Platformers

Psychonauts follows Razputin "Raz" Aquato, a young acrobat with psychic abilities, as he infiltrates a summer camp for gifted psychics. Players explore surreal, handcrafted levels that represent the inner thoughts and memories of quirky characters, solving puzzles and battling mental manifestations. The game blends platforming, puzzle-solving, and comedic storytelling, delivering a memorable adventure that rewards creativity and exploration. Its unique art style and humor have earned it a lasting cult following.

✦ Best for fans of narrative platformers

Dustforce DX is a kinetic platformer that challenges players to sweep through beautifully crafted levels with precision and speed. As a member of the elite Dustforce, you glide, jump, and dash to eradicate dust and grime while performing stylish combos. The game offers both single‑player and multiplayer modes, letting you compete for the best times or cooperate to clear stages. Its indie roots shine through tight controls, minimalist art, and a rewarding learning curve that keeps players coming back for more.

✦ Best for fans of challenging platformers

Conker's Pocket Tales follows the cheeky squirrel Conker as he embarks on a whimsical quest across colorful worlds, solving puzzles and battling quirky enemies. The game blends platforming action with light‑hearted humor, delivering a nostalgic experience for fans of classic adventure titles. Originally released in 1999, the title offers single‑player gameplay that emphasizes exploration, item collection, and clever level design. Its vibrant visuals and catchy soundtrack make it an enjoyable journey for players of all ages.

✦ Best for retro platformer fans

Mega Man X2 builds on the fast‑paced platforming of its predecessor, delivering tight controls, challenging stages, and a memorable soundtrack set in a futuristic world. Players guide X through six distinct levels, mastering new weapons and the powerful dash mechanic while battling the Maverick forces threatening humanity.

✦ Best for retro gaming fans

Jet Grind Radio is a seminal action-adventure platformer that blends high-speed inline skating with urban graffiti artistry. Players take control of teenage street gangs navigating a futuristic, heavily policed Tokyo-to while tagging rival territory and avoiding relentless police forces. The game is renowned for its distinctive cel-shaded visual style and an eclectic, high-energy soundtrack featuring J-pop, hip-hop, and electronic music. Its pioneering use of analog stick-based trick inputs set a new standard for extreme sports and arcade-action games upon its original console release.

✦ Best for fans of retro arcade action and incredible cel-shaded art.

Jet Set Radio Future is an action-packed platforming game set in a vibrant, cell-shaded futuristic Tokyo-to. Players control members of the GG's gang, using rollerblades to traverse the urban environment, perform daring tricks, and tag rival territory with graffiti while dodging relentless police forces. Featuring an iconic, genre-defining soundtrack composed by Hideki Naganuma, the game blends high-speed racing, sport-like acrobatics, and rhythm elements into a distinct cultural milestone. Its seamless open world and stylish aesthetic deliver an unforgettable arcade experience originally released for the Xbox console.

✦ Best for retro gamers and rhythm-action fans wanting fluid movement and music.

Developed by Insomniac Games, Spyro the Dragon is a classic platform game originally released for the PlayStation. Players control the young purple dragon Spyro alongside his dragonfly companion, Sparx, as they embark on a grand adventure across the dragon kingdom. The evil Gnasty Gnorc has encased the land's adult dragons in crystal and stolen their vast treasures. With the help of Sparx acting as a health meter and gem gatherer, Spyro must traverse vibrant worlds, free the imprisoned dragons, recover the stolen gems, and ultimately defeat the villainous Gnorc.

✦ Best for retro gaming enthusiasts and platformer fans seeking vibrant 3d exploration.

LocoRoco Midnight Carnival is a vibrant platform-puzzle game developed by SCE Japan Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. Players tilt the environment to guide their cheerful, bouncy LocoRoco creatures through whimsical levels filled with hazards, hidden secrets, and catchy musical tunes. The gameplay emphasizes momentum, precise timing, and exploration as you collect pick-ups and navigate tricky obstacles under a spooky carnival theme. Building upon the core mechanics of the franchise, this installment introduces the 'Buil-Buil' mechanic, allowing players to launch their LocoRoco through the air in explosive bursts of speed. With its charming art style, comedic sound design, and challenging puzzle-platforming elements, it delivers a uniquely joyful and addictive experience designed specifically for single-player portable gaming.

✦ Best for fans of whimsical, music-driven physics platformers.

Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! is the second installment in the beloved Spyro the Dragon series, transporting the iconic purple dragon and his dragonfly companion Sparx to the vibrant land of Avalar. Summoned by the Professor, Hunter, and Elora to help rid the realm of a tyrannical sorcerer named Ripto, Spyro must explore diverse worlds, solve puzzles, and restore peace to the local inhabitants. Building upon the gameplay of the original title, players utilize Spyro's familiar flame, charge, and glide abilities while embarking on a massive collectathon adventure. Journey through imaginative realms, undo Ripto's chaotic magic, and collect talismans and orbs to unlock the path to the final showdown and earn a long-awaited trip to Dragon Shores.

✦ Best for fans of colorful 3d platformers and rewarding exploration collectathons.

Spyro: Year of the Dragon is the third installment in the Spyro series and the final game in the franchise developed by Insomniac Games. Set in the Forgotten Worlds, the story follows the titular purple dragon as he attempts to recover 150 magical dragon eggs stolen by an evil sorceress. Players must utilize Spyro's signature moves alongside new vehicle controls for tanks, submarines, and speedboats. The adventure also lets you play as a wacky cast of supporting characters including Sheila the kangaroo, Sergeant Byrd the flying penguin, Bentley the Yeti, and Agent 9 the space monkey.

✦ Best for classic platformer fans seeking a nostalgic 3d dragon adventure.

Jak and Daxter return in an action-packed platforming adventure that takes them beyond the boundaries of their known world. Facing a severe eco shortage, the duo boards an airship and ventures to the edge of the planet, encountering strange new enemies, ancient mysteries, and sky-high conflicts. Experience high-flying aerial dogfights, inventive gun-staff combat, and classic platforming exploration. Players can switch seamlessly between Jak's agile ground maneuvers and intense vehicular combat in the skies, uncovering a rich story that bridges classic gameplay with fresh mechanics.

✦ Best for fans of classic 3d platformers wanting engaging aerial combat.

Pocky & Rocky is a classic top-down scrolling shooter that follows the adventures of a young Shinto shrine maiden named Pocky and her companion, a tanuki named Rocky. Together, they must battle hordes of mystical monsters and mythical spirits inspired by Japanese folklore to save the day. Known for its charming pixel art, challenging difficulty, and cooperative gameplay, the game offers an engaging arcade experience. Players can utilize melee attacks, projectile cards, and special bombs to clear the screen of enemies across various mystical stages.

✦ Best for retro gamers and co-op fans seeking a challenging 16-bit shooter.