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: 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...
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: 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: Xbox 360, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PS Vita, Mac, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Linux → 13 April 2012
Players:
7.1/10
Steam:
91/100
Metacritic:
90/100
Fez is a side-scrolling indie adventure platformer. The action takes place in a 3D world, allowing the player to explore and traverse colorful worlds by rotating...
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...
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: 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...
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: 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: 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...
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, 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, 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: 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...
Game released: iOS, Android, Ouya, Amazon Fire TV, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PS Vita → 3 February 2011
Players:
8.5/10
Steam:
85/100
Metacritic:
75/100
This futuristic action platformer follows a bionic super agent on a mission to stop the League of Evil, an alliance of evil scientists. The agent fights through...
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: 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: 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, Dreamcast, Game Boy Color, Mac, Nintendo 64, PlayStation, PlayStation 3, PSP, PC → 12 April 2012
Players:
6.2/10
Metacritic:
66/100
This third-person action platformer follows space hero Buzz Lightyear as he sets out to rescue his friend Woody. A greedy toy collector has kidnapped Woody, and...
Arcade, Action, Platformer, Third-person view, Anime / Manga, Fantasy / Medieval, Metroidvania, Side view, Role-playing game
Game released: Genesis, PlayStation 3, SEGA Master System, TurboGrafx CD, Wii, PC, Mac, Linux → 25 October 1991
Steam:
100/100
Monsters have overrun a fantasy land, leaving its citizens afraid for their lives as they wait for a hero to restore peace. Wonder Boy in Monster World is an action...
Game released: Mac, PC, PlayStation 3, PS Vita, iOS, Android, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Wii U, Nintendo Switch → 30 June 2012
Players:
8.5/10
Steam:
93/100
Metacritic:
81/100
Thomas Was Alone is a side-scrolling indie adventure platformer with puzzle elements. In this game, you have to guide a group of rectangles through a series of...
Game released: Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari ST, DOS, FM Towns, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Gear, Genesis, iPad, iPhone, Mac, NES, Nintendo 3DS, SAM Coupé, SEGA CD, SEGA Master System, Sharp X68000, SNES, TurboGrafx CD, Wii, iOS → 1990
Players:
8.1/10
Prince of Persia is a side-scrolling adventure arcade action platformer. While the Sultan of Persia is waging war in a foreign country, his Grand Vizier Jaffar...
