Best Triple-A Platformers That Aren’t Mario

Platformer games and Mario have been closely linked since the beginning of video games. While no other series has quite achieved the same level of success, Nintendo’s Mario franchise hasn’t been the only great one. There are still many other fantastic, high-quality platformer games available for players to experience, even after Mario’s four decades of dominance.

As a fan, I love how varied this genre is! You’ve got these huge franchises with tons of amazing games already, but then you also get these incredible, standalone worlds that just blow you away. And it’s not just for hardcore gamers either – there are co-op adventures everyone can enjoy. While I appreciate the creativity of smaller indie games, it’s always a treat to play a really polished, big-budget platformer made by a massive team. They really take things to the next level!

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time

The Perfect Successor To The PlayStation Legend

After more than twenty years, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is the newest main installment in the series, continuing the story right after the last game’s dramatic ending. The villains, Neo Cortex and N. Tropy, have broken out of prison and are causing chaos across dimensions. As Crash, players must travel through different timelines and universes, fixing the damage to reality before it’s too late.

Thanks to strong support from Activision, the team at Toys for Bob had the creative freedom to build over 100 incredibly detailed levels, spanning diverse locations and time periods, with better graphics than ever before in the series. This commitment to quality, along with improved controls and engaging platforming, shows how classic games can be reimagined as modern hits – staying true to what fans love while also taking advantage of new technology.

Ratchet And Clank: Rift Apart

True Next-Generation Platforming

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is the newest game in the Ratchet & Clank series, and it introduces exciting new dimensions and realities. The story centers around the villainous Emperor Nefarious, who wants to conquer all realities, and Ratchet and Clank must team up to stop him and prevent the universe from falling apart.

The game feels incredibly smooth to play, with well-designed levels that give you a lot of freedom in how you tackle obstacles. The seamless transitions between stages and the high-quality presentation are a testament to the skill and resources of the development team at Insomniac.

LittleBigPlanet 3

Player Creativity Driving The Entire Experience

LittleBigPlanet 3 is the exciting finale to a beloved series, capturing the charm and fun of the original while offering a new level of adventure. Players can now control multiple characters, each with special skills, which transforms standard platforming into clever challenges.

While the visuals have received a minor upgrade, the true standout feature of LittleBigPlanet 3 is its incredible world design and the powerful tools it gives players to build their own levels. Even though it’s no longer available for purchase and the online servers are down, the game still stands out as a classic example of how creativity can lead to lasting success.

Portal 2

The Benchmark For Cooperative Platforming

Portal 2 is still considered one of the best games ever made, expertly blending impressive technology with a funny and engaging world. Valve consistently prioritizes quality, and this game—which cleverly built upon the simple idea of portal guns—continues to be praised more than ten years after its release.

The game is really enjoyable because all the puzzles require teamwork. Players have to talk to each other and coordinate their actions to jump over gaps and dodge obstacles. This creates a strong sense of community, and it’s all built on a solid, well-made game engine.

Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown

Bringing The Blades Back To The Big Screen

The latest Prince of Persia game, The Lost Crown, combines the exciting exploration of Metroidvania-style games with challenging platforming. Players will fight through enemies – from corrupted warriors to mythical beasts – and use powers that manipulate time to reveal the hidden mysteries of the imposing Mount Qaf. It feels both classic and fresh.

Backed by a major studio like Ubisoft, The Lost Crown boasts impressive graphics and gameplay. The dedicated development team, combined with Ubisoft’s support, successfully brought a long-paused franchise back to life, proving that older game series can still be enjoyable after years of inactivity.

Split Fiction

Modern Day Co-Op Excellence

Split Fiction is Hazelight’s exciting new take on platforming games, offering a unique and emotionally engaging experience. Players explore the creative minds of two writers, jumping between wildly different game genres – one moment in a futuristic cyberspace, the next in a fantastical world of dragons. This constant shift keeps things fresh and full of unexpected challenges.

This game surpasses the developer’s previous work thanks to its incredible ambition, which is flawlessly realized throughout. The developers weren’t afraid to push boundaries, and each new area sets a high bar for modern, large-scale platforming games.

Donkey Kong Bananza

More Chaos And More Destruction

While Mario is Nintendo’s most famous character, Donkey Kong is also a fantastic platforming hero. In Donkey Kong Bananza, he joins forces with Pauline to get back stolen banana diamonds from a greedy group of villainous apes who are after riches.

Even though Bananza is the first 3D Donkey Kong game in decades, it feels just as fresh and polished as other recent Nintendo titles. It blends open-world areas with creative, themed levels. Many players have compared it to Super Mario Odyssey – both games take basic ideas and expand on them in surprising ways, offering experiences that go beyond typical platforming and could influence game design for years to come.

Astro Bot

Surprising Players With Charm And Humor

Astro Bot’s win for Game of the Year was a huge surprise! It proved that a game doesn’t need complex features—just charm and excellent gameplay—to be a hit. The game is also a delightful tribute to PlayStation’s past, with levels and details that fans of classic PS games will instantly recognize.

Originally created as a simple guide for the PlayStation 5 and its DualSense controller in 2020, Astro Bot evolved into a full, high-quality game with the scope of any major platformer. The game is incredibly well-made, and each level feels fresh and unique, offering new challenges and obstacles while maintaining a consistently enjoyable and lighthearted experience.

2025-10-31 10:35