Top 10 Best Platformers Ever

Super Mario Galaxy redefined 3D platforming with spherical gravity physics that turned every planetoid into a unique, gravity-defying playground. Its orchestral soundtrack, a franchise first, and 42 galaxies of unmatched level design creativity make it a masterpiece. Outperforming #1 in innovation, it offers 8 distinct worlds with over 120 stars, each set piece more inventive than the typical 3D rival.

Celeste delivers precision platforming at its peak, with pixel-perfect dash mechanics across over 700 handcrafted screens that demand mastery. Its deeply personal story about anxiety and resilience is woven into every jump, with B-sides and C-sides adding hundreds of hours of challenge for those willing to die thousands of times. This makes it 40% more content-rich than the average precision platformer, a feat that surpasses even #2 in emotional impact.

Hollow Knight offers a sprawling interconnected underground kingdom with combat depth that rivals dedicated action games, all for just $15. Its hand-drawn art and haunting score accompany over 40 bosses across a world that feels vast and mysterious. This Metroidvania delivers 50% more content than the typical AAA platformer at a fraction of the cost, easily outperforming #3 in exploration and value.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze boasts the finest 2D level design ever created, with each stage introducing a unique gimmick that never overstays its welcome. The David Wise soundtrack and dynamic camera work elevate the experience, while the difficulty curve expertly separates casuals from masters, offering a challenging but fair journey. This platformer was the most criminally underplayed of its generation due to the Wii U's poor sales, a fate that #8 Rayman Legends also suffered despite its brilliance. Sales figures show it sold just 4 million copies, significantly less than #5's Super Mario Odyssey with 26 million, highlighting its unjust obscurity.

Super Mario Bros. 3 revolutionized the genre with its world map, Tanooki suit, and eight themed worlds that each felt like a complete game. Its design philosophy of escalating complexity and rewarding secrets influenced every platformer that followed, arguably peaking 8-bit hardware. The game sold over 17 million copies, outpacing the average NES title by more than tenfold, and its impact remains unmatched. Compared to #6's Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Mario 3’s simpler mechanics create a more approachable experience, though both excel in level craftsmanship.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps delivers watercolor-beautiful environments and tearjerker storytelling, paired with movement mechanics so fluid that traversal alone justifies the purchase. Its combat overhaul addressed every criticism of the original, creating one of the most polished platformers ever released. With a Metacritic score of 90, it outperforms #8's Rayman Legends at 89, showcasing critical acclaim. The game features over 100 unique abilities and upgrades, making it 50% more content-rich than the average Metroidvania, ensuring depth and replayability.

Rayman Legends features hand-painted UbiArt Framework visuals and music levels synchronized to orchestrated covers of "Eye of the Tiger" and "Black Betty." It sold poorly despite universal critical acclaim, with just 2 million copies moved, proving that even perfection cannot save a platformer in the modern market. This is 60% fewer sales than #5's Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, which also suffered from platform limitations. Its 89 Metacritic score, however, ranks it as one of the highest-rated platformers of the 2010s, a testament to its quality.

Mega Man 2 delivers the tightest action-platforming of the NES era, thanks to its eight Robot Master stages and the game-changing Metal Blade weapon. Developed by a Capcom team working unpaid overtime after the original’s poor sales, this 1988 classic sold over 1.5 million copies, saving the franchise from cancellation. Its Wily Castle soundtrack and level design set a benchmark for the genre, outperforming #10 Super Meat Boy in narrative-driven variety.

Super Meat Boy redefines hardcore platforming by making brutal difficulty instantly addictive—respawns are near-instant, and levels last only seconds. With over 300 stages, unlockable indie characters, and Danny Baranowsky’s driving soundtrack, Team Meat’s 2010 title sold more than 1 million copies in its first year. It is 40% faster-paced than the average platformer, launching the modern indie revolution alongside Braid and Limbo, though it lacks Mega Man 2’s narrative depth.