Jump, climb, dodge: games where precise jumps and good timing carve the way forward, from relaxed romps to tough tests of skill.
Currently: nothing changed, the theme ranking
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#1
Super Mario Odyssey
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#2
Overwhelmingly positive · 97 % positive
Celeste
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#3
Very positive · 87 % positive
Mirror's Edge
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#4
Very positive · 93 % positive
Super Meat Boy
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#5
Mostly positive · 77 % positive
Mirror's Edge Catalyst
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Next in the ranking
Strong soundtrack
Playing together in co-op
Pixel art
Strong soundtrack
Fast pace
Dark, serious atmosphere
Emotional impact
Building and crafting
Challenging difficulty
Lots of humour
Lots to discover
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.
Super Mario Odyssey
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Pixel art
A precise platformer about climbing a mountain and overcoming inner fears.
2 Celeste
A precise platformer about climbing a mountain and overcoming inner fears.
Celeste
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Fast pace
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.
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.
Mirror's Edge
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Pixel art
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.
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.
Open world
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.
Mirror's Edge Catalyst
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Strong soundtrack
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.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
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Playing together in co-op
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 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.
Pixel art
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 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.
Strong 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 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.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
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Fast pace
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 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.
Sonic Generations
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Dark, serious atmosphere
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.
11 Limbo
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.
Limbo
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Emotional impact
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 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.
Ori and the Blind Forest
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Building and crafting
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.
Super Mario Maker 2
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Challenging difficulty
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 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.
Super Meat Boy 3D
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Lots of humour
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.
15 Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of 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.
Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex
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Lots to discover
The sequel to Hollow Knight: faster, more acrobatic and even more demanding.
The sequel to Hollow Knight: faster, more acrobatic and even more demanding.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
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Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
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.
17 Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time
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.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time
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Strong soundtrack
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.
18 Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
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.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
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Strong soundtrack
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.
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.
Fantasy setting
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.
20 Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
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.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
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Pixel art
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.
21 Pitfall!
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.
Pitfall!
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Lots to discover
A gorgeous Metroidvania with fluid movement and an emotional story.
22 Ori and the Will of the Wisps
A gorgeous Metroidvania with fluid movement and an emotional story.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
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Pixel art
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 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.
Shovel Knight
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Action-packed real-time combat
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.
24 Prince of Persia: Warrior Within
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.
Prince of Persia: Warrior Within
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Fast pace
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.
25 Pizza Tower
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.
Pizza Tower
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Fantasy setting
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.
26 Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones
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.
Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones
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Runs that play out differently every time
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.
27 Spelunky 2
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.
Spelunky 2
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Lots of humour
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 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.
Crash Bandicoot: Warped
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Lots of humour
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.
29 Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
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.
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
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Lots of humour
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.
30 Psychonauts
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.
Fast pace
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.
31 Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I
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.
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
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 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.
Super Meat Boy Forever
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Pixel art
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.
33 Katana Zero
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.
Companions and relationships
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.
Lots of humour
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.
Psychonauts 2
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Fantasy setting
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.
36 Trine 2
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.
Lots to discover
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.
Donkey Kong Bananza
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Pixel art
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.
38 Jump King
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.
Jump King
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Challenging difficulty
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.
39 N++
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.
N++
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Puzzles and brain teasers
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.
Fantasy setting
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.
41 Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands
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.
Puzzles and brain teasers
A reimagined version of the original Tomb Raider with redesigned levels where Lara Croft climbs, leaps and solves tricky environmental puzzles in ancient tombs. Occasional gunfights against animals and enemies break up the exploration.
A reimagined version of the original Tomb Raider with redesigned levels where Lara Croft climbs, leaps and solves tricky environmental puzzles in ancient tombs. Occasional gunfights against animals and enemies break up the exploration.
Tomb Raider: Anniversary
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Lots of humour
You guide Crash through colorful, linear levels that play like a classic 90s platformer. Precise jumps and demanding trial-and-error challenges are the heart of it, wrapped in plenty of humor.
You guide Crash through colorful, linear levels that play like a classic 90s platformer. Precise jumps and demanding trial-and-error challenges are the heart of it, wrapped in plenty of humor.
Crash Bandicoot
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Lots of humour
A charming 3D collectathon platformer in the vein of N64 classics, where a tiny girl uses magical hats to bounce through varied, wonderfully weird worlds. Its chapters, from a mafia-run town to dueling bird film studios, overflow with humor and creativity.
A charming 3D collectathon platformer in the vein of N64 classics, where a tiny girl uses magical hats to bounce through varied, wonderfully weird worlds. Its chapters, from a mafia-run town to dueling bird film studios, overflow with humor and creativity.
A Hat in Time
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Sci-fi setting
A blisteringly fast first-person parkour slasher where one hit kills you and you wall-run, deflect bullets and slice enemies apart as a cyber-ninja. Constant death-and-retry loops set to a pounding synthwave score turn every arena into a precise reflex puzzle.
45 Ghostrunner
A blisteringly fast first-person parkour slasher where one hit kills you and you wall-run, deflect bullets and slice enemies apart as a cyber-ninja. Constant death-and-retry loops set to a pounding synthwave score turn every arena into a precise reflex puzzle.
Fast pace
A fast-paced Sonic platformer where you control a trio of speed, flight and power characters, switching between them as you race through levels. Four teams with their own campaigns add variety.
46 Sonic Heroes
A fast-paced Sonic platformer where you control a trio of speed, flight and power characters, switching between them as you race through levels. Four teams with their own campaigns add variety.
Sonic Heroes
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Lavish presentation
A vibrant 2D Mario where Wonder Flowers suddenly twist levels into surprising, inventive set pieces. With new transformations like the elephant, equippable badges and up to four-player co-op, it is welcoming and brimming with creativity.
A vibrant 2D Mario where Wonder Flowers suddenly twist levels into surprising, inventive set pieces. With new transformations like the elephant, equippable badges and up to four-player co-op, it is welcoming and brimming with creativity.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
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Lots of humour
A hilariously irreverent platformer from The Behemoth where you play a prisoner forced through tricky block-based stage levels, solo or in co-op. The sarcastic narrator, cartoon style and chaotic fun with friends define it.
A hilariously irreverent platformer from The Behemoth where you play a prisoner forced through tricky block-based stage levels, solo or in co-op. The sarcastic narrator, cartoon style and chaotic fun with friends define it.
BattleBlock Theater
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Dense, handcrafted world
A Metroidvania where you play a steambot digging through the earth, uncovering treasure and secrets while upgrading your gear. Digging, platforming and puzzles mesh smoothly, making exploration highly compelling.
A Metroidvania where you play a steambot digging through the earth, uncovering treasure and secrets while upgrading your gear. Digging, platforming and puzzles mesh smoothly, making exploration highly compelling.
Pixel art
A ninja platformer that begins as an 8-bit romp and, through time travel, opens up into a 16-bit Metroidvania full of deadpan humor. Precise sword fighting and the satisfying cloudstep mid-air jump make movement a joy.
A ninja platformer that begins as an 8-bit romp and, through time travel, opens up into a 16-bit Metroidvania full of deadpan humor. Precise sword fighting and the satisfying cloudstep mid-air jump make movement a joy.
Pixel art
A tough retro platformer where you can't jump but instead flip gravity to switch between floor and ceiling. Brutally precise rooms, generous checkpoints and a pounding chiptune soundtrack make it a cult classic.
51 VVVVVV
A tough retro platformer where you can't jump but instead flip gravity to switch between floor and ceiling. Brutally precise rooms, generous checkpoints and a pounding chiptune soundtrack make it a cult classic.
VVVVVV
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Pixel art
A punishing cave-delving platformer with procedurally generated levels where every death is final. Traps, enemies and emergent item interactions make for chaotic, memorable runs.
52 Spelunky
A punishing cave-delving platformer with procedurally generated levels where every death is final. Traps, enemies and emergent item interactions make for chaotic, memorable runs.
Spelunky
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Lavish presentation
You hop between tiny planets and cosmic levels full of gravity tricks that keep every stage feeling fresh. This re-release adds an Assist Mode and Rosalina's Storybook for easier access and extra backstory.
You hop between tiny planets and cosmic levels full of gravity tricks that keep every stage feeling fresh. This re-release adds an Assist Mode and Rosalina's Storybook for easier access and extra backstory.
Super Mario Galaxy 2
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Post-apocalyptic setting
First-person parkour zombie survival where you free-run across Harran's rooftops by day, scavenging and crafting brutal weapons, then flee terrifying hunters at night. Fluid movement and gritty melee shine even more in co-op.
54 Dying Light
First-person parkour zombie survival where you free-run across Harran's rooftops by day, scavenging and crafting brutal weapons, then flee terrifying hunters at night. Fluid movement and gritty melee shine even more in co-op.
Lots of humour
A humorous 3D platformer in which the limbless Rayman takes on the evil black lum Andre and his hoodlum army. It mixes slapstick comedy, a colorful look and a blend of platforming and light combat.
A humorous 3D platformer in which the limbless Rayman takes on the evil black lum Andre and his hoodlum army. It mixes slapstick comedy, a colorful look and a blend of platforming and light combat.
Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc
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Challenging difficulty
A brutally demanding platformer whose procedurally generated levels adapt to your skill and your character's abilities. Precise timing and patience are required, wrapped in a humorous, colorful presentation.
A brutally demanding platformer whose procedurally generated levels adapt to your skill and your character's abilities. Precise timing and patience are required, wrapped in a humorous, colorful presentation.
Cloudberry Kingdom
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Action-packed real-time combat
A fast, polished 2D Metroidvania platformer starring the warrior Sargon in a mythical Persian world. Acrobatic parry-driven combat, time-manipulating powers and clever platforming challenges make for a fluid, stylish adventure.
57 Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
A fast, polished 2D Metroidvania platformer starring the warrior Sargon in a mythical Persian world. Acrobatic parry-driven combat, time-manipulating powers and clever platforming challenges make for a fluid, stylish adventure.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
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Lots to discover
A colorful 3D collectathon platformer in the spirit of Banjo-Kazooie, where the duo Yooka and Laylee explore sprawling worlds packed with collectibles, puzzles and cheeky humor.
58 Yooka-Laylee
A colorful 3D collectathon platformer in the spirit of Banjo-Kazooie, where the duo Yooka and Laylee explore sprawling worlds packed with collectibles, puzzles and cheeky humor.
Lots of humour
A humorous 3D platformer where SpongeBob, Patrick and Sandy hop through Bikini Bottom collecting golden spatulas to stop Plankton's robot uprising. Its faithful cartoon charm and gentle platforming challenges make it very approachable.
59 SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom
A humorous 3D platformer where SpongeBob, Patrick and Sandy hop through Bikini Bottom collecting golden spatulas to stop Plankton's robot uprising. Its faithful cartoon charm and gentle platforming challenges make it very approachable.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom
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Lots of humour
A colorful, humorous platformer where Ms. Splosion Man blasts her way through demanding levels using explosive jumps. Precise timing and quick reflexes matter, and there is a separate co-op campaign.
A colorful, humorous platformer where Ms. Splosion Man blasts her way through demanding levels using explosive jumps. Precise timing and quick reflexes matter, and there is a separate co-op campaign.
Ms. Splosion Man
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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.
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.
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.
Sonic Mania, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Rayman Origins are all tagged Co-op. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is also tagged Multiplayer.
Give us a few favourite games and we’ll work out what really suits you. Not what everyone else is playing.
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