sidescrolling

Sidescrolling is a term used in video games to describe a style in which action takes place on a two-dimensional plane and the game world scrolls horizontally as the player character moves. The camera typically follows the player to keep them on screen, though some titles employ segmented or auto-scrolling sections. The term is most often applied to 2D platformers and side-scrolling shooters, but can describe any game that presents action from a side view with horizontal progression.

Core mechanics usually involve moving left and right, jumping between platforms, and avoiding hazards or enemies. Level design emphasizes continuous forward progress, with obstacles arranged to challenge timing and precision. In some games the screen advances at a fixed rate regardless of player input (auto-scrolling), creating a pacing constraint that shapes level structure.

Visuals are typically sprite-based or pixel art, with parallax background layers that move at different speeds to convey depth. Some sidescrollers also use more modern art styles while retaining a 2D camera and scrolling.

Variants and related forms: Horizontal sidescrolling is the traditional form; vertical-scrolling and beat-'em-up style sidescrollers exist; many titles blend traditional 2D gameplay with 2.5D or early 3D graphics while maintaining a side-scrolling viewpoint.

History and impact: Sidescrolling rose to prominence in the 1980s with titles like Pitfall!, Super Mario Bros., and later Sonic the Hedgehog, which helped establish conventions in platformers and action games. It remains a foundational approach for 2D games and continues to influence indie titles, remasters, and hybrid designs that mix scrolling with polygonal graphics or camera tricks.