The “Super Mario” series has become a flagship franchise for Nintendo for a good reason, epitomizing the joys and accessibility of platform gaming. Helping Nintendo become a household name in the ’80s with its side-scrolling gameplay, “Super Mario” successfully made the transition to 3D platforming starting with “Super Mario 64” in 1996. The best “Super Mario” video games of all time feature engaging level design but naturally scale the difficulty for more casual players. These qualities have suited the series well for over 40 years, with “Super Mario” still a prominent powerhouse in the gaming industry.
While there are plenty of video games that tried to copy “Super Mario” and failed, there are also countless great platformers outside of the franchise. From 16-bit masterpieces to indie darlings, there are loads of games that take platforming into exciting new directions. Today we’re taking a look at other stellar platformers, some of which are in direct competition with Nintendo’s long-running series. Here are the five best platformer games that aren’t “Super Mario,” both in regard to side-scrollers and 3D platforming.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
If there was a challenger to “Super Mario” for the platforming throne in the early ’90s, it was Sega’s “Sonic the Hedgehog” franchise. Starting in 1991 on the Sega Genesis, the series emphasized raw speed in its side-scrolling level traversal. As much as the original game helped define 16-bit gaming, its 1992 sequel completely blows it out of the water. The game introduces Sonic’s best friend Tails, who can run just as fast as him, while allowing drop-in cooperative multiplayer.
Over 30 years later, “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” is still easily one of the best “Sonic the Hedgehog” video games of all time. The game features much more intuitive level design compared to its predecessor, leaning into gameplay’s high-speed sensibilities. The addition of cooperative multiplayer is a significant upgrade, as is its improved bonus stages where Sonic and Tails can recover Chaos Emeralds. The perfect showcase for what its series is all about, “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” remains a high point for Sega across its entire extensive library.
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest
The other major Nintendo icon who debuted alongside Mario in 1981 was Donkey Kong, with that particular franchise receiving a revival in the ’90s on the Super Nintendo. 1994’s “Donkey Kong Country” wowed fans with its then-revolutionary pre-rendered graphics, enhancing its tried and true side-scrolling platforming gameplay. But the following year’s “Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest” took the antics even higher, while sidelining Donkey Kong and replacing him with Diddy’s new friend Dixie Kong. Whereas the original “Donkey Kong Country” was relatively straightforward in its progression and completion, its sequel is packed with secrets and alternate routes to keep players coming back for more.
“Donkey Kong Country 2” is a rare sequel (that was a pun) that goes bigger than its predecessor but also feels remarkably different the deeper you get into the experience. Along with more ambitious level design, the sequel provides characters who play much more distinctly from each other than Donkey and Diddy had in the preceding game. If you’re looking for something a bit more modern, we’d have to go with “Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze,” which received an enhanced port for the Nintendo Switch in 2018. But there’s still something about “Donkey Kong Country 2” that stands the test of time and holds its own compared to its successors.
Super Meat Boy
Among the forerunners of indie platformers receiving mainstream attention is the 2010 title “Super Meat Boy.” A side-scroller, the game has players control its unassuming title character as he tries to navigate to the next screen, avoiding plenty of death traps along the way. With over 300 levels, players can choose whatever order they want to play levels within a given chapter, but must complete a set number to proceed to the next chapter. Players are given unlimited lives throughout the game, which is good as the later levels really dial up the difficulty and need for precision.
“Super Meat Boy” is one of those indie games that everyone needs to play at least once, even if they may not be able to complete it. With its fast-paced turnaround between deaths and giving players another chance, the frustration is mitigated significantly, inviting players to try their best again without the “game over” decorum. That, in itself, is a feat to be lauded, presenting players with intense difficulty but never in a way that feels unfair or off-putting. One of the best indie games of all time, regardless of genre, “Super Meat Boy” brings a self-aware edge to platformers.
Rayman Legends
Ubisoft has a platforming franchise of its own with “Rayman,” which has been entertaining gamers since 1995. The pinnacle of the series so far is “Rayman Legends,” which was originally released in 2013 and served as a direct sequel to the franchise’s revival, 2011’s “Rayman Origins.” Rayman can team up with up to three additional characters in cooperative multiplayer as they navigate stages together from a side-scrolling perspective. The game’s story has Rayman and his friends battle nightmares dreamed up by the villainous Magician, who’s split into multiple characters and is terrorizing a group of princesses.
“Rayman Legends” boasts the best and most gorgeously rendered level designs in its entire series to date. Beyond just a standard side-scrolling layout, the game is built immaculately for its four-person co-op multiplayer, ensuring that this particular experience is optimized. The game is set for a remake on modern platforms in October 2026, retitled “Rayman Legends Retold,” which will introduce it to new audiences. Perfectly accessible to those who have never played any other game in the series, “Rayman Legends” is a lushly presented platforming adventure.
Astro Bot
Sony Interactive Entertainment
In a time when it didn’t feel like many AAA studios were trying to make 3D platforming games outside of Nintendo, Team Asobi shook things up with “Astro Bot.” The 2024 title is one of the best PlayStation 5 games so far, celebrating the entire history behind Sony’s console family. The story of the game goes like this: After their spaceship crashes, Astro tries to rescue his stranded friends, with many bots and levels based on classic PlayStation titles. The game also takes full advantage of the PS5’s DualSense controller, using different features as part of its platforming gameplay mechanics.
“Astro Bot” is just a complete joy to play and a clear labor of love for Team Asobi and Sony through what it was able to highlight and accomplish. The game’s main levels are relatively easy and intuitive to complete, inviting newcomers of the genre to join in on the fun. But the bonus levels and DLC offer truly challenging platforming experiences that will push even seasoned players as far as they can go. A contender for the best platforming game on any PlayStation console, “Astro Bot” is a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
