The Best Platformers for 2021

Virtual reality helps solve a problem 3D platfomers have struggled with for years.

When you can fully see a level’s depth, it’s much easier to accurately gauge jumps in 3D space.

With PlayStation VR, Astro Bot Rescue Mission gives you the perfect perspective to tackle its 360-degree worlds. If you like this, check out Astro Bot's latest mission on the PS5 with the DualSense controller.

Platforms: PlayStation 4

Celeste sets out to be two very ambitious games at once.

It wants to be a soulful meditation on dealing with mental illness, as well as a 2D platformer with levels that demand you master the pitch-perfect controls.

It succeeds at both goals, but if the challenge is too high for you the highly adjustable difficulty options let you experience the story the way you want.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS, Windows 10

Mega Man became a beloved series on the NES with its beautiful blend of tricky platforming and tough shooting gauntlets.

Decades later, the formula still holds up.

Mega Man 11 adds slick modern visuals, new difficulty options, and another killer soundtrack.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows 10

Originally a VR game, New Super Lucky’s Tale harkens back to the days of classic 3D platformers on the N64 and PlayStation.

But those games (or even modern indie rivals like A Hat in Time or Yooka-Laylee) never looked as good or played as well as this.

Considering the game’s connection to Microsoft, this is like the alternate universe family-friendly Conker game we never got. 

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows 10

Metroidvanias typically focus on giving players an interesting nonlinear map to explore or cool powers to explore it with rather than polishing their platforming mechanics to a shine.

However, Ori and the Will of the Wisps manages to have a gorgeous and complex world, plenty of nifty abilities, and some of the best pure platforming controls we’ve ever used.  

Platforms: Xbox One, Windows 10

Before Ratchet and Clank comes to PlayStation 5, check out this PlayStation 4 reimagining of the first adventure starring Sony’s mascot duo.

Travel colorful, sci-fi worlds and shoot wacky guns.

Just try to forget about the mediocre animated movie this game is ostensibly trying to promote.  

Platforms: PlayStation 4

Shovel Knight used its Kickstarter success to deliver a fantastic homage to retro platformers.

By taking mechanics from a variety of sources (the Mario map screen, the Castlevania weapon system, the DuckTales shovel pogo stick attack) Shovel Knight honors an entire era of gaming rather than one example.

The three additional expansions included in Treasure Trove are basically entire new games in their own right. 

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS, Windows 10

Platformers test players’ ability to move through a space.

But jumping is just one way they can make that happen.

Snake Pass asks, “Why not slithering?” Kooky controls really put you in the mindset of a serpent, forcing you to figure out how to wrap your wriggling body around objects and slink your way to victory.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows 10

Before he was a complete joke, Sonic the Hedgehog starred in some legitimately cool 2D platformers that put the Sega Genesis on the map.

Sonic Mania strips away the annoying friends and awful 3D experiments to return to that time when Sonic was about awesome speed and funky beats.

You can practically feel the love the fan developers pack into every frame. 

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows 10

Crash Bandicoot may be the more famous old-school PlayStation platforming mascot, but I maintain Spyro the Dragon actually stars in better games.

Breathing fire and flying through open skies is more fun than running through cramped jungle corridors in jorts.

Fortunately, like Crash, Spyro also received a gorgeous HD remake of his original three games with Spyro Reignited Trilogy.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows 10

After revolutionizing the platforming genre, and video games as a whole, with Super Mario Bros., Nintendo gave us the keys to the kingdom with Super Mario Maker 2.

I can think of nothing more poignant.

This one of the most intuitive pieces of game creation software ever sold, allowing you to easily explore and experiment with your blossoming Mario level design ideas.

Even if you aren’t a creator, the ability to play nearly infinite fan-made Mario levels makes this one a must-buy. 

Platforms: Nintendo Switch

Mario games come in all shapes in sizes.

Early 3D Mario games gave players huge levels to explore while later entries opted for dense, linear obstacle courses.

Super Mario Odyssey brings back that spirit of discovery we all loved in Super Mario 64.

Mario can jump freely across a variety of open stages, including ones based on real locations like Mexico and New York City.

He can also throw his hat on enemies and objects to control their bodies, an ability that’s equal parts hilarious and horrifying. 

Platforms: Nintendo Switch

Super Meat Boy takes all the raucous edgy energy of gross indie Flash games on Newgrounds and turns it into a triumph of a 2D platformer.

Sure you’ll get murdered over and over again by the sadistic level design.

But the sublime controls make your eventual victory all the more satisfying?—that and seeing all of your past lives die all at once at the end.

Play this before checking out the sequel Super Meat Bot Forever.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS, Windows 10

For years Nintendo has made some of their cutest mascots even more adorable by rendering their worlds out of fabric material like yarn and wool.

Yoshi’s Crafted World takes this DIY aesthetic to its logical conclusion with stages that might as well be Kindergarten dioramas.

The gentle level design also means that children in Kindergarten should be able to enjoy this with no problems. 

Platforms: Nintendo Switch

Virtual reality helps solve a problem 3D platfomers have struggled with for years.

When you can fully see a level’s depth, it’s much easier to accurately gauge jumps in 3D space.

With PlayStation VR, Astro Bot Rescue Mission gives you the perfect perspective to tackle its 360-degree worlds. If you like this, check out Astro Bot's latest mission on the PS5 with the DualSense controller.

Platforms: PlayStation 4

Celeste sets out to be two very ambitious games at once.

It wants to be a soulful meditation on dealing with mental illness, as well as a 2D platformer with levels that demand you master the pitch-perfect controls.

It succeeds at both goals, but if the challenge is too high for you the highly adjustable difficulty options let you experience the story the way you want.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS, Windows 10

Mega Man became a beloved series on the NES with its beautiful blend of tricky platforming and tough shooting gauntlets.

Decades later, the formula still holds up.

Mega Man 11 adds slick modern visuals, new difficulty options, and another killer soundtrack.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows 10

Originally a VR game, New Super Lucky’s Tale harkens back to the days of classic 3D platformers on the N64 and PlayStation.

But those games (or even modern indie rivals like A Hat in Time or Yooka-Laylee) never looked as good or played as well as this.

Considering the game’s connection to Microsoft, this is like the alternate universe family-friendly Conker game we never got. 

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows 10

Metroidvanias typically focus on giving players an interesting nonlinear map to explore or cool powers to explore it with rather than polishing their platforming mechanics to a shine.

However, Ori and the Will of the Wisps manages to have a gorgeous and complex world, plenty of nifty abilities, and some of the best pure platforming controls we’ve ever used.  

Platforms: Xbox One, Windows 10

Before Ratchet and Clank comes to PlayStation 5, check out this PlayStation 4 reimagining of the first adventure starring Sony’s mascot duo.

Travel colorful, sci-fi worlds and shoot wacky guns.

Just try to forget about the mediocre animated movie this game is ostensibly trying to promote.  

Platforms: PlayStation 4

Shovel Knight used its Kickstarter success to deliver a fantastic homage to retro platformers.

By taking mechanics from a variety of sources (the Mario map screen, the Castlevania weapon system, the DuckTales shovel pogo stick attack) Shovel Knight honors an entire era of gaming rather than one example.

The three additional expansions included in Treasure Trove are basically entire new games in their own right. 

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS, Windows 10

Platformers test players’ ability to move through a space.

But jumping is just one way they can make that happen.

Snake Pass asks, “Why not slithering?” Kooky controls really put you in the mindset of a serpent, forcing you to figure out how to wrap your wriggling body around objects and slink your way to victory.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows 10

Before he was a complete joke, Sonic the Hedgehog starred in some legitimately cool 2D platformers that put the Sega Genesis on the map.

Sonic Mania strips away the annoying friends and awful 3D experiments to return to that time when Sonic was about awesome speed and funky beats.

You can practically feel the love the fan developers pack into every frame. 

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows 10

Crash Bandicoot may be the more famous old-school PlayStation platforming mascot, but I maintain Spyro the Dragon actually stars in better games.

Breathing fire and flying through open skies is more fun than running through cramped jungle corridors in jorts.

Fortunately, like Crash, Spyro also received a gorgeous HD remake of his original three games with Spyro Reignited Trilogy.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows 10

After revolutionizing the platforming genre, and video games as a whole, with Super Mario Bros., Nintendo gave us the keys to the kingdom with Super Mario Maker 2.

I can think of nothing more poignant.

This one of the most intuitive pieces of game creation software ever sold, allowing you to easily explore and experiment with your blossoming Mario level design ideas.

Even if you aren’t a creator, the ability to play nearly infinite fan-made Mario levels makes this one a must-buy. 

Platforms: Nintendo Switch

Mario games come in all shapes in sizes.

Early 3D Mario games gave players huge levels to explore while later entries opted for dense, linear obstacle courses.

Super Mario Odyssey brings back that spirit of discovery we all loved in Super Mario 64.

Mario can jump freely across a variety of open stages, including ones based on real locations like Mexico and New York City.

He can also throw his hat on enemies and objects to control their bodies, an ability that’s equal parts hilarious and horrifying. 

Platforms: Nintendo Switch

Super Meat Boy takes all the raucous edgy energy of gross indie Flash games on Newgrounds and turns it into a triumph of a 2D platformer.

Sure you’ll get murdered over and over again by the sadistic level design.

But the sublime controls make your eventual victory all the more satisfying?—that and seeing all of your past lives die all at once at the end.

Play this before checking out the sequel Super Meat Bot Forever.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS, Windows 10

For years Nintendo has made some of their cutest mascots even more adorable by rendering their worlds out of fabric material like yarn and wool.

Yoshi’s Crafted World takes this DIY aesthetic to its logical conclusion with stages that might as well be Kindergarten dioramas.

The gentle level design also means that children in Kindergarten should be able to enjoy this with no problems. 

Platforms: Nintendo Switch