Gaming in 2024 hardly calls back any generation of video games so old as the 16-bit era. With 4k and upcoming 8k gaming, there are no pixels to be seen. Thanks to ray tracing technology, the light and shadows perfectly mimic real world scenarios.
But today’s iDB Wallpapers of the Week are to celebrate the 16-bit era, where pixelated images defined the category.
16-bit video game wallpaper for iPhone
When finding wallpapers for the collection, I couldn’t help but recall the time I spent playing Kings Quest V with my father growing up. A massive RPG, full of adventure, item gathering, and problem solving defined my first video gaming core memory. You can see the starting location in the screenshot below. From here, you traversed deserts, forests, castles, and oceans. These locations inspired the 16-bit iPhone wallpaper collection.
I was reminded of the pixelated beauty by a tweet from @vaukandric. He shared the oasis image below and my mind rushed back to Kings Quest V. You can follow his account for regular wallpaper downloads!
Below is a set of 12 additional 16-bit inspired video game style backgrounds. The locations are the ones I recalled from the Kings Quest V memories. While these are not locations in that video game, they do remind me of the same.
From the wallpaper pack, the first two captured me the most. A dark mysterious castle sits in the background, waiting for the character to wander across the lands toward some unknown power. The dark, cloudy sky adds to intrigue.
If you would like to see a specific genre of wallpapers or have images to contribute, please catch up with me via X @jim_gresham, where I curate the download gallery. Follow along for mid-week downloads, sneak peaks, and general Apple gadget banter. With the upcoming device announcement, be on the lookout for an advertising image wallpaper downloads.