Summary
Many Nintendo fans were left disappointed when a much-anticipated follow-up to Super Mario Odyssey was conspicuously absent from the Switch 2 launch title lineup. Reports suggest that Donkey Kong Bananza is, in effect, Super Mario Odyssey 2 with that game’s physics and mechanical platform feeling built upon thecritically acclaimed design.
Donkey Kong Bananza has a very different feel from a traditional Mario experience, though, so it’s unlikely to fill the void entirely. The Switch 2 will definitely be getting a new mainline Mario entry at some point, but with no concrete schedule, here are the7best platformers that elicit a Mario-style feelfor fans to sink their teeth into in the meantime.
Kirby is quite mechanically different to Super Mario, with Nintendo often using the series as a testing ground for new technology and peripherals, creating a diverse back catalogue based around Kirby’s trademark copy abilities. The latest adventure,Kirby and the Forgotten Land, finally thrust the titular hero into 3D for the first time since the turn of the millennium.
It wasan impressive step-up in scope, and the beautifully realised adventure is reminiscent of the leap forward Nintendo achieved with Super Mario Odyssey. It also bears Nintendo’s flagship family-friendly brand, making it accessible for younger fans.
Mascot platformers were big business in the late 90s, with many brands and developers rushing to incorporate their own pop culture characters. It would be easy to assume a licensed Pac-Man platformer would be another clinging to the coat tails, but Namco producedan excellently diverse and challenging experience.
Pac-Man World: Re-Pacis the modern remaster, revitalising the visuals and controls to match modern expectations, and the game holds up very well. What’s more, the plot centers around a tyrant kidnapping and imprisoning members of Pac-Man’s family, so there’s some familiarity in the theme.
Another remastered mascot platformer,Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, makes some significant quality of life improvements to the 3D platformer, most notably replacing the fixed-angle camera that made certain sections of the original unwieldy.
The game offers some novel twists on 3D platforming with Mickey’s brush that can add or remove sections of the environment for layered puzzle-solving and secret hunting, and a branching narrative that sees gameplay sections and boss fights gated behind player choices, offering excellent replayability.
Donkey Kong may have taken the premium spot in the Switch 2 launch line-up and left Mario fans waiting, but the most recent release,Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, could go some way to remedy that. It features the signature style of the Donkey Kong Country series, which has adecidedly greater challengethan a typical Mario experience.
Donkey Kong controls with a significant heft, and mastering the momentum of the titular ape is key to navigating the tougher platforming sections. That said, Donkey Kong Country is an excellent series from Nintendo’s extended library, and this is a great jumping-on point for new fans.
Sony was late to the mascot platformer party, but Crash Bandicoot stood the test of time as a challenging alternative in the genre.Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Timewas a reinvention of the classic formula that took the series to new heights.
Like the previous entry, it’s considerablymore challenging than a typical Mario gamebut an excellent platforming experience nonetheless. And the introduction of the special masks that provide Crash with reality-warping powers for a short boost are reminiscent of some of the innovations introduced in Super Mario Galaxy.
Braid, Anniversary Edition,wears its influences on its sleeve with even the common enemies bearing a striking resemblance to Goombas. Beneath that, though, isa highly lauded take on 2D platformingthat puts an emphasis on puzzle solving over precision jumps.
The central mechanic is the protagonist’s ability to rewind time, moving everything back around him. Proper manipulation of the time-distilling mechanic is essential for progress with players often looking to carve a path to a seemingly inaccessible next point.
Astro Botlaunched to widespread critical acclaim in 2024, breathing new life into the3D platforming genre for the next generation. With the abundant popularity of online multiplayer experiences, platformers are often reduced to B-tier or indie releases outside of the Nintendo brand.
Astro Bot proved there’s still a market for AAA releases into the genre. A love letter to PlayStation history, littered with references and cameos and a comprehensive tech demo of the capabilities of the PS5, Astro Bot succeeds on all levels for new and long-term fans of the genre.
