Kaze and the Wild Mask was released in March 2021 to a warm reception from fans and critics; the side-scroller currently has a Steam score of Very Positive and Metascores between 79 and 83. Like many side-scrolling platformers released after 1994, Kaze and the Wild Mask has many similarities to the classic SNES game Donkey Kong Country. Similarities include the challenging bonus screens as well as crossbows, which fire players around the level, similar to Donkey Kong's barrels. The game also has a similarity to Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time with the inclusion of masks, which give players abilities such as swimming and wall climbing.
Those who play Kaze and enjoy it are in luck, as there are tons of other excellent side-scrolling platformers, new and old, that can offer a comparably enjoyable gameplay experience.
10 Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Considering how much influence the Donkey Kong franchise has had on Kaze and the Wild Mask, it makes sense to kick the list off with one of the series' releases. Although SNES' classic Donkey Kong Country had the most influence on the platforming genre, Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze makes this list as the game does a fantastic job of modernizing the classic formula while staying true to the series' roots. The game was initially released exclusively on the Wii U, though like many games on the disappointing console, it has since come to the Nintendo Switch.
9 Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is another game that takes heavy influence from Donkey Kong Country. Following a lackluster reception to the original Yooka-Laylee, Playtonic Games and Team 17 decided not to rest on their laurels and took the series in a completely different direction with the sequel.
The Impossible Lair's main strength is how packed the game is. Not only does the overworld have tons of secrets to uncover, but each level is filled with T.W.I.T. coins, quills, and more to search for, adding an extra layer of depth to the game's excellent platforming gameplay.
8 Rayman Legends
When Ubisoft teamed up their mascot platformer Rayman with a bunch of crazy rabbit-like creatures for a collection of party games, it seemed as though the character's days as a platformer were over. However, the limbless hero made a grand return to the platforming scene in 2011 with Rayman Origins. The game was the first main series entry since Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc in 2003, and it immediately became recognized as one of the best modern side-scrollers.
Rayman Origins' success unsurprisingly led to a sequel. Rayman Legends hit stores just under two years after Origins and impressively managed to find ways to improve upon its already excellent predecessor.
7 Hollow Knight
The Metroidvania genre made a surprise return to the forefront of the gaming industry during the eighth generation of home console. This was predominantly thanks to critically acclaimed titles like Guacamelee! 2, Owlboy, and of course, Hollow Knight, which helped show that the classic genre had a place in modern times.
Hollow Knight became one of the gaming industry's most talked-about releases when it first came to PC in 2017, thanks to its meticulously designed map, memorable boss fights, and a fantastic range of abilities for players to unlock.
6 Ori and the Will of the Wisps
One other metroidvania title that has helped revitalize the genre is Moon Studios' Ori and the Will of the Wisps. The game takes an opposing approach to art style to Team Cherry's Hollow Knight, with its stunning nature-inspired visuals that are constantly adapting to befit the corresponding story's mood and tone perfectly.
The game's protagonist, Ori, is one of the most enjoyable playable characters to control on this list. The small, bunny-like creature is nimble and can dart around the screen in seconds, yet their attacks feel weighty and powerful.
5 Super Meat Boy
In 2010, the year that Super Meat Boy was released, new platforming games were hard to come by. Many studios had left their mascot platformers behind, feeling the genre was too limited and linear for the changing trend of more open and vast games.
Instead of trying to compete with AAA open-world games, Team Meat started a trend that is still persistent in the platforming genre today. The studio kept the contained, individual-level structure that people loved about classic platformers while simply reducing the game's price to stay competitive with open-world adventures. Super Meat Boy was also unique for its punishing but fair difficulty, which was compensated for with a generous checkpoint system which is now a common feature in the genre.
4 Cuphead
From one of the gaming industry's most challenging platformers to another, Studio MDHR combined its heart-warming visuals inspired by 1930s cartoons with some of the most difficult boss fights that the genre has ever seen. Along with the wonderful art design, Cuphead also stands out for its run and gun gameplay, adding extra challenge to the game as players need to figure out where they're firing as well as where they're jumping.
A DLC for the game titled The Delicious Last Course was originally slated to release back in 2019, though it has been subject to numerous delays, and it is now unclear when it will arrive.
3 Braid
2008's Braid is recognized today as one of the pioneers in taking indie gaming into the industry's public eye. Braid differentiates itself from the other entries on this list by emphasizing puzzle-solving and implementing a thought-provoking story, something that was very uncommon in the platforming genre at the time.
The game's puzzles are where the core quality of the game lies. The puzzles will test players' critical thinking more than their platforming skills, as players must figure out how to manipulate time to earn them the numerous puzzle pieces. Braid was designed by Jonathan Blow, who also directed and designed the critically acclaimed The Witness.
2 Celeste
Similar to Braid, 2018's Celeste differentiates itself from most platformers by implementing an in-depth narrative. Celeste's story centers around Madeline and her battle against her inner demons (often literally) as she tries to climb a dangerous mountain.
Celeste can easily be categorized alongside Cuphead and Super Meat Boy in terms of its difficulty. The main story is brutally difficult to beat, yet it only scratches the surface of the challenges that the game offers. To 100% complete the game, players also need to collect strawberries that often require extremely skilled platforming, along with crystal hearts that can feel almost impossible to find without a guide.
1 Super Mario World
Although this list has predominantly looked at modern titles, it's hard to compile recommended side-scrollers without including arguably the greatest side-scroller of all time, Super Mario World. The game was initially released in 1990 and, in many people's eyes, came close to perfecting the side-scrolling formula that had been so popular in the 80s. Incredibly, the game doesn't feel out of place compared to the modern games on this list, as its fine-tuned gameplay, well-crafted levels, and iconic visuals ensure that Super Mario World is still one of the best side-scrolling platformers available over 30 years after it first hit stores.