Top 10 Platformers of 2018

Written by Joshua Gallegos

With the release of Mega Man 11, I thought it’d be a good time to look back on the best of platforming games this year. Platformers (video games in which the main action is jumping from platform to platform) have seen a huge resurgence in recent years, thanks in part to the rise of indie games. And even though people have been jumping from platform to platform since the release of Super Mario Bros. on the NES way back in the 80’s, the classic jumping genre has only gotten more prolific and fantastic. As 2018 begins to sunset, platformers continue to prove that they aren’t going anywhere.

This list is comprised exclusively of games that were released this year. So no re-releases a la the Nintendo Switch (sorry, Donkey Kong and Hollow Knight).

10. Planet Alpha

Let’s start with one game that, chances are, you’ve never even heard of. Planet Alpha is a 2.5D platformer (which means the graphics are all 3D rendered while the gameplay takes place on a 2D plane), and it is a gorgeous one. The aesthetics and visual effects combine to create a breathtaking experience as you run, jump, and solve puzzles on an alien world. Planet Alpha takes a lot of its cues from indie darlings Limbo and Inside, but with a decidedly sci-fi twist. Puzzle platformers are a dime a dozen these days, but Planet Alpha manages to stand out thanks to its refined mechanics and beautifully haunting world. While it may not reinvent the wheel, it does everything it needs to do to deliver a great platforming experience. It’s the gaming gem you missed this year. And it’s only $15!

Available on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

9. Kirby Star Allies

Leave it to Nintendo to break into a Top 10 Platformer list, and this one practically in their sleep. Kirby Star Allies does everything a good Kirby game ought to do. The levels are varied enough, the powers are interesting enough, and the charm is ever present. It’s a pretty solid game all around, but it is also one that may seem paint-by-numbers, especially for those who are a fan of the genre. Couch co-op, however, is where Kirby shines. With it, Star Allies becomes something more, a game that is bound to make any group of friends just plain happy. Without that single feature, Kirby may have slipped off this list entirely, since it is a pretty standard platformer with a difficulty level geared toward young kids. However, there’s no denying the general pleasantness one can experience while moving through Kirby’s world with a friend or two. Couple that with the Nintendo sheen of polish, and you have a platformer well worth the price of admission—so long as you have that special someone who’s willing to play alongside you. If you do, then buckle in for a treat.

Available on Nintendo Switch.

8. Yoku’s Island Express

If you’re looking for something fresh, something a little different, then look no further than Yoku’s Island Express, a part platformer and part . . . pinball game? Suffice it to say, there’s not anything quite like this game. Amidst the flood of Metroidvania platformers (games that implement a Metroid or Castlevania-style progression), Yoku is deserving of attention because not only is it quirky and different, but it just works. The mechanics mesh surprisingly well, and a concept that should only work on paper actually comes together to create a joyous experience. Though it may take a bit to wrap your head around the original concept, it will soon become second nature as you pick up collectables, explore the world, and achieve some sick hits. The game is so good at its original conceit that it’ll leave you wondering why nobody had ever thought of trying this before. Plus, you play as a happy-go-lucky dung beetle who inhabits a world made up of a bunch of pinball bumpers, tracks, and ramps. What’s not to love?

Available on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

7. Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon

Speaking of Castlevania-style games, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon takes the reward for most blatant rip-off of actual Castlevania (in 2018, anyway, as lots of games tend to borrow from the classic franchise). While that may sound like a negative, Bloodstained does not shy away from its inspirations, but instead wears them proudly on its sleeve, taking the mechanics of classic Castlevania games and making them its own. Bloodstained is decidedly the most “old-school” game on this list, and thus is not for everyone. Still, developer Inti Creates took what was supposed to be an appetiser for the upcoming Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night and dialled it up to 11, leaning hard into the legacy left by Konami’s vampire series. Gothic-style settings, chunky pixels, leg-bouncing chiptunes, monsters galore, and, yes, whips — all these and more make Bloodstained an obvious love letter (or plagiarised script) of Castlevania III (thankfully, Inti Creates decided to at least leave the excruciating difficulty in the past). It may only be a few hours long, but Bloodstained is a fantastic tribute to old-school Castlevania that also secretly doubles as a very well-made modern platformer.

Available on PS4, PS Vita, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS, and PC.

6. Unravel Two

EA may have earned the title of worst company in the world in 2012 and 2013 (a side note that may be explored in a later article, because WHAT), but at least they blessed the world with Yarny. Yarny is the adorable character made of yarn that starred in 2016’s Unravel, and E3 2018 saw the surprise reveal (and same-day release) of Unravel Two, which features two Yarnys. That’s double the amount of cuteness. Together, the Yarnys traverse their tiny world by utilising their yarniness to overcome puzzles and obstacles. This game is made to be a couch co-op experience. If you have two players, you don’t want to miss out on this breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, the game is fairly lacklustre in single player. It just isn’t the same experience when you tackle it alone, kind of like Kirby this year. With two players, however, what’s seemingly a simple, cutesy platformer becomes something more. There’s not much of a story, and the game is on the shorter side, but there’s no denying that it’s a joy to jump and thread your way through Unravel Two with a friend. Skip it if you’re a loner, though.

Available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

5. Mega Man 11

Leave it to the Blue Bomber to crack into the top five of a platforming list, despite being so old he could be telling you war stories while he bounced you on his knee. With the 11th iteration of Mega Man, Capcom decided it was finally time to shake up the formula… by also pretty much keeping it the same. The secret sauce to a Mega Man game has always been its classic gameplay, so thankfully that has remained entirely intact—robot masters, stage selection, run-n’-gun and all. The little additions Mega Man 11 does make are all actual solid improvements, and in no way detract from the classic formula. All this mounts up to a Mega Man game for fans and newcomers alike. Despite having an 11 in its title, this is the perfect game to jump into the series while also being a love letter to the series as a whole. And if you like this game, be sure to check out the classic games and X series, all of which are available on just about every platform in some fantastic collections.

Available on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

4. Dead Cells

Every once in a while, a game comes out that manages to be completely derivative but also so damn inspired. This year, that game is Dead Cells, a rogue-lite, Metroidvania, 2D action platformer. And though it finds itself in multiple genres all at once, Dead Cellsmanages to take the best of each and create something more. The player takes the role of a parasitic creature that controls a corpse found in the depths of a castle dungeon. With each run through the dungeon, you explore more of the varied areas and level up as much as you can before inevitably getting killed. Then, in classic rogue-lite fashion, you start at the very beginning, now a bit stronger than your last run. What sets Dead Cellsapart from other rogue-lites is its speed. Your character sprints through the level and hacks enemies apart at a satisfying rate, and the game encourages speedruns through its main areas in very clever ways. The speed is backed up with pixel-perfect gameplay, a gorgeous aesthetic that’s not quite classic and not quite modern, and lots and lots of loot. With all these elements in place, you have the perfect gameplay loop that just begs to be played one more time, and a five-minute session can easily turn into a few hours. It’s bloody hard, but it’s also a real good time.

Available on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

3. The Messenger

Here exists a game that any self-respecting gamer has to play. 2018 is full of games that play homage to the days of classic gaming, but none do it better than The Messenger. What starts as a modern take on Ninja Gaiden quickly becomes an encapsulation of why people love video games. It’s an insightful narrative on the video game industry, capturing what made its early stages so intriguing while also proudly displaying what modern games are capable of. Gameplay-wise, it is a near-perfect 2D platformer with bits of character packed into every frame. You control the titular Messenger on his quest to deliver a message for some reason that isn’t explained immediately. Along the way, you gain abilities, meet quirky characters, and generally just have a real great time jumping and slashing. The Messenger utilises its gameplay mechanics to their fullest, delivers a world begging to be explored, and captures the true artistic beauty that video game aesthetics can have. And that’s saying nothing about its spot-on humour, fantastic plot twist, and memorable cast of characters you can’t help but love. Playing The Messenger is like jumping in a time machine and capturing that special feeling that the video game industry gave to all those who first discovered it in the 80’s and 90’s. It’s a game I recommend to everyone. But it’s only our #3…

Available on Nintendo Switch and PC.

2. Guacamelee! 2

Now, here’s a video game that’s practically made of the stuff of legends that, for some reason, everybody is sleeping on. When the original Guacamelee! hit in 2013, it was a sensation. This was just at the turn of the “indie revolution,” when games that utilise classic elements and genres were just beginning to become popular. Guacamelee! managed to not only function as an homage to Metroidvanias and beat-em-ups, but to become a classic in its own right, with a vibrant art style, unique style of humour, and rock-solid gameplay loop all its own. But that was 2013. 2018 is a different story, and you only need to check this list out to see that just about every indie game comes with some unique twist on a classic formula. Guacamelee! 2’s success was much less guaranteed in a time where video game nostalgia is being milked for all its worth.

Yet it takes the second spot on this list not for being a novelty like the original, but rather for showcasing the best of the best of the indie scene today. The indie genre that Guacamelee! helped usher in has now been perfected by Guacamelee! 2, which has been honed to a silky smooth experience that cannot be found anywhere else. While The Messenger captures the spirit of this nostalgia movement, Guacamelee! 2 embodies the indie movement as a whole. It refines its own world, lore, and humor into something classic. It polishes the gameplay loop of the first to its purest form, leaving all the fluff behind and embracing the challenge and fun. On the surface, Guacamelee! 2 looks like more of the same—a luchador fights his way through the land of the dead while learning new moves and transformations. Dig a little deeper, however, and you’ll find one of the best platformers not only of 2018, but of all time.

Available on PS4 and PC.

1. Celeste

When compiling this list, the final three gave me quite a headache. Each of the top three games is a perfect specimen of gaming and platforming, and each one is important in its own right. But in the end, the clear winner is Celeste. This tiny, unassuming platformer will stand in gaming history as one of the greatest games ever made, and its significance is only just beginning to be felt. Celeste stars Madeline, a young 20-something who has decided to take on the challenge of climbing the titular Celeste Mountain. It’s clear from the description that this game is a platformer. But Celeste soon proves to be so much more than that. Immediately, Celeste shows that it isn’t to be taken lightly, mostly because it turns out that it’s freaking difficult, with every screen of every portion of the mountain introducing a new challenge that is slightly more difficult than the one before. But Celeste doesn’t just throw you into the difficulty without any help. Instead, it equips you with the exact tools needed to face the challenge, and uses each death to teach you a little more about how to overcome these difficulties. The crux of the gameplay is willpower—the player’s willpower—to not let these obstacles keep them down, but rather to push through for the reward on the other side.

What makes Celeste beautiful is that this willpower is not only the crux of the gameplay, but also the story. The gameplay itself is actually a metaphor for the difficulties one faces in life, for the trials and challenges that try to hold you back from achieving what you desire. And in that way, Celeste is more than a video game. The story informs the gameplay, and vice verse, subverting expectations and making a tiny, unassuming platformer into something truly special. Not only is it a pixel-perfect, vibrant, and addicting video game, but it’s also a message about the nature of willpower. It’s a essay on the ups and downs of life. It’s an inspired story of what is truly possible to achieve, and what a person is truly capable of. And for that reason, Celeste is the #1 platformer of 2018 and stands among the very best that gaming has to offer. I could go on and say more, but it would be a disservice to this game to reveal any more than that. Do yourself a favor and play Celeste. It is one of the greatest games ever made.

Available on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

What do you think the best platformer has been? Sound off in the comments below!