Facebook
Reddit
Email
Here are the 5 best platformers that have pioneered in the genre for the last decade and are considered as classics.
The best platformers are ones that have nailed the feeling of movement in their games. And the rest is up to the level design, and their game play mechanics. All the games mentioned in the list have one way or another changed the genre. They are strictly categorized on how well players can move around inside a fun level or a world. There are several other games, but here are the 5 best platformers that you should definitely play.
Note: The contents of this article reflect the personal choice of the author.
The 5 Best Platformers To Play
1. Celeste
Out of all the games on this list, Celeste will probably make you sweat the hardest. From deep movement tech to levels that are very well designed, this indie game is considered one of the best platformers. Celeste was a product of a game jam by Noel Berry and Maddy Thorson. However, they slowly released chapters for the game that we can play in the final product today.
The base game is fun to play. But, when you start collecting Cassettes, that is where the game takes the difficulty up a notch. Abilities and levels are easy to learn but hard to master. The alternate B-side tape levels are well known for their difficulty and precise inputs required to clear them. Underneath the fun gameplay loop, the story involves Madeline, a woman climbing a mountain.
Madeline is faced by challenges of the mountain and her own journey of the heart. And the story concluded in 9 chapters spanning a year and a half. Celeste offers a good time to those who love a challenge. Plus, tight controls that reward skill and investment into learning the game.
2. Hollow Knight: Silksong
After six long years of waiting, the sequel to one of gaming’s indie giant, Hollow Knight Silksong is out in 2025. With hand drawn animations rendered in-game, Silksong has been added to the game of the year’s list among games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Blue Prince and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.
Hollow Knight Silksong follows Hornet, one of the first game’s NPC. However, Hollow Knight is mainly known for its lost Kingdom and exploring its every corner. Before a platformer, it’s a metroidvania. But, the game’s platforming sections are merged into its world, making area to area traversal fun and memorable. From the deep lava pits of Deep Docks to the lush green areas of Shellwood and Verdania, Silksong is much bigger than its prequel.
The prequel was known for a specific platforming challenge known as the path of pain, added much in its DLC, The Grimm Troupe. Maybe a similar section will arrive in Silksong as well later. However, for now, the platforming challenges are not Celeste B-side difficulty, but difficult nonetheless. On the bright side, Hornet has a range of tools and movement mechanics that you can use to full advantage.
3. Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight is one of the headliners in the platforming genre, as its success has been overwhelming to date. From a small four man team in Australia, Team Cherry has crafted one of the best 2d Metroidvanias/platformer of all time. The game’s formula of letting the player explore its world without any pointers feels closer to the Soulslike trilogy, but in 2d. The graphics of the game are simple, but have a unique charm. Moreover, movement in Hollow Knight is precise and is required to cross the several platforming sections in the game.
Notoriously, the path of pain in Hollow Knight is one of the hardest sections (optional) in the game. However, there are several other sections in the game that make it a well-known platformer. The game’s success has led to its sequel, which has already broken 4 million sales since launch in 2025.
4. Dead Cells
In this list, Dead Cells might be the only game where platforming takes a step back. Rather than its level design and platforming sections, Dead Cells is more focused on combat and its roguelike elements. However, as the game becomes more difficult, the finesse of its movement mechanics is more apparent.
Smooth, fast, and precise, its movement fuses with its combat, as players slowly realize that not getting hit is the only way to play the game. With very less alternatives to acquiring health in the game, it gives players an incentive to constantly use its dodge roll, and simply killing enemies faster than they can hit you is best. It might not have any hard platforming sections, but its movement and combat weave a different platforming experience in the 2d space.
5. Mirror’s Edge
Mirror’s Edge is a first-person platformer that focuses on momentum and parkour, and is one of the first in this genre to receive success. You have to guide a female protagonist through a series of levels that have obstacles and enemies. Combat is a main element of the game, but its gameplay loop mainly involves parkour techniques and taking down enemies as fast as possible. Its story is a bit lacking in depth, but the gameplay is solid, with movement that feels very real and grounded.
Its graphics also have a unique theme. Minimalistic, but real enough to immerse and enjoy. The level designs might feel a bit curated due to the protagonist’s ability, but it’s a game about being as fast as you can, while looking cool.
Thank you for reading the article. We provide the latest news and create guides for new and old titles, including Death Stranding 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, Roblox, Destiny 2, and more.
