The 10 Greatest Platformer Masterpieces Of All Time

Platformers began to take shape during the NES era, with many pegging Super Mario Bros. as the first true platforming legend in terms of video games. The genre has evolved since then, going from 2D to 3D in basically just the span of a decade.

This is one of the most stacked genres of all time, making it very difficult to narrow this list down to just ten games. There are absolute classics like Sonic Adventure and Super Mario 64, along with more modern hits like Donkey Kong Bananza and Astro Bot. How do those games rank? Let’s go through how their qualities stack up, taking into account their historical importance, replay value, controls, and level design.

10 It Takes Two

More Than A Platformer

It Takes Two is a great game, outdoing a lot of the other titles here in terms of variety. That said, that variety is a double-edged sword: players won’t spend as much time platforming here as in other games, but it still deserves to be on the list.

This co-op-only game redefined what a co-op game could be: challenging enough for the hardcore while also being accessible for beginners as long as they had a good partner alongside them. From playing video games to riding toads, players won't know what to expect from level to level.

9 Braid

Time Tactics

Braid was one of the first indie games on the Xbox 360 to explode in popularity, and fans haven’t been able to forget it ever since. The core story involved rescuing a princess, but the gameplay gimmick involved rewinding time.

Players didn’t have to worry about gathering extra lives in this 2D platformer because things would just automatically halt when something dangerous happened on screen. The rewinding feature also added a puzzle element to the game, giving fans more to think about than just hopping on platforms or enemies. It also sports one of the most memorable endings in gaming history, solidifying its place in the pantheon of platforming greats.

8 Sly 2: Band Of Thieves

In The Shadows

Sly 2: Band of Thieves is the middle chapter in the PS2 Sly Cooper trilogy, improving upon what came before by doubling down on the stealth while also adding new elements. This heist-based platformer gave players distinct worlds to explore between each mission, allowing them to swap between Sly, Bentley, and Murray within certain sections.

The star, Sly, was the stealthy one, Bentley had more gadgets to play with, and Murray was the brute force of the operation. Level designs were more elaborate, it played and looked better than its predecessor, and it remains a marvel among platformers to this day.

7 Sonic Adventure

Gotta Go Fast

The Dreamcast is a console that very briefly had its moment in the sun, with Sonic Adventure being the number one game to play on it. Sonic’s big 3D debut was not as game-changing as a certain plumber’s, but Sega proved that the Blue Blur could work tremendously well in 3D.

The sense of inertia players got while spinning in a loop or running from danger was intense, and the 3D games that followed never quite reached this game’s tier of awe-inspiring level design. Past the 2D era, Sonic Adventure is THE defining Sonic game to check out.

6 Super Meat Boy

Hamburger Hill

Super Meat Boy is another game from the early Xbox 360 days and the indie scene on Xbox Live, but it is significantly a more challenging and inventive game than Braid. What if, when Mario died during levels, he created a ghost image that players would then have to platform next to, comparing their current attempt to the previous one?

This was seemingly the question the development team asked themselves when deciding if the titular Meat Boy should have EVERY lost life run beside players as they tried to platform through the game's short but difficult levels. From dodging saw blades to avoiding spikes, the trials were elaborate and frustrating at times, but oh so satisfying upon completion.

5 Donkey Kong Bananza

Flex Those Gorilla Muscles

Donkey Kong Bananza is more than a platformer; it’s the ultimate destruction game. With Donkey Kong’s fists alone, he can smash through mountains like he's a hot knife going through butter.

Every thrown punch is deeply satisfying, but so is the platforming. DK has so much control, from climbing to surfing on rocks to transforming into different animals to gain different powers. It's the perfect way to reinvent the Donkey Kong series and an immediate must-play for Switch 2 owners.

4 Jak And Daxter: The Precursor Legacy

Crash’s Successor

Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy was the spiritual successor to Crash Bandicoot for Naughty Dog, the series that made a name for the developer. This game allowed the team to flex their storytelling prowess and comedic timing more so than the Crash Bandicoot games did, but it also gave players a big, semi-open-world to explore.

It followed the typical quest-based collect-a-thon style platformer formula that the N64 era became known for, except with way less hassle. It may not have the edge that the sequels got, but Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy holds up so much better than them because it puts platforming above cool gunplay.

3 Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

The Multiverse Of Madness

As far as the mainline games go, there is not a single Ratchet & Clank adventure that is bad, meaning each could make a case for itself to belong on this list. That said, the latest entry, Ratchet & Clank: A Rift Apart, has one distinct advantage: the multiverse.

When the PS5 launched, its big boast was faster loading times, and the way Insomniac Games demonstrated this feature was to allow players to warp between dimensions on the fly in certain situations. Visually, this game soars above even what a movie studio like Pixar can produce. As an action platformer, it’s also incredibly fun to play, from the set pieces to the inventive weapons.

2 Astro Bot

A Modern Classic

Astro Bot is another modern classic exclusive to the PS5. Without weapons, this platformer is instead all about cool powers, but it’s also a nostalgic game celebrating thirty years of PlayStation as a brand. Astro Bot features cameos from first-party and third-party PlayStation franchises, including Resident Evil, Okami, Metal Gear, God of War, Uncharted, and too many others to count.

Rescuing the little bots in each stage and getting a new surprise cameo is always a treat, but again, the power-based level design is also a big part of the fun here. From turning into a ball and rolling around on hot lava to turning into a big balloon and floating above the clouds, players never know what they’ll see next in Astro Bot.

1 Super Mario 64

There Wouldn't Be Platformers Without Mario

Mario made platformers what they are today in both 2D and 3D, and the amazing thing is how well all the Mario games hold up. Like Ratchet & Clank, nearly any Mario game could be nominated as the best platformer of all time, but in terms of what Super Mario 64 did for the genre, there is no finer example.

Letting players explore the castle while also being able to jump into paintings and explore levels in several different ways was an interesting idea that paid off in spades. The levels were memorable, from sliding with penguins to being chased by sea monsters, filling kids in the 90s and adults today with joy. It has been nearly 30 years, and there still isn't a platformer that can stand alongside Super Mario 64. It's a timeless classic for a reason.