The 3 Best Games Built with the Unity Game Engine

TL;DR: The three Unity games that best showcase the engine are Hollow Knight by Team Cherry, a hand-drawn 2D Metroidvania; Cuphead and The Delicious Last Course by Studio MDHR, a 1930s cartoon run-and-gun; and Genshin Impact by HoYoverse, a cross-platform open-world RPG. Together they prove Unity handles indie 2D, stylized art, and live-service AAA.

Unity has become one of the most popular game engines in the world, powering millions of projects across platforms like PC, mobile, and consoles. Its flexibility, ease of use, and massive community support make it a top choice for indie developers and large studios alike.

But Unity isn’t just for small projects—some of the most successful and well-known games in recent years were built entirely in Unity. In this article, we’ll explore three of the best Unity games, what makes them stand out, and how they showcase the true power of the engine.

1. Hollow Knight

Developer: Team Cherry
Platform: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox

Hollow Knight is one of the most acclaimed indie games of all time, and it was built using Unity. This atmospheric action-adventure game is a shining example of how Unity can be used to create immersive 2D experiences.

Why It Stands Out

• Art Direction: The hand-drawn visuals and hauntingly beautiful world design prove that Unity is more than capable of handling detailed 2D games.
• Smooth Gameplay: The fluid movement, precise controls, and responsive combat highlight Unity’s ability to deliver polished experiences.
• Expansive World: The interconnected levels and exploration-based design show how Unity can manage complex maps and progression systems.

Hollow Knight demonstrates that Unity isn’t just for prototypes or small projects—it can bring ambitious, large-scale ideas to life with precision and artistry.

2. Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course (DLC)

Developer: Studio MDHR
Platform: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox

Cuphead and its DLC are widely celebrated for their 1930s cartoon-inspired art style and notoriously difficult gameplay. What many people don’t realize is that the game was built in Unity, proving the engine can support both highly stylized visuals and tight mechanics.

Why It Stands Out

• Unique Art Style: The hand-drawn animations and vintage aesthetic pushed Unity into territory few other engines had explored at this level.
• Technical Precision: Unity helped the developers maintain consistent frame rates, ensuring the challenging gameplay felt fair and rewarding.
• Cross-Platform Support: Cuphead’s success across multiple consoles and PC highlights Unity’s strength in multi-platform deployment.

Cuphead redefined what indie studios could accomplish with Unity, combining artistic risk-taking with technical excellence.

3. Genshin Impact

Developer: HoYoverse (miHoYo)
Platform: PC, PlayStation, Mobile

Genshin Impact is a free-to-play action RPG that took the world by storm in 2020. It’s not only one of the most successful Unity games ever, but also one of the highest-grossing games of all time.

Why It Stands Out

• Open World Design: Unity powers Genshin Impact’s massive, seamless open world, filled with quests, dungeons, and exploration opportunities.
• High-End Visuals: The vibrant anime-inspired visuals show that Unity can handle console-quality graphics at scale.
• Massive Online Community: With millions of players around the world, Genshin Impact demonstrates Unity’s scalability for live-service games.
• Cross-Platform Integration: Players can seamlessly switch between mobile, PC, and console while keeping their progress—something Unity excels at.

Genshin Impact pushed Unity to new heights, proving it could handle AAA-level projects and support ongoing live-service operations.

Why These Games Matter

These three games—Hollow Knight, Cuphead, and Genshin Impact—are proof that Unity is not limited to small indie projects. From 2D masterpieces to massive online worlds, Unity can scale to fit the vision of any developer.

• For indie developers, Unity provides the tools to create artistic, polished games like Hollow Knight.
• For stylized experiences, it supports unique visions like Cuphead’s hand-drawn animations.
• For AAA-scale projects, it powers global hits like Genshin Impact with millions of players.

Final Thoughts

The Unity engine continues to dominate the game development scene because of its versatility, accessibility, and proven track record. Whether you’re making your first indie project or dreaming of building the next global phenomenon, Unity gives you the foundation to succeed.

These three titles are just the beginning. As Unity evolves and developers keep pushing boundaries, we can expect even more groundbreaking games to emerge from this powerful engine.