Best PlayStation Games Like Mario

Highlights

Mario’s exclusivity to Nintendo consoles may be disappointing for some gamers, but there are many great games like
Mario
on PlayStation.
PlayStation has a wide variety of platformers like
Super Meat Boy
,
Shovel Knight
,
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, Sackboy: A Big Adventure, Celeste, New Super Lucky’s Tale, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Spyro Reignited Trilogy
, and
Rayman Legends
that provide fun and challenging gameplay.

As someone who grew up playing Mario on my trusty old Nintendo console, I can honestly say that the iconic Italian plumber holds a special place in my heart. However, over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of discovering some incredible platformers that have given Mario a run for his money, and today, I’d like to share three of my favorite PlayStation games that every Mario fan should check out.

As a dedicated gamer, I can’t help but marvel at the remarkable journey of this iconic character – Mario. Ever since his debut in the arcade game “Donkey Kong” back in 1981, he has left an indelible mark on the gaming world and beyond. The reason for his enduring popularity lies in the extraordinary collection of games that have showcased his charm over the decades. These titles not only propelled Mario to legendary status but also significantly contributed to the growth and evolution of the gaming industry as we know it today.

As a dedicated fan who’s always on the lookout for new gaming experiences, I can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment every time I think about the fact that my beloved plumber friend is exclusive to Nintendo consoles. This means that millions of us PlayStation users are missing out on his incredible adventures. But fear not! There’s an abundance of fantastic games with similar charm and mechanics available on the PS5 that can deliver hours of enjoyment and evoke the same sense of satisfaction we get from controlling our beloved Italian plumber.

15 The Messenger

A Challenging Platformer Perfect For Fans Of Hard Classic Nintendo Games Like Mario

A thrilling platformer game, “The Messenger,” blends elements from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras, earning it well-deserved praise. Its challenging gameplay appeals to fans of classics such as “Ninja Gaiden” and “Mario.”

The unique style of writing in The Messenger and its impressive visuals make it a fantastic game, akin to playing a beloved classic like Mario on the PS4. It’s an heartfelt tribute to the past that avid gamers will find irresistible and difficult to part with.

14 Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time

The Latest Game Featuring This Beloved Marsupial Is Perfect For Players Seeking Out Modern Platformers

As a dedicated Crash Bandicoot fan, I can’t help but feel elated about the recent developments in our beloved marsupial’s world. Not only did we receive an upgraded version of the original trilogy that truly rivals the greatness of Nintendo’s mascots, but we were also blessed with a fresh addition to the series. This new game not only brings back all the nostalgic elements we adore, but it also introduces some innovative concepts that keep us on our toes and leave us excited for what’s to come.

It’s About Time offers a stunning display and entertaining levels that Crash fans will appreciate. This is a top-notch platformer game for PS5 users who are looking for an enjoyable Mario-like experience.

13 Fez

Perfect For Platforming Fans Who Love Mario’s Creative Level Design

A standalone platform game, “Fez,” took everyone by surprise when it debuted with its unique approach to perspective and level design. Its blend of puzzle-solving and platforming elements made it an instant favorite among gamers, earning it high praise as one of the top “Mario-like” games on PS4.

Unfortunately, the follow-up to this title’s release was cancelled due to the developer’s strong dislike for the high piracy rates of the game. Those who haven’t tried this creatively designed platformer are missing out on a real treat.

12 Spelunky

Platforming Action With A Roguelike Twist

In 2008, the indie game Spelunky initially came out on personal computers. Since then, it has been made available on various other gaming consoles. This groundbreaking indie title significantly impacted the industry by popularizing the roguelike genre and proving that high-quality games could originate from independent developers, at a time when they were often criticized for being inferior to AAA productions.

The randomly generated levels in Spelunky, combined with an extensive collection of weapons and adversaries, have made the game incredibly engaging and have demonstrated the excellent worth of roguelike titles. Fans of Mario’s groundbreaking gameplay will be captivated by Spelunky’s endearing mechanics. It’s definitely worth checking out the sequel to this gem, Spelunky 2.

11 Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

A Beautiful 3D Platformer That Makes The Most Of The PS5’s Advanced SSD

The new addition to this list, released in June 2021, is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. It’s exclusive to PlayStation 5 and boasts some of the most striking graphics the console has seen yet.

In a fresh and engaging take, Rift Apart preserves the distinctive fusion of platforming and third-person shooting found in the series, making it an excellent choice for gamers looking for PS5 titles reminiscent of Mario’s adventures with gunplay. Additionally, this installment introduces new elements to enhance gameplay experience, like the Rift Tether that enables players to effortlessly transition between different areas. Worth mentioning, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is among the PlayStation exclusives now available on PC as well.

10 Sonic Mania

A Solid Platforming Title From Mario’s Biggest Competitor Back In The Golden Age Of Platformers

Sonic’s 3D games have sparked debate among fans, but his iconic 2D games continue to be cherished and enjoyable. In response, a group of respected fan game creators collaborated on Sonic Mania, an homage to the original series. This game includes reimagined levels from the classic titles along with some fresh additions.

Although Sonic Mania didn’t bring the groundbreaking new ideas we’ve come to expect from Sonic Team, it more than delivered in recreating the cherished Sonic experience for fans – a desire that had been widely expressed, leading to critical acclaim and one of the best-received Sonic games ever made. For those looking for games similar to Mario on the PlayStation 5, this title is an excellent choice, given its rich history of competition between these iconic gaming mascots.

9 Super Meat Boy

Perfect For Players Who Love Mario’s Gameplay But Want A Substantial Challenge

In the realm of indie games, both Spelunky and Super Meat Boy hold significant influence. These titles have left an indelible mark on the industry due to their contributions to indie gaming’s evolution and the resurgence of side-scrolling platformers.

Before the launch of “Super Meat Boy” in October 2010, the genre of platform games was finding it hard to compete with open-world and adventure games in terms of justifying their higher prices. By pricing “Super Meat Boy” lower, Team Meas had the flexibility to deliver a traditional linear platforming game without feeling the need to overcharge.

Super Meat Boy was also influential for removing Game Over screens and letting players instantly restart upon dying — a common feature in platformers today. Mario‘s Game Overs may have more impact but the moment-to-moment gameplay is pretty similar in both titles.

8 Shovel Knight

Elicits The Classic Goodness Of Platformers In The Past, Like Mario

Shovel Knight first came out on PC in June 2014, later being made available on numerous other gaming platforms. The visuals of this game have an 8-bit design evocative of classic NES platformers like the early Mario titles.

A crowdfunded indie game named “Shovel Knight” became a significant commercial triumph, resulting in several successful DLC releases in late 2019. The most advantageous way to experience “Shovel Knight” right now is through the “Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove” edition from December 2019. This cost-effective bundle includes the base game and four highly acclaimed DLC expansions.

7 Yooka-Laylee And The Impossible Lair

A Collectathon Perfect For Fans Of Mario’s Simple Gameplay Loop

The beginning of the Yooka-Laylee series didn’t live up to expectations. With a massive amount of anticipation and record-breaking Kickstarter support, many believed the debut game would be exceptional. However, the finished product underperformed, as evidenced by the PlayStation 4 version receiving a Metacritic score of only 68.

Several individuals believed that poor criticisms and fan reactions would signal the demise of the series. Yet, only a few short years passed, and a new installment emerged, titled Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair. This game departed from its former Banjo-Kazooie inspirations and adopted side-scrolling action reminiscent of Donkey Kong Country and Super Mario Bros., leading to a much more delightful player experience.

6 Sackboy: A Big Adventure

A Charming Platformer Perfect For Fans Of Mario’s Colorful Aesthetic

The release of exclusive titles like “Sackboy: A Big Adventure” can greatly impact a new console’s performance during its first year. As a result, many PlayStation 5 buyers were eagerly anticipating this game when it became available on the same day as the console’s launch.

Despite sharing a connection to the “LittleBigPlanet” franchise, “Sackboy: A Big Adventure” offers significantly distinct gameplay. This title swaps out “LittleBigPlanet’s” 2.5D view for a fully three-dimensional perspective and prioritizes a streamlined, linear experience over the extensive customizability that was once its hallmark. It’s an excellent alternative to “Mario” games on PS5 for players to explore.

5 Celeste

An Excellent 2D Platformer With Clever Level Design And A Heartwarming Story

Celeste is one of modern gaming’s toughest platformers. Not only is simply reaching the end credits a tricky task, but beating the game 100% is incredibly challenging as players need to collect difficult-to-reach strawberries and well-hidden Crystal Hearts, as well as beat the punishingly tough B-side tapes.

Despite the challenging nature of the game, it never seems unfair due to its meticulously designed control system, allowing players to smoothly manage Madeline’s movements. The difficulty level feels authentic and enhances the game’s deep narrative, making it an excellent choice for PS4 users seeking story-driven games akin to Mario.

4 New Super Lucky’s Tale

A Fun And Simple Platformer That Mario Fans Will Love

In 2017, PlayStation users felt let down when “Super Lucky’s Tale” didn’t make its way to their console. But fear not, in 2020, an enhanced edition called “New Super Lucky’s Tale” arrived on PlayStation 4, offering improved level designs and camera functionality as part of the upgrade.

As someone who grew up playing classic platformers like Super Mario, I found New Super Lucky’s Tale to be a refreshing throwback to those nostalgic days. It’s not the most challenging game I’ve ever played, but it’s far from being patronizingly easy. The levels are simple enough for anyone to navigate, but the inclusion of numerous side objectives and collectibles adds an extra layer of complexity that keeps things interesting.

3 Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy

A Remake Featuring A Character Created In Response To Mario’s Popularity

Naughty Dog’s inaugural game on the PlayStation console, titled “Crash Bandicoot,” was an endeavor by both Naughty Dog and Sony to produce a contender to challenge Nintendo’s Mario and Sega’s Sonic as iconic mascots. Naughty Dog succeeded in this mission, resulting in three exceptional platform games for the PlayStation that remain popular among fans today.

Activision brought joy to Crash Bandicoot enthusiasts by revealing their partnership with Vicarous Visions to reconstruct the initial three Crash Bandicoot games in a fresh take. The gameplay in Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is more structured than Mario’s 3D journeys, yet similar to Mario, Crash offers meticulously crafted levels brimming with additional objectives. These objectives include smashing all boxes for hidden gems and completing time trials to collect relics.

2 Spyro Reignited Trilogy

A Great 3D Platformer That Mario Fans Will Get A Kick Out Of

As a devoted gamer, I can tell you that it’s not just Crash Bandicoot who got a fresh new look on PlayStation with remakes of his PS1 trilogy. About a year after the successful release of N. Sane Trilogy, Activision brought back another beloved character – Spyro! The Reignited Trilogy hit the shelves and gave us gamers an opportunity to relive those classic adventures in a revitalized way.

The platforming in the trilogy doesn’t match up to Mario’s, and the purple dragon’s moves are less varied. But, Spyro’s creatively designed levels are packed with hard-to-find collectibles, challenging even the best collectathons from Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Odyssey.

1 Rayman Legends

Rivals Mario’s Creative Level Design And Technical Polish

For those who enjoy Mario’s 2D journeys, Rayman Legends is an excellent alternative. It looked like Rayman was retiring his hovering shoes as a platformer and shifting to party games with the introduction of Rayman Raving Rabbids.

After taking a break from platforming, Rayman made an impressive comeback. Ubisoft continued to wow us with exceptional platform games, including “Rayman Legends” that succeeded “Rayman Origins.” These games demonstrated the enduring appeal of side-scrollers in contemporary gaming. Let’s hope the PS5 will welcome the return of this beloved series.

2024-07-23 15:54