Platformer
One of the oldest genres of video games — the platformer — is characterized by a unique gameplay experience. The player controls a character that moves through levels, jumps on "platforms," climbs ladders, collects items, and battles enemies. The intelligence of opponents is usually either weak or completely absent. Some platformers focus on speed and reaction, others resemble puzzles more, while others require the player to execute the correct combination of movements to overcome obstacles. The genre diversity of platformers is very wide.
Years
Platforms
Statuses
Best Games in the Platformer genre of 2012 (Game released)
Game released: iOS, Neo Geo, PlayStation 2, Wii, Xbox, Xbox 360, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PS Vita, Nintendo Switch → 12 July 2012
Players:
10/10
Steam:
88/100
Metacritic:
77/100
A 2D arcade run-and-gun shooter in which a soldier fights through stages filled with enemies and giant bosses. Metal Slug 3 features five large stages with...
Game released: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, PC, Xbox 360, Mac, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS → 3 March 2009
Players:
7.8/10
Steam:
74/100
Metacritic:
74/100
Tomb Raider: Underworld is a third-person adventure action game in which Lara Croft explores ancient and uncharted locations concealing mysteries of the underworld...
Game released: Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 3, PS Vita, PC, Xbox 360, Wii, Mac → 8 June 2012
Players:
7.7/10
Steam:
93/100
Metacritic:
85/100
This 2D platform adventure with action elements takes place in the Glade of Dreams, which has been overrun by Darktoons. The Fairy Council calls on Rayman to save...
Action, Adventure, Horror, Platformer, Third-person view, Isometric, Puzzle, Anime / Manga, Adult game, Visual novel
Game released: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC → 17 February 2011
Players:
7.1/10
Steam:
89/100
Metacritic:
80/100
Catherine is an adventure arcade puzzle game with visual novel elements. The game will tell the story of computer scientist Vincent, who is experiencing the peak of...
Game released: Xbox 360, PC, PlayStation 3, PS Vita, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 → 4 July 2012
Players:
8.4/10
Steam:
92/100
Metacritic:
87/100
Spelunky is a fun adventure that takes you to explore dangerous but rich mines. You will control a rather big-nosed but cute gold digger who came to the mines for...
Game released: Dreamcast, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, PS Vita, iOS, Android → 4 November 2000
Steam:
87/100
Metacritic:
74/100
Jet Set Radio is an arcade game with a third-person view and stunt elements. You have to fight for Tokyo, mark your territory with graffiti, draw on walls, posters...
Action, Platformer, Third-person view, Futurism (Future), Puzzle, Post-apocalyptic, Adventure, Slasher
Game released: PlayStation 3, PC, Xbox 360 → 8 January 2010
Players:
8.4/10
Steam:
86/100
Metacritic:
83/100
Set in a demon-ravaged post-apocalyptic world, this third-person action game follows War, the first Horseman of the Apocalypse, who is accused of bringing about the...
Game released: Linux, Mac, PlayStation 2, PC, Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4 → 12 June 2012
Players:
9.6/10
Steam:
95/100
Metacritic:
87/100
Psychonauts is an action-adventure platformer with a third-person view in a fantasy setting. The plot follows a young special agent named Raz, who learns to use his...
Game released: PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch → 25 July 2013
Players:
5.4/10
Steam:
81/100
Metacritic:
73/100
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is a fast-paced side-scrolling action platformer that is the spiritual successor to 1987's Great Giana Sisters for the Commodore 64...
Game released: Mac, PlayStation 3, Wii, PC, Xbox 360, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, PSP → 27 October 2011
Players:
8.3/10
Steam:
94/100
Metacritic:
73/100
This action-adventure platformer retells stories from Star Wars: The Clone Wars in the LEGO universe, bringing together characters from the animated series and the...
Arcade, Role-playing game, Action, Adventure, Fighting, Fantasy / Medieval, Side view, Platformer, Metroidvania
Game released: PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Mac, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Linux → 24 May 2013
Players:
9.6/10
Steam:
94/100
Metacritic:
84/100
Dust: An Elysian Tail is a 2D action-adventure platformer with role-playing elements and a side view in a fantasy setting. A colorful world awaits you, filled with...
Game released: PC, Linux, Mac, Nintendo 3DS, iOS, Android, PS Vita, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 → 11 January 2010
Players:
7.3/10
Steam:
96/100
Metacritic:
85/100
VVVVVV is an arcade indie platformer with a side view. You play as the fearless leader of a team of dimension explorers who have crashed and lost contact with each...
Game released: Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, Wii, PC, Xbox 360, PS Vita, PSP, iOS → 18 November 2011
Players:
7.2/10
Steam:
87/100
Metacritic:
73/100
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 is an adventure arcade action platformer with a third-person view in the Harry Potter universe. The game is based on the last three...
Game released: PC, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, PS Vita, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, Mac, iOS, Android → 23 November 2012
Players:
7.9/10
LEGO Lord of the Rings is an arcade action adventure game with a third-person view in the Lord of the Rings universe. An exciting adventure awaits you through the...
Game released: PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, PS Vita, Mac, Wii U → 19 June 2012
VGTimes:
7.0/10
Players:
9.1/10
Steam:
94/100
Metacritic:
75/100
LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes is a continuation of the arcade adventure with a first-person view based on the Batman comics in the style of LEGO toys. The game...
Game released: PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PS Vita, iOS, Android, Ouya, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, Nintendo Switch, Linux → 4 April 2013
Steam:
85/100
Metacritic:
76/100
This science-fiction action platformer follows young scientist Lester Knight Chaykin, who is hurled through space and time when a nuclear experiment goes wrong...
Game released: PSP, Android, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, PC, Amazon Fire TV, Commodore 64, Mac, Linux, iOS → 3 April 2012
Steam:
93/100
Metacritic:
77/100
Canabalt is a fantasy arcade platformer. You have to escape from the destruction of your city with just one button. The game that popularized the endless runner...
Game released: Android, iPad, iPhone, Mac, Wii, PC, PlayStation 3, Linux, Nintendo Switch → 21 April 2011
Players:
5.5/10
Steam:
88/100
Metacritic:
80/100
Toki Tori is a side-scrolling arcade action platformer where the goal of each level is to collect all the scattered eggs. And to achieve this goal, the player will...
Game released: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One → 2 May 2012
Players:
6.4/10
Steam:
84/100
Metacritic:
77/100
Awesomenauts is a free-to-play 2D side-scrolling MOBA action game. The events of the game will take you to the distant year 3587, in which there is a great...
Game released: Android, iPad, iPhone, PlayStation 3, PC, Xbox 360, Amazon Fire TV, iOS → 14 December 2011
Steam:
88/100
Metacritic:
85/100
A platform game about Sonic traveling through time, set on Little Planet, a mysterious world where the past, present, and future are linked by the power of the Time...
Game released: GameCube, Mac, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, PC, Xbox, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS → 3 August 2007
Players:
9.1/10
Metacritic:
64/100
Ratatouille — just like in the film, the game starts on a farm. Remy leaves with his brother Emil to get some apple cores for his father. Along the way, he is...
