The 41 Best Platformer Games of All Time

The savior of the "Mushroom Kingdom" and the eternal enemy of Bowser is considered platform gaming royalty. This is the game that all 2D platformers that came after it was defined by. And this is the game that convinced a generation of 80s babies a reason to buy an NES and see what all the fuss was about. Super Mario Bros. is one of the best platform games of all time that we're sure you've all played do death across a bevy of Nintendo hardware. You probably know exactly where you were when you booted up World 1-1 for the very first time and proceeded to consume your first mushroom to expand Mario to his taller & weightier self. Jumping on Boombas, going down green pipes, and finally getting to "another castle" to send Bowser down into a pit of lava point to the immense joy Super Mario Bros. delivers to anyone still playing it.

At the time of its original release in 1991, Super Mario Bros. 3 dominated mainstream coverage and made everyone stop and take notice once it popped up at the end of the film, The Wizard. Once everyone finally got this legendary NES cartridge in their hands, it came across as such an impressive step towards evolving the 2D side-scrolling platforming formula. The debuting "Super Leaf" powerup that activated the "Tanooki Suit" blew so many minds back then as it allowed Mario to take flight. Plus the improved graphics, myriad secrets to uncover, and fresh implementation of world biomes make Super Mario Bros. 3 one of the greatest video game sequels of all time.

Super Mario World is the quintessential Super Nintendo game that has to be a part of everyone's collection. It took everything that fans loved about the very first game and the third mainline series entry, threw on a nice 16-bit coat of paint, and gave players a cute ridable dinosaur to push the platforming genre to new heights. As Mario or Luigi, this iconic platformer puts players on the path to saving Princess Peach (again...) from the grasp of Bowser and his rambunctious "Koopalings" from "Dinosaur Island." The "Cape Feather's" ability to gift Mario with air gliding and Yoshi's assistance as a mount that can consume Mario's enemies to spit them out as projectiles are two of the biggest defining features for this SNES classic and one the best platformer games ever made.

Sega and Nintendo's 90s console warfare resulted in the creation of a mascot that's just as popular as his mushroom-consuming rival. After a strong first attempt at gaining traction within the platforming genre, the "Blue Blur's" sequel ended up solidifying his series as a gaming staple. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 improves upon the original game's "Zone" formula by including two stages per zone rather than three, which makes progressing through the game feel better paced. The newest batch of zones features unforgettable gimmicks, such as loop de loops, boost pads, and even slot machines. Sonic 2 also improved upon the first game’s winning formula by adding another character named Miles “Tails” Prower, who ended up being a big help during the main campaign and a viable option for the addictive multiplayer mode.

The Sega Technical Institute development studio had lofty plans for this one. So much so that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 got split into two halves of a full game. The first half of that Sega Genesis classic shows just how much the series as a whole evolved during its 90s heyday. Sonic and his pal Tails make their return here as they come into conflict with a new foe named Knuckles the Echidna. New power-ups spruce up the gameplay, such as the flame, water, and lightning shields. The stage layouts prove to be even better than past games’ iterations (that dreaded section during the Carnival Night Zone still puts the fear of God into our hearts, though...). Sonic 3’s bonus zone is just as good as the ones in the last two Sega Genesis Sonic games, too. All of those elements came together to produce one of the best platform games to feature Sega's beloved mascot.

Sonic & Knuckles is pretty much the other half of Sonic 3. And ever since we first got our hands on it, we've come to appreciate its challenging difficulty and further refinement of the "Gotto Go Fast!" series formula. Knuckles evolves from mortal foe to essential best bud here and produces an instantly likable addition to Sonic’s collection of playable critters. The special lock-on technology of this game's original cartridge release is another part of this game that makes it so memorable - attaching Sonic 2 or Sonic 3 to this game increased its replayability factor thanks to the ability to play through different stages as Sonic, Tails, or Knuckles.

Whenever you think of the best platformer games, the developer/publisher Megaforce of Rare and Nintendo has to enter the conversation. Thanks to their efforts, we exist in a world where the great Donkey Kong Country exists. 90s gamers just couldn't believe the striking 3D visuals and tight platforming put in place for the grand return of Mario's former foe. Donkey and Diddy Kong have become major fan favorites due to their wild hijinks put on display in this SNES gem. Collecting bananas, letters, and balloons while riding atop our animal allies and taking out King K. Rool's army of crocodiles remains as fun as it was when we first experienced it in this game.

As we keep moving along on our list of the best platformer games, we only feel it's right for us to continue singing the praises of the Donkey Kong Country IP. The sequel, which puts Diddy in the lead role seat alongside his homie Dixie Kong, embraced the motto of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." The quality stage designs, groundbreaking 3d graphics, and distinctive boss fights from the first game make their welcome return here. And thanks to the inclusion of a pirate theme, this game's grand adventure through "Crocodile Isle" excels and helps it differentiate itself from its predecessor. We love us some Dixie!

Now we will admit to not exactly being the biggest fans of Dixie Kong's cousin, Kiddy Kong. But the excellence of this third and final Donkey Kong Country SNES release makes his appearance here more than tolerable. This time, Dixie gets to lead the charge as she and Kiddy take a stand against King K. Rool to save Donkey and Diddy. Just like the last two games in the series, this threequel will forever hold our attention thanks to smartly designed stages, fun items to keep an eye out for & collect, and jolly instances where animal friends give our monkey buddies a ride. Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! is an awesome finale for the DKC trilogy and another one of the best platformer games of all time.

The one thing about Earthworm Jim that'll always stick out to us is just how weird its roster of characters is. You have the game's protagonist, which is an everyday earthworm that becomes something extraordinary once it hops into a power suit. His best friend is a cute dog that can turn into a rampaging mongrel at a moment's notice. Plus he sets out to save the strangely named Princess What's-Her-Name after quite the mishap with a cow. Gameplay-wise, this game rules and is worthy of its place on our list of the best platformer games - you got entertaining machine gunning & worm head whipping, plenty of hopping & bopping, and even space races while riding atop an oversized rocket. DAMN YOU, PSY-CROW!

The first game was great and the second game kept that quality classification going. Earthworm Jim 2 sticks to the series' ability to offer an amalgamation of traditional run-and-gun sections with stages that offer varied approaches to gameplay. We'll never forget the first time we to introduced to the levels "The Villi People" and "The Flyin' King," which switched things up immensely to keep all the new quirky adventures of Earthworm Jim from feeling stale. Earthworm Jim 2's usage of various gameplay concepts and signature art style affords it the right to be recognized as one of the best platformer games from the 16-bit era.

Sonic CD gives us so many warm memories thanks to several defining factors - its iconic opening sequence, the theme song that blares in the background while it unfolds, and the game’s time-traveling theme are among those beloved features that make us feel so nostalgic. Grabbing rings and jumping on enemies is still a complete blast here, plus having the ability to utilize time travel to access different forms of each stage maximizes this game’s already high fun factor. The series' 2D visuals got a nice shot in the arm alongside its audio output - the music in Sonic CD also deserves props for being so damn catchy. Sonic CD is considered one of the best Sonic the Hedgehog games of all time since it’s the one that debuted the diabolical (yet entirely awesome) Metal Sonic.

Kirby's finest effort on the SNES is undoubtedly Kirby Super Star. And that's because it does so much to offer something more than your usual array of platforming sections focused on jumping around and sucking up enemies to acquire their abilities. That portion of the game still works here, plus it's cool to have our buddy Knuckle Joe close by for some extra firepower. The biggest pull of this classic Kirby game is its assorted game modes - our favorites are most definitely "The Great Cave Offensive," "Gourmet Race," and "Milky Way Wishes." Variety is certainly the spice of life and it's evident that Kirby Super Star abides by that life motto.

If you're old enough to remember the first time you walked past a TV behind a retail store window and spotted Mario's huge 3D mug, then you already know how mindblowing this game was when it first dropped. Super Mario 64 launched as an N64 launch title and made headlines as the console's killer app. Nintendo's world-renowned platforming plumber made the full jump to 3D and introduced gamers to a colorful world full of beautiful biomes and an assortment of fun objectives to complete. Running through the green fields of "Bob-Omb Battlefield," sliding across the snow in "Cool, Cool Mountain," and avoiding the paranormal baddies in "Big Boo's Haunt" point to the momentous moments we experienced from one of the best platformer games we've ever played on the N64.

As we've already mentioned, Rare made waves as the developers behind the astonishing Donkey Kong Country series. And once the developer migrated over to the N64, it placed itself among the very best development studios that make incredible platformers. Its defining N64 release is the iconic Banjo-Kazooie, which features the lovable duo of a banjo-playing bear and a wisecracking bird. Banjo-Kazooie personifies the quintessential "collect-a-thon" experience - there are so many goodies to pick up to make some headway within the many hub worlds this game features. The whimsical nature of it all is why this Rare-developed game is such a classic - the music, the gibberish during dialogue sequences, and the lively gameplay point to why Banjo-Kazooie is one of the best platformer games of all time.

Rare hit on something very nice with the original Banjo Kazooie, which is why it came as no surprise when the studio took another stab at featuring those two anthropomorphic heroes in another game. And with this sequel arrived another perfect selection on our list of the best platformer games. Banjo-Tooie features the hopping and bopping that solidified the original game's excellence and the addition of a surprisingly addictive four-player multiplayer mode. The varied locations players are treated to in this sequel seem even bigger than the ones featured in its predecessor, which means there was, even more, to see, do, and collect. The stronger emphasis on puzzle-solving made all those young kids' brains work overtime back in the day, that's for sure.

Thanks to the massive success of the DKC SNES games and the last games we've mentioned on this list, Rare got the honor of creating Donkey Kong's sole N64 platforming adventure game. Now to be clear, we recognize Donkey Kong 64 as one of the biggest time sinks anyone has ever played - there's an abundance of items to collect, yet we had the time of our lives getting all of it since we got to explore a wealth of fun locales. Nintendo's lovable big ape experienced his newfound journey alongside a wily crew of fellow primates who come together to put King K. Rool down for good. Getting familiar with each monkey's signature ability is a part of the fun, plus the wealth of minigames on hand here are incredibly fun to discover. And that "DK Rap" is one the best worst video game tunes we've ever bopped our heads to!

When we think about Sonic's second platforming Dreamcast outing, our memories revert to the much improved GameCube version. And that's because it threw in even more characters to play across newly introduced multiplayer battle maps, and a cutesy fighting game centered on those lovable "Chao" creatures. From a baseline perspective, Sonic Adventure 2 improves on its predecessor in every way possible. It streamlined the usage of numerous playable characters by splitting them up into two different campaigns, introduced one of Sonic's better rivals in the form of Shadow the Hedgehog, and upgraded the visuals in a major way (especially in the Battle version!). Major props to this game's original soundtrack, which made rolling around at the speed of sound, searching for Chaos Emerald shards, and shooting down robots incredibly rewarding.

After Rare linked up with Microsoft, they got the chance to revive the foul-mouthed squirrel that caught N64 owners off guard during his starring role in Conker's Bad Fur Day. Conker: Live & Reloaded offers a massive upgrade to the original game that remasters every single part of it to perfection. This game's multiplayer suite ended up being a pillar of the original rendition of Xbox's online service - the military warfare that took place between online "SHC" or "Tediz" members was brutal and incredibly satisfying to play. Conker's gory and hilarious good times from the N64 original got even better here, which makes it one of the best platformer games with very mature vibes attached to it. The "Great Mighty Poo" theme song is goated, by the way!

The inaugural Ratchet & Clank emerged as a tentpole franchise for the PS2 - not only does it offer your usual array of platforming segments, but it also threw in a wild array of weapons that can be used in 3d spaces to blow everything to smithereens. Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando is so much better in every way than its predecessor, in our opinion - finally being able to upgrade Ratchet's crazy arsenal led to us having a ball causing wanton destruction with the dreaded "Blitz Gun," the "Bouncer," and the "Lava Gun." Great campaign pacing, hilarious character interactions, and Ratchet's new battle armor offer more reasons why we consider Going Commando as one of the best R&C titles and best platformer games.

Insomniac Games kept the strong trend of Ratchet & Clank releases going during its PS2 golden age with the third game in the series. One of the most highly reviewed entries in the series comes in the form of Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal, which brings back the franchise's titular duo for another round of fun third-person running, gunning, and jumping. The game's improved control scheme, an awesome arsenal of old & new firearms, and highly refined gameplay all make Up Your Arsenal a quintessential part of the massive PS2 software library. Those "Giant Clank" sections still stick out in our minds as a great time. Even its online multiplayer component turned out a whole hell of a lot better than expected!

Super Mario Galaxy does a phenomenal job of pushing the platforming genre forward with trippy planet hopping that's greatly influenced by the presence of normal and downward gravity. Mario's Wii journey sends him rocketing off to various planets within a vast galaxy that offers all types of fun challenges. The amalgamation of classic Super Mario 64 motions, intuitive Wii Remote & Nunchuk control scheme, and well-designed boss fights go a long way toward making this game the perfect pick for this list of the best platformer games ever made.

We'd be out of our flipping minds if we chose to shout out the first game in the Super Mario Galaxy series and not do the same for its equally amazing sequel. Super Mario Galaxy 2 brings back every great aspect that made its predecessor so memorable and marks the welcome addition of Yoshi for even more exciting methods of maneuvering around each planet. All of this sequel's other new elements, such as the new powerups (especially the Spin Drill!) and the fruits that switch up Yoshi's abilities, are part of the reasons why Super Mario Galaxy 2 improves on what came before it in every single way possible. Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a Wii classic and is recognized by many as one of the best platformer games of all time.

Activision and Vicarious Visions heard the loud pleas coming from the Crash Bandicoot fanbase - for too long, those fans were treated to bad games in the series and nothing on par with the original PS1 trilogy. That long wait was finally rewarded with one of the best-remastered game trilogies we've ever played in the form of the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. All the crate smashing, "Wumpa Fruits" collecting, and an assortment of other lively tasks featured in the first three Crash games come back better than ever here. The first Crash Bandicoot, its followup Cortex Strikes Back, and its threequel Warped are all prime examples of just how strong 90s platformers still are.

The applause-worthy success of the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy put Activision onto the fact that there's still a massive market for the hopping and bopping treks of gaming's beloved orange marsupial. Due to that acute attentiveness, Activision tasked Toys for Bob to create a true fourth Crash game. We're forever grateful that that game ended up being so superb when it finally dropped. Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time keeps all the traditional qualities of the first three games while adding in two extra playable characters with different playstyles and "Quantum Masks" that gift Crash & Coco with newfound powers. And those boss fights? Simply phenomenal!

Before Insomniac Games spent much of its existence creating quality Ratchet & Clank games, the development studio crafted another line of anthropomorphic protagonist-led platformers. Those games came in the form of a trilogy of adventures centered around a feisty little purple dragon and his assortment of animal allies. The original PS1 games are great in their own right, but we adore the remastered collection that spruces up three of those titles with highly upgraded visuals. Spyro the Dragon, Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!, and Spyro: Year of the Dragon are all great games that feature fun flight challenges, tons of gem collecting, a whole lot of headbutting & fire breathing, and a spectacular soundtrack composed by The Police's Stewart Copeland. Spyro Reignited Trilogy is the best way to revisit one of the best trilogies in gaming history.

Celeste isn't just your average run-of-the-mill platformer - it touches on some deeply sensitive topics such as identity, anxiety, and depression. Thankfully, this game manages to produce incredibly satisfying gameplay and a plot that handles its weighty subjects with great care. The pixelated art style Celeste adopts looks beautiful in motion as players navigate some of the trickiest stage setups we've ever encountered in a side-scrolling platformer. Continuous bouts of wall jumping and collecting the objects needed to utilize abilities that help Madeline pull off amazing mid-air feats are two of the other main factors here that make Celeste such an indie darling and one of the best platformer games.

Now we have a lot of love for the original Rayman and Rayman 2: The Great Escape. But we have a much bigger infatuation with the limbless wonder's grand 2011 return with this eye-popping 2D platformer. Rayman Origins in its purest form is a well-designed platformer filled with strong four-player co-op mechanics, hilarious hijinks, and some of the cleanest 2D animation ever presented in a Rayman game thanks to the UbiArt Framework development engine. Finding all those hidden "Electoons" around each level tugged at our hearts since we love collect-a-thon platformers so much. Add on the catchy soundtrack and fast-paced treasure chest chase levels and you have one of the greatest Rayman games ever made.

We already spoke highly of everything Rayman Origins brought to the table. And now we're prepared to do the same for its equally excellent sequel. The wily lineup of Rayman, Globox, the "Teensies," and the debuting Barbara the Barbarian Princess join forces here to hop and bop all over some of the most charming stages any platformer has ever put forth. The music stages are what gives this game its most memorable feature, which is something worth playing for yourself if you've never given them a chance. Rayman Origins is 2D platforming at its best and confirmation of Rayman's high placement among the very best platformer game icons the gaming public has ever seen.

During the tragic disappearance of Capcom's Mega Man IP, Yacht Club Games saw fit to fill the massive hole that needed to be filled for fans of the "Blue Bomber." With an extra bit of DNA brought over from the NES DuckTales game to boot, retro gaming fans were blessed with the release of Shovel Knight. The blue-armored warrior this game is named after is such a triumphant hero that we fell in love with because of this ode to the good old days. The boss fights in this game made us rage, but finally beating them made us feel so damn royal. With all of the additional content that came to this game post-launch in the form of two campaigns centered around two more knights, a collectible card game, and a platform fighter, Shovel Knight is one of the best platformer games with tons of content to enjoy.

Mario's foray into hopping and bopping through expressive 3D worlds worked on the N64, the GameCube, and the Wii. And once the Switch arrived, the greatest plumber in gaming got back to what he's doing best in Super Mario Odyssey. As one of the home/handheld hybrid console's best platformer games, this kingdom-exploring simulator sees Mario going all over the globe and using his trusty hat named Cappy to copy the abilities of his foes. Along with some lively 3D platforming, this game also features a cool nod to Mario's 8-bit side-scrolling days that will leave your jaw on the floor the first time you encounter one. All that triple-jumping and wall-jumping comes back in full alongside some fun methods toward collecting "Power Moons" and beating Bowser all over again.

British development studio Media Molecule created something truly groundbreaking that doubled as a strong platformer and a learning tool for future game creators. LittleBigPlanet introduced the world to the precious frontman for the PS3, Sackboy, and a puzzle platformer that employed the basics of the genre to bring in gamers of all ages. The custom stage creations produced by this game's community afforded it a long lifespan as players regularly downloaded the most creative stage formats. The main campaign stages put in place by Media Molecule and the near-limitless array of content that came from its ingenious player base started the LittleBigPlanet IP off on a memorable note.

Then came LittleBigPlanet 2, which arrived with new creation tools that provided the first game's talented community of creators with exciting new ways to craft their finest works. Being able to access and tinker with the majority of stages made in the first game while also getting the opportunity to create fresh levels based on non-platforming genres is the biggest appeal of this sequel. Another commendable developer-made campaign, extra items to play around with, the inclusion of AI programmable "Sackbots," and the major gameplay-altering "Controlinator" all paved the way for a sequel with even more clever ways to create and play.

The highly favored gameplay styles popularized by the likes of Metroid and Rayman came together for a wonderful concoction for a game by the name of Ori and the Blind Forest. The "Metroidvania" formula, which places players into a side-scrolling expanse that can be unlocked further as players gain more abilities, works so well with light shooting combat segments within a striking picturesque world. A deeply emotional story and a great soundtrack also add to this game's long-lasting legacy as one of the best platformer games of the 2010s.

Moon Studios showed the gaming public that they have a handle on making great hybrid platformer/Metroidvania games. Ori and the Blind Forest kicked things off on a very strong note, then Ori and the Will of the Wisps raised the bar even more as an undeniably stunning sequel. Ori pops back up to venture into a new region called "Niwen," which is just as photogenic as the realm seen in the first game. And of course, that new locale came jam-packed with new beasts to vanquish and more platforming challenges that push players to their very limit. The new addition of autosaving made this game's whole experience so much more tolerable. Ori and the Will of the Wisps is platformer game royalty.

Retro Studios took note of all the amazing work Rare committed to the Donkey Kong Country IP and took the lead on creating a new line of games that evoke the same nostalgic feels those SNES classics produce. The first of those releases is Donkey Kong Country Returns, which returns to the charming and sometimes demanding side-scrolling stage routes fans remember from the SNES Donkey Kong Country games. With this Wii series installment, Donkey and Diddy are welcomed into plenty of gorgeously animated 3D locales full of all the crate smashing, banana collecting, and letter pickups fans can't get enough of. The new animal allies, clever boss fights, and stages that appear as beautiful silhouettes make this Wii platformer a bonafide banger and one of the best platformer games on that system.

Thanks to the top-tier quality of the last game we just mentioned, an equally astounding sequel to that Wii classic arrived and ended up sticking to a more "frosty" theme. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze marks the return of Dixie Kong and Cranky Kong into the mix for some challenging platforming challenges that truly kept players on their toes. Dixie's ability to fly with her ponytail and Cranky's pogo stick-like cane threw in fun new exploration elements, which kept all the action fresh and fun throughout. This is Donkey Kong Country platforming at its finest - this is undoubtedly one of the best Wii U games and another one of the best platformer games to feature Nintendo's lovable apes.

Upon its original release, Sonic Mania was recognized by diehard fans worldwide as a true return to form. Thanks to the combined talents of Christian Whitehead, PagodaWest Games, and Headcannon, we got to hop into a retro Sonic game that feels like the unofficial fourth game that should have been released on the Sega Genesis. Not only does it offer up new stages that fit the theme of a retro Sonic game perfectly, but it also features some throwback zones that get a nice refresh. The original version of Sonic Mania and its Sonic Mania Plus expansion do right by the blue speedster by producing a 2D platforming gem that sticks to the classic beats of the 16-bit era. We're so glad this upgraded edition revived the homies Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel!

Back on the PS1 and PS2, Namco produced two cutesy and oh-so-wholesome platformers centered around a flappy-eared hero who travels to fantastical lands. Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series does a great job of offering remastered versions of those games in one comprehensive package. The best versions of Klonoa: Door to Phantomile and Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil, which comes with fun platforming action that has stood the test of time, are included in this two-game collection. Using Klonoa's "Wind Bullet" ability to suck in enemies leads to higher jumps and throwable foes, which makes both games' 2D side-scrolling progression through 3D-rendered stages a good time.

Imagine our surprise when we realized that Kirby and the Forgotten Land is the first game in the series to offer open 3D platforming. The side-scrolling formula for Kirby is great and all, but we got something on par with Super Mario 64 where the pink powerhouse gets to move around a bit more freely in a mysterious world. Copying abilities have never gotten old and remain a fun gameplay mechanic here. But it's the "Mouthful Mode" that sits at the top of our favorites for this game - transforming into a car and even a vending machine to tear up some enemies and rescue our "Waddle Dees" is the main pull of this great addition to the Switch library.

Somehow someway, Nintendo found a way to rejuvenate its classic Super Mario Bros. 2D side-scrolling style. Super Mario Bros. Wonder turned that stale formula on its head by injecting the trippy influence of the "Wonder Flower," which changes every stage and gives players unique scenarios to make their way through. The newly added presence of powerups that change Mario and his besties into elephants, put drills on top of their heads, and let them shoot off bubbles adds to the "wonder" factor of this joyful 2D platformer. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a welcome change of pace for a formula that's been in place since the mid-80s and a natural evolution for one of gaming's greatest platformer icons.