Jump, climb, dodge: games where precise jumps and good timing carve the way forward, from relaxed romps to tough tests of skill.
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How to find games that really suit you:
Select up to 5 games you have played and enjoyed. Playalike compares 50 traits such as combat, story and atmosphere and suggests games that hit exactly the same spot, even across genres.
A playful 3D platformer where Mario uses his living hat Cappy to possess enemies and objects while scouring varied, secret-packed kingdoms for Power Moons. Nearly every corner rewards curiosity with a fresh surprise.
Fast first-person parkour across the rooftops of a sterile, surveilled city, where momentum and flow matter far more than fighting. Its striking white-and-primary-color look and focus on finding the fastest route make it a cult favorite for speedrunners.
A playful 3D platformer where Mario uses his living hat Cappy to possess enemies and objects while scouring varied, secret-packed kingdoms for Power Moons. Nearly every corner rewards curiosity with a fresh surprise.
A playful 3D platformer where Mario uses his living hat Cappy to possess enemies and objects while scouring varied, secret-packed kingdoms for Power Moons. Nearly every corner rewards curiosity with a fresh surprise.
Fast first-person parkour across the rooftops of a sterile, surveilled city, where momentum and flow matter far more than fighting. Its striking white-and-primary-color look and focus on finding the fastest route make it a cult favorite for speedrunners.
2008PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck verified19.99 €87 % positive
Very positive, 31,361 reviews on Steam
Fast pace
Interconnected level design
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
Fast first-person parkour across the rooftops of a sterile, surveilled city, where momentum and flow matter far more than fighting. Its striking white-and-primary-color look and focus on finding the fastest route make it a cult favorite for speedrunners.
A brutally tough precision platformer with hundreds of bite-sized, sawblade-filled levels where instant respawns keep you hammering away until you nail every jump. Its gross-out humor and replays showing all your failed attempts at once make every victory feel earned.
2010PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified13.99 €93 % positive
Very positive, 30,319 reviews on Steam
Pixel art
Challenging difficulty
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
A brutally tough precision platformer with hundreds of bite-sized, sawblade-filled levels where instant respawns keep you hammering away until you nail every jump. Its gross-out humor and replays showing all your failed attempts at once make every victory feel earned.
Fluid first-person parkour through a gleaming, sterile dystopia where momentum and route-finding matter more than weapons. The open city of Glass invites time trials, deliveries and discovering your own lines across the rooftops.
Fluid first-person parkour through a gleaming, sterile dystopia where momentum and route-finding matter more than weapons. The open city of Glass invites time trials, deliveries and discovering your own lines across the rooftops.
Naughty Dog's classic 3D platformer sends the zany bandicoot Crash through linear jungle, temple and factory levels packed with crates, traps and tricky jumps. Its charming cartoon style hides a surprisingly tough challenge, especially when hunting every gem.
Naughty Dog's classic 3D platformer sends the zany bandicoot Crash through linear jungle, temple and factory levels packed with crates, traps and tricky jumps. Its charming cartoon style hides a surprisingly tough challenge, especially when hunting every gem.
A blazing-fast 2D platforming classic where Sonic uses the new spin dash to tear through varied zones, with Tails tagging along as a co-op buddy. Iconic music, tricky special stages and Super Sonic make it a series high point.
A blazing-fast 2D platforming classic where Sonic uses the new spin dash to tear through varied zones, with Tails tagging along as a co-op buddy. Iconic music, tricky special stages and Super Sonic make it a series high point.
The third Crash outing sends Crash and Coco hopping through time, from ancient Egypt to medieval castles to the future, mixing tight platforming with jet-ski, motorbike and flying stages. Slapstick charm, unlockable powers and gem and relic time trials give it lasting replay value.
The third Crash outing sends Crash and Coco hopping through time, from ancient Egypt to medieval castles to the future, mixing tight platforming with jet-ski, motorbike and flying stages. Slapstick charm, unlockable powers and gem and relic time trials give it lasting replay value.
A classic 3D platformer where Crash spins, slides and jumps through varied linear stages, smashing crates and collecting crystals for a supposedly reformed Dr. Cortex. Hidden gems, secret paths and tight timing challenges give it lasting appeal, wrapped in a colorful, slapstick cartoon style.
A classic 3D platformer where Crash spins, slides and jumps through varied linear stages, smashing crates and collecting crystals for a supposedly reformed Dr. Cortex. Hidden gems, secret paths and tight timing challenges give it lasting appeal, wrapped in a colorful, slapstick cartoon style.
A gorgeously hand-drawn 2D platformer bursting with zany humor, tight jumping challenges and frantic treasure-chase levels, playable with up to four friends in chaotic local co-op. It gets seriously demanding in its later stages.
2011PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck playable9.99 €94 % positive
Very positive, 5,863 reviews on Steam
Playing together in co-op
Distinctive, stylised art style
Fantasy setting
A gorgeously hand-drawn 2D platformer bursting with zany humor, tight jumping challenges and frantic treasure-chase levels, playable with up to four friends in chaotic local co-op. It gets seriously demanding in its later stages.
A lovingly crafted return to classic 2D Sonic, with blazing-fast pixel-art stages, inventive remixes of beloved zones and a cracking soundtrack that nails the Genesis-era feel.
2017PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified19.99 €94 % positive
Very positive, 24,533 reviews on Steam
Pixel art
Strong soundtrack
Fast pace
A lovingly crafted return to classic 2D Sonic, with blazing-fast pixel-art stages, inventive remixes of beloved zones and a cracking soundtrack that nails the Genesis-era feel.
A fast-paced 2D platformer where Sonic first meets Knuckles on Angel Island, featuring large branching stages packed with hidden routes, special stages and an iconic soundtrack.
A fast-paced 2D platformer where Sonic first meets Knuckles on Angel Island, featuring large branching stages packed with hidden routes, special stages and an iconic soundtrack.
A brutally demanding one-button rhythm platformer where you guide a geometric icon through spike-filled levels synced to pulsing electronic music. Pixel-perfect timing, endless retries and a huge library of community-made levels define the experience.
2013PC4.99 €93 % positive
Very positive, 612,924 reviews on Steam
Challenging difficulty
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
Fast pace
A brutally demanding one-button rhythm platformer where you guide a geometric icon through spike-filled levels synced to pulsing electronic music. Pixel-perfect timing, endless retries and a huge library of community-made levels define the experience.
A high-speed anniversary platformer where classic 2D Sonic and modern 3D Sonic team up to replay reimagined iconic stages from two decades of the series. Blistering speed, remixed music and heavy nostalgia define the experience.
2011PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified51.79 €93 % positive
Very positive, 20,316 reviews on Steam
Fast pace
Strong soundtrack
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
A high-speed anniversary platformer where classic 2D Sonic and modern 3D Sonic team up to replay reimagined iconic stages from two decades of the series. Blistering speed, remixed music and heavy nostalgia define the experience.
A wordless puzzle-platformer rendered in stark black and white, following a boy through a hostile shadow world full of deadly traps learned through trial and error. Its oppressive atmosphere and minimalist art make it a haunting, memorable experience.
2010PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified11.49 €91 % positive
Very positive, 40,995 reviews on Steam
Dark, serious atmosphere
Puzzles and brain teasers
Distinctive, stylised art style
A wordless puzzle-platformer rendered in stark black and white, following a boy through a hostile shadow world full of deadly traps learned through trial and error. Its oppressive atmosphere and minimalist art make it a haunting, memorable experience.
2015PC, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified93 % positive
A gorgeous hand-painted Metroidvania platformer with tight, demanding movement, tense escape sequences and a heartfelt tale of loss and hope. Its sweeping orchestral score makes the forest of Nibel unforgettable.
2015PC, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified93 % positive
Very positive, 51,240 reviews on Steam
Interconnected level design
Emotional impact
Distinctive, stylised art style
A gorgeous hand-painted Metroidvania platformer with tight, demanding movement, tense escape sequences and a heartfelt tale of loss and hope. Its sweeping orchestral score makes the forest of Nibel unforgettable.
A classic 2D platformer starring the limbless Rayman, who hovers with his helicopter hair and throws fists through lush hand-drawn, colorful worlds. Precise jumping and a fairly steep difficulty define the experience.
A classic 2D platformer starring the limbless Rayman, who hovers with his helicopter hair and throws fists through lush hand-drawn, colorful worlds. Precise jumping and a fairly steep difficulty define the experience.
A Mario platformer where you build your own levels and play endless courses made by other players. The editor is approachable and supports co-op building, and a Story Mode adds over 100 handmade courses.
A Mario platformer where you build your own levels and play endless courses made by other players. The editor is approachable and supports co-op building, and a Story Mode adds over 100 handmade courses.
A brutally tough 3D platformer where you play a cube of meat dashing and leaping through short, precise courses to rescue your girlfriend. Instant retries, macabre humor and high difficulty define it.
2026PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified24.99 €87 % positive
Very positive, 867 reviews on Steam
Challenging difficulty
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
Fast pace
A brutally tough 3D platformer where you play a cube of meat dashing and leaping through short, precise courses to rescue your girlfriend. Instant retries, macabre humor and high difficulty define it.
A brisk 2D platformer based on the Disney film, where Aladdin leaps through Agrabah, the Cave of Wonders and the palace using thrown apples and sword swipes. Its charming film-inspired visuals and chase sequences make it a 16-bit-era classic.
1993PC72 % positive
Mostly positive, 51 reviews on Steam
Fantasy setting
Pixel art
Strong soundtrack
A brisk 2D platformer based on the Disney film, where Aladdin leaps through Agrabah, the Cave of Wonders and the palace using thrown apples and sword swipes. Its charming film-inspired visuals and chase sequences make it a 16-bit-era classic.
A classic 3D platformer where Crash and Coco tackle precise jumps, hazards and crate-smashing challenges. Its zany cartoon look and goofy humor make for a charming yet fairly demanding adventure against Dr. Cortex.
A classic 3D platformer where Crash and Coco tackle precise jumps, hazards and crate-smashing challenges. Its zany cartoon look and goofy humor make for a charming yet fairly demanding adventure against Dr. Cortex.
A tough, precise 3D platformer where Quantum Masks reshape levels on the fly. Multiple playable characters with their own mechanics and a goofy cartoon style keep things fresh.
2020PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified39.99 €86 % positive
Very positive, 4,165 reviews on Steam
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
Lots of humour
Challenging difficulty
A tough, precise 3D platformer where Quantum Masks reshape levels on the fly. Multiple playable characters with their own mechanics and a goofy cartoon style keep things fresh.
You haul yourself up an enormous mountain of junk using only a hammer while stuck in a cauldron, and one slip can send you tumbling far back down. Bennett Foddy's narration turns the frustration into a strange, darkly funny meditation on perseverance.
2017PC, Steam Deck verified6.99 €82 % positive
Very positive, 75,701 reviews on Steam
Challenging difficulty
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
You haul yourself up an enormous mountain of junk using only a hammer while stuck in a cauldron, and one slip can send you tumbling far back down. Bennett Foddy's narration turns the frustration into a strange, darkly funny meditation on perseverance.
A tight, challenging 2D platformer where you bounce through varied levels as Donkey and Diddy Kong, riding mine carts and rocket barrels along the way. Local two-player co-op makes the trip even more fun.
A tight, challenging 2D platformer where you bounce through varied levels as Donkey and Diddy Kong, riding mine carts and rocket barrels along the way. Local two-player co-op makes the trip even more fun.
A lovingly rebuilt Disney platformer in which Scrooge McDuck pogo-bounces his cane through hand-drawn levels hunting for treasure. Voice acting, humor and music true to the cartoon series deliver plenty of nostalgia.
2013PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck verified14.99 €88 % positive
Very positive, 6,652 reviews on Steam
Strong soundtrack
Lots of humour
Distinctive, stylised art style
A lovingly rebuilt Disney platformer in which Scrooge McDuck pogo-bounces his cane through hand-drawn levels hunting for treasure. Voice acting, humor and music true to the cartoon series deliver plenty of nostalgia.
An acrobatic adventure through a cursed Persian palace where the Dagger of Time lets you rewind mistakes while wall-running through elaborate trap puzzles. The Prince's charming, self-narrated tale and his banter with Farah make it a genre classic.
2003PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck playable9.99 €85 % positive
Very positive, 5,167 reviews on Steam
Fantasy setting
Strong, story-driven narrative
Puzzles and brain teasers
An acrobatic adventure through a cursed Persian palace where the Dagger of Time lets you rewind mistakes while wall-running through elaborate trap puzzles. The Prince's charming, self-narrated tale and his banter with Farah make it a genre classic.
An Atari-era classic where you run and jump through the jungle as Pitfall Harry, dodging swinging vines, crocodiles and scorpions while racing to collect every treasure within 20 minutes.
An Atari-era classic where you run and jump through the jungle as Pitfall Harry, dodging swinging vines, crocodiles and scorpions while racing to collect every treasure within 20 minutes.
A lovingly crafted NES-style platformer where a shovel-wielding knight pogo-bounces through varied stages, digs up treasure and battles a colorful cast of rival knights. Tight controls, charming humor and a superb chiptune soundtrack make it a modern classic.
2014PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified13.99 €93 % positive
Very positive, 935 reviews on Steam
Pixel art
Boss fights as highlights
Strong soundtrack
A lovingly crafted NES-style platformer where a shovel-wielding knight pogo-bounces through varied stages, digs up treasure and battles a colorful cast of rival knights. Tight controls, charming humor and a superb chiptune soundtrack make it a modern classic.
A much grittier sequel where the Prince flees the relentless Dahaka and leaps between past and present on the Island of Time. Acrobatic traversal, time-rewinding powers and a deeper dual-weapon combat system define it, backed by a heavy metal soundtrack.
2004PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck playable9.99 €82 % positive
Very positive, 4,001 reviews on Steam
Action-packed real-time combat
Dark, serious atmosphere
Melee combat with weapons or fists
A much grittier sequel where the Prince flees the relentless Dahaka and leaps between past and present on the Island of Time. Acrobatic traversal, time-rewinding powers and a deeper dual-weapon combat system define it, backed by a heavy metal soundtrack.
2023PC, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified19.50 €98 % positive
A frantic, chaotic 2D platformer starring the manic pizza chef Peppino, built around momentum-based movement, score chasing and wildly hand-drawn animation. Its zany humor and driving soundtrack turn every level into a spectacle.
2023PC, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified19.50 €98 % positive
Overwhelmingly positive, 66,816 reviews on Steam
Fast pace
Action-packed real-time combat
Lots of humour
A frantic, chaotic 2D platformer starring the manic pizza chef Peppino, built around momentum-based movement, score chasing and wildly hand-drawn animation. Its zany humor and driving soundtrack turn every level into a spectacle.
The Sands of Time trilogy finale mixes acrobatic wall-running through a burning Babylon with time rewinds, stealthy Speed Kills, and the Prince's struggle against his savage Dark Prince alter ego.
2005PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck playable9.99 €80 % positive
Very positive, 2,738 reviews on Steam
Action-packed real-time combat
Fantasy setting
Melee combat with weapons or fists
The Sands of Time trilogy finale mixes acrobatic wall-running through a burning Babylon with time rewinds, stealthy Speed Kills, and the Prince's struggle against his savage Dark Prince alter ego.
A punishing, procedurally generated platformer where every cave brings new hazards, secrets and chaotic system interactions. Mastering bombs, ropes and traps leads to memorable runs, even in co-op.
2020PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified16.79 €93 % positive
Very positive, 19,847 reviews on Steam
Runs that play out differently every time
Challenging difficulty
Pixel art
A punishing, procedurally generated platformer where every cave brings new hazards, secrets and chaotic system interactions. Mastering bombs, ropes and traps leads to memorable runs, even in co-op.
A colorful sci-fi adventure that blends platforming with an arsenal of wildly inventive weapons. This reimagining of the original looks like an animated film, with humor and fast pacing as you hop from planet to planet.
A colorful sci-fi adventure that blends platforming with an arsenal of wildly inventive weapons. This reimagining of the original looks like an animated film, with humor and fast pacing as you hop from planet to planet.
You jump, slide and spin through varied levels where precise timing decides between success and frustration. The colorful, exaggerated look and playful humor make this remake of the classic especially charming.
2017PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified39.99 €92 % positive
Very positive, 16,867 reviews on Steam
Lots of humour
Distinctive, stylised art style
Challenging difficulty
You jump, slide and spin through varied levels where precise timing decides between success and frustration. The colorful, exaggerated look and playful humor make this remake of the classic especially charming.
You spin, jump and sprint through colorful, zany levels of Crash Bandicoot 2, remade for the N. Sane Trilogy. Precise timing and skill are key, while the cartoonish chaos of Cortex's schemes supplies the charm.
2017PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified39.99 €92 % positive
Very positive, 16,867 reviews on Steam
Lots of humour
Distinctive, stylised art style
Lavish presentation
You spin, jump and sprint through colorful, zany levels of Crash Bandicoot 2, remade for the N. Sane Trilogy. Precise timing and skill are key, while the cartoonish chaos of Cortex's schemes supplies the charm.
A quirky 3D platformer where a young psychic dives into the minds of eccentric characters, each one a wildly inventive level. Sharp humor, distinctive art and surprisingly heartfelt themes about mental struggles make it a cult classic.
A quirky 3D platformer where a young psychic dives into the minds of eccentric characters, each one a wildly inventive level. Sharp humor, distinctive art and surprisingly heartfelt themes about mental struggles make it a cult classic.
A retro revival in classic 2D style: Sonic speeds through loops and ramps with the Spin Dash and Homing Attack, picking up from the Mega Drive era. Short, fast-paced levels and boss fights against Dr. Eggman are the focus.
A retro revival in classic 2D style: Sonic speeds through loops and ramps with the Spin Dash and Homing Attack, picking up from the Mega Drive era. Short, fast-paced levels and boss fights against Dr. Eggman are the focus.
A frantic auto-running platformer where Meat Boy or Bandage Girl race through procedurally assembled stages to rescue their kidnapped daughter. Precise reflexes and dark, slapstick humor define the experience.
2020PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified4.99 €58 % positive
Mixed, 1,935 reviews on Steam
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
Fast pace
Action-packed real-time combat
A frantic auto-running platformer where Meat Boy or Bandage Girl race through procedurally assembled stages to rescue their kidnapped daughter. Precise reflexes and dark, slapstick humor define the experience.
A stunning, movie-like adventure sending Nathan Drake on one last treasure hunt through climbing, gunfights and jaw-dropping set pieces. Sharp banter and a surprisingly personal story about family and letting go give it real heart.
A stunning, movie-like adventure sending Nathan Drake on one last treasure hunt through climbing, gunfights and jaw-dropping set pieces. Sharp banter and a surprisingly personal story about family and letting go give it real heart.
A vibrant 3D platformer where little dragon Spyro charges and flames his way through open, collectible-packed realms to free his crystallized elders. Charming, breezy and carried by Stewart Copeland's memorable score.
A vibrant 3D platformer where little dragon Spyro charges and flames his way through open, collectible-packed realms to free his crystallized elders. Charming, breezy and carried by Stewart Copeland's memorable score.
2019PC, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified14.79 €97 % positive
A blistering neo-noir action platformer where one hit kills and each room plays like a puzzle solved with your katana, slow-motion and deflected bullets. It's wrapped in a twisted, fragmented story with dialogue choices and a superb synthwave soundtrack.
2019PC, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified14.79 €97 % positive
Overwhelmingly positive, 66,672 reviews on Steam
Pixel art
Action-packed real-time combat
Dark, serious atmosphere
A blistering neo-noir action platformer where one hit kills and each room plays like a puzzle solved with your katana, slow-motion and deflected bullets. It's wrapped in a twisted, fragmented story with dialogue choices and a superb synthwave soundtrack.
The classic that made Lara Croft famous: precise grid-based jumping and climbing through vast, lonely tombs, mixed with lever puzzles and gunfights against wild animals and mythical creatures. The quiet, eerie atmosphere of ancient ruins defines the experience.
2013PC, PlayStation6.99 €85 % positive
Very positive, 4,048 reviews on Steam
Lots to discover
Puzzles and brain teasers
Challenging difficulty
The classic that made Lara Croft famous: precise grid-based jumping and climbing through vast, lonely tombs, mixed with lever puzzles and gunfights against wild animals and mythical creatures. The quiet, eerie atmosphere of ancient ruins defines the experience.
A cel-shaded fairy-tale adventure where the Prince and the magical Elika acrobatically traverse a corrupted desert land, healing regions in a non-linear order. Elika saves you from every fall, making it a flowing, forgiving platformer carried by charming banter between the two.
A cel-shaded fairy-tale adventure where the Prince and the magical Elika acrobatically traverse a corrupted desert land, healing regions in a non-linear order. Elika saves you from every fall, making it a flowing, forgiving platformer carried by charming banter between the two.
Lara Croft hunts the Dagger of Xian across Venice, an offshore oil rig, a sunken wreck and Tibetan monasteries. This classic demands precise jumps, solves tricky environmental puzzles and adds more gunfights against human foes than its predecessor, plus vehicles like a speedboat and a snowmobile.
1997PC, PlayStation6.99 €86 % positive
Very positive, 2,041 reviews on Steam
Lots to discover
Challenging difficulty
Puzzles and brain teasers
Lara Croft hunts the Dagger of Xian across Venice, an offshore oil rig, a sunken wreck and Tibetan monasteries. This classic demands precise jumps, solves tricky environmental puzzles and adds more gunfights against human foes than its predecessor, plus vehicles like a speedboat and a snowmobile.
Naughty Dog's vibrant 3D platformer has Jak and his ottsel-transformed sidekick Daxter roaming a seamless island world collecting Power Cells. Tight jumping, loading-free exploration and Daxter's wisecracks give it lasting charm.
Naughty Dog's vibrant 3D platformer has Jak and his ottsel-transformed sidekick Daxter roaming a seamless island world collecting Power Cells. Tight jumping, loading-free exploration and Daxter's wisecracks give it lasting charm.
A charming, polished 3D platformer that turns the DualSense controller's haptics and triggers into playful mechanics, packed with collectible nods to PlayStation history.
A charming, polished 3D platformer that turns the DualSense controller's haptics and triggers into playful mechanics, packed with collectible nods to PlayStation history.
An inventive 3D platformer where young psychic agent Raz dives into other characters' minds. Each mental world is a wildly imaginative level that tackles anxieties and trauma with plenty of humor and heart.
An inventive 3D platformer where young psychic agent Raz dives into other characters' minds. Each mental world is a wildly imaginative level that tackles anxieties and trauma with plenty of humor and heart.
A fairytale physics platformer where you swap at will between a wizard, a thief and a knight to solve obstacles in your own creative ways. Lush painterly fantasy levels and drop-in co-op give it lasting charm.
A fairytale physics platformer where you swap at will between a wizard, a thief and a knight to solve obstacles in your own creative ways. Lush painterly fantasy levels and drop-in co-op give it lasting charm.
A colorful sci-fi platformer where you hop between planets and blast enemies with an ever-growing arsenal of wacky gadgets and guns. Its sharp, sarcastic humor and the buddy dynamic between Ratchet and Clank give it plenty of charm.
A colorful sci-fi platformer where you hop between planets and blast enemies with an ever-growing arsenal of wacky gadgets and guns. Its sharp, sarcastic humor and the buddy dynamic between Ratchet and Clank give it plenty of charm.
A gorgeous fairy-tale 2.5D platformer where you swap between a wizard, thief and knight to solve creative physics puzzles, solo or in up to three-player co-op.
A gorgeous fairy-tale 2.5D platformer where you swap between a wizard, thief and knight to solve creative physics puzzles, solo or in up to three-player co-op.
A charming puzzle platformer with a handmade fabric-and-cardboard look, where you jump, solve physics-based puzzles, and use creative tools to build and share your own levels.
A charming puzzle platformer with a handmade fabric-and-cardboard look, where you jump, solve physics-based puzzles, and use creative tools to build and share your own levels.
A 3D platformer where DK punches, tears and tunnels through almost entirely destructible underground layers, with hidden bananas rewarding every bit of curiosity. Playful, chaotic and charming, with Pauline's singing and transforming Bananza forms adding flair.
A 3D platformer where DK punches, tears and tunnels through almost entirely destructible underground layers, with hidden bananas rewarding every bit of curiosity. Playful, chaotic and charming, with Pauline's singing and transforming Bananza forms adding flair.
A merciless platformer where you climb a huge tower using only precisely charged jumps, and a single misstep can send you tumbling far back down. Frustration and triumph sit very close together.
2019PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified12.99 €90 % positive
Very positive, 12,438 reviews on Steam
Pixel art
Challenging difficulty
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
A merciless platformer where you climb a huge tower using only precisely charged jumps, and a single misstep can send you tumbling far back down. Frustration and triumph sit very close together.
A minimalist, razor-precise physics platformer where you momentum-slide a ninja through thousands of short levels filled with mines and robots. Tight controls and punishing difficulty define the experience.
2015PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified14.99 €95 % positive
Overwhelmingly positive, 2,836 reviews on Steam
Challenging difficulty
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
Fast pace
A minimalist, razor-precise physics platformer where you momentum-slide a ninja through thousands of short levels filled with mines and robots. Tight controls and punishing difficulty define the experience.
Lara Croft hunts for the Norse underworld of Helheim across sprawling tombs from Thailand to the Arctic. The focus is on acrobatic climbing and physics-based environmental puzzles, with some simple gunplay mixed in.
Lara Croft hunts for the Norse underworld of Helheim across sprawling tombs from Thailand to the Arctic. The focus is on acrobatic climbing and physics-based environmental puzzles, with some simple gunplay mixed in.
A return to the Sands of Time era, built around fluid wall-running platforming and elemental powers like freezing water and rewinding time, broken up by brawls against hordes of sand soldiers.
A return to the Sands of Time era, built around fluid wall-running platforming and elemental powers like freezing water and rewinding time, broken up by brawls against hordes of sand soldiers.
A wonderfully fluid 2D platformer with a hand-drawn look, where jumps and attacks feel almost choreographed. The music-driven rhythm levels are especially famous, and it is great fun in co-op too.
A wonderfully fluid 2D platformer with a hand-drawn look, where jumps and attacks feel almost choreographed. The music-driven rhythm levels are especially famous, and it is great fun in co-op too.
Platformers boil down to movement: you learn how a jump feels, then use that feel to get through tricky spaces. The appeal is the loop of trying, failing, adjusting and finally nailing a sequence. Within the genre, though, games differ a lot in how forgiving they are, so it helps to decide what kind of challenge you want before picking.
If you want something relaxed and inventive, Super Mario Odyssey is built around exploration in colorful worlds, and Rayman Origins offers hand-drawn visuals, comedy and co-op. For tough, precise play, Celeste and Super Meat Boy are both tagged Difficult and rely on pixel art and tight timing. Celeste also leans on its story, while Super Meat Boy leans on comedy and fast retries.
If you like classic momentum and speed, Sonic Mania and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 both offer pixel art and co-op, so you can share the couch. Crash Bandicoot is a good pick if you want a 1990s PlayStation platformer with a difficult streak. If you would rather run across rooftops in a first-person view, Mirror's Edge brings a stylish cyberpunk atmosphere that few platformers match.
Also check platforms: some games on this list are tied to a single system, such as Super Mario Odyssey on Nintendo Switch and the Crash games on PlayStation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best platformer for beginners?
Super Mario Odyssey is a good starting point, as it centers on exploration in a colorful world. Rayman Origins is another friendly option, especially with co-op.
Which platformers are the hardest?
Celeste, Super Meat Boy and the original Crash Bandicoot are all tagged Difficult. Celeste and Super Meat Boy focus on precision, so expect plenty of retries.
Which platformers can I play with a friend?
Sonic Mania, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Rayman Origins are all tagged Co-op. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is also tagged Multiplayer.
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