Most flat-shaded 3D video games were released between 1988 and 1996. These games rendered with untextured polygons peaked around 1992-1993. Many of the early games utilizing solid 3D shading were flight simulators. With the introduction of Playstation in 1994, texture mapping became the norm, and by 1996, faceted polygons had all but vanished.
Most of the games on this list appearing after 1997 are rereleases or remakes of older titles. For example, three of Namco's awesome System 21 titles — Cyber Sled, Solvalou, and Starblade — were released for the Wii Virtual Console in 2009. Sega Model 1 games (Virtua Racing, et al) also enjoyed many reincarnations over the years.
This list is maintained in a Flat Shaded Games Google spreadsheet.
| Title | System | Year | Images |
|---|
chromax
/ December 31, 2020 QuoteAlso there are:
Mugsters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpKePGGQU7E
Saucelifter
https://www.myabandonware.com/game/saucelifter-dx7
In this forum there are more
https://www.nexgam.de/forum/thread/93310-auch-indie-games-mit-flat-gouraud-phong-shaded-polygon-%C3%A4sthetik/?pageNo=1&s=5119dbe4bd91f23bf1aecdccf1934703c08522d3
Andy
/ February 10, 2021 QuoteStunt island, windows
Adam
/ October 27, 2021 QuoteYou forgot Hyperblade (1996)! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtnQ6zAfxfs
Erich
/ December 5, 2021 QuoteHey Matt,
Just a heads-up that the flat-shaded polygon games list is not viewable. It looks like part of the HTML for this page is truncated. Hope you can fix it soon! Thank you!
Matt
/ January 12, 2022 QuoteThanks Erich - fixed!
Glenn Mohre
/ June 23, 2022 Quotehttps://www.giantbomb.com/tranquility/3030-60312/
Here's a deep cut that came to mind. There's a modern implementation available as well @ play-tq dot com.
Unique and abstract, originally written for Silicon Graphics' Unix variant.
eddman
/ July 4, 2022 QuoteIs this flat shaded?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2y4WrXdItw
Dan
/ July 26, 2022 QuoteYou forgot also Armourgeddon!
Dan
/ July 26, 2022 QuoteSorry, I mean Armour-Geddon (Psygnosis, 1991)
rasz_pl
/ August 1, 2022 QuoteFrog Detective is flat shaded 🙂
Remontoir
/ August 8, 2022 QuoteAlso missing are the Incentive Software games :
Castle Master
Castle Master II
Total Eclipse
Dark Side
which were released on 16bits platforms (Atari ST and Amiga, DOS) and some 8bits systems ( C64, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum ).
Remontoir
/ August 8, 2022 QuoteCybercon III
( Assembly Line / U.S. Gold ) 1991
Released on 16bits : Atari ST, Amiga, PC/Dos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJR8Np2hFM8
janston
/ December 5, 2023 QuoteX-Wing is on here but not Tie Fighter? I coulda swore that used the same engine and flat polys
Yo Dog
/ December 19, 2023 QuotePyrotechnica for Ms Dos pc
LaCroix
/ February 28, 2024 QuoteHello, Matt.
Letting you know that I, Robot was released in 1984 (June), not 1983. Thank you for your article!
brungo
/ May 26, 2024 QuoteX scape on ds
Steve Brandon
/ September 29, 2024 QuoteThree flat-shaded polygon games I've played which are not on this list:
Top Landing (1988) Taito, arcade
Vette (1989) Spectrum Holobyte, MS-DOS (also on Amiga)
Air Inferno (1990) Taito, arcade
Andrew
/ October 2, 2024 QuoteThere were many more beauties on Archimedes (the king of early 3d)