Platforming games have been around for what feels like forever in the gaming scene. From the halcyon days of a certain mustachioed plumber jumping over barrels, to the modern day brilliance of Astro Bot, we have seen a lot of amazing platformers.
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Starting as you mean to go on is a great way to make a first impression.
However, it’s fair to say that they tend to stick to the same old script. Running, double jumping, dashing, and maybe a grappling hook thrown in there for good measure. That’s about all you can hope for.
But, there are quite a few titles out there that attempt to break the mold and offer a platforming experience so far removed from the norm that they demand the attention of the masses.
So, to give those games their due, here is a list of some unconventional platformers that are well worth checking out.
10
Symphonia
Bitter Sweet Symphony
Of all the games featured on this list, I believe that Symphonia is perhaps the one that remains the most criminally unloved of the bunch. Which is a shame as this game is a platforming marvel.
This one’s core gimmick is based around classical music, and your player character uses a violin bow to ping of the ground. It sounds pretty rudimentary, but in action, it leads to a series of very precise inputs that require you to manage your momentum to excel.
I said in my review that the biggest compliment I can give Symphonia is that, at times, this game felt akin to the best platforming sections present in Hollow Knight, albeit without the stress of combat. And I wholeheartedly stand by that.
It hits a few bum notes in terms of story, but the excellent level design, platforming mechanics, and set pieces more than make up for it. So, uncover this hidden gem when you get a chance.
9
KarmaZoo
Your Good Deed For The Day
I often view KarmaZoo as the multiplayer sister game to Animal Well, even though the two have no links whatsoever. But it is down to the strange menagerie vibe they share and the big swings they take when it comes to platforming design.
KarmaZoo is basically the closest thing you’ll find to a massively multiplayer platforming game, placing you in a lobby with ten different animals, and your goal is to get from A to B, using your various unique animal skills to pitch in for your team.
It’s a truly unique game that does away with toxic online gameplay, incentivizing and rewarding players for doing good deeds as they play with others.
It’s the ultimate feel-good platformer, and one that I’ve never seen anything quite like. It’s not for everyone, as there’s no competitive edge here, but if you’re a team player, I reckon you’ll love this one.
8
Jusant
The Only Way Is Up
- Platform(s)
-
PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
- Released
-
October 30, 2023
- Developer(s)
-
DON’T NOD
- Publisher(s)
-
DON’T NOD
- Engine
-
Unreal Engine 5, Unreal Engine 4
- ESRB
-
t
- How Long To Beat
-
4 Hours
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Mighty
People tend to equate platforming games solely to titles that have you run and jump, but you have to remember that climbing is a vital part of the platforming experience, too.
This is something that Jusant leans into wholeheartedly, offering a mountaineering experience that is about as authentic as it gets while still maintaining the fun factor needed to make all the treacherous climbing worthwhile.
Swinging from Pitons and wall-running to your next handhold is a rush, and each climbing section is its own little self-contained puzzle that demands that you take care with every single movement you make.
The ability to control each limb individually is inspired, and the subtle story included in this title isn’t half bad, either. So, if you fancy climbing so high you’ll get a nosebleed, Jusant is the game for you.
7
Gravity Rush 2
Falling With Style
- Franchise
-
Gravity Rush
- Released
-
January 20, 2017
- Developer(s)
-
JapanStudio
- Publisher(s)
-
Sony
- Engine
-
PhyreEngine
- ESRB
-
T For Teen due to Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, Partial Nudity, Use of Alcohol
- How Long To Beat
-
20 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
-
Extra & Premium
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Strong
I was torn between this game and Downwell for which game would represent the ‘falling with style’ portion of this list, but in the end, Gravity Rush takes the cake.
Gravity Rush, as you might have guessed from the name, is a title that concerns itself with the concept of zero gravity, and in this game, you can toggle gravity to ragdoll yourself around this unique open world.
The traversal mechanics are the real star of the show here, as the story isn’t all that cohesive, and the combat feels crowbarred in out of obligation. But zipping around is so satisfying we doubt you’ll care all that much.
Any game can do low gravity, but no gravity is a step beyond, and one that you need to see for yourself.
6
Snake Pass
Slithery Little Sneaky Snake
The animal kingdom is full of lingering questions. Do penguins have knees? Why are Elephants afraid of mice? And how the heck does a snake move?
The latter is the focus here, as Snake Pass is a game that offers a traditional platforming blueprint, but has you approach it like a slithering snake, forcing you to coil around objects rather than hop to your next ledge.
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The jump to the second game landed incredibly well with these games.
It’s all about using your long body to get yourself into a good position, and then transfer onto your next pipe to get where you need to go. There are no dashes, jumps, or gimmicks, just a snake using his noodle-like body to get from A to B.
It’s one of the very rare examples of a traditional mascot platformer with no actual platforming. But unbelievably, it’s a decision that makes this game infinitely better.
5
Ultimate Chicken Horse
Competitive Mario Bros
Multiplayer platforming games are becoming more and more popular, perhaps due to the unprecedented success of games like It Takes Two. But before that game was even a thing, we had trailblazers like Ultimate Chicken Horse leading the charge.
This game is effectively chaotic, competitive Super Mario Bros, where competitors will be given random traps, and be able to assign them to each compact stage to trip up their opponents. Then, when it’s go time, you’ll need to get from A to B the fastest, avoiding their traps and your own.
It’s one of the finest modern party games on the market, and one that is reportedly getting a sequel comically titled Ultimate Sheep Raccoon. So, there’s no time like the present to hop into this manic platforming gem.
4
Leap Year
No Leaping This Year
Imagine a platformer where you literally cannot jump. Seems like a pretty lousy idea, right? Well, Leap Year proves that, if done right, it can be a pretty cool concept.
Leap year is a short and sweet platformer that has you collect the various days on a calendar around the map which make up the month of February. But, you need to find a way to do this without ever jumping.
You technically can jump in this game, but any, and I mean any fall damage will kill you, so it’s not advised.
It’s a staggeringly clever game and one that you’ll likely finish with the one critique that you wish there was more. Well, know that you’re not alone on that one.
3
Pepper Grinder
Can You Dig It?
- Released
-
March 28, 2024
- Developer(s)
-
Ahr Ech
- Engine
-
Construct
- ESRB
-
E for Everyone
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Strong
In most cases, when playing a platformer, you’ll be leaping from the floor with the express purpose of getting to higher ground. However, in Pepper Grinder, it’s almost always the opposite.
You see, your main means of propulsion in this game is by embodying a little mole underground and using your comically large mechanical drill to dig, and propel yourself from the earth.
It’s a truly addictive precision platformer that forces players to think one step ahead, get into a flow state, and pick their paths through the dirt with precision to prevail.
Sure, it only has 20 levels, but thanks to the tough-as-nails time trials, this one will keep you entertained hours after the credits roll, so if you’re a speed freak, give this a try.
2
Animal Well
Bubbles & Frisbees
I tried not to include any Metroidvanias on this list, but when it comes to Animal Well, I just can’t resist gushing over just how outlandish this game is as a puzzle platformer.
I say that because this game actively tries to re-invent every platforming trope you would typically find in a Metroidvania like this.
Instead of a double jump, the player is given a bubble wand to blow bubbles to hop on for a little extra height, and instead of a dash, players can toss a frisbee and then hitch a ride on it to get across the room.
This, alongside some truly amazing pixel visuals, meticulous puzzle design, and a focus on player discovery, makes this one a true marvel and a must-play for platforming and Metroidvania fans alike.
1
Neon White
And It Feels Like Heaven
Imagine if SEGA decided to make Sonic the Hedgehog into a fast and free-flowing FPS game. Well, replace hedgehogs with demons from hell and you pretty much have Neon White.
This is an FPS game that speedruns speedrunning, asking players to go fast, take shortcuts, use their abilities at the perfect time and in the perfect sequence. And even then, there still might be a few seconds you need to shave off your time.
It’s a game that boasts a wealth of brilliantly designed levels and an arcade feel where beating another player’s time and moving up the leaderboard is a rush.
The Kawaii writing is a little bit of an acquired taste, but aside from that, it’s a modern classic platformer that breaks all the rules and is better for it.
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