Platformers have been around for a very long time in the gaming world, and over the years, the genre has evolved in dozens of new directions, bringing in fresh themes, mechanics, and settings that players had never seen before. As old as the space is, there are always newcomers looking to give it a try, and diehard fans are always quick to recommend what they consider to be the best starting points.
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These platformers don’t just slap a new coat of paint on Mario. They all feature really inspired level design, and they don’t get enough credit for it
A lot of these games fall into one of a few categories that make them more accessible to less hardcore players, but the common thread is the lack of barriers to entry. It doesn’t matter if players are sprinting across saw traps or bouncing through the clouds; the mechanics and gameplay style are all incredibly easy to understand, allowing anyone to jump in for the first time and have an absolute blast.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
Celeste
Simple Yet Impactful
Details:
- Tight platforming with a minimalist aesthetic
- Emotional story behind the gameplay
Celeste stands as one of the most refined 2D platformers of its generation, built around precision movement and carefully designed challenges that will test new players without pushing them too far out of their comfort zone. Each level introduces new mechanics that expand the traversal options, from air dashes to environmental interactions, and this structure encourages players to improve through repetition, ensuring that failures feel like a part of the learning process rather than a setback.
There are also so many checkpoints and assist features that make the trickier sections feel more manageable, meaning that even if things get tough, players can always keep moving forward. Beyond its mechanics, the game’s story is just as captivating, exploring mental health and anxiety in a deeply emotional way that keeps players invested in more than just the gameplay, and looking at everything together, it is pretty hard to find another platformer with as much refinement as Celeste.
Super Mario Odyssey
The Next Iteration Of The King
Details:
- Open-ended level design
- So much freedom in the movement
Super Mario Odyssey takes the franchise in a whole new direction, presenting players with large, sandbox-style kingdoms that replace linear levels, allowing them to explore and approach objectives from multiple angles. Mario’s movement toolkit is expanded through the capture mechanic, enabling him to take control of enemies and objects, each with unique abilities that open the doors for some pretty crazy tricks.
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Because of how natural the progress is, players will always feel like their discoveries are earned rather than given, and even when the game does present new ideas directly, they are never too drastic. It’s accessible, colorful, and most of all, pure fun, and the perfect starting point for players looking to experience the new era of 3D platforming.
Ori And The Blind Forest
Atmosphere At Its Best
Details:
- Satisfying movement that evolves through the game
- Strong emphasis on environmental storytelling
Ori and the Blind Forest blends precise platforming with a strong sense of atmosphere, creating a memorable and cohesive experience unlike any other in the genre. The movement begins simply but expands into a fluid system that allows players to chain jumps and dashes together, as they glide effortlessly across the beautiful yet strange world around them.
The level design leans into this fluidity, guiding players through interconnected areas filled with hazards and secrets that only become accessible once players have unlocked a new skill. From a mechanical point of view, it is a stellar example of how to do platforming movement right, and from a visual perspective, it is a stunning work of art that will have players in awe from start to finish.
Shovel Knight
Classic Design Made Modern
Details:
- Retro-inspired mechanics with modern polish
- Clear, readable level designs
Shovel Knight captures the essence of classic platformers while refining their design for modern audiences. The mechanics are simple but versatile, built around timing both jumps and attacks, and the levels are structured in a way to teach players through the gameplay, gradually introducing new challenges that slowly increase in difficulty over time.
There are enemies and objects to avoid, but their placements are carefully balanced, ensuring that each section feels fair while still demanding enough attention to keep players glued to the screen. And despite having a more retro aesthetic, the game looks incredibly clear, removing any clutter or awkwardness to ensure that what the player sees is what they get.
Rayman Legends
A Titan Of The Gaming World
Details:
- Fast-paced levels built around rhythm
- Co-op enhances the accessibility
Rayman Legends delivers a high-energy platforming experience defined by speed and motion. A lot of the levels are designed to maintain constant momentum, encouraging players to move quickly through the stage, and even when obstacles do arise, the tight controls allow them to quickly hop out of the way before moving on to the next hurdle.
The inclusion of cooperative play makes it especially welcoming for new players, allowing multiple people to all progress together, minus any competition over who is the top dog. This shared experience makes the small victories monumental and means that players of all kinds can all come together to enjoy the ride without ever being left behind.
A Hat in Time
Returning To A Simpler Era
Details:
- Inspired by classic 3D platformers
- Focus on exploration and collecting
A Hat in Time revisits the structure of classic 3D platformers, emphasizing exploration and collectible-driven progression within an entirely new universe. Each world offers distinct themes and mechanics, letting players experiment with the movement to uncover hidden paths and find new ways of navigating the more perilous areas.
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These 3D platformers available on Steam are perfect for fans of the genre.
Some challenges require a bit more mechanical input, but they are rarely too punishing, meaning that players can progress, even if it means failing a few times over. This balance between exploration and accessibility makes it a strong entry point for those unfamiliar with the genre, as well as diehards looking for something a little bit different.
Limbo
Eerie And Strange In All The Best Ways
Details:
- Minimal visual style
- Puzzle platforming built around environmental interactions
Limbo is a creepy puzzle-platformer that trades the vibrant aesthetics of the genre for a monochromatic palette that is complemented by an equally chilling world. Without any dialogue or real exposition, players find themselves moving through a gloomy world full of death and decay, solving simple puzzles and hopping between gaps to avoid a sticky end below.
As they delve deeper, more locations and snippets of the environment are revealed, giving players a better understanding of their place in the world while still keeping things obscure and open to interpretation. Now, nearly two decades on, the game remains one of the best in the genre, and an ideal place to kickstart a new platforming addiction.
Super Meat Boy
The Ultimate Test Of Skill
Details:
- Simple yet deviously designed levels
- Rapid respawns encourage constant retries
Super Meat Boy is a platformer with all the dials turned up to eleven. Right from the get-go, the game shows its true colors, being a challenging yet deeply rewarding platformer with a comedic story and style that will test players of all kinds, but also give newcomers an opportunity to dive into the deep end.
Early levels will have a few spikes and saws to avoid, but as things progress, the jumps become more complex, and the windows shrink, turning a few deaths into dozens in a matter of minutes. Despite the increasingly high challenge, it is a great game to pick up for new players, as no matter how many times they fail, they can instantly have another go, with no downtime or awkward restarts in the way.
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The original PlayStation was home to some beloved classics, but there were some wonderfully weird forgotten gems as well.
