Summary
- 3D platformers were a hallmark of a specific era of gaming, with many all-time classics stemming from that time.
- There are plenty of indie games inspired by that same era, but brought into modern quality and design philosophy.
- Not to say 3D platformers are only old school, Triple A games of the modern age still make the most of the genre.
Super Mario 64 chang♒ed video games forever. Although it wasn't the first 3D platf📖orming adventure, it served as a pioneer for 3D gaming, paving the way for decades of fantastic 3D platformers.
16⭕8澳洲幸运5开奖网: Best Platformer Games Of🎉 All Time
💝The platformer is one of the oldest and🔥 most beloved genres of all time. If you're a fan of them, these are the titles you NEED to play.
Of course, �𓄧�like any other genre of games, 3D platformers contain some more accessible titles to newcomers alongside some brutally difficult ones. If you love this genre of gaming and want to discover some new titles but don't want them to be too difficult, here are some great picks.
Updated December 25, 2024, by Branden Lizardi: There's something special about your first video game. Gaming can be complex, with plenty of confusing and convoluted games out there. So your first game should be something easy to understand and play. With video games being a great holiday gift, we've updated this list so that you can be as informed as possible this season.
1 🎃 Human Fall Flat
Silly, Floppy Fun
- Released
- July 22, 2016 😼
- ESRB
- E for Everyon𒅌e
- Developer(s)
- No Brakes Games ಞ
- Publisher(s)
- 𓆏 🔜 Curve Digital
- Engine
- Unity
- Multiplayer
- 🔴 Local Co-Op, Online Co-Op
- Number of Players
- 1-2
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical Only 💧
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, Xbox One, Stadia, Switch, Android, iOS, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Series X, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Series S, PS5
- How Long To Beat
- 8 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- ✃ 3 GB (November 2023) ꦏ
- Metascore
- 67
- Local Co-Op Support
- ♈ 1-2 Players
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
The premise of Human Fall Flat is fairly simple: get to the end of the stage. You do this by solving various simple puzzles and traversing a sometimes treacheꦅrous landscape. The catch? Your controls aren't exactly commonplace. You arms poiꦦnt where you are looking. Look up to reach a high ledge, for example, grab it, and look down to lift yourself up.
While the control scheme might seem intimidating at first, it becomes pretty easy to grasp after some practice. With a light-hearted tone, and multiplayer functionality, this can makꦐe for a great introduction to a silly bit of gaming. And a more experienced player can always🤡 help you along.
2 💜 Sonic Adventure 2
Trust Me And We Will Escape From The City
- Released
- June 19, 2001 𝕴
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Sonic Team USA🔯
- Publisher(s)
- Sega
- Engine
- ♋ The Hedgehog Engine 💞
- Multiplayer
- 𓆉 Local Multiplayer
- Franchise
- 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Sonic the Hedgehog
- Platform(s)
- 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Sega Dreamcast, PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox One
- How Long To Beat
- 9 Hours
When it comes to influential video games, few can sit as high on the rankings 🌠as Sonic Adventure 2. The blue hedgehog's second foray into 3D platforming, it was massive improvement from the previous game. Play as Sonic, hꦏis friends, or even his enemies, with each level advancing an intertwining plotline that puts the whole world in danger. It even introduces the now beloved anti-hero, Shadow the Hedgehog.
What it lacked in polish, it made up for ten fold in creativity. The plot is presented in three separate story arch, two of them happening at the same time. It had fast running levels, slower mech levels, and seek-and-find treasure hunts. It even featured the Chao Garden, a "pet simulator" ꦓstyle mini game with surprising levels of depth and complexity. it may not be the best 3D platformer you've ever played, but it will definately be one of the most memorable.
Sonic Adventure 2 was originally for the Dreamcast, gaining even more popularity when it released on the Nintendo Gamecube as Sonic Adventurဣe 2: Battle. Luckily, the game was eventually ported to♐ PC and can be found on Steam today.
3 Luigi's Mansion 3
Adorable Horror
- Released
- October♋ 31, 2019
- ESRB
- E For Everyone du꧂e to Comic Mischief, Mild Cartoon Violence
- Developer(s)
- 💧 Next Level Games 💦
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Multiplayer
- Online Mul𝕴tiplayer 🍸
- Franchise
- Luigi's Mansion
- Platform(s)
- 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Nintendo Switch
- How Long To Beat
- 13 Hours
Luigi's Mansion 3 might not be a 3D platformer in the traditional sense. However, it maintains many of the mechanics, quirks, and nuances found in the genre. In his third outing, Luigi must once again rescue Mario and his friends, but this time, he does so in the Last Resort hotel. 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:This looming and spectral hotel offers a bounty of creative areas for Luigi and his slimy counterpart, Gooigi, to vacuum up spooky, cartoony ghosts and solve brain-busting puzzlಞཧes.
This game is great for beginners to 3D platformers because it features an engaging and lighthearted story, simple mechanics that evolve the more you play as Luigi and Gooigi💃, and plenty of things to collect along the way. There might not be traditional running and jumping in the game as many other platformers have; however, the sheer level of explorabl🐟e game world creativity makes it feel like a 3D platformer at times.
4 Mail Mole
The Most Respectable Public Service
Mail Mole is a super charming and unique 3D platforming with a twist: Molty the mail mole moves aroun𓂃d the various stages ﷽throughout Carrotland by digging. This game doesn't feature the standard movement found in other 3D platformers, but you instead perform quick dashes underground followed by jumping out of the earth, rinse, and repeat.
7 Best Multiplayer Platformers On Th⛦e Nintendo Switch
Bring a friend along if you plan to jump through the hoops these gౠames have in store!
Molty must take on a bevy of stages in a cozy hub world, one replete with to🍰ns of NPCs and hidden secrets, and even a shop to spend carrots (currency) on to buy hats and outfits. Mail Mole is a great 3D platforming jumping-off point since its overall mechanics aren't all that complex. Sure, it takes a minute to get used to the alternative movements. But once you get to grips with it, burrowing and platforming through the stages while collecting food-themed goodies makes for a thrilling and engaging time.
5 Jusant
Go Up
One of the beauties of platforming games is how casual they can be. You don't need to know complicated plotlines to enjoy hopping from ledge to ledge. But that doesn't mean a platformer can't have an engaging narrative, either. That🅠's exac𒈔tly what Jusant looks to achieve.
Jusant follows a young boy as he climbs up a massive tower, uncovering secrets along the way. The gameplay blends atmosphere, narrative, puzzles, and platforming in an almost meda🌸tative way, making for a fantastic experience for anyone new to the genre, or gaming as a whole.
6 Su💛per Mꩵario 64
The All-Time Classic
- Released
- ꦛ September 26, 1996 💝
- ESRB
- 🏅E for Everyone
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Engine
- Nintendo 64 SDK ꦉ
- Franchise
- 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Super Mario Bros.
- Platform(s)
- N64
- How Long To Beat
- 12 Hours
Super Mario 64 likely needs no introduction, as it was the forerunner to most 3D platforming games. This 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Nintendo 64 outing took the portly plumber all across the Mushroom Kingdom but in full 3D this time. While the gamඣe may look quite archaic by modern gaming standards, it was revolutionary back in the late 90s.
If, for some reason, you have missed out on𝔍 this gem of a game, you should be sure to remedy th෴at right away. This might be the best game for newcomers to the 3D platforming foray. Even over two decades later, the platforming and movement in this game are top-notch. Getting used to the finicky camera isn't ideal, but every other part of this game, including the stellar level design, wraps you up nicely in 3D platforming goodness.
Fortunately, it's on the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Nintendo Switch Online N64 Library,🌼 making that one of the easiest ways to play it for🦹 yourself.
7 ꦑ Yooka-Laylee ꦚ
The Modern Spiritual Successor To Banjo-Kazooie
Yooka-Laylee is a wonderful 3D platformer that was 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:brought to us by Playtonic Games, a team made🐻 up of many of the original creators and developers of Banjo-Kazooie. While that bird and bear duo game could easily be mentioned here, Y𝔍ooka-Laylee better fits the bill for those new to the 3D platforming genre.
Yooka-Laylee, of course, stars Yooka and Laylee, a lizard and bat duo who must platform their way through myriad colorful stages to foil the plans of the evil Capital B. Whil🌺e not an outright perfect platforming game, Yooka-Laylee finds the sweet spot between accessibility and challenge level. One of the best reasons for this is because the game introduces tonics, a system of options that allow you to tailor the game to your liking once you have unlocked a good number of them through simply playing the game.
8 🅘 Kirby And The Forgotten Land
Kirby's First Big 3D Adventure
- Released
- 🔯 March 25, 2022
- ESRB
- 🌳 E10+ for Everyone 10+: Cartoon Viol🍸ence
- Developer(s)
- 𒉰 HAL Laboratory
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Engine
- unity
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer🌜, Onl💯ine Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Kirby
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- How Long To Beat
- 12 Hours
Kirby And The Forgotten Land is one of the younger entries on this list, but it absolutely deserves to be mentioned since it's charming, fun, and provides a lengthy experience. Kirby and the Forgotten Landꦑ gives players larger explorable areas full of secrets and hidde♌n goodies. Kirby is the star here and is tasked with exploring various biomes, rescuing Waddle Dees, and collecting new powers along the way.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is great for beginners since it's not a very challenging platforming game overall. You are always given the necessary tools to explore stages, find secret Waddle Dees, and defeat the various bosses, including Meta Knight. The game even has a hub area known as Waddle Dee Town that can be built up over the course of the lengthy adventure. On top of that, you can build power upgrades, play mini-games, and 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:browse the fantastic soundtrack.
9 P♍sychonauts 2 ๊
Better Than Therapy
- Released
- August 25, 2021 🎃
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive The💜mes, Use of Tobacco
- Developer(s)
- 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Double Fine
- Publisher(s)
- 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Game Studios
- Engine
- 🤪 Unreal Engine 4
- Franchise
- 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Psychonauts
- Platform(s)
- PS4, Xbox One, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Series X, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Series S, PC, Linux, macOS
- How Long To Beat
- 16 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 28 G🍸B (November 2023) 💫
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
About a decade and a half after the release of the original Psychonauts game, a sequel was finally made. This was an absolute delight to many fans of the original, who flocked to the sequel immediately. You'll play 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:as Razputin Aquato, who works as a Psychonaut, a spy-like character that enters people's minds to help with their trauma and menta๊l health.
With a great narrative, fantastic visual style, and fun and engaging platforming, Psychonauts 2 is like a love letter to the original. It expands on many of its mechanics while keeping it true to the original's gameplay and style. Whet📖her you're a veteran platforming expert or a newcomer to the genre, you can't go wrong with Psychonauts 2.
10 De Blob 2
Like If Splatoon Was A Platformer
While the De Blob games never really broke headlines, they still manage to be one of the better examples of the fun and creative ways that a game can blend new and old concepts to create a fun and memorable experience. The world you live in is taken over by a militarist𓆉ic antagonist with the intention of draining the entire world of color. Your job: return color and fight back by splatting yourself against everything you can.
You can change your own color, which changes the color of any object you touch, in turn. Using these mechanics, you solve various puzzles and save the daඣy. Even more, the colors you choose and how prominent they become will determine which instruments are present in the fast and funky jazz soundtrack. The whole game is a dynamic and good-feeling experience that doesn't take a lot of gaming prowess to get the hang of.
You don't need an old-gen console to play it,🌃 either. The game was ported to Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PS4 in 2018.
