The 12 Best Platformer Games You'd Leap Into the Unknown For -

The 12 Best Platformer Games You’d Leap Into the Unknown For

Jake Valentine

February 11, 2025

A platform game is defined as a video game with gameplay emphasizing jumping between platforms or obstacles.

The very first platformer is a 1980 arcade game called Space Panic, but jumping wasn’t introduced until Donkey Kong‘s release a year later.

Since those days, the platforming genre has come a long way. Here are the best platforming games in gaming history.

Of note: we will prevent duplicate entries from the same franchise. Otherwise, this list would be dominated by the Super Mario games.

Super Mario Odyssey

The newest entry in the 3D Mario series is the best of the bunch.

Throwing the beloved Mario gameplay experience in open-world environments is a dream come true.

What really puts Super Mario Odyssey over the edge is its creativity. Using your cap and transforming into various objects and animals opens up an impressive amount of gameplay options that all put a smile on your face.

Donkey Kong Country

As great as the original NES and Super Nintendo Mario games are, Donkey Kong Country is on a whole other level.

You were drawn in by its impressive 3D visuals that didn’t seem possible on the Super Nintendo hardware. Then, you kept coming back for its challenging, precise platforming gameplay.

Banjo-Kazooie

Banjo-Kazooie is better than Super Mario 64. I said what I said.

Its gameplay is reminiscent of the revolutionary platformer, with the added benefit of some quality-of-life updates and tremendous character and charm.

The control scheme is infinitely better, and its gameplay and level design are extremely tight and well put together.

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Crash 2

Crash Bandicoot 2 Cortex Strikes Back — Image Credit: Sony Computer Entertainment.

It’s a tough choice between all the traditional Crash Bandicoot games, but Crash 2 has the best balance of what makes the other games great.

Crash 2 has the best platforming, a much more fair yet still challenging difficulty level, and pushes the franchise forward as an excellent sequel that helped put the PlayStation console on the map.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land

The Kirby franchise has always been enjoyable but has never reached the same heights as other Nintendo platformers.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land changes all that by adapting the traditional Kirby experience into the 3D space.

It may not be as revolutionary as Super Mario Odyssey, but Forgotten Land is the best Kirby game to date and one of many stellar games released on Nintendo Switch.

Celeste

While the Kirby games are known for accessibility, Celeste is a highly challenging platforming experience that’s on par with FromSoftware’s difficulty.

The difficulty isn’t a gimmick; it ties into the game’s themes and messaging, helping you overcome everything thrown at you as you climb the summit and ascent to the top.

Super Meat Boy

Speaking of challenging games, let’s talk about Super Meat Boy.

It feels like a throwback to some old-school platformers who were so hard they made us want to snap our controller in half.

The game never feels unfair, though. Success has to be earned. The game is tough, but it’s also fair. Think of it like a more challenging version of the Donkey Kong Country games.

Sonic Mania

I toyed with putting one of the Genesis classics like Sonic the Hedgehog 2 on here, but I can’t kid myself; Sonic Mania is the best Sonic game in the franchise. It’s an impressive feat, considering the game began as a fanmade project.

Sonic Mania offers an incredible blend of wonderfully designed original levels with impressive remixes of classic stages. It proves that the Sonic franchise can still deliver an incredibly platforming experience today, provided it stays true to its roots.

Astro Bot

2024’s Game of the Year is more than just a homage and celebration of all things PlayStation.

It’s an incredible, joyous platforming experience guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Shovel Knight

From a modern classic to an old-school retro indie, Shovel Knight‘s gameplay is reminiscent of iconic NES platformers.

The gameplay doesn’t rely on its nostalgia, though, offering incredible level design and thrilling gameplay that stands toe-to-toe with today’s best platformers.

The game’s post-launch support is equally impressive. Several DLC expansions offer innovative twists on the base game.

Battleblock Theater

Developer The Behemoth is best known for their co-op side-scroller Castle Crashers, but their co-op platformer, Battleblock Theater, is just as good.

It brings the company’s signature style, humor, precise controls, and creative level design.

I remember playing this with my wife when we first started dating. We loved every second of it. Unfortunately, it is a true gem that has flown under the radar.