Platformer games are one of the oldest and most classic games out there. They have a nice mixture of adventure, wonder, skill, and intensity that make them incredibly fun to come back to and play all the time. Some of them might even be very stressful due to their added difficulty.
Let’s take a look at some of the best platformer games that will give you the most bang for your buck, and that have the most amount of content for what they are. Some of them are very difficult, while others offer a more friendly environment where you can relax and have fun!
Considering you’re here reading this, you might want more games than what is given to you in this list. If that is the case, then we have some other articles that might pique your interest. Maybe the best WW2 games can sate your need for combat? Or perhaps the best RPG games are more your style? Either way, you have a lot to choose from in those two lists, that’s for sure.
The best platformer games
Super Meat Boy
Super Meat Boy is one of the best platformer games where you control a cube-shaped boy made out of meat. The aim of the game is to rescue your girlfriend, Bandage Girl, from the evil antagonist who kidnaps her at every opportunity — Dr. Fetus. While the character thematic may seem a bit otherworldly, Super Meat Boy is still a fantastic game that you can play for hours and never get bored. You play the game on a level-by-level basis, where there are multiple levels spread across areas varying in theme. This means that you can be in a forest area with forest-themed levels to it, and later you might find yourself in a hospital setting where you’re jumping across giant pits of used needles. Ew. Either way, Super Meat Boy will provide you with an experience that is both fun and rewarding.
Hollow Knight
There is a characteristic subterranean insect theme that surrounds Hollow Knight, and it’s amazing. In this game, you play as an unnamed knight who has to journey into the underground kingdom located under the town of Dirtmouth. There are many riches there, waiting to be uncovered, as well as secrets that need answers. As you progress through the game you will find upgrades for your character that will give him different benefits depending on what you need. New weapons, skills, and items are all possible to uncover while you’re down there. Also, there is a wide variety of enemies that patrol the depths, looking for food. Defeating these enemies will eventually lead you to a boss. Bosses are very tough enemies that can be difficult to kill, so you’ll have to make sure you’re geared up before you tackle them. Once you start playing Hollow Knight you’ll see exactly why it’s one of the best platformer games to get.
Rayman Legends
Rayman Legends carries a very goofy, yet lovable atmosphere that anyone can love. In this game, you and your friends take control of some of the most popular characters from the original game, Rayman Origins. With over 120 playable levels, you can jump, zipline, and bash enemies all the time as you collect the various Lums and Teenies that are scattered around the map. There are some elements of rhythm games where you can earn bonus points by performing actions to the beat/music style of the song that is currently playing. For example, if you slide down a zipline while a guitar riff is playing, you get more points. The game isn’t all about running across levels, however, since you can also encounter bosses that shift the perspective of the game from 2D to 3D, adding depth and excitement where it is most needed. Wonderful game, and definitely among the best platformer games.
Shovel Knight
Of all the weapons you can expect a knight to wield, a shovel is not at the top of the list. Nevertheless, Shovel Knight is a thing and the game is quite fun if you appreciate retro graphics and a very simple premise. The game has an old-school 8-bit style which works very well considering the premise. Despite the art style, you can still expect Shovel Knight to live up to its rank among the best platformer games. Your goal is to cross the map, fight enemies and dig for treasure with the shovel you have so conveniently. While playing and digging you can find various treasures, including items that can help you progress through the well-written story. Something that will appeal to players who like difficulty, there is also a New Game+ feature that increases the damage your character takes, removes some checkpoints, but you keep all of the items you collected from the first playthrough.
Jump King
Here we have a game that has a lot of verticality to it. In Jump King, you are an insanely muscular knight with really powerful legs who has to jump up from platform to platform because of your strong motivation to get with the girl that’s waiting at the top. Reaching the top is no easy feat, since the levels get progressively more tricky, adding obstacles like slippery floors, windy areas, and much more. To jump, you need to hold the Space bar, and depending on how long you hold it, the higher you jump. This creates a situation where you can easily mess up and fall down to the beginning if you misjudge the height of a jump. The game is very frustrating at times because of the high risk of failure, but it is so addictive because you feel the need to reach the top no matter what. Simplicity is another factor of being one of the best platformer games we love to see.
Cuphead
In Cuphead, you play as a cup-headed man who has to fight different enemies across a variety of levels to get your soul back from the Devil after you lost it in a gambling rush. Interesting, isn’t it? Exactly. You can walk through an overworld where you talk to various NPCs to start levels, and the levels are shifted to a 2D perspective with run and gun gameplay. The enemies in these levels retain the same strange physical appearances as Cuphead, and each level ends with a boss waiting at the end. Getting hit by anything or falling off the map will take away one point of HP, so you have to always be careful and avoid damage as much as possible. While the story seems all over the place, it’s actually quite fun and immersive, if a bit stressful at times. If you are looking for one of the best platformer games that you can enjoy with a friend, there is also a co-op option where your friend takes control of Cuphead’s best friend, Mugman.
Celeste
Celeste is one of the best platformer games that follows the same 8-bit style as other games on this list, but with a different story. You play as Madeline, a young lady who has to scale Mt. Celeste simply because she wants to. On the way up you will go through complex levels with many traps, but you can avoid those by using the in-game air acrobatic mechanics such as the mid-air dash, which can only be performed once per jump. Since the game has a rich story and many opportunities to talk to other characters and learn new things, you can actually upgrade your dash to cross a greater distance. Utilizing everything the game gives you will make sure you experience it to the fullest and that you can enjoy the vibrant storyline in peace.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
One of the most beautiful and vibrant game experiences of 2020, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a fantastic game where you control the protagonist of the previous game, Ori as he goes on a journey to restore order to the forest. The levels are intricate with many different enemies populating them, and you can utilize Ori’s skills and attacks to either kill those enemies or traverse the terrain more easily. Skills are more easily accessed than the previous game, and now you can access all of them through a circular level with a single click. Skills are purchased using shards randomly found in the woods or purchased in the new hub area of the game. Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a wonderful adventure where you will notice some themes such as friendship, teamwork, and hope in full effect through the well-designed characters. All of the elements we have mentioned cement this game’s place among the best platformer games.
Super Mario 64
When picking a platformer game, you can’t go wrong with the classics. The classic games are often the best platformer games to get started with the genre. Super Mario 64 was released in 1996 and continues to be a wonderful adventure that is replayable to bits. As the title implies, you control Mario as he goes on a quest to save Princess Peach after she was kidnapped by Bowser, much like previous titles of the series. You will cross many levels varying in theme populated with many enemies from the classic games. Mario can do much more than run and jump in this game and you will discover the various ways you can move as you make your way through the story. Super Mario 64 is a game that stands as a testament that an older game can be more than good enough for a modern audience.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure
This game is incredibly cute and wholesome, just like the protagonist. You play as Sackboy, a sackperson who has avoided the evil onslaught of the antagonist, Vex, who has vacuumed the rest of his people to use for malicious purposes. You have the plans for his evil machine, and you have to go on an adventure to foil Vex’s plans. As you play through the game you will complete many levels and unlock new ones periodically. The game is presented in a 2.5D perspective, so it has a bit more depth than other best platformer games. There are also some puzzle mechanics that utilize Sackboy’s body in different ways, so you have to be creative. If you want a game that is colorful, whimsical, and fun, Sackboy: A Big Adventure is for you!
There you have it! The best platformer games you can play in 2022. Some of them are older and follow the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” methodology, so they have a classic appearance and simple gameplay. We sincerely hope that you have found what you were looking for, and if you still want more, then take a look at the best IOS games and the best naval games!