There are surprisingly many great 3D platformers coming out atm. Last year we had Pseudoregalia, Cavern of Dreams and Corn Kidz 64. This year we’ve had Penny’s Big Breakaway and The Big Catch: Tacklebox, which itself is a free demo/prologue chapter for The Big Catch, coming out next year (and is also my most hotly anticipated upcoming game, even more so than Hollow Knight Silksong. I mean just look at that trailer and tell me the vibes aren’t peak!).

It’s a good time to be a fan of 3D platformers.

I personally have a soft spot for 2D platformers from the Sonic series since I got a copy of the Sonic Mega Collection on gamecube when I was young and loved it. I don’t care if some games do a better job of having worlds where they’re speedy like Green Hill or slow like Carnival Nights (or whatever it’s called), I just like running across the screen. Same thing applies to the 3D games (even the flop I still think was a pretty good game: Sonic '06). Hell, I’m the type of guy who absolutely loves the beat-em-up style gameplay they introduced in Unleashed just for the Werehog sections. The gripes I tend to have are more or less either skill issues or being unable to play around the glitches in the case of '06 (despite not having played it in over a decade).

I’m also big on the Ratchet & Clank style 3D shooter platforming (only played 1, 2, size matters, Into the Nexus/Pirated Booty, and am only in the beginning of deadlocked). I love some of the more wacky weapons (plasma whip, bouncer, black hole gun, etcetera) you can get in the series, which allows me to not get ultra bored part way through the games. The stories also capture me, for the most part, in a first playthrough. They’re not something I take super seriously, so I tend to have a good time with them. Probably my biggest gripe with the game, from what I can remember about Into the Nexus, is how short it felt in comparison to the original trio and size matters. Getting a copy of the first in the PS3 series of games soon, so I cannot wait.

I also had a pretty good time this year with Corn Kidz 64, a shorter platformer that plays like an n64 title in how it controls. Fun enough mechanics but my biggest gripe is how in the end I was left wanting more, in a “I want a sequel” fashion.

Though I did have the misfortune of playing Macbat 64 this year too. It just felt too generic and shovelwear, in my opinion, for me to like it. Play as a bat in small levels with simple puzzles and not much exploration, random mario kart inspired race level in the middle of the game, and also a 2D level based on kirby. I don’t remember the story being much better either. Personally not a game for me.

I absolutely adored Hollow Knight, but my favourite platformer gotta be Celeste. In no small part due to its accessibility, but also great character writing, organic learning curve and gorgeous soundtrack!

On a more replayable side, my most played platformer is Dead Cells - which is understandable, since it is a roguelike.

Overall, in a platformer game I value learning curve and ease of controls more, since I’m not very good at this genre (as opposed to soulslikes, where I usually welcome the challenge). But of course, a good story transcends genres.

Love playformers platformers especially 2D, although Astro’s Playhouse was a favourite too, but mostly for the creativity with the controller.

For 2D I particularly liked the Ori games, so much love in the design of those games and the gameplay yo match

WTF is Mascot Platformers? Is it just platformers? If so megaman zero is still hands down the best series