The Nintendo Switch is a source of many great 3D platformers with standout titles likeSuper Mario Odysseyand Lunistice on the platform. The genre brings so much creativity, tight controls and vibrant worlds to explore.
10 Best 2D Platformers on Nintendo Switch
The portable nature of the Nintendo Switch really shines when you play these ten best platformers on the console.
We have included one game per franchise on this list and include Switch games, not retro titles on the Nintendo Switch Online service. This means that genuinely awesome games like Sonic Frontiers and the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection are not included on this list.
9Poi: Explorer Edition
Poi is a hidden gem among the ocean of games available on the Nintendo Switch. You scour several islands, searching for over 100 Explorer Medallions, as you’re challenged by riveting platforming levels. There are wall jumps, triple jumps and more to master. The controls are fluid and bring you back to the classic Super Mario 64 days with how the levels are structured. Give this indie platformer a go.
“Poi‘s greatest weakness lies in its sound design, but the core game is well-crated and a lot of fun,” saidour review. “The smaller world size keeps players focused on the task at hand, while keeping mandatory collect-a-thon parts to a minimum puts a stronger focus on the platforming action.”
8Lunistice
Another great indie 3D platformer is Lunistice, which provides a retro look that looks ripped from the Nintendo 64/PS1 era. It’s a short, but sweet experience as you precisely jump through all manner of imaginative worlds.
Lunistice usually costs $4.99 USD.
You’ll be exploring a stunning Japanese-inspired landscape with cherry blossoms in the air in one level and then in a sci-fi galactic adventure the next. It’s a high-speed 3D platforming experience that has you grinding on rails and making leaps of faith that is worth its cheap price tag.
7Penny’s Big Breakaway
Penny’s Big Breakaway
Another retro-inspired platformer, Penny’s Big Breakaway, is inspired by the Sega Saturn-era of titles. The former developer of Sonic Mania brings so much nostalgia to those who play Penny’s Big Breakaway. The protagonist uses a yo-yo to roll around each level and swing across platforms. The visuals truly pop and give some 90s vibes as you explore each world. Give this one a go if you like quirky platformers like this.
The developer “Evening Star manage to find just the right balance between these Mario-esque requirements on nailing a precision jump in one case and that Sonic-esque indulging on being as stylish with one’s speed as you want,” saidour review.
6Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Our favorite puffball Kirby had his first 3D adventure on the Nintendo Switch and thankfully it was a grand one. The protagonist finds himself in a new world that is teeming with wildlife among an abandoned civilization.
As you try to figure out where Kirby is, you’ll have to save the Waddle Dees that have been captured by the Beast Pack. New Copy abilities and a bunch of bosses are ahead in this adventure. Despite the weirdly post-apocalyptic setting you’d expect from a game like Horizon Zero Dawn, the game is gorgeous with vibrant colors throughout.
It’s a short game, according toGameRant, but the outlet’s review says that “Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a consistently entertaining, adorable, and clever little 3D platformer while it lasts, and it even has some surprisingKirby lore revelations thrown in for good measure.”
5Spyro Reignited Trilogy
Spyro Reignited Trilogy
A beloved 3D platforming mascot, Spyro the Dragon, received his comeback in the Reignited Trilogy in 2018. The game, originally developed by Marvel’s Spider-Man studio Insomniac Games and remade by Toys for Bob, features plenty of spectacular platforming levels.
You blast your foes with fire or charge at them with Spyro’s small but mighty horns. The gliding sections of this platformer are heart-pounding as you attempt to make it to a far away area. Additionally, the bosses are memorable as you’ll need to follow certain strategies to defeat them.
There are so many items to collect, like Dragon Eggs that hatch to reveal adorable babies, each with their own names. While you’re journeying through each level, a wonderful whimsical soundtrack by The Police drummer Steward Copeland will play in the background.
4It Takes Two
It Takes Two
Game of the Year winner and beloved by critics across the board is the co-op 3D platformer It Takes Two. It’s immaculately designed with phenomenal gameplay decisions that sweep you off your feet and go beyond your wildest imagination.
It Takes Two is especially unique as it revolves around two-player co-op that is necessary to play the game. You play as a couple that turn into toys as they are about to begin a divorce, and they are solely focused to returning to their child and possibly their relationship. You’ll be exploring the garden and the inside of a snowball, among other cool environments around the house. If you haven’t played It Takes Two yet, it’s a must.
3Crash Bandicoot N’Sane Trilogy
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
It’s wild that a big rival of Mario in the 90’s, Crash Bandicoot, can now be played on the Nintendo Switch. While Nintendo fanboys may want to avoid this marsupial at all costs, we advise against that. The precise jumping, the unique top-down angle and sheer amounts of attitude in the game is well worth your time and money. These games have aged like a fine wine and look even better with Vicarious Visions' new visuals for the Naughty Dog classics.
If you’re looking for a bit more challenge from your 3D platformers, this trilogy of PS1 games remade is worth your time. Bouncing on boxes never felt so good before Crash came along.
2Sonic x Shadow Generations
Sonic X Shadow Generations
Another blast from the past Sonic x Shadow Generations is arguably one of the best games from Sega’s premiere platforming franchise. It brings top-of-the-line 2D and 3D platforming as you play as both classic and modern Sonic in re-imagined levels from the hedgehog’s past.
There’s nothing better than Sonic zooming at top speed in a gorgeously realized environment. Shadow also has some stellar levels that are new in this remaster.
1Super Mario Odyssey
Super Mario Odyssey
When you clicked on this article, you probably knew that Super Mario Odyssey would be at the top of the list. It has everything an amazing 3D platformer should have. Stellar controls that have you jump up, super high in the sky, impressive visuals that constantly take your breath away and many secrets to find in the open environments. It’s practically a near-perfect game that many will revisit over and over again. The bosses also have a cinematic flair to them as you try to outwit their movements.
We haven’t even gotten into this game’s major mechanic: Cappy. When Mario throws his hat, he can take over the person or object who ends up wearing it. The Italian plumber can ride through electricity or even become a dinosaur wrecking everything it rampages through. Nintendo shows its creativity within Super Mario Odyssey, making it one of the best games the Japanese company has ever made.
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