Summary
The platform genre is one of the most important genres in gaming history. The genre was pivotal in helping the home console industry get back on its feet afterthe 1983 crash, largely thanks to the iconicSuper Mario Bros.Moreover, the genre’s usual child-friendly approach and easy-to-understand controls/concepts mean that it’s an ideal gateway into the world of gaming for children or even adults.
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There have been countless platform games released across a wide range of systems sinceSuper Mario Bros.popularized the genre, and every now and then, a platformer will come along that truly stands out and amazes critics, earning it a high score on the review aggregator site Metacritic.
Updated on September 7th, 2023, by Jack Pursey:ManyAAA video game studios are progressively making their games more like interactive films, with numerous hours of story and dialogue that almost never ceases from start to finish. This style of game is popular with many people; however, there comes a time when some players just want to be dropped into a bright, colorful world and focus purely on gameplay. This is where the platforming genre excels, as aside from some exceptions, platform games generally don’t feature too much story and just let players dive straight into the fun. For players wanting to try out some of thebest platformer gamesof all time, this list has been updated to include a few more of the best, according to Metacritic.
13Super Mario Sunshine - 92
Super Mario Sunshineis the first, but certainly not the last, game from theSuper Marioseries to be included on this list.Super Mario Sunshinehad the unenviable task of following the iconicSuper Mario 64(more on that game later), which revolutionized the platform genre with its 3D gameplay.
AlthoughSuper Mario Sunshinedidn’t come close to featuring the same level of innovation as its predecessor, it’s still beloved for its tropical Isle Delfino setting, which gave players a warm and comforting feeling every time they booted up the game.
12Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 - 92
As the name suggests,Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2is a re-release of the legendary SNES platformer Super Mario World – a game that almost certainly would have made this list if Metacritic was around at the time of its release.
Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2doesn’t attempt to fix what isn’t broken, as it features the same levels and gameplay as the original but with a minor difficult increase. The game also added Luigi as a playable character.
11Banjo-Kazooie - 92
Banjo-Kazooieis one of just a few breaks on this list from the sheer domination by theSuper Marioseries. This certainly isn’t the first time that Rare’s game has burst the plumber’s bubble, as there is a portion of Nintendo 64 owners who claim thatBanjo-Kazooiewas the console’s best platform game, notSuper Mario 64.
Banjo-Kazooiewas released in 1998 and was a key figure in the collectathon subgenre of platform games. Collectathon games, as the name implies, task players with collecting a wide variety of items. This may sound mundane, and it can be in some games, butBanjo-Kazooie’s stellar level design and gameplay make it an absolute joy for gamers of all ages.
10Super Mario 3D World - 93
Super Mario 3D Worldimpressed fans and critics with its wonderfully well-designed stages, enjoyable co-op gameplay, and Captain Toadpuzzles that were an unexpected delightand earned the character a spin-off game titledCaptain Toad: Treasure Tracker.
At a time when games are becoming larger and more expansive,Super Mario 3D Worldbrought things back to basics a bit with its level design. The game’s stages are fairly small and compact but pack tons to do and find within – essentially opting for a quality-over-quantity approach to their size.
9Ori and the Will of the Wisps - 93
Ori and the Will of the Wispswas developed by Moon Studios and is a platform-adventure game with a Metroidvania-style level design. The game immediately draws players in with itseye-catching visualsthat make each area an artistic joy to explore. The game also impressed critics with its touching story and fluid movement that made controlling the game’s protagonist, Ori, a joy.
The game’s whopping 93 Metascore could have been even higher if it wasn’t for a handful of technical issues at launch, which have since been resolved.
8Jet Set Radio - 94
Jet Set Radio(also known asJet Grind Radio) was first released on the Dreamcast back in the year 2000 before arriving on PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PS Vita, iOS, and Android in 2012. The game stands out on this list by having its playable characters move around on inline skates, giving the game a truly unique feel to play.
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Jet Set Radiohas a range of gameplay modes, though they all generally task the players with traversing the game’s wonderfully designed Tokyo map as quickly and accurately as possible to tag various points with graffiti. The game is not just remembered fondly for its unique gameplay but also for its excellent soundtrack, which is a great source of nostalgia for many people today.
7Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 - 94
The absolute mouthful that isSuper Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3was released exclusively on the GBA in Japan in February 2003 before arriving in Europe and North America in the months that followed.
The game is an enhanced remake of the legendary Nintendo Entertainment System gameSuper Mario Bros. 3. The remake introduces several new features, including a multiplayer mode based on the originalMario Bros.and voices for Mario and Luigi by Charles Martinet.
6Super Mario 64 - 94
Super Mario 64is one of the platform genre’s most important releases of all time. The game was marketed with the promise of leading the gaming industry’s charge into the world of 3D, and it did exactly that by offering a game that is still today considered one of the best platformers of all time.
Nintendo nailed Mario’s movement in 3D environments on their first try while also creating ingeniously designed levels that developers still find tough to top today.Super Mario 64may not look like much by today’s standards visually, but it’s still an absolute delight to play.
5Celeste - 94
Celesteis an indie platformer that differentiates itself from most other platformers byfeaturing a comprehensive narrative. The game’s story centers around the protagonist, Madeline, who is attempting to climb Mount Celeste. Along with the challenge of climbing the mountain, Madeline must also battle her inner demons, often literally.
Along with the engaging story, Celesteearns its high Metascore for its tight side-scrolling controls that ensure the game never feels unfair or frustrating despite itsbrutal difficulty.
4LittleBigPlanet - 95
LittleBigPlanetwas one of the PlayStation 3’s most important releases. The console had a tough start to life due to multiple delays and a ridiculously high price point that made many people jump ship to the well-received Xbox 360. Sony needed a high-quality exclusive to turn heads, and they got just that in 2008 withLittleBigPlanet.
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LittleBigPlanetwas developed by Media Molecule and stands out among the other games on this list for its level of customizability, as players can create their own levels and could play other people’s levels online. Unfortunately, the game’s online functionality was discontinued in 2021.
