After 16 long years, 2005's cult classic Psychonauts finally received a sequel. Double Fine didn't try to reinvent the wheel and kept the core features of Psychonauts 2 similar to its predecessor, a choice that delighted the franchise's long-term fans. Like the original game, Psychonauts 2 differentiates itself from most platformers with its fleshed-out narrative.
Psychonauts 2's story and dialogue are among its best features, so many players will likely be itching to play something similar once they complete the campaign. Although story-driven platformers are few and far between, there are a handful of others that are well worth playing.
8 Braid
Braid was initially released exclusively on the Xbox 360 in 2008 before releasing on multiple other platformers in the years that followed. The game is one of the most influential releases of the past couple of decades, as it played a significant role in popularizing indie gaming.
Braid is a puzzle-platformer that implements numerous innovative mechanics based on time manipulation. The game's story has a constant sense of foreboding that leads up to a shocking twist, with an interesting commentary on traditional platforming tropes.
7 Conker's Bad Fur Day
Conker's Bad Fur Day was released on the Nintendo 64, a console that pioneered the transition from 2D to 3D platforming games. Rare's Bad Fur Day was released late in the fifth generation of home consoles and chose to differentiate itself from the long list of mascot platformers on the N64 with its adult humor.
The game's humor has made Conker's Bad Fur Day one of gaming's most beloved cult classics, and it's still hilarious to play today.
6 Celeste
Thanks to the rise of indie gaming, 2D platforms have had a significant resurgence in recent years, so much so that many people were skeptical of how Extremely OK Games' Celeste was going to stand out from the competition.
As its appearance on this list suggests, one of the game's standout features was its well-crafted narrative, along with a selection of memorable characters. Celeste features a touching story about characters who are struggling with mental health issues and the protagonist's desire to climb Mount Celeste. The game also stands out for its difficulty and tight platforming controls that make Madeline a joy to control.
5 Guacamelee!
Guacamelee! was initially released in April 2013 on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita before coming to numerous other consoles in the years that followed, most commonly in its Super Turbo Championship Edition form.
The Metroidvania action-platformer takes heavy inspiration from Mexican folklore and culture, in particular the Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). The game's combat, level design, and story were all highly praised, a trend that continued with the critically acclaimed sequel, Guacamelee! 2.
4 Super Paper Mario
Super Paper Mario was released exclusively on the Nintendo Wii in 2007 and combined the RPG elements of previous Paper Mario games with unique platforming levels that let players switch between 2D and 3D perspectives.
The game's blend of RPG and platforming may sound like a hot mess, but Intelligent Systems were able to find a fantastic balance between the two opposing genres - earning it an impressive 85 Metascore.
3 Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time was released in 2003, which was a difficult time for the platforming genre. The PlayStation 2 had seen a sharp rise in more realistic action-adventure titles, while mascot platformers like Crash Bandicoot and Spyro were struggling to recapture their PS1 magic. Ubisoft found an interesting way to modernize the platforming genre in the early 2000s when they purchased the rights to the Prince of Persia franchise.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time was Ubisoft's first Prince of Persia game, and it is still considered by many to be the series' best, largely thanks to its excellent blend of action-adventure and platforming. The game proved that the platforming genre wasn't restricted to just friendly mascot characters, and could be implemented in more matures, story-heavy titles.
2 Jak 2
Like the aforementioned Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Naughty Dog's Jak 2 is an action-adventure platformer that targets a more mature audience than most platforming titles.
Whereas the series' previous game, Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, was a wholesome collectathon platformer, Jak 2 threw players into a corrupt cyberpunk world with a heavier emphasis on storytelling. The series' shift in direction was a risk, but one that paid off as the game performed well critically and commercially.
1 Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty!
Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty! was initially released in 2014 and is a remake of the classic Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee that first hit stores in 1997. Like the original, New 'n' Tasty is a side-scrolling, cinematic platformer that has a strong emphasis on puzzle-solving.
The ground-up remake gave the original game a wonderful new look with its 2.5D graphical style and included difficulty settings for the first time to let players slow down enemy reaction times and increase Abe's health if desired. Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty! received a sequel in April 2021, titled Oddworld: Soulstorm - unfortunately, the game struggled to impress and received a lackluster Metascore of just 66 on PlayStation 5.