Top 10 Platformers To Play Right Now

Heart Machine’s Solar Ash is a bold and kinetic platformer that showcases the power of Heart Machine. Rei, the voidrunner is charged with collapsing Ultravoid. It’s a huge black hole that threatens to consume her planet. Motion is central to Solar Ash with Rei’s abilities ensuring you’re always moving forward by smoothly skating, grinding, and grappling her way through vibrant, dream-like environments. Along the way, bosses known as Remnants must be taken out in service of ending the threat of the Ultravoid’s ceaseless hunger, providing epic large-scale encounters to the mix. Those looking for satisfying, often heartbreaking, lore can find it within side activities which also play into Rei’s personal development as she strives to save her home. Solar Ash, with its stunning visuals and smooth navigation is an amazing journey.Our Review | Our Review

The Ratchet & Clank franchise was born on the PS2. Although many of their predecessors, like Jak, Daxter, or Sly Cooper seem to have gone, the cosmic duo still manages to make a great time. Rift Apart takes our best buds into a new reality and makes the most of Sony’s new hardware with a new rift mechanic. Rivet, Ratchet’s protagonist can use rifts in order to quickly teleport between environments and into completely different realities.Our Review Ratchet & Clank’s traditional platforming-mixed-with-gunplay returns. We couldn’t get enough of Rift Apart’s zany weapons, such as the Cold Snap that encases enemies in giant, cocktail-ready ice cubes or the Topiary Sprinkler that turns enemies into stunning garden shrubs. | Our Review

This Switch rerelease of the 2013 Wii U platformer gave fans a chance to revisit Nintendo’s 4-player adventure – especially if they skipped the Wii U. As Mario and friends rescue the fairy-like creatures called Sprixies from Bowser’s grasp, they turn into cats and claw their way to the top of each flagpole. Nintendo decided to add a side-game to the package. It shines every bit as brightly, however. Bowser’s Fury might be short, but it has more great ideas than many full releases. Ingenious new game that puts Mario in an open-world setting, players are asked to gather Cat Shines. Then they will have to go toe-to toe with Bowser (a small kaiju). The platforming tasks are small enough that you can lose track of the entire evening in one go.Our Review Bowser might be furious; we’re anything but. | Our Review

2018’s PSVR release Astro Bot Rescue Mission plastered a smile on our face, but we’re glad that even those who don’t have a VR headset can enjoy Astro’s follow-up adventure. Better still, Sony gave away the game; Astro’s Playroom comes free to anyone who owns a PlayStation 5. The lighthearted, humorous experience also serves as a loving letter to PlayStation Brand. Hang-gliding over electrical canyons and collecting coins from frozen cliffs was a great experience. We also enjoyed bouncing on lilypads wearing frog suits.Our Review The title is also an impressive tech demo for Sony’s newest controller, and the DualSense’s haptic feedback offers realistic tactile vibrations, adding depth to the feel of walking on sand, standing in rainfall, or pushing against the wind. | Our Review

Nineteen years is a long time to wait for just about anything, and many fans thoughts they’d never see a sequel to Double Fine’s beloved Xbox-era platformer. Young acrobat and gifted psychic Raz returns for some fresh antics; this time, he’s left the summer camp for gifted individuals to join the world-famous organization that gives the series its name. However, there is an evil mole in the organisation that threatens to reveal a secret that can destabilize global governments. Raz has to go into damaged minds and assist people dealing with their trauma.Our Review We never knew what to expect next, from a casino-themed hospital to a cooking game show to a psychedelic ‘60s band tour. | Our Review

Mario is the king of platformers, so you shouldn’t be surprised to see him on this list more than once. Naturally, we had to pick Mario’s big Switch outing because it remains a non-stop rollercoaster ride of brilliant ideas. Every level is jam-packed with engaging, interactive moments, from tearing through a forest as a T. rex to bouncing off springy flowers in a frozen desert to jumping into a wall for a 2D platforming sequence that recalls Mario’s early days. In Odyssey, Mario’s iconic headgear has also come to life, allowing Mario to possess any entity that wears the hat. Sure, possession sounds scary, but who wouldn’t want Nintendo’s chubby plumber running around in their head. | Our Review

Hazelight Studios pioneered its co-op-only approach to action games with 2018’s A Way Out, but the team really hit its stride with 2021’s It Takes Two. Cody and May are a married couple staring down the barrel of a life-altering divorce when their daughter makes a wish, and the couple’s souls end up inside a pair of handmade dolls. Although the story sounds like something out of a Disney movie, it’s actually quite original. Cody, May, and their co-pilots must collaborate to help squirrels fight a hive stinger, swing through trees, and use magnets for platforms on a variety of gears. It Takes Two has a unique co-op experience.Our Review | Our Review

These days, it’s easy to make fun of Sonic, but 2017’s Sonic Mania wasn’t just a return to Sonic’s 2D glory days, it was easily one of the best Sonic games to date. After the events of Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Sonic and his friends discover that something is amiss on Angel Island. Dr. Eggman, along with his EggRobos team are one step ahead. They plan to use a magic gemstone as a weapon against evil. Mania is a collaboration between members of the Rom hacking community, who worked first on Sonic fangames and then later on official mobile ports. Mania has a deep understanding of what makes Sonic unique. Many of Sonic Mania’s levels start as riffs on familiar stages from yesteryear, but they quickly evolve into exciting platforming experiences all their own. Sonic, Tails and Knuckles race together across deserts sandswept, avoid trash compactor deathtraps and make use of the new drop dash in order to beat Dr. Eggman.Our Review | Our Review

Fall Guys isn’t the first game you’d think of when coming up with a list of the best platformers, but this nail-biting competitive experience is so compelling that there is no question it should be here. It’s a mix of battle royales, and games shows. Takeshi’s Castle And WipeoutIn Fall Guys, 60 players compete against each other in an array of platforming and competitive challenges. They are just as much fun to watch than to do.Our Review Whether we were ping-ponging from one bouncing platform to the next, racing across the disappearing floors, or navigating a field of spinning windmills, we couldn’t resist the pull to start “just one more match” whenever we landed on our face. | Our Review

Since the release of Crash Bandicoot: Warped in 1998, we’ve seen dozens of games starring this goofball marsupial. However, as the name implies, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is a return in form to the glories days of the platformer that put Naughty Dog on the map. Developer Toys for Bob did a fantastic job recapturing the magic of ‘90s-era 2.5D platforming while keeping the action fresh thanks to the inclusions of Quantum Masks that slow time, turn the world upside-down, and cause all manner of havoc. The action is reenergized by the addition of playable characters.Our Review For example, Tawna comes equipped with a grappling hook for some high-flying action, and Dingodile’s powerful vacuum allows him to suck up boxes from across the screen. | Our Review