Top Results for 2D Platformer
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A masterclass in the Metroidvania genre, Hollow Knight immerses players in the vast, decaying insect kingdom of Hallownest. It features challenging, precise combat, a sprawling interconnected world to map, and a hauntingly beautiful hand-drawn art style. The game is renowned for its atmospheric dept...
Why this score
Hollow Knight scores 9.4/10 due to its exceptional gameplay, immersive world-building, and stunning art style. However, the steep learning curve and limited online content are minor drawbacks.
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Released in 1995 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island is a 2D platformer developed and published by Nintendo. The game distinguishes itself through a unique, hand-drawn pastel art style that resembles a storybook. Players control various Yoshis as they car...
Why this score
Canonical critical acclaim, enduring best-of-all-time reputation, exceptional art and level design; divisive Baby Mario crying is the main criticism.
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Super Mario Bros. Wonder revitalizes the classic 2D platforming formula with inventive 'Wonder Effects' that transform levels in unexpected ways. The game's vibrant visuals, challenging but accessible gameplay, and robust cooperative mode make it a joy for kids of all ages. The game's creativity an...
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove is a 2017 compilation developed and published by Yacht Club Games. It bundles several retro-style, 2D side-scrolling platforming campaigns featuring the titular Shovel Knight, including Shovel of Hope, Plague of Shadows, Specter of Torment, and King of Cards. The compil...
Why this score
Outstanding critic and user ratings, precise controls, expansive campaign collection, and lasting indie prestige; deliberate retro conventions limit universal appeal.
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Cave Story+ presents a classic metroidvania experience built upon Daisuke Amaya’s original 2004 game. This enhanced version offers improved pixel art visuals, fully remastered soundtrack, and additional levels expanding the gameplay. It is designed for players who enjoy challenging platforming with...
Rayman Legends is a 2013 platform game created by Ubisoft Montpellier and published by Ubisoft. It follows the story of Rayman and his companions, continuing the narrative established in Rayman Origins. The title was initially released across multiple platforms including Windows, PlayStation, Xbox,...
Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is a 2D platforming game developed and published by Yacht Club Games in 2017. It serves as a prequel to the original Shovel Knight campaign and focuses on Specter Knight. The game distinguishes itself through unique movement mechanics, such as climbing walls and sca...
Why this score
One of Shovel Knight's most acclaimed campaigns, praised for movement, level design, pacing, and strong series reputation.
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Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts is an action platformer developed and published by Capcom for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, released in Japan in 1991 and in North America in 1992. It is the third main installment in the Ghosts 'n Goblins series, following Ghosts 'n Goblins and Ghouls 'n Ghosts. Pl...
Why this score
SNES classic with enduring acclaim for presentation and challenge, though consensus notes extreme difficulty and some punitive design.
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A polished remake of the DS classic, this game offers a perfect 2D platforming experience with a heavy emphasis on cooperative play. Players can switch between Kirby and Meta Knight, providing two distinct playstyles in one package. The level design is tight, the visuals are crisp, and it remains on...
Turrican II: The Final Fight is a 1991 run-and-gun platformer by Factor 5, released on Amiga and later other platforms, widely celebrated for Chris Hülsbeck's dynamic musical score and large open levels.
Why this score
Amiga classic widely praised for music, scale, and technical achievement, though run-and-gun sprawl feels dated to some players.
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Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is a 2D platformer developed by Playtonic Games. It’s notable for reviving the spirit of Banjo & Kazooie with its charming art style and challenging level design. The game offers a nostalgic experience for fans of classic collect-a-thons and provides engaging gam...
*Shovel Knight: King of Cards* is a 2D platformer developed by Yacht Club Games in 2019. It serves as the final campaign expansion for the *Shovel Knight* saga, featuring the titular antagonist King Knight as the playable character. The game features unique movement mechanics, relying on a vertical...
Why this score
Well-reviewed expansion with substantial content and charm, slightly tempered by divisive Joustus card game and less universal appeal.
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Freedom Planet 2 is a 2D action-platformer developed and published by GalaxyTrail, an independent studio led by designer Sabrina DiDuro. Released in 2022, it is the sequel to Freedom Planet (2014), a game inspired by classic Sega Genesis platformers. The sequel features four playable characters—Lila...
Why this score
Strong sequel reception, improved systems and character variety, praised by genre fans though still niche and occasionally overstuffed.
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Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return is a 1999 metroidvania game developed by Whoopee Camp. It features Tomba, a pink-haired adventurer, exploring a vast, interconnected world filled with puzzles and challenges. Notable for its unique blend of platforming and quest design, the game offers a nostalgic exp...
Phoenotopia: Awakening is a 2D action-adventure platformer developed by Cape Cosmic and released in 2020. The game functions as a complete remake of a 2014 browser-based Flash game, expanding the original concept into a fully realized adventure. Players control a young girl named Gail in a post-apoc...
Why this score
Cult-acclaimed adventure platformer praised for scope, exploration, and atmosphere, with friction from stamina, difficulty, and pacing.
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Gravity Circuit is a 2D action-platformer video game developed by Domesticated Ant Games and released in 2023. It is influenced by the Mega Man X and Mega Man Zero series, presenting a single-player campaign where players control a robotic character who battles through levels and acquires abilities...
Why this score
Strong indie acclaim from Mega Man-inspired design, tight controls, and combat depth, with modest reach limiting broader consensus impact.
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Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap (2017) is a remake by Lizardcube of the 1989 Sega Master System game Wonder Boy III, notable for allowing players to switch between the new hand-drawn art and the original 8-bit graphics.
Why this score
Acclaimed remake praised for art, music, and preservation, with some criticism for old-school structure and occasional opacity.
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The End Is Nigh is a 2D side-scrolling platformer developed by Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel and released in 2017. Following a lone creature named Ash, players navigate a post-apocalyptic, bleak world by making precise jumps to avoid numerous environmental hazards and instant-death traps. The gam...
Why this score
Strong critic and Steam reception for exact controls, demanding level design, and abundant content; severe difficulty and austere presentation narrow its audience.
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Bionic Commando Rearmed is a 2008 platformer developed by GRIN and published by Capcom, serving as a high-definition remake of the 1988 NES title Bionic Commando. The game preserves the original's distinctive grappling-hook mechanic—where the protagonist uses a bionic arm to swing through levels—whi...
Why this score
Well-regarded remake praised for grappling mechanics and modernization, despite some difficulty spikes and less enthusiasm for later ports.
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Pepper Grinder is a 2024 indie platformer by Ahr Ech inspired by Drill Dozer, in which the player character bores through terrain using a handheld drill to build momentum across short, arcade-style levels.
Why this score
Well-reviewed indie platformer praised for drilling mechanics, momentum, and polish, with some notes on short length and uneven bosses.
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Cyber Shadow is a 2021 side scrolling action platform game created by Finnish developer Aarne Hunziker under the Mechanical Head Studios name and published by Yacht Club Games. Players control a cybernetic ninja named Shadow through the ruined city of Mekacity, using precise movement, melee attacks,...
Why this score
Strong retro action-platformer reception, praised for controls, boss design, and authenticity, with criticism for harsh late-game difficulty.
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Canabalt is a 2009 endless runner platform game originally developed by Adam Saltsman for web browsers. The game features a monochromatic pixel art aesthetic where an unnamed protagonist automatically runs across rooftops to escape an ongoing alien invasion. Requiring only a single button to jump, i...
Why this score
Historically influential and widely praised for elegant one-button design, atmosphere, and immediacy; repetition and limited depth reduce its modern aggregate standing.
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Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 is a 2D action-platformer developed by Inti Creates and released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2016. As a direct sequel, the game introduces Copen as a fully playable second protagonist alongside the returning Gunvolt, offering players two distinct campaigns with unique movement an...
Why this score
Improved sequel reception, dual protagonists and sharper mechanics praised, though still niche and sometimes criticized for narrative excess.
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Planet of Lana is a 2023 cinematic puzzle-platformer developed by the Swedish studio Wishfully, notable for its hand-painted art style and companion-based mechanics.
Why this score
Generally favorable reviews praise its art, atmosphere, music, and emotional presentation; familiar puzzles, limited mechanics, and brief length constrain acclaim.
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"A Robot Named Fight!" is a 2017 action-platformer developed by Matt Bitner that combines roguelike progression with Metroidvania level design. Heavily inspired by "Super Metroid," the game features permadeath and procedurally generated interconnected rooms, ensuring a different map layout with ever...
Freedom Planet is a two-dimensional action platformer developed and published by indie studio GalaxyTrail, initially released in 2014. The game was heavily influenced by the Sega Genesis era of platformers, particularly the Sonic the Hedgehog series, featuring high-speed traversal and anthropomorphi...
Why this score
Cult-favorite Sonic-inspired indie praised for speed and combat, with criticism for story interruptions, uneven pacing, and rough edges.
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Super House of Dead Ninjas is a fast-paced action platformer developed by Megadev and released in 2013. The game tasks players with descending a towering, enemy-filled fortress, combining retro-style pixel art with roguelike progression systems. Players utilize a variety of weapons and ninja abiliti...
Why this score
Very positive user reputation and favorable reviews praise speed, combat, replayability, and responsive controls; repetition, visual clutter, and limited recognition cap consensus.
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Super Paper Mario is an action role-playing game released in 2007 for the Wii. It features Mario, Peach, Bowser, and Luigi on a quest to gather Pure Hearts and thwart Count Bleck’s efforts to damage the universe. The title marks Nintendo's first Mario game developed for the Wii console, following th...
Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX is a 2019 2D action platformer developed and published by Inti Creates. It is a spinoff of the Azure Striker Gunvolt series, focusing on the character Copen, a skilled fighter equipped with a versatile exoskeleton and a dash mechanic. The game is designed arou...
Why this score
Well-liked spinoff centered on Copen's mobility and combat, with criticism for brevity, repetition, and familiar structure.
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Azure Striker Gunvolt is a 2014 action platformer by Inti Creates for the Nintendo 3DS, featuring protagonist Gunvolt who uses electric tagging abilities in a style reminiscent of the Mega Man Zero series.
Why this score
Solid Inti Creates action platformer praised for combat systems and style, with criticism for simplicity, scoring opacity, and story delivery.
ui.x_scoring_methodologyFrequently Asked Questions
What leads the 2D Platformer ranking?
Hollow Knight currently leads the 2D Platformer results with a displayed score of 9.26/10. This is an editorial ranking result for the items included on this page, not a universal verdict for every use case.
How should I read the score and confidence label?
The 0 to 10 score is Lunoo's ranking judgment. Strong confidence means 10 or more recorded comparison checks, some means 2 to 9, and provisional means fewer than 2.
What supports this ranking?
Lunoo combines category fit, feature coverage, pricing and value signals, public reception, recency, and peer comparisons. Public source links support factual item details when available, but they are not required for membership in this 43-item ranking.
Can I compare the leading results for 2D Platformer?
Yes. The comparison links put adjacent leaders side by side so you can inspect differences that one ranking score cannot capture.
