Gamereactor’s Gamer Guides: essential platform –

The platform genre is not what it used to be. Aside from Nintendo and a few smaller developers, we largely don’t see many new platform titles making their debut. This also means that many of the platform icons of the past are less well-known today than they were a decade ago, including Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Sly Cooper, Jak and Daxter, Banjo-Kazooie, and so on. Fortunately, there are still plenty of promising and great platform games to enjoy, and as part of our Gamereactor’s Gamer Guides, I have chosen five that sum up the genius of this genre while paying homage to the past and present in the space.

5. Kick Knight

There are a plethora of indie platform games I could have selected for this list, but few have expanded in the same way as Shovel Knight. Developer Yacht Club debuted a love letter to pixel platformers here, offering a game with tight mechanics, plenty of depth, tons of charm, brilliant presentation and a fantastic sense of humor. In many ways, it is one of the perfect examples of what makes platformers great.

4. Psychonauts 2

Double Fine ‘s Psychonauts is a fantastic platform game in its own right, but its sequel Psychonauts 2 takes it a step further and goes with it. This is a game that has everything you expect from a platform game. It offers varied and unique gameplay mechanics, a multitude of eye-catching levels, tons of collectibles to find, eccentric characters, and all that while wrapped up in an engaging story. There are some great modern platform games out there, and Psychonauts 2 is one of the best.

3. Ori and the blind forest

The Metroidvania subgenre has been booming recently, but there are perhaps only a handful of examples as compelling, atmospheric and stunning as that of Moon Studios’ Ori and the Blind Forest. The precursor to the equally fantastic Ori and the Will of the Wisps, this game manages to excel and tell a truly emotional story without needing a single word of dialogue. It combines this with stunning visuals and accessible progression, making it a modern platformer.

2. Sonic mania

What about the platform games of yesteryear, you ask? Many are either difficult to access because of platforming limitations or, in this case, have been updated for modern technology. Sonic Mania brings back the brilliance of Sega’s famous hedgehog by enhancing the original experience with better visuals, sounds and performance, albeit while also offering ways to access the core and pristine originals. Sonic Mania is an ideal way to tap into the brilliance of the Blue Blur, both as a modern and retro platform game.

1. Super Mario Odyssey

If platform restrictions were not a thing and people had easy and free access to Nintendo Wii titles without having to buy one of the now discontinued consoles, Super Mario Galaxy would probably put this slot on the list. But Wii games are tough to access if you don’t have a console lying around today, so instead Super Mario Odyssey gets the spot. This is one of the most acclaimed and well-received titles of all time, and for good reason. There is tons of mechanical depth, plenty of unique worlds to explore, countless challenges to complete and collectibles to discover, all while simultaneously being a 3D platform game. This is one of the best examples of a game on the Nintendo Switch and is a must-play for platforming fans of all ages.