Summary
- Side-scrolling games have evolved, with modern titles like Celeste, Hollow Knight, and Ori and the Blind Forest offering unique narratives and challenging gameplay.
- Recent platformers like Cyber Shadow and Skul: The Hero Slayer continue to innovate and honor the classic elements of the genre.
The first video games were simple titles that fit each level on one screen. The most famous early examples of these games are Pitfall and H.E.R.O. As technology improved, developers became able t🦩o make games that♓ had sprawling stages that encouraged exploration. Two notable examples are Super Mario Bros. and Sonic the Hedgehog. Over time, these games became known as side-scrollers.
168澳洲幸运5开奖网: Best Platforme♐r Games Of All Time
The pla🍸tformer is one of the oldest and most beloved genres of all time. If you'rꦦe a fan of them, these are the titles you NEED to play.
This genre’s popularity remains strong to this day, with many excellent side-scrolling games launching in recent years. In fact, since 2010, dozens of triple-A and indie titles have pushed the genre forward in new, exciting ways. From platformers to Metroidvan🍃ias, the following games are the very best modern side-scrollers.
Updated on October 9, 2024, by PJ Molloy: Platformers have been around for decades, and yet indie developers still find ways to innovate the genre with new compelling twists. It was hard to narrow it down to just a few examples, but we've updated the list with more exceptional side-scrollers you need to play at least once.
18 🌺 Pizza Tower
A Hilarious Platformer Where You Fight Evil Pizza
- Developer(s)
- Tour De Pizza ꦬ
- Publisher(s)
- Tour D💙e Pizza
- Platform(s)
- PC, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Nintendo Switch
Pizza Tower is 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:a silly high-speed platformer that combines Wario Land-style gameplay with an art style based on '90s cartoons. Take control of pizza chef Peppino Spaghetti♔, who must stop a sentient pizza pie from blowing up his restaurant with a giant laser cannon. If that sounds like your kind of humor, you'll love the 🐼game's many jokes and goofy visual gags.
As a score-attack game, Pizza Toweꦕr is all about racking up as many points as possible. To keep your combo going, you must zoom through each level as fast you can while grabbing collectibles, finding secrets, and annihilating enemies. The result is an exhilarating arcade-style experience that will make you laugh and test your platforming skills.
17 Celeste
A Beautiful Adventure About Dealing With Mental Health
Celeste is a breathtaking pixel platformer that takes a deep dive into the struggles of mental health manageme🥀nt. You control a woman named Madeline, who attempts to climb the formidable Celeste Mountain to escape the stress of her everyday life. What follows is a tasteful and accurate depiction of depression and anxiety.
In addition to a touching story, Celeste delivers some of the genre's tightest controls and level design. The game creates a satisfying difficulty without the use of enemies, instead opting for well-crafted stage hazards, beautifully implemented level gimmicks, and well-hidden collectibles. In shorꦺt, Celeste is an emotional and cleverly designed journey that all platforming fans should embark on.
16 ♕ 🐎 Hollow Knight
A Gothic Metroidvania With Haunting Lore
Hollow Knight (Dupe)
- Developer(s)
- 𓆉 Team Cherry
- Publisher(s)
- ♑ Team Cherry
- Platform(s)
- 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Nintendo Switch, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:PlayStation 4, macOS, Xbox
Often considered 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:a top-tier Metriodvania, Hollow Knight takes you on a chilling journey through an open-ended post-apocalyptic world. The story follows an unnamed warrior who explores the decaying, monster-infested kingdom of Hallownest in search of the 🌜truth behind the land's downfall. Equipped with a measly little nail, the mysterious hero must col💜lect new abilities to survive the many terrors that lurk in the shadows.
On top of its gorgeous hand-drawn art style and macabre, thought-provoking narrative, Hollow Knight is best known for i𒈔ts brutal Soulslike difficulty. Many towering bosses and well-hidden secrets await, requiring a mix of open-world exploration andꦍ platforming to progress. If you're looking for a good challenge, there's no better Metriodvania to delve into.
15 👍 Strider (2014)
A Reimagining Of A Beloved Arcade Game
Developed by Capcom in 2014, Strider is a remake of a 1989 arcade beat-em-up of the same name. Take control of a ninja armed with a plasma sword on his quest to defeat a mysterious cloaked supervillain named Grandmaster Meio. The game feဣatures large interconnected environments you revisit as you collect new abilities that grant access to new areas.
The controls are near pe𓄧rfect, featuring the ability to cling to walls and ceilings. The game is available for download, with physical copies only launching in Japan. The physical copy works with NTSC systems, though, and even has menus and dialogue in English.
14 💙 𒁃 Cyber Shadow
A Thrilling Love Letter To The Classics
- Publisher(s)
- 💮 🔯 Yacht Club Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Series X, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Series S
- Developer
- ꧙ Aarne "MekaSkull" Hunziker ꦛ
Cybe♚r Shadow is a retro-themed 2D platformer that blends elements from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Metroid, and Ninja Gaiden – and it does so superbly. Thꦍe game’s 16-bit era-inspired graphics are vibrant, perfectly capturing the feel of the Sega Genesis. It even features eye-catching parallax backgrounds and Ninja Gaiden-esque cutscenes.
168澳洲幸运5开奖网: The 15 Best Indie Platformers
There have been a ton of ind𓂃ie platf𓄧ormers launched over the years, but these ones truly stand out.
Those looking for a casual gaming experience might want to try another game. This title is easy a𝔉t first but quickly becomes exceedingly challenging. Cyber Shadow is available for PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, and Xbox One.
13 💞Guacamelee: Super Turbo 🌠Championship Edition
A Delightfully Cartoonish Metroidvania
In Guacamelee, you play as Juan Aguacate as he attempts to save his girlfriend from the evil skeleton Carlos Calaca. During their first battle, Juan is killed and wakes up in the land of the dead. Here, he is g𒅌iven a mystical ꦰluchador mask that returns him to the land of the living and imbues him with the power to defeat Carlos.
This game is a Metroidvania that allows you to revisit previous areas. Along the way, Juan can find and buy power-ups that give him new 🐲powerful abilities. The visual style of Guacamelee is v♚ery cartoonish, with vivid colors and smooth animation. The game can also be played cooperatively by up to four players simultaneously.
12 Neversong
A Breathtaking Journey With An Amazing Story
Neversong is indeed a great game. It featไures a very surreal environment that always has you expecting an attack at any moment. Still, it will also produce many moments of levity. The controls are great, too. If you die playing Neversong, it’s hard to blame the controls.
One aspect of Neversong that makes it stand out is its story. You will undoubtedly find yourself drawn into the story of P♌eet and become endeared to the wonderful cast of characte💧rs. Neversong is available for PC, Switch, PS4, and Xbox One.
11 🌼 Ori And The Blind Forest
A Metroidvania For The Ages
- Developer(s)
- 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Moon Studios
- Publisher(s)
- ⛎ Microsoft Game Studios ♏
In Ori and the Blind Forest, you play a small cat-like guardian spirit on its quest to restore the woods. Your companion is a spirit named S🎀ein, a small blue orb that floats around Ori and attacks enemies. Starting off, Ori is somewhat weak, but as you progress through the game, you will acquire new abilities like a double jump.
The graphics are absolutely beautiful, as are the lighting effects. This game can 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:sometimes be a bit difficult, bღut it never feels u🌳nfair. There's also a sequel titled Ori and the Will of the Wisps, which launched in late 2020 and is just as good as the original.
10 🎃 Skul: The Hero Slayer
Steal Your Opponents' Powers In This Action-Packed Side-Scroller
Skul: The Hero Slayer
- Developer(s)
- ও SouthPAW Games
- Publisher(s)
- Neowiz
- Platform(s)
- PC, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:PlayStation 4, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
Skul: The Hero Slayer sits on the shoulders of classic side-scrollers of the 💟past. The gameplay is similar to the Kirby games in that you can take on the appearance and powers of the creatures you encounter. You do so by switching your character’s head for a different one, which changes your attacks, running speed, and maneuverability. This allows for some impressive combos that give you a rewarding sense of accomplishment.
The graphics are bright and colorful in Skul: The Hero Slayer, providing nothing but pure eye candy from start to finish. Skul: The Hero Slayer is available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PS4, and mobile 𒁏devices.
9 💧 Yoshi’s Woolly World
Explore A World Made Of Yarn In This Charming Mario Spin-Off
Yoshi's Woolly World
- Developer(s)
- Good-Feel
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Platform(s)
- 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Nintendo Wii U, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Nintendo 3DS
Those familiar with Yoshi's Island will immediately notice the similarities with Yoshi's Woolly World🐼. Instead of exploring a world made of crayon, you platform through levels made of yarn. The Yoshis have been turned into bundles of yarn by Kamek, and it's up to you to turn them back to normal. This time✤ around, there's no Baby Mario to look after - a much-welcomed change.
168澳洲幸运5开奖网: 8 Best Free Platformers
Save your hard-earned money with these fantastic༒ free platformers.
The game is full of hidden areas, which are accessed by pulling on a loose string. Also, instead of eggs, Yoshi throws balls of yarn, which can be used to create platforms and defeat enemies. Overall, it's a worthy successor to Yoshi's Island that's 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:perfect for beginners.
