Best Platformer

World 1-1 is the definitive tutorial level. Without a single line of text, it teaches the player how to move, jump, interact with enemies, and discover secrets. It introduces the Goomba, the mushroom...

Mark of the Ninja is arguably the best 2D stealth game ever made. It perfectly translates the tension of stealth into a side-scrolling format by visualizing sound and line-of-sight. You play as a ninj...

The final ascent of Celeste is a perfect marriage of mechanical difficulty and emotional narrative. As the player climbs the mountain, the level design evolves to reflect the protagonist's internal st...

Rogue Legacy 2 is a massive improvement over its predecessor, refining the 'genealogical' roguelite formula. Every time you die, you choose one of your heirs to continue the quest, each with unique tr...

Guacamelee! 2 is a vibrant, high-energy Metroidvania that blends platforming with deep, combo-based brawler combat. Set in a world inspired by Mexican folklore, you play as a luchador fighting to save...

Little Nightmares II is a dark, surreal platformer that excels at environmental storytelling. You play as Mono, a young boy traveling through a distorted world, accompanied by Six from the first game....

Spelunky 2 is the gold standard for platforming roguelikes. It is a game of deep systems, where every interactionfrom falling rocks to angry shopkeeperscan lead to disaster or triumph. The game is not...

Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is widely considered the best entry in the Shantae series. It features a perfect blend of platforming, exploration, and combat, all wrapped in a charming, colorful packa...

Shifting Sand Land (The Mines) is a classic example of 3D platforming exploration. It offers a large, open environment filled with secrets, puzzles, and platforming challenges. The level design is ver...

The Messenger starts as a linear, 8-bit action platformer and evolves into a sprawling, 16-bit Metroidvania. It is a brilliant subversion of expectations, filled with humor, challenging platforming, a...

Geometry Dash is a rhythm-based platformer that has become a cultural phenomenon. While it is primarily a platformer, the gameplay is entirely synced to the music, making it a rhythm game at its core....

Cave Story+ is the definitive version of the game that arguably started the indie Metroidvania revolution. It features a charming story, memorable characters, and a unique weapon-leveling system. You...

Brawlhalla is a fun, fast-paced platform fighter that is easy to pick up and play with friends. With a large roster of legends and a variety of game modes, it offers a great competitive experience for...

Fall Guys is a battle royale that trades guns for obstacle courses. It is a chaotic, physics-based party game where 60 players compete in a series of increasingly difficult rounds until only one remai...

Limbo is a minimalist puzzle-platformer that features a striking black-and-white art style. The player controls a young boy navigating a dangerous, shadowy world in search of his sister. The game is a...