn fresh abilities. Modern indie hits like Hollow Knight and Celeste mix classic movement with rich stories, proving the style still evolves.
Players flock back for skill building, nostalgia and social fun. Speedrunners chase perfect times, parents share childhood favorites with kids, and newcomers enjoy polished art that ranges from chunky pixels to hand painted scenes. No matter the look, the side view delivers clear action and instant thrills.
What is Kongregate?
Looking for the best place to play free online games? Kongregate offers thousands of games across genres, from action-packed shooters to immersive role-playing adventures. Whether you enjoy competitive strategy games, fast-paced arcade thrills, or relaxing puzzles, we have something for every gamer.
Kongregate is also a hub for indie developers, featuring unique games you won’t find anywhere else. Support independent creators and explore hidden gems that redefine online gaming. New titles are added weekly, so there’s always something fresh to play.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What defines a side scrolling game?
- A side scrolling game shows the action from the side and scrolls mainly left or right as you move the character through the level.
- Are all side scrollers strictly 2D?
- Most are 2D, but some use 3D graphics while keeping movement on a flat plane. These are often called 2.5D games.
- Why are side scrolling games still popular?
- They offer clear goals, quick controls and short learning curves, making them easy to pick up yet hard to master.
- Which sub genres use side scrolling?
- Platformers, beat em ups, run and gun shooters, Metroidvania adventures, puzzle platformers and endless runners all fit the format.
- What was the first side scrolling video game?
- Sega's Bomber from 1977 is widely considered the first, laying the groundwork for later hits like Defender and Super Mario Bros.
Play the Best Side Scrolling Games!
- Co-op Toon Shooter: Rise of the fleet
Co-op shooting action is back! cartoon style side scroller, tons of bosses, characters and weapon...
- Sky Quest
Sky Quest is a game that cross side shooter, defense game with RPG element. Gain more skills, lev...
- My Little Army
(Updated V1.04-Viral) Three (or more?) heroes are fighting to conquer all Myth Balls. Who'll win...
- Shadez: The Black Operations
Shadez: The Black operations is the first in the series of this game. The player is placed into t...
- Tequila Zombies 2
Zombies crosses your way once again. Kill all the zombies and drink all the tequila in this marve...
- Commando 2
Our Hero continues the battle with more missions, more enemies and bigger artillery.
- Amea
Amea follows the story of a young girl who finds no recollection of her memory. When she awakens ...
- Commando Assault
Commando joins forces with his Allies to hold off the waves of enemies! Defeat the enemies to ra...
- Eternal Quest: Ascended
A semi-idle action RPG sidescroller. This deceptively simple game has an intense depth of mechan...
- Legends of Kong
An action platformer RPG from Nerdook! Lead your party across a randomly generated city, and play...