Best games
Best Platformer games in 2026
The 250 best Platformer games, ranked from 45,439 critic and player ratings.
The best Platformer game right now is Super Mario World — updated August 2026.
Also covers metroidvania, platform games.
01
Super Mario World
A 2D platformer and first entry on the SNES in the Super Mario franchise, Super Mario World follows Mario as he attempts to defeat Bowser's underlings and rescue Princess Peach from his clutches. The game features a save system, a less linear world map, an expanded movement arsenal and numerous new items for Mario, alongside new approaches to level design and art direction.
100
/100
02
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee is the second installment in the Super Smash Bros. series and the follow-up to the Nintendo 64 title. It includes all playable characters from the first game, and also adds characters from franchises such as Fire Emblem, of which no games had been released outside Japan at the time. Super Smash Bros. Melee builds on the first game by adding new gameplay features and playable characters: it's major focus is the multiplayer mode, while still offering a number of single-player modes.
100
/100
03
Super Metroid
The Space Pirates, merciless agents of the evil Mother Brain, have stolen the last Metroid from a research station, and once again Mother Brain threatens the safety of the galaxy! Samus Aran must don her awesome array of high-tech weaponry to retrieve the deadly Metroid hidden deep within the cave-riddled planet Zebes. Super Metroid features excellent graphics, with a huge variety of enemies and worlds to explore. The side-view action will be familiar to many players, only now there are new weapons and items, including the Grappling Beam, which allows Samus to swing across large chasms, and the X-Ray Scope, which reveals secret passages.
100
/100
Super Mario World
A 2D platformer and first entry on the SNES in the Super Mario franchise, Super Mario World follows Mario as he attempts to defeat Bowser's underlings and rescue Princess Peach from his clutches. The game features a save system, a less linear world map, an expanded movement arsenal and numerous new items for Mario, alongside new approaches to level design and art direction.
100
/100
02
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee is the second installment in the Super Smash Bros. series and the follow-up to the Nintendo 64 title. It includes all playable characters from the first game, and also adds characters from franchises such as Fire Emblem, of which no games had been released outside Japan at the time. Super Smash Bros. Melee builds on the first game by adding new gameplay features and playable characters: it's major focus is the multiplayer mode, while still offering a number of single-player modes.
100
/100
03
Super Metroid
The Space Pirates, merciless agents of the evil Mother Brain, have stolen the last Metroid from a research station, and once again Mother Brain threatens the safety of the galaxy! Samus Aran must don her awesome array of high-tech weaponry to retrieve the deadly Metroid hidden deep within the cave-riddled planet Zebes. Super Metroid features excellent graphics, with a huge variety of enemies and worlds to explore. The side-view action will be familiar to many players, only now there are new weapons and items, including the Grappling Beam, which allows Samus to swing across large chasms, and the X-Ray Scope, which reveals secret passages.
100
/100
04
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island is a platform video game acting as a prequel to 1990's Super Mario World. The game casts players as Yoshi as he escorts Baby Mario through 48 levels in order to reunite him with his brother Luigi, who had been kidnapped by Baby Bowser's minions. As a Super Mario series platformer, Yoshi runs and jumps to reach the end of the level while solving puzzles and collecting items. In a style new to the series, the game has a hand-drawn aesthetic and is the first to have Yoshi as its main character. The game introduces his signature abilities to flutter jump, produce eggs from swallowed enemies, and transform into vehicles.
100
/100
05
Super Mario Galaxy
A 3D platformer and first Wii entry in the Super Mario franchise, Super Mario Galaxy sees Mario jump across planets and galaxies with varying items, enemies, geographies and gravity mechanics in order to reach his enemy Bowser, who has attacked the Mushroom Kingdom and hijacked Princess Peach's castle with her inside.
99
/100
06
Super Mario Odyssey
Explore incredible places far from the Mushroom Kingdom as you join Mario and his new ally Cappy on a massive, globe-trotting 3D adventure. Use amazing new abilities, like the power to capture and control objects, animals, and enemies to collect Power Moons so you can power up the Odyssey airship and save Princess Peach from Bowser’s wedding plans!
97
/100
07
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Super Mario Galaxy 2 is the sequel to Super Mario Galaxy and the fourth 3D platformer entry in the Mario franchise. The sequel retains many elements from its predecessor, such as the adventure being in outer space, the element of gravity, and recurring objects such as Launch Stars and Sling Stars. Returning items include the Bee Mushroom and the Fire Flower. However, the game introduces new elements as well, such as the utilization of Yoshi, new power-ups like the Cloud Flower, and the use of a guide within the game for beginner players.
96
/100
08
LittleBigPlanet
Welcome to LittleBigPlanet – a world of infinite possibilities, where imagination becomes reality and the powers of creation are firmly in your hands. If you can think of it, you can create it if you can create it, you can share it if you can share it, you can play it – and watch our colorful LittleBigPlanet grow and diversify! It’s a new kind of game that unleashes the creativity in everyone. Design your own character and play over 50 awesome developer levels packed with dangers to navigate, races to win and puzzles to solve. As you play you will learn the skills to build a world of your own by earning creative tools and collecting hundreds of items. Use these items and tools to shape amazing levels of your own, featuring puzzles, challenges, and enemies of your own design. When you are ready, go online to access the LBP community and Share your creations for everyone to play. LittleBigPlanet is a world with no limits – a world that’s yours to shape, build and explore.
96
/100
09
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
In the sequel to Drake's Fortune, Nathan Drake comes across a map that showcases the location of Marco Polo's missing ships. It takes him on a journey to find the infamous Cintamani Stone, and uncover the truth behind it.
95
/100
10
Portal 2
Sequel to the acclaimed Portal (2007), Portal 2 pits the protagonist of the original game, Chell, and her new robot friend, Wheatley, against more puzzles conceived by GLaDOS, an A.I. with the sole purpose of testing the Portal Gun's mechanics and taking revenge on Chell for the events of Portal. As a result of several interactions and revelations, Chell once again pushes to escape Aperture Science Labs.
95
/100
11
Metroid Prime
95
/100
12
New Super Mario Bros.
95
/100
13
Metroid: Zero Mission
95
/100
14
Astro Bot
94
/100
15
Super Mario 64
94
/100
16
Jet Set Radio
94
/100
17
Journey
94
/100
18
Hades
94
/100
19
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
93
/100
20
Super Mario 3D World
93
/100
21
God of War II
93
/100
22
Neva
92
/100
23
Inside
92
/100
24
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
92
/100
25
Split Fiction
92
/100
26
Metroid Fusion
92
/100
27
Conker's Bad Fur Day
92
/100
28
Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2
92
/100
29
Mark of the Ninja
91
/100
30
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
91
/100
31
Celeste
91
/100
32
Shadow of the Colossus (2011)
91
/100
33
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove
91
/100
34
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
91
/100
35
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
91
/100
36
Spyro: Year of the Dragon
91
/100
37
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
91
/100
38
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
91
/100
39
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
91
/100
40
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
91
/100
41
Rogue Legacy 2
90
/100
42
Assassin's Creed II
90
/100
43
Portal
90
/100
44
Spelunky
90
/100
45
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
90
/100
46
Super Mario Sunshine
90
/100
47
ICO
90
/100
48
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
90
/100
49
Super Mario 3D Land
90
/100
50
Spelunky 2
90
/100
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island is a platform video game acting as a prequel to 1990's Super Mario World. The game casts players as Yoshi as he escorts Baby Mario through 48 levels in order to reunite him with his brother Luigi, who had been kidnapped by Baby Bowser's minions. As a Super Mario series platformer, Yoshi runs and jumps to reach the end of the level while solving puzzles and collecting items. In a style new to the series, the game has a hand-drawn aesthetic and is the first to have Yoshi as its main character. The game introduces his signature abilities to flutter jump, produce eggs from swallowed enemies, and transform into vehicles.
100
/100
05
Super Mario Galaxy
A 3D platformer and first Wii entry in the Super Mario franchise, Super Mario Galaxy sees Mario jump across planets and galaxies with varying items, enemies, geographies and gravity mechanics in order to reach his enemy Bowser, who has attacked the Mushroom Kingdom and hijacked Princess Peach's castle with her inside.
99
/100
06
Super Mario Odyssey
Explore incredible places far from the Mushroom Kingdom as you join Mario and his new ally Cappy on a massive, globe-trotting 3D adventure. Use amazing new abilities, like the power to capture and control objects, animals, and enemies to collect Power Moons so you can power up the Odyssey airship and save Princess Peach from Bowser’s wedding plans!
97
/100
07
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Super Mario Galaxy 2 is the sequel to Super Mario Galaxy and the fourth 3D platformer entry in the Mario franchise. The sequel retains many elements from its predecessor, such as the adventure being in outer space, the element of gravity, and recurring objects such as Launch Stars and Sling Stars. Returning items include the Bee Mushroom and the Fire Flower. However, the game introduces new elements as well, such as the utilization of Yoshi, new power-ups like the Cloud Flower, and the use of a guide within the game for beginner players.
96
/100
08
LittleBigPlanet
Welcome to LittleBigPlanet – a world of infinite possibilities, where imagination becomes reality and the powers of creation are firmly in your hands. If you can think of it, you can create it if you can create it, you can share it if you can share it, you can play it – and watch our colorful LittleBigPlanet grow and diversify! It’s a new kind of game that unleashes the creativity in everyone. Design your own character and play over 50 awesome developer levels packed with dangers to navigate, races to win and puzzles to solve. As you play you will learn the skills to build a world of your own by earning creative tools and collecting hundreds of items. Use these items and tools to shape amazing levels of your own, featuring puzzles, challenges, and enemies of your own design. When you are ready, go online to access the LBP community and Share your creations for everyone to play. LittleBigPlanet is a world with no limits – a world that’s yours to shape, build and explore.
96
/100
09
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
In the sequel to Drake's Fortune, Nathan Drake comes across a map that showcases the location of Marco Polo's missing ships. It takes him on a journey to find the infamous Cintamani Stone, and uncover the truth behind it.
95
/100
10
Portal 2
Sequel to the acclaimed Portal (2007), Portal 2 pits the protagonist of the original game, Chell, and her new robot friend, Wheatley, against more puzzles conceived by GLaDOS, an A.I. with the sole purpose of testing the Portal Gun's mechanics and taking revenge on Chell for the events of Portal. As a result of several interactions and revelations, Chell once again pushes to escape Aperture Science Labs.
95
/100
11
Metroid Prime
95
/100
12
New Super Mario Bros.
95
/100
13
Metroid: Zero Mission
95
/100
14
Astro Bot
94
/100
15
Super Mario 64
94
/100
16
Jet Set Radio
94
/100
17
Journey
94
/100
18
Hades
94
/100
19
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
93
/100
20
Super Mario 3D World
93
/100
21
God of War II
93
/100
22
Neva
92
/100
23
Inside
92
/100
24
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
92
/100
25
Split Fiction
92
/100
26
Metroid Fusion
92
/100
27
Conker's Bad Fur Day
92
/100
28
Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2
92
/100
29
Mark of the Ninja
91
/100
30
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
91
/100
31
Celeste
91
/100
32
Shadow of the Colossus (2011)
91
/100
33
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove
91
/100
34
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
91
/100
35
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
91
/100
36
Spyro: Year of the Dragon
91
/100
37
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
91
/100
38
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
91
/100
39
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
91
/100
40
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
91
/100
41
Rogue Legacy 2
90
/100
42
Assassin's Creed II
90
/100
43
Portal
90
/100
44
Spelunky
90
/100
45
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
90
/100
46
Super Mario Sunshine
90
/100
47
ICO
90
/100
48
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
90
/100
49
Super Mario 3D Land
90
/100
50
Spelunky 2
90
/100
FAQ
What is the best Platformer game right now?
Super Mario World currently tops the ranking with a score of 100/100 across 1,964 ratings. Ranking updated August 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.