Opinion: The best platformer games you can play today

Platforming has been a staple of video games for almost as long as video games have been around. The genre really took off with the release of Super Mario Bros. for the NES, kicking off a golden age of platformers that’s persisted in one way or another for over 30 years.

Modern platformers can be found on every platform – no pun intended – under the sun, from the Nintendo Switch and the PS5 to the Xbox Series X|S and PC. There are platformers from major publishers and some incredible platformers from indie devs, and no matter if you like it bright and bubbly or dark and moody, there’s a platformer for you out there.

With so many platformers out there, finding the right one for you might be a bit challenging, which is why we’ve come up with this list of the best platformer games available to play right now. We’re playing it pretty loose with the term “platformer” here, but our general rule is that if jumping is either the main gameplay mechanic or among the main gameplay mechanics, it probably counts.

With that out of the way, let’s get into it — these are the best platformer games on the market today. Every single one of these games has a metascore of at least 80/100 on review aggregator website Metacritic.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Mario is where the genre really took off, and Nintendo’s still pumping out bangers to this very day. The latest and greatest of the 2D Mario games, Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a magical journey through some of the most inventive levels ever seen in any platformer. Grabbing a Wonder Flower in a level changes everything up further, and the whole game is just a visual, audio, and gameplay treat.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is available on Nintendo Switch.

Sonic Mania

Of course, where there’s Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog isn’t far behind. The blue blur has had a rough time of things in the last two decades, but Sonic Mania was a throwback of the very best kind, a return to a simpler, better time for the hedgehog. Sonic Mania is packed with fantastic levels that take everything the first three Sonic games did well and turn them up to 11. It’s an absolute blast of high-speed, colorful gameplay, and it’s well worth checking out.

Sonic Mania is available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC, and mobile platforms.

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair

The first Yooka-Laylee game was a retro-style throwback to Banjo Kazooie, with all the 3D platforming goodness you’d want, but it was a bit divisive and had a few problems. Developer Playtonic followed it up with a game that’s clearly inspired by games like Donkey Kong Country, and it’s absolutely fantastic. There’s some really wonderful levels, a bit of tough-as-nails platforming if you like the challenge, and incredible music from David Wise and Grant Kirkhope, just to sell the vibe.

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

Celeste

Celeste is one of the best platformers you’ll ever play. It’s very challenging, but overcoming that challenge is part of the journey, and the core part of the game. Don’t worry though, if you need a little bit of help there’s an assist mode with a host of options, including the ability to slow down time, have a few extra mid-air jumps, and even be invincible. It’s a gorgeous, incredible game that’s well worth your time.

Celeste is available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection

Most of the Mega Man games are great, but the Mega Man Zero series is a step above. It’s hard to strictly call Mega Man Zero a platformer, it’s a bit more of an action game series, but they’re all fantastic. You take control of Zero, one of Mega Man’s key allies in the Mega Man X series, using a mix of weapons like swords, guns, and a few more exotic ones. Again, it’s somewhat light on platforming, but it’s still in there, and it’s pretty satisfying when you get to it. The Zero/ZX Legacy Collection features all of the games in the Zero series, as well as ZX and ZX Advent, which both bring a little bit of metroidvania into the mix, too.

Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection is available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

Pizza Tower

Pizza Tower was the big breakout indie hit of 2023, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s got a wildly unique art style, and it’s inspired by the Wario Land series. It’s hard to explain how or why Pizza Tower works, but after a few minutes playing you’ll see it — it looks good, it sounds great, and it’s fantastic to play.

Pizza Tower is available on PC and Nintendo Switch.

Dead Cells

Look, we said we’d be playing it a bit loose with the definition of a platformer, but Dead Cells deserves a mention in any list in which it’s even vaguely applicable. This roguelike metroidvania game is one of the best games you’ll ever play, with a fascinating progression system, tight, satisfying platforming and combat, and a story that grips you as it unravels with each life and each death.

Dead Cells is available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, PC, and mobile platforms.

Astro Bot

Astro Bot is the newest game on this list, and it’s easily one of the best platformers in recent years. A PS5 exclusive from Team Asobi, Astro Bot is a delightful tour through Sony’s video game history — but it’s also a super tight platformer with challenging, but fair, level design, excellent controls, and hundreds of secrets to discover. If you’re looking for a platformer on PS5, look no further than Astro Bot.

Astro Bot is available on PS5.