2D Platformers have stood the test of time as one of gaming’s most historic genres. The simplicity of the genre makes them easy for any to understand, yet they allow for so much room for creativity. Ever since Super Mario Bros. was released on the NES, there has been no shortage of great 2D platformers that have taken inspiration from it.
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While the genre continues to evolve, there are still plenty of titles from its inception (and the years that followed it) that are well worth playing. Some of these are icons that everyone’s played, and some are a little less well-known, but regardless of their fame, they’re all incredible 2D platformers from gaming’s earlier years.
8Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
While many of Nintendo’s iconic series made the jump to 3D on the Nintendo 64,Kirbystayed where they were comfortable and made one of the best (and only) 2D platformers on the system. Kirby 64 controls in a 2D space but has Kirby traveling throughout 3D environments (a premise later coined as a 2.5D game). This offers a game that contains the core Kirby experience players knew and loved but put in a three-dimensional space for the first time.
Kirby is a series known for sticking to its roots, and while that reigns true in Kirby 64, some new inclusions set it apart from previous games. The mix-and-match copy ability is undoubtedly its most iconic feature, allowing Kirby to take two separate copy abilities and combine them into one; it opens the door for plenty of possibilities. The inclusion of cutscenes was also big, as it allowed for more insight into the Kirby world. While the game may be a tad easy, it’s still a joy to play and one of the best in the Kirby series.
7DuckTales
Licensed games have had a pretty rocky reputation over the years, especially during the earlier years of the medium. Developers often rush out a game with a recognizable figure on the cover to appeal to customers and leave quality as an afterthought.DuckTaleswas a rare exception to the trend, as it put being a great game first and featuring a famous cartoon second.
Capcomwas no stranger to platformers at this point and made Scrooge McDuck, of all characters, a joy to play as, giving him a pogo-jump that is immensely satisfying. The fun mobility, great level design, and unforgettable music make for one of the best platforming experiences on the system. It’s also an NES game that is rather forgiving in a sea of tough-as-nails titles. For those who loveDisneycartoons or 2D platformers, DuckTales is a game you won’t want to miss out on.
6Shantae
These days,Shantaeis known as one of the shining stars of indie gaming, but she got her start on the GameBoy Color as the swansong of the handheld. Some may expect it to be a little rough around the edges, given the platform, yet even in her debut installment, Shantae features all of the elements the series is known for. The fun platforming, wacky transformations to navigate levels with, and colorful cast of characters are all accounted for in this game.
The aesthetic of the game stands out excellently as well, featuring vibrant animations and gorgeous locations; this game pushes the GameBoy Color to its limits and still looks great. While the Shantae series has continued to evolve and grow its following, the original release still holds up today as one of the best games the system has to offer and is well worth checking out for newer fans of thehair-whipping genie.
5Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island
After being introduced asMario’s sidekick in Super Mario World, Nintendo made sure to giveYoshihis own adventure. While the title may say this is a Mario game, make no mistake,Yoshi is the star of the show. Yoshi’s Island acts as a prequel to all of Mario’s games, as the Yoshis help an abandoned Baby Mario save his brother Luigi.
Yoshi’s Island features a very cute aesthetic. Many of the environments, characters, and sounds are in line with Yoshi’s undeniably adorable character. The gameplay is also very unique in comparison to Mario’s offerings. Many of Yoshi’s signature abilities, like eating enemies, throwing eggs, and his flutter jump, are present in this game and became staples of his identity in future games. Yoshi’s Island is an excellent 2D platformer that gave Yoshi the perfect opportunity to thrive that he deserved.
4Mega Man X
When gaming made the jump from 8-bit up to 16-bit, many series focused on simply improving what had already been created in the past.Mega Man, on the other hand, opted to completely re-invent the wheel with the series. While older Mega Man games are slower-paced, Mega Man X is a fast-paced, action-packed platformer, thanks to the inclusion of the wall jump and dash.
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These two mechanics allow X to move in ways that weren’t possible in previous entries, giving players very satisfying mobility options that are easy to understand but tough to master. The game also has plenty of secrets that make X stronger, often requiring newly obtained abilities, and make levels rewarding to revisit. Capcom made the most of the Super Nintendo’s upgrade and gave Mega Man an evolution worthy of remembering.
3Super Mario World
It’s no secret that Mario, the founder of the 2D platforming genre, has had some incredible adventures over the years, and of his 2D offerings, none can compare toSuper Mario World. Building off the already amazing Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World contains a slew of fun powerups, the best level design in the series, and an abundance of secrets to discover. For a launch SNES title, it’s packed with so much content you may never need another game.
Super Mario World also introduced Yoshi, one of the most beloved characters in the Mario series. His introduction is brought about perfectly, offering two different playstyles that, while similar, are different enough to stand out on their own. Super Mario World is one of Mario’s best games ever created and unquestionably one of the best 2D platformers ever made.
2Sonic 3 and Knuckles
Sonic’sintroductory era came with some of his best games of all time, and while Sonic 1, 2, and CD are all solid titles, Sonic 3 and Knuckles has remained the series’ gold standard for a reason. The game follows the core Sonic experience from past games but introduces new mechanics and improves on so much of what made previous games great.
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The level design is much more fleshed out and gives the player a much better reason to explore the levels with secrets hidden all over. Additionally, Every level has two acts, but many levels include acts that tell a story, showcasing how the world has changed from act one to act two, making the levels much cooler from an atmospheric sense. Couple these in with the new mechanics like elemental shields, the very challenging special stages, and the fantastic music, and it certainly makes for the best Sonic game of its time.
1Donkey Kong Country
While Mario may be Nintendo’s most iconic platformer,Donkey Kongwas the true king of the genre on the Super Nintendo.Donkey Kong Countryis best defined by its atmosphere.The sounds, locations, and visuals all add up to a platformer with a beautiful aura that only Donkey Kong could accomplish. The soundtrack ties in with these elements excellently, setting the tone for each level in a way few other platformers have accomplished.
While the presentation is phenomenal, the gameplay delivers as well. Unlike many other classic platformers, Donkey Kong is a slow, heavy-hitting powerhouse, and Diddy, by comparison, is much quicker but also much weaker. The contrast between the two offers an experience where, while any level can be completed with either Kong, you’ll prefer one or the other, depending on the situation. Add in the animal buddies, which have a similar role to what Yoshi provides in Super Mario, and you’ll have plenty of fun characters to play as throughout your journey. Between the unmatched ambiance, unique gameplay, and wonderful worlds, Donkey Kong Country and its two sequels are some of the best platformers of all time, let alone for their era.
