The platformer genre isn’t what it used to be. Outside of Nintendo and a few smaller developers, we haven’t seen many new platformers emerge. This also means that many platformer icons from the past aren’t as well-known today as they were a decade ago, including Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Sly Cooper, Jak and Daxter, Banjo-Kazooie, and more. Thankfully, there are still plenty of promising and amazing platformers to enjoy, and as part of our Gamereactor’s Gamer Guides, I’ve selected five that embody the brilliance of the genre and pay homage to the field’s past.
- Do not miss! – Gamereactor’s Gamer’s Guide: Basic Action and Basic Adventure
5. Shovel Knight
There are tons of indie platformers I might have chosen for this list, but few that expanded as much as Shovel Knight. Developer Yacht Club delivers its first love letter to pixel platformers here, delivering a game that’s mechanically tight, rich in depth, charming, beautifully presented, and full of humor. In many ways, it’s one of the perfect examples of what makes a platformer great.
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4. Psychonauts 2
Double Fine’s Psychonauts was an excellent platformer in its own right, but the sequel, Psychonauts 2, takes that brilliance a step further. This is a game that has everything you want from a platformer. It offers diverse and unique game mechanics, numerous compelling levels, tons of collectibles to find, quirky characters, all while wrapped in an engaging narrative. There are some great modern platformers out there, and Psychonauts 2 is one of the best.
3. Ori and the Blind Forest
The Metroidvania subgenre has been booming lately, but perhaps there are only a few examples as immersive, atmospheric, and stunning as Moon Studios’ Ori and the Blind Forest. The predecessor to the equally brilliant Ori and the Will of the Wisps, this game manages to do a great job of telling a truly touching story without needing a single line of dialogue. It’s matched with stunning visuals and approachable progression, making it a staple of modern platformers.
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2. Sonic Mania
What regarding platformers from the past, you ask? Many are either painful to access due to platform limitations or, in this case, have been updated for modern technology. Sonic Mania improves on the original experience with better visuals, sound, and performance, bringing back the glory of Sega’s famous hedgehog, while also providing access to the core and untouched original. Sonic Mania is the ideal way to capitalize on Blue Blur’s glory as both a modern and retro platformer.
1. Super Mario Odyssey
If platform restrictions weren’t a thing and people might easily and freely access Nintendo Wii games without having to buy one of the now-discontinued systems, Super Mario Galaxy might have made the list. However, if you don’t have a console today, accessing Wii games can be a pain, so Super Mario Odyssey gets that spot. It’s one of the most critically acclaimed and acclaimed titles of all time, and for good reason. There’s tons of mechanical depth, tons of unique worlds to explore, countless challenges to discover, and quite a few collectibles to discover, all while being a 3D platformer. This is one of the best examples of gaming on the Nintendo Switch and is a must-play for fans of the platform of all ages.
5 Modern Platformers That Show The Genre Is Alive And Well
The platformer genre isn’t what it used to be. Outside of Nintendo and a few smaller developers, we basically haven’t seen many new platformers debut. This also means that many platformer icons from the past are not as well-known today as they were a decade ago, including Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Sly Cooper, Jak and Daxter, Banjo-Kazooie, and more. Thankfully, there are still plenty of promising and amazing platformers to enjoy, and as part of our Gamereactor’s Gamer Guides, I’ve selected five that embody the brilliance of the genre while paying homage to the field’s past And pay tribute now.
- Do not miss! – Gamereactor’s Gamer’s Guide: Basic Action and Basic Adventure
5. Shovel Knight
There are tons of indie platformers I might have chosen for this list, but few that expanded as much as Shovel Knight. Developer Yacht Club delivers its first love letter to pixel platformers here, delivering a game that’s mechanically tight, rich in depth, charming, beautifully presented, and full of humor. In many ways, it’s one of the perfect examples of what makes a platformer great.
Here is an ad:
4. Psychonauts 2
Double Fine’s Psychonauts was an excellent platformer in its own right, but the sequel, Psychonauts 2, takes that brilliance a step further and runs with it. This is a game that has everything you want from a platformer. It offers diverse and unique game mechanics, numerous compelling levels, tons of collectibles to find, quirky characters, all while wrapped in an engaging narrative. There are some great modern platformers out there, and Psychonauts 2 is one of the best.
3. Ori and the Blind Forest
The Metroidvania subgenre has been booming lately, but perhaps there are only a few examples as immersive, atmospheric, and stunning as Moon Studios’ Ori and the Blind Forest. The predecessor to the equally brilliant Ori and the Will of the Wisps, this game manages to do a great job of telling a truly touching story without needing a single line of dialogue. It’s matched with stunning visuals and approachable progression, making it a staple of modern platformers.
Here is an ad:
2. Sonic Mania
What regarding platformers from the past, you ask? Many are either painful to access due to platform limitations or, in this case, have been updated for modern technology. Sonic Mania improves on the original experience with better visuals, sound, and performance, bringing back the glory of Sega’s famous hedgehog, while also providing access to the core and untouched original. Sonic Mania is the ideal way to capitalize on Blue Blur’s glory as both a modern and retro platformer.
1. Super Mario Odyssey
If platform restrictions weren’t a thing and people might easily and freely access Nintendo Wii games without having to buy one of the now-discontinued systems, Super Mario Galaxy might have made the list. However, if you don’t have a console today, accessing Wii games can be a pain, so Super Mario Odyssey gets that spot. It’s one of the most critically acclaimed and acclaimed titles of all time, and for good reason. There’s tons of mechanical depth, tons of unique worlds to explore, countless challenges to discover, and quite a few collectibles to discover, all while being a 3D platformer. This is one of the best examples of gaming on the Nintendo Switch and is a must-play for fans of the platform of all ages.
