Platformer Video Games Bucket List

Soma Cruz absorbing the souls of everything he kills, and the best of the DS trilogy.

The cel-shaded reboot with Elika beside you, in which you cannot die and the land is healed area by area.

The first handheld Metroidvania of the run, with a card system that stacks two decks of magic.

Crash and Cortex forced to work together across one continuous world, with an a cappella soundtrack sung by the composers.

The first Crash after Naughty Dog left, on the PlayStation 2: the same five-element structure, longer loading screens.

A 2D side-scrolling MMO from Korea, free to play since 2003 and funded entirely by cosmetics.

Hand-painted 2D worlds and a difficulty curve that stopped a generation; Michel Ancel, 1995.

Five power-up costumes and a running commentary of jokes; the last of the 3D Raymans.

A lombax, a robot on his back and a catalogue of weapons to buy; Insomniac start the run in 2002.

Diddy and Dixie through Kaptain K. Rool's pirate world; the hardest and best of the Rare trilogy.

Pre-rendered apes on a SNES in 1994, mine carts and a David Wise soundtrack that still gets remixed.

The slide, Rush the robot dog and eight more masters, then the doc robot rematches.

Richter Belmont, branching stages and Maria as a second character; the PC Engine game the West never got.

Time periods instead of islands, plus a motorbike, a jet ski and a plane; the best of the Naughty Dog three.

Avalar, a talking guidebook and orbs earned from side quests; the sequel that added a reason to explore.

A hero with no arms or legs against a pirate occupation; the 3D platformer that made the leap cleanly.

Simon Belmont, a whip and stairs that will kill you; the 1986 original.

A Metroidvania with time powers and a map you annotate; Ubisoft Montpellier again.

Eight games in one cartridge, with a helper to hand to a second player.

Dash, wall jump and an intro stage that teaches without a word.

The two halves that lock together into one long game; the peak of Genesis Sonic.

Branching paths and three companions; the best of the NES Castlevanias.

Jet packs, polar bears and the best of the original trilogy.

Isle Delfino, a water jetpack and the hardest secret levels in the series.

Six characters, a killer whale and the Dreamcast's launch.

Cat suits and four-player co-op; the 3D Mario built for a sofa.

Pull vegetables and throw them; the reskinned Doki Doki Panic that became a Mario game.

The harder, prettier sequel to the rotoscoped original.