The platforming genre is incredibly important to the video game industry. After all, the original Super Mario Bros. on the NES was a platformer, and it in turn inspired countless copycats and established one of the industry's most popular and recognizable franchises in the process. The platformer genre enjoyed a boost in the 90s with the introduction of the 3D platformer, and while recent years haven't been quite as kind, 2021 has been a banner year for platformers.
2021 was the year of the platformer. A number of high-quality platforming games released in 2021, including some games that stand out as the highest-rated video game releases of the entire year. There was everything from side-scrolling retro throwbacks to imaginative 3D platformers for fans of the genre to check out, with enough great new releases to keep fans satisfied and then some.
Here are the 10 best platformers of 2021, listed in alphabetical order.
Cyber Shadow
While more recent Ninja Gaiden games have more in common with Devil May Cry than old-school platformers, the original series offered 2D side-scrolling platforming action that was rather innovative at the time of their release. It doesn't look like classic-style Ninja Gaiden games are coming anytime soon, so indie developer Mechnical Head Studios and publisher Yacht Club Games teamed up to release a new game to fill the void.
Cyber Shadow clearly takes its cues from the NES-era Ninja Gaiden games, but offers a modern take on the series with conveniences that make it far more accessible while still offering a stiff challenge. Fans of classic Ninja Gaiden games and retro platformers in general should certainly give it a look, as its one of the finest examples of the genre to release all year.
It Takes Two
Josef Fares' Hazelight Studios focuses on making unique games that can only be played cooperatively with two people. Hazelight's A Way Out had its fans, though was a little rough around the edges. The studio's sophomore effort, It Takes Two, meanwhile, is a co-op gaming masterpiece, putting players in the role of divorcing parents Cody and May, who find themselves trapped in the bodies of their daughter's homemade dolls.
It Takes Two is a brilliant 3D platformer that is constantly throwing new concepts at the players. Before a gameplay mechanic can get too stale, It Takes Two whisks players away to a new level with completely original ideas. Cody and May often have different abilities and tasks to complete, so It Takes Two gives players a compelling reason to go back through the entire thing and experience it all through the eyes of both characters.
2021 didn't give players many options when it came to co-op platformers, but it did give fans what is quite possibly the best co-op platformer made to date with It Takes Two.
Kaze and the Wild Masks
Whereas the previously mentioned Cyber Shadow was inspired by 8-bit platformers like Ninja Gaiden, Kaze and the Wild Masks is more like the 16-bit platformers that dominated the genre in the 1990s. In the game, players take on the role of Kaze, completing classic-style platforming levels and gathering the titular Wild Masks to gain new animal-based abilities. Kaze and the Wild Masks earned widespread positive reviews and is generally considered a successful throwback to classic platformers, so it's another game that retro gaming enthusiasts will want to try as soon as possible.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Kena: Bridge of Spirits has been turning heads since its reveal trailer showed off a game with near-Pixar level graphics, and luckily, the game isn't just a pretty face; it's actually fun to play as well. Kena: Bridge of Spirits is similar to the PlayStation 2-era platformers where platforming may not necessarily by the main focus, but it's still an integral part of the game's DNA. The main goal in Kena is to collect adorable goo-like creatures called The Rot who in turn give Kena new abilities that she can then use to better-tackle the game's challenges. From fighting tough-as-nails bosses to completing tricky platforming sections, Kena has to use every tool at her disposal to get through the game world and help lead the restless spirits she encounters to the afterlife.
Little Nightmares 2
The original Little Nightmares game developed a dedicated fanbase, and so hype was relatively high for the followup, Little Nightmares 2. Little Nightmares 2 retains the creepy atmosphere and creature designs of the original game, but is more polished, fleshed out, and entertaining. This time around, players are put in the shoes of a new character named Mono, who has to figure out puzzles and complete a variety of platforming challenges to avoid being killed by any number of grotesque beings that he encounters in the game.
Psychonauts 2
The original Psychonauts game released in 2005 to rave reviews but middling sales, throwing the franchise's future into immediate jeopardy and leaving fans on a cliffhanger. Years later Double Fine resolved that cliffhanger with a VR spin-off game, but it wouldn't provide fans with a proper sequel until 2021 when the long-anticipated Psychonauts 2 finally released. One of the year's highest-rated video game releases in general, Psychonauts 2 is a triumphant return for the franchise, bringing Raz and the gang to the modern era with gorgeous graphics, tight platforming gameplay, and an engrossing story.
Psychonauts 2 once again sees Raz jumping into the minds of various characters, all of which have their own uniquely themed levels to conquer full of collectibles to find and objectives to complete. But instead of generic platformer levels like a fire level, a forest level, a water level, etc., the levels in Psychonauts 2 are themed after mental health issues, like the gambling addiction level that takes the form of a casino.
Psychonauts 2 is a must-play regardless if one's a fan of the platforming genre or not, and hopefully fans don't have to wait nearly as long for a followup.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Insomniac's Ratchet & Clank series has consistently put out high quality games since it debuted on the PlayStation 2, and it's still going strong on the PS5. One of the few true PS5 exclusive games currently available, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a gorgeous 3D platformer that introduces endearing new characters, innovative new weapons, and makes fantastic use of the PS5 DualSense controller. It's the best PS5 exclusive platformer on the market and one of the better games to come out in all of 2021.
Solar Ash
The developers of Hyper Light Drifter offer something a little different with Solar Ash, which trades Hyper Light Drifter's 16-bit aesthetic for something more in line with a 3D platformer. Solar Ash sets players loose in distinct hub areas, giving them the tools necessary to complete various platforming challenges and giving them the freedom to experiment and figure out the best way to do so. Solar Ash is short but sweet, and fans of the genre won't regret checking it out.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
Super Mario 3D World technically released years ago for the Wii U, but the Switch version offers enough new content that it's definitely worth consideration as one of the best platformers of 2021. It brings the critically-acclaimed Wii U game to the Nintendo Switch with small but important gameplay improvements, like increasing character speed, that make it an overall superior game to the original version that released nearly a decade ago.
The real draw of the package, though, is the addition of the Bowser's Fury content. Bowser's Fury is a completely different beast than Super Mario 3D World, setting Mario loose in an open world environment that almost feels like the Super Mario take on Breath of the Wild-style gameplay. Bowser's Fury is like taking a peek at what the future of the Super Mario franchise will likely entail, and it would be incredible to see an entire main series Super Mario game released in the Bowser's Fury style.
Between Bowser's Fury and the core Super Mario 3D World game, online co-op now included, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury gives platforming fans serious bang for their buck. The package is absolutely stuffed with content and will keep fans busy while they wait for news on Mario's next big gaming adventure.
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania
The height of Super Monkey Ball's popularity came with the original console games, and now Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania gives fans the chance to relive those titles on modern consoles. Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania combines levels from Super Monkey Ball and Super Monkey Ball 2 with improved graphics, brand new game modes, and a number of guest characters as well. It's the best way to play the classic Super Monkey Ball games in the modern age and is a great return to form for the series.