Hope you aren't afraid of heights...don't look down!
"There's a lot of... *wheeze* running and... *wheeze* jumping, isn't it?"
A Platform Game or Platformer is a subgenre of Action Game characterized by gameplay dominated by jumping between platforms of varying heights while avoiding enemies and obstacles. As a rule, Player Characters in a platformer can jump really high, and are usually able to change direction in mid-air to correct their trajectory. Climbing, swinging, and other acrobatic maneuvers may also be utilized to get around. Bottomless Pits and other kinds of pit traps are common hazards. In the traditional 2D platformer, play progresses from left to right, and many of the older games only allowed movement in one direction.
Early platformers evolved out of arcade games like Space Panic (1980) (which had platforming through climbing ladders, but no jumping) and Donkey Kong, released a year later, which added the ability to jump between platforms and over obstacles. Many early platformers had a single static screen, with a common goal being to either reach the top of the stage or collect all of a certain item. Jump Bug was the first game to use side-scrolling levels. 1984 saw the release of Pac-Land, a game that would serve as inspiration for the game that would popularize the platformer, Super Mario Bros. 1.
Super Mario Bros. 1 popularized the idea of defeating enemies by jumping directly on them, and many other platformers have followed suit. However, the presence of this trope isn't necessary for a game to be considered a platformer, as games such as Metroid, Jak and Daxter, Ratchet & Clank, Castlevania, and the Mega Man series are still characterized as platformers because they have a dedicated jump button and jumping is still a large part of the gameplay.
Games where the player is given a firearm and emphasis is put on such weapons are known as "run-and-gun" games, with some famous examples being Contra and Metal Slug. Although they are often associated with the Shoot 'em Up genre, the player is still bound by gravity and often jumps across platforms, so they are still platform games in a strong sense of the word (sometimes called "action platformers").
3D platformers are almost always rendered in the third person, as with Super Mario 64 and Crash Bandicoot (1996), but Metroid Prime and its sequels are considered by many to be hybrids of the 3D Platformer and the First-Person Shooter (with Metroidvania elements, of course). Pure first-person platforming tends to be rather uncommon, due to not being able to see where your feet may touch the ground, but it's not impossible to pull off well; see Jumping Flash! and Mirror's Edge.
Like most game genres, platformers are steadily evolving with the times; they started as linear obstacle courses, but gradually became less linear, with multiple level paths, playable overworld areas, and/or map screens with different routes; eventually, the genre even began taking inspiration from Action-Adventure games, creating the Metroidvania genre. The jump to 3D brought the "Collect-a-Thon Platformer" Sub-Genre popularized by Super Mario 64, which featured non-linear open worlds with a greater emphasis on exploration. By the early 2000s, 3D Platformers began waning in popularity due to Wide-Open Sandbox games stealing their thunder and becoming the norm thanks to the success of Grand Theft Auto III. As of right now, the genre is in a weird stage of either being based on particular gimmicks, or going back to its roots - in particular New Super Mario Bros. and LittleBigPlanet are generally credited with reviving the 2D platforming genre. The former became puzzle games of a sort (eventually becoming prevalent enough to be considered a sub-genre), and the latter tend to be more linear, pure platforming challenges, and spawned the Platform Hell phenomenon. 2D platformers are still being made, due to their accessibility and ease of programming, as independent PC titles, web-based Flash games, and for the various handheld console platforms and cell phones. 3D Platformers also seem be going through a resurgence with Yooka-Laylee, Super Mario Odyssey, A Hat in Time, Super Lucky's Tale and Poi as well as the remakes of the original trilogies of Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon seeing great success.
Subgenres include the aforementioned Collect-a-Thon Platformer, Cinematic Platform Game (which has a more realistic style), Platform Hell (which is really, really freaking hardnote - no, seriously), Elimination Platformer, and Puzzle-Platformer (which combines elements of Puzzle Games). Endless Running Games could also fall here thanks to how easy normal platform games tend to transition to that genre, especially when delving into the mobile space. For other genres that heavily employ Platformer conventions, see Metroidvania, Run-and-Gun and Platform Fighter.
Tropes associated with platformers:
- Collision Damage: Enemies and obstacles within the levels can hurt the player character on contact, if not outright kill them.
- Jump Physics: At a minimum, platformer characters can leap two times their height. Often, they can jump far higher than that and even alter their course in midair.
- Le Parkour: Some games (especially modern 3D platformers) have the character navigate levels this way.
- Rule of Three: Extremely common in puzzles and boss fights within this genre, which in turn can lead to Hard Levels, Easy Bosses.
Games in this genre:
open/close all folders
Early platformers
Single-screen levels
- Adventures of TRON
- Arcade America
- Acorn Story
- Alley Cat
- Aztec
- Beauty And The Beast (Intellivision)
- Bomb Jack
- Bruce Lee
- Castle Of Pixel Skulls
- Chuckie Egg (sequel has free-form levels)
- Donkey Kong (1981)
- Kangaroo
- Hap Hazard
- Heart Star
- Jumpman
- Killer Queen
- Miner 2049er
- Ninjish Guy In Low Res World
- Nuts & Milk
- Ponpoko
- Qwak
- Sorcerer's Apprentice (1983)
- Tax Avoiders
- Tcheco in the Castle of Lucio
- TowerFall
- Woah Dave!
Limited scrolling (horizontally-oriented levels)
- Action 52 (some games)
- Amagon
- Astro Marine Corps
- Back to the Future Part II & III
- Barbie (1991)
- Bongo
- Cabbage Patch Kids: Adventures In The Park
- Captain Comic
- Daze Before Christmas
- Dynamite Alex
- Eversion
- Genpei Tōma Den
- JJ And Jeff
- Keystone Kapers
- Kid Niki: Radical Ninja
- Layla
- Mountain King
- The Mystery of Atlantis
- Smurf: Rescue In Gargamel's Castle
- Spoiler Alert
- Super Mario Bros. 1
- Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
- Super Mario Maker
- Super Mario Maker 2
- Supra Mayro Bross
- Valiant Hearts
- Wibble Wobble
- You Only Live Once
Limited scrolling (vertically-oriented levels)
Limited scrolling (both horizontally- and vertically-oriented levels)
2D platformers
- 1213
- 20XX, mixed with action roguelike
- 30XX, mixed with action roguelike
- 2Pac Man
- 8 Eyes
- L'Abbaye des Morts
- Achievement Unlocked
- Advent NEON®
- Adventure Island
- The Adventure of Little Ralph
- The Adventure Pals
- Adventure Ponies!
- Adventures In The Magic Kingdom
- The Adventures of Batman and Robin (Genesis)
- The Adventures of Batman and Robin (Game Gear)
- The Adventures of Elena Temple
- The Adventures of Lomax
- Adventures of Pip
- The Adventures of Rad Gravity
- The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends
- The Adventures Of Scratch Cat
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
- Adventure Story
- Aero the Acro-Bat
- Age of Barbarian
- Against The Wall
- Akane the Kunoichi
- Aladdin (Capcom)
- Aladdin (SIMS Co.)
- Aladdin (Virgin Games)
- Alex Kidd
- Alfred Chicken
- Alien Carnage
- Alien Soldier
- Aliens: Infestation
- Alight
- Alisia Dragoon
- All of Our Friends Are Dead
- And Everything Started to Fall
- Android Hunter A
- The Angry Video Game Nerd:
- Animaniacs:
- Super Anjelo Land 2
- ANTONBLAST
- Arcade America
- Arcadia: Order Of The Bit
- Arctic Adventure
- Ardy Lightfoot
- A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda
- Armadillo
- Armortale
- Assassin Blue
- Assault Suits Valken (a.k.a. Cybernator)
- Astal
- Asterix and the Great Rescue
- Asterix (Sega Master System)
- Astro Boy: Omega Factor
- Athena
- At Least There Is Čeda Čedović
- Atmosfear
- Atmosphir
- Ato
- Atomic Robo-Kid
- Au Sable
- Avenging Spirit
- Avoid the Noid
- Awesome Possum... Kicks Dr. Machino's Butt
- Ayo the Clown
- Azure Striker Gunvolt
- Baby Felix Halloween
- Bacon Man: An Adventure
- Balthazar's Dream
- Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge
- Barney's Hide & Seek Game
- Barnyard Blast
- Baron Baldric
- For a weird case of Odd One Out (5a and 5c are both animations), episode 5b
of Battle for Dream Island Again
- Bat Boy
- Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The Videogame
- Batman (Sunsoft)
- Batman Returns (Game Gear)
- Batman Returns (Genesis)
- Batman Returns (Amiga)
- Battle Princess Madelyn
- Beacon of Hope
- Beard Blade
- The Beatles: Adventures In Pepperland
- Beavis and Butt-Head
- Beeny
- Beetlejuice
- Berenstain Bears' Camping Adventure
- Berserk Boy
- Bible Adventures
- Big Karnak
- Big Nose Freaks Out
- Binary Boy
- Bingo The Multiva
- Biolab Wars
- Bio Menace
- Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa
- Bionic Commando
- Black Knight Sword
- Blackthorne
- Black Tiger
- Blade Kitten
- Bleed
- Blender Bros
- A Blob's Tale
- Blob Wars - Attrition and Metal Blob Solid
- B.O.B
- Bobby's World
- Bomberman Tower
- Bonk
- Bonkers:
- Boogerman
- Bot Gaiden
- A Boy and His Blob
- Braid
- Bravoman
- Broforce
- Bronkie the Bronchiasaurus
- Bruce Lee
- Bubble and Squeak
- Bubsy
- Bucky O'Hare (NES)
- Bulbo's Belief System
- Bunny Must Die
- BUTCHER
- BZZZT
- Camelot Warriors
- Canabalt
- Cannon Dancer
- Capsized
- Captain Novolin
- Captain Planet and the Planeteers
- Carrot Kingdom
- Castle Cat
- Castle in the Darkness
- Castle of Elite
- Castle of Magic
- Castle on the Coast
- Castlevania:note
- Castle of Heart
- The Cat in the Hat
- cat planet
- Cats Are Liquid
- Caveman Warriors
- Celeste (2018)
- Celestial Mechanica
- Charlie Ninja
- Charlie The Duck
- Cheese Cat-Astrophe
- Cheetahmen II
- Chester Cheetah: Too Cool to Fool
- Chibi-Robo!
- Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (Capcom)
- Chrono Gear: Warden of Time
- Chronos Twin
- Chuck Rock
- Clarence's Big Chance
- Claw
- Claws of Furry
- Claymates
- Clockwork Aquario
- Clockwork Calamity In Mushroom World
- Clonk, among about twenty other genres.
- Cloudberry Kingdom
- Clunky Hero
- Clyde's Adventure
- Clyde's Revenge
- Cobalt
- Coca Cola Kid
- Cocoron
- COGEN: Sword of Rewind
- Commander Keen
- Commando 2
- The Company of Myself
- Congo's Caper
- Conquest of the Crystal Palace
- Contra
- Cool Spot
- Copy Kitty
- Cosmo's Cosmic Adventure
- Costume Party
- Crash Bandicoot:
- Crescent Pale Mist
- Crossbow Crusade
- Crossbow Warrior - The Legend of William Tell
- Crystal Caves
- Crystal Towers 2
- Crystal's Pony Tale
- Curse Crackers: For Whom The Belle Toils
- The Curse of Issyos
- Cyber Citizen Shockman
- Cyber Shadow
- Dadish
- Dangerous Dave
- Dark Ages (1991)
- Dark Angael
- Dark Castle
- Darkwing Duck (Capcom)
- Darkwing Duck (Interactive Designs)
- Decline's Drops
- Deepest Sword
- The Deer God
- Default Dan
- Demon's World
- Dennis the Menace (Ocean)
- Depict1
- Dewy's Adventure
- Diamond Hollow II
- Digger T Rock Legend Of The Lost City
- Dimension Spark
- Dino Run
- Dinosaurs for Hire
- Diseviled
- Disney's Beauty and the Beast (SNES)
- Disney's Pocahontas
- Dog Man: Mission Impawsible
- Do It For Me
- Doki Doki Panic
- Donald Duck:
- Donkey Kong:
- Don't Look Back
- Doom Troopers
- DoReMi Fantasy
- Double Cross
- Double Pug Switch
- Dragon's Wake
- Drake and the Wizards
- Drawn to Life:
- Dr. Chaos
- Drill Dozer
- Duck Game
- DuckTales (Capcom)
- Duke Nukem:
- Dungeon Munchies
- Dust: An Elysian Tail
- Dustforce
- Dusty Revenge
- Dusty Raging Fist
- Dyna Gear
- Dynamite Headdy
- Earnest Evans
- The East New World
- Electroman
- Electronic Super Joy
- Elf Land
- El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron
- Eagle Island
- Earthworm Jim
- Endeavor
- Enough Plumbers
- Eryi's Action
- Eskimo Bob Starring Alfonzo
- Everybody Edits:
- Exorcist Fairy
- Eyra the Crow Maiden - Genre Throwback released in just 2021
- The Fairly OddParents!: Breakin' Da Rules
- The Fairytale Dreams Of Alice
- Fallen Leaf
- Fancy Pants Adventures
- Fantasia (1991)
- Fausseté Amour
- FBI Fred
- Felix the Cat
- Felix the Cat by Dragon Co.
- Fenix Rage
- Férias Frustradas do Pica-Pau
- Fez
- Fin and the Ancient Mystery
- Final Vision
- Fire & Ice: The Daring Adventures of Cool Coyote
- Fireboy and Watergirl
- Flashback: The Quest For Identity
- Flat Kingdom
- Flea (2020)
- Flinthook
- The Flintstones:
- The Flintstones: The Rescue of Dino & Hoppy
- The Flintstones: The Surprise at Dinosaur Peak!
- The Flintstones: King Rock Treasure Island
- The Flintstones: Treasure Of Sierra Madrock
- The Flintstones (1993)
- The Flintstones (Ocean)
- Flippin Kaktus
- The Floor is Jelly
- Fox n Forests
- Framed 1995
- Frebbventure
- Freedom Fall
- Freedom Planet
- Fresh Minty Adventure
- Frogger
- Furwind
- Fuzzy McFluffenstein
- Galaxia Chronicles
- Gamer 2
- The A Game with a Kitty series:
- Ganbare Goemon:
- Ganryu
- Garfield and His Nine Lives
- Garfield: Caught in the Act
- Garfield's Fun Fest
- Garfield's Nightmare
- Gargoyles
- Garlic
- Gato Roboto
- Genocide 2: Master of the Dark Communion
- Gex
- Ghosts 'n Goblins
- Generations Lost
- Generic Man
- Germination
- Gestalt Steam And Cinder
- Ghost Song
- Ghoul Grind: Night of the Necromancer
- Ghoulboy
- Giana Sisters:
- The Great Giana Sisters
- Giana Sisters DS/Giana Sisters (iOS)
- Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams
- GIGADEEP
- G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
- Gimmick! (1992)
- Gish
- Glam
- Goblin Sword
- Gods
- Go Go Jump!!
- Goime 500
- Golden Force
- Grand Dad Mania
- Grapple Dog
- Grapple Force Rena
- Gravity Falls: Legend of the Gnome Gemulets
- Greendog: The Beached Surfer Dude!
- Grey Area (2023)
- Gumshoe
- Gunlord
- Gunman Clive
- Gunpoint
- GunValkyrie
- Gyossait
- HAAK
- Hachiemon
- Hades Vanquish
- Hagane
- Halo Zero
- Hamachi the Psychotic Killer
- Hammerin' Harry
- Hangzo
- Hans Kloss
- Happyland Adventures
- Hardcore Mecha
- Hard Hat
- Hargrave
- Haunted Halloween 85
- Have a Nice Death
- Heart of Darkness
- Hell Fighter, an Unlicensed Game based off the original Prince of Persia
- Hell Yeah! Wrath of the Dead Rabbit
- *Hello, Planet.
- Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure
- hets
- A Highland Song
- High Seas Havoc
- Hocus Pocus (1994)
- Holdover
- Home Alone (Game Boy)
- Home Alone 2: Lost In New York (8-Bit)
- Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (Sega)
- Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (SNES)
- Home Improvement: Power Tool Pursuit!
- Hook
- Horatio The Third Senior Manjensen With Knuckles
- Hue
- Iconoclasts
- Iji
- The Impossible Game
- Imp of the Sun
- In Between
- Indecision.
- Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures
- Indiana Rodent
- Inexistence Rebirth
- Inspector Gadget (1993)
- Intrepid Izzy
- Ivy the Kiwi?
- I Wanna Be the Guy
- Izzy's Quest for the Olympic Rings
- Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu
- James Pond series
- Jazz Jackrabbit
- Jed
- Jelly Boy (Probe Software)
- Jelly Boy 2 (no relation to the above.)
- Jet Set Willy
- The Jetsons games:
- Jett Rocket
- Jiggly Zone
- Jill of the Jungle
- Joe & Mac
- Jumper (Maddy Thorson)
- JumpJet Rex
- Jump King
- Jumpman Lives!
- The Jungle Book (1993)
- Jurassic Park (Sega Genesis)
- Kabuki Quantum Fighter
- Kang Fu
- Karnov
- Kaze and the Wild Masks
- Kaze Kiri
- Keep Out
- Keith Courage in Alpha Zones
- Keio Flying Squadron 2
- Kemono Heroes
- Kendo Rage
- Kenny's Adventure
- Kenseiden
- Kick Master
- Kid Baby Starchild
- Kid Chameleon
- Kid Klown In Night Mayor World
- Kid Kool and the Quest for the Seven Wonder Herbs
- Kid Icarus:
- Kingsley's Adventure
- Kirby:
- Kitsune Tails
- Knightmare II: The Maze of Galious
- Knytt
- Knytt Stories
- Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku o! Fukkatsu no Beldia
- Koumajou Densetsu
- The Krion Conquest
- Kyle & Lucy: Wonderworld
- Lady Sia
- La-Mulana
- Landflix Odyssey
- Layla
- The Legendary Starfy
- The Legendary Axe 1 and 2
- The Legend of Dark Witch
- The Legend of el Lobodestroyo Vs. la Liga de los Villanos
- Lep's World
- Lester the Unlikely
- Lethal Crisis
- Levelhead
- Life Goes On (2014)
- Life of Pixel
- Limbo
- The Lion King games:
- The Little Mermaid (Capcom)
- Little Nemo: The Dream Master
- Little Runmo - The Game
- Little Samson
- Lizard (2018)
- Looney Tunes games:
- The Bugs Bunny Birthday Blowout
- Bugs Bunny in Double Trouble
- Bugs Bunny: Rabbit Rampage
- Cheese Cat-Astrophe
- Daffy Duck: Fowl Play
- Daffy Duck In Hollywood
- Daffy Duck: The Marvin Missions
- Desert Demolition
- Desert Speedtrap
- Looney Tunes
- Looney Tunes: Carrot Crazy
- Porky Pig's Haunted Holiday
- Speedy Gonzales: Los Gatos Bandidos
- Sylvester and Tweety in Cagey Capers
- Taz in Escape from Mars
- Taz-Mania (Sega)
- Lords of Exile
- Lost Home
- Low G Man
- Lucidity
- Lunistice
- Lyle in Cube Sector
- Magical Pop'n
- Magician Lord
- Magicite
- The Magic School Bus Explores the Solar Systemnote
- The Magic School Bus: Space Exploration Game
- Magic Sword: Heroic Fantasy
- Malice
- Manic Miner
- Magic Rampage
- Mari0
- Mark of the Ninja
- Marrow
- Maru's Mission
- Marvel Land
- Master of Darkness
- Math Rescue
- The Maw
- McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure
- McKids
- Me (2017)
- Mega Man:
- Mega Man (Classic):
- Mega Man 1
- Mega Man 2
- Mega Man 3
- Mega Man 4
- Mega Man 5
- Mega Man 6
- Mega Man 7
- Mega Man 8
- Mega Man 9
- Mega Man 10
- Mega Man 11
- Mega Man: Dual Override
- Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge
- Mega Man II
- Mega Man III
- Mega Man IV
- Mega Man V
- Mega Man & Bass
- Mega Man Powered Up
- Street Fighter X Mega Man note
- Mega Man (DOS)
- Rockman & Forte: Mirai Kara no Chousensha
- Mega Man X:
- Rockman.EXE WS
- Mega Man Zero
- Mega Man ZX
- Make a Good Mega Man Level Contest
- Mechanic Man
- Mega Man 3D
- Mega Man 72
- Mega Man: DOS Remake
- Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Final Attack
- Mega Man Maker
- Mega Man Maximum
- Mega Man Network Transmission
- Mega Man: The CRORQ Chronicles
- Mega Man: The Final Chapter
- Mega Man: Triple Threat
- Mega Man: Revenge of the Fallen
- Mega Man Rocks
- Mega Man Shattered Diamond
- Mega Man Super Fighting Robot
- Mega Man: A Day in the Limelight
- Mega Man Unlimited
- Mega Man X 8 Demake
- Rockman CX
- Rockman 2 Deus Ex Machina
- Rockman Exhaust
- Rockman 4 Minus ∞
- Rockman No Constancy
- Rockman ZX Prequel
- Rockmen R: Dr. Wily's Counterattack (a doujin fangame that received a cease and desist from Capcom)
- Mega Man Revolution
- Mega Girl
- Mega Man's Christmas Carol
- Mega Man Rock Force
- Mega Man: Rock N Roll
- Mega Man X: Corrupted
- Mega Man X: Innocent Impulse
- Mega Man: The Wily Wars
- Mega Man: The Sequel Wars (A Fan Sequel to Mega Man: The Wily Wars)
- Mega Mari (a Touhou parody of the Classic series by Twilight Frontier starting Marisa Kirisame and Alice Margatroid)
- Mega Pony (A My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic crossover game starring a pony version of Mega Man named Mega Pony.)
- Oh Joes! (A Proto Man Adventure)
- Touhou Rock Maiden (another Touhou parody of the Classic series by the creators of Rockmen R, this time staring Reimu Hakurei)
- Skullman In: Scooby Doc 4: The Destroyer (Featuring Atsushi Onita)
- Super Mega Man 2
- Mega Man (Classic):
- Mega Twins
- METAGAL
- Metal Storm
- Metaloid Origin
- Mibibli's Quest
- Michael Jackson's Moonwalker
- Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy City
- Mick & Mack as the Global Gladiators
- Mickey Mousecapade
- Mickey Mouse III: Dream Balloon note
- Castle of Illusion
- Disney's Magical Quest
- Mickey Mania
- Mickey No Tokyo Disneyland Daibouken
- Mickey's Dangerous Chase
- Micro Mages
- Midnight Resistance
- Midnight Wanderers: Quest for the Chariot
- Mighty Aphid
- Mighty Gunvolt
- Mighty Jill Off
- Mighty No. 9
- Miku Monogatari: Yume to Taisetsu na Mono, a fan game of Vocaloid.
- Mind Your Manors
- Mini Ninjas (Also an Action-Adventure)
- Miracle Girls
- Mission in Snowdriftland
- Milon's Secret Castle
- Minty Fresh Adventure!
- Missleman Spy Strike 2
- Momodora trilogy
- Momoko 120%
- Monkey Shines
- Monster Bash
- Monster Girls You-ki Chan!
- Monster in My Pocket
- Monster Party
- Montezuma's Revenge
- Monty Mole
- Monty Python's Flying Circus
- Moon Crystal
- Moon Diver
- Moon Raider
- Mountain Troll
- Mr. Bones
- Mr. Bree
- Mr. Nutz
- Mr. Robot
- Muri
- Musya
- Mutant Mudds
- Mutant Night
- Mute Crimson
- Mystic Defender
- My Little Pony: Magic Shards
- My Little Pony: Rise of the Clockwork Stallions
- My Little Pony: Rise of Vicis
- Mystic Towers
- Myths Are 100% True
- N
- Nebs 'n Debs
- Nefarious
- Neon Abyss
- The NewZealand Story
- Nezumi Man
- Nicktoons Unite! (Also an Action-Adventure and/or Beat 'em Up, depending on game)
- Night in the Woods
- Nightmare Boy
- Nightmare Circus
- Night Sky
- Nikujin
- Nin²-Jump
- Nine Sols
- Ninjabread Man
- Ninja Five-O
- Ninja Gaiden
- Ninja Pizza Girl
- Ninja Senki
- Ninja Spirit
- Ninth Rock
- Noah's Ark
- Nomolos: Storming the Catsle
- Normy's Beach Babe-O-Rama
- Nosferatu Lilinor
- NyxQuest
- Odallus: The Dark Call
- Oddworld
- 1001 Spikes
- Oniken
- Öoo
- Ori and the Blind Forest
- Orphan (2018)
- Outland
- Out to Lunch
- Owlboy
- Pac-Land
- Pale Blue
- Pandemonium! (1996)
- Pankapu
- Panky the Panda
- Panic Restaurant
- Panzer Paladin
- Paradox Soul
- Party of Sin
- PewDiePie: Legend of the Brofist
- Phantom Gear
- Pharaoh Phobia
- Pharaoh Rebirth (also an episodic Metroidvania)
- Philophobia
- Pinocchio (Virgin Interactive)
- Pitfall!
- Pizza Pop!
- Pizza Tower
- Sugary Spire: Fangame of the above.
- Pizza Vs. Skeletons
- Plok
- Pocket Zaurus
- Pole no Daibouken
- Polyroll
- Popful Mail
- Portal Runner
- Portal: The Flash Version
- Power Blade
- Predator (NES)
- Prehistorik
- Primal Light
- Prince of Persia
- Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?
- Pocket Zaurus
- Psychic 5
- Psycho Dream
- Psycho Fox
- Psychosomnium
- Psycutlery
- Pulseman
- Punky Skunk
- Puppeteer (2013)
- Purple
- Quest for the Shaven Yak: Starring Ren Hoëk & Stimpy
- Rabbit Knight
- Rabbids Go Home
- Rabi-Ribi
- Rad Rodgers
- Radical Rex
- Raider
- Rain World
- Rallo Gump
- Ratchet & Clank: Going Mobile!
- Rayman:
- Realms of Chaos
- Recalhorn
- Red Goddess: Inner World
- Replica Island
- Revenge of the Bird King
- Revita, mixed with action roguelite
- Rework the Dead: Evil
- Rex Rocket
- Rhino Rumble
- Rick Dangerous
- Ristar
- Road Runner's Death Valley Rally
- Roah
- Rochard
- Rocket Knight Adventures
- Rockin Kats
- Rocky Rodent
- Rokko Chan
- Rolling Thunder
- Rolo to the Rescue
- Rosenkreuzstilette
- Rugrats:
- RunMan: Race Around the World
- Run Saber
- Runbow
- Rush'n Attack: Ex-Patriot
- Rusty
- Saira
- Sabrina The Animated Series: Zapped!
- Sabrina The Teenage Witch: Potion Commotion
- Sailor Moon R (Game Boy)
- Sailor Moon S (Game Gear)
- Samurai Revenge
- Scav Prototype
- Scooby-Doo Mystery (SNES) (also an Adventure Game)
- Screaming Head
- Scurge: Hive
- Secret Agent
- Secret Maryo Chronicles
- Secret Scout in the Temple of Demise
- Seiklus
- Shift
- Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
- Shantae & Asha: Dream Fantasia
- Sheepy: A Short Adventure
- Shinobi
- Shobon no Action
- Shovel Knight
- Shovel Knight Dig
- Shredded Secrets
- Sideway New York
- Silhouette Mirage
- The Simpsons
- The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants
- The Simpsons: Bart vs. the World
- The Simpsons: Bart Simpson's Escape from Camp Deadly
- The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Juggernauts
- The Simpsons: Bartman Meets Radioactive Man
- The Simpsons: Bart's Nightmare
- The Itchy and Scratchy Game
- The Simpsons: Night of the Living Treehouse of Horror
- Sint Nicolaas
- Skeleton Boomerang
- Skul: The Hero Slayer
- Skuljagger Revolt Of The Westicans
- Skullmonkeys
- Skully
- Skunny: Save Our Pizzas
- Skyblazer
- Smart Ball (Game Freak)
- Smashroom
- Snow White In Happily Ever After
- Socket (aka Time Dominator)
- Socks the Cat Rocks the Hill
- So Many Me
- Sonic the Hedgehog:
- Sonic Fangames
- Somari
- SomnaBuster
- SongBird Symphony
- SOS
- Space Station Silicon Valley
- Spark the Electric Jester
- Speedy Eggbert
- Spelunker
- Spelunky (Also a Roguelike)
- Spider-Man 2: The Sinister Six
- Spinmaster
- 'Splosion Man
- SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom
- SpongeBob SquarePants: SuperSponge
- Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracy
- Star Wars:
- Starbuster
- Stars in the Trash
- Station 37
- Stealth Bastard
- Stinkoman 20X6
- Stitchy In Tooki Trouble
- Street Fighter 2010
- Strider:
- Strider (Arcade)
- Strider (NES)
- Strider Returns (Also titled Strider II)
- Strider 2 (Unrelated to Strider Returns)
- Strider (2014)
- Summit
- The Sun at Night
- Super Adventure Island II
- Super Back to the Future Part II
- Super Catboy
- Super Cat Tales
- Super Mario Bros.:
- Super Mario Bros. 1
- Super Mario Bros. 2
- BS Super Mario USA (A Satellaview-exclusive sequel to the original game.)
- Super Mario Bros. 3
- Super Mario World
- Super Mario World (NES)
- Super Mario Land
- Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
- New Super Mario Bros.:
- Mario Is Missing!
- Mario vs. Donkey Kong
- Super Princess Peach
- Super Paper Mario
- Super Mario Run
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- Wario Land:
- Yoshi's Island:
- Super Mario Fan Games
- A Koopa's Revenge
- Brutal Mario
- Chaos CompleXX
- Kaizo Mario World
- Mushroom Kingdom Fusion
- Newer Super Mario Bros. Wii
- Nintendo Nightmare
- Normal Super Mario Bros.
- Psycho Waluigi
- The Second Reality Project
- Something
- Super Demo World: The Legend Continues
- Super Mario: All Star Attack
- Super Mario Fusion Revival
- A Super Mario Thing
- An SMWC Production
- Super Mario World: Piranha Island
- Super Mario Bros. 3X
- Super Mario Bros. X
- Super Mario 63
- Super Marisa Land
- New Super Marisa Land
- Super Marisa World
- Super Pansy World
- Toad Strikes Back
- Toadette Strikes
- Super Meat Boy
- Super Panda Adventures
- Super Rad Raygun
- Super Robotnik Land
- Super SpongeBob 2
- SWAT Kats
- The Swindle
- Sword Master
- Swords and Claws
- Sydney Hunter
- Sylvie Lime
- Tail Concerto
- Tail 'Gator
- TaleSpin (Interactive Designs)
- TaleSpin
- Tamale Loco: Rumble in the Desert
- Tayal
- Taz-Mania
- Tearaway
- Tänzer - a Genre Throwback released in 2019
- Technician Ted
- Tempo
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1989)
- Teenage Zombies: Invasion of the Alien Brain Thingys
- Terramex
- TEVI
- The Smurfs (1994)
- Theta vs Pi 7
- Theta vs Pi 8
- They Always Run
- They Bleed Pixels
- Thing-Thing (includes elements of a Third-Person Shooter)
- Thunder Hoop
- ThunderJaws - the underwater cousin of Rolling Thunder
- Tinhead
- Ticket
- Tiger Road
- Timecop
- Time Lord
- Time Slip
- Time Trax
- Time Zone (1991)
- Tiny Toon Adventures:
- Titus the Fox
- Tobari and the Night of the Curious Moon
- Tobu Tobu Girl
- ToeJam & Earl: Panic on Funkotron
- Toki
- Tomba!
- Tom and Jerry:
- Top Banana
- Totally Rad
- TowerClimb
- Tower of Heaven
- Toy Odyssey: The Lost and Found
- Toy Story
- Transformers: Convoy no Nazo
- Trash Quest
- Treasure Adventure Game
- The Treasure Hunter Man series:
- Treasure Master
- Treasures of the Aegean
- Trophy (2021)
- Ugby Mumba
- Ultimate Chicken Horse
- Video Game/Ultraman Club
- Umihara Kawase
- Uurnog
- Valis: The Fantasm Soldier
- Vectorman
- Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider
- Venture Kid
- Vexx
- Vibrant Venture
- El Viento
- Vinyl Goddess from Mars
- Virtua Unlimited Project
- Vivid Conceptions
- Vivid Spirit
- Vixen
- VVVVVV
- Wacky Races (1991)
- Wai Wai World
- Wallachia: Reign of Dracula
- Wally Bear and the NO! Gang
- Walt Disney's Alice In Wonderland
- Wardner
- Wayne's World (Gray Matter)
- Wayne's World (Radical Entertainment)
- Webbed
- Wendy: Every Witch Way
- Werewolf: The Last Warrior
- Whacked!!
- Whiplash
- Whirlo
- Whomp Em
- Widget the World Watcher
- Wild Woody
- Willow
- Wilt Last Blossom
- Within a Deep Forest
- The Wizard and The Slug
- Wizards & Warriors
- The Wizard of Oz (1993)
- Wiz 'n' Liz
- Wolfchild
- Wonder Boy
- Word Rescue
- World of Illusion
- Wuppo
- ViViD
- Xargon
- Xexyz
- Yo! Joe! Beat the Ghosts
- Yo! Noid
- You Have to Burn the Rope
- You Have to Win the Game
- YuuYuu Jiteki no Yuukarin
- Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
- Zeliard
- Zen: Intergalactic Ninja
- Zool
2.5D platformers
- Ariana and the Elder Codex
- Care Bears: To The Rescue (2024)
- Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles
- Clockwork Knight
- Despicable Me: The Game
- Donkey Kong:
- Doraemon: SOS! Otogi no Kuni
- Dunkadillo
- Flat Kingdom
- Garfield's Nightmare
- Grey: An Alien Dream
- Heavenly Bodies
- Hermie Hopperhead: Scrap Panic
- Hextech Mayhem (Mixed with Rhythm Game)
- Hotel Barcelona
- Hugo: Quest for the Sunstones
- Jinx
- Joumee the Hedgehog!
- KinnikuNeko: SUPER MUSCLE CAT
- Kirby:
- Klonoa
- LittleBigPlanet
- Mario Clash
- Marsupilami: Hoobadventure
- Mega Man Network Transmission
- Monkey Magic
- Napple Tale: Arsia in Daydream
- Ninja Battle Heroes
- The Pedestrian (2020)
- Phineas and Ferb: Quest for Cool Stuff
- Run
- Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin
- Silver Falls: Ghoul Busters
- Sonic the Hedgehog:
- Spate
- Spider: The Video Game
- Target Acquired (2016)
- The Darkest Tales
- Tigger's Honey Hunt
- Trine
- Turbo Pug 3D
- Unruly Heroes
- Viewtiful Joe
- WannaFest 22
- Wells
- White Shadows
- Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair
Isometric platformers
- Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge
- Congo Bongo
- Jumping Jazz Cats
- Kid Klown In Crazy Chase
- Rayman: Hoodlum's Revenge
- SCHiM
- Sonic the Hedgehog:
- Spyro the Dragon
- Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (an Isometric platformer/turn-based RPG hybrid)
- Vectronom
3D platformers
- 102 Dalmatians: Puppies to the Rescue
- 40 Winks
- After Us
- Alpha Waves
- American McGee's Alice
- Ape Escape
- Armillo
- Ascent Crash Landing
- Astro Bot Rescue Mission
- Astro BotAyasa
- Ayasa: Shadows of Silence
- Azaran: Islands of the Jinn
- Balan Wonderworld
- Bang-On Balls: Chronicles
- Banjo-Kazooie
- The Big Catch
- Billie Bust Up
- Blast Cats
- Blinx
- Blob Wars - Blob and Conquer
- Blue Fire
- Bomberman 64
- Bomberman Hero
- Bot Gaiden
- BUG!
- Bugdom
- A Bug's Life
- Chameleon Twist
- Clive 'N' Wrench
- Cloudbuilt
- Clustertruck
- Conker's Bad Fur Day
- Copycat
- Crash Bandicoot
- Croc
- Cyber Hook
- Dawn
- The Day The Noobs Took Over Roblox
- de Blob
- Demon Turf
- Despicable Forces
- Dirthead
- Disney's Aladdin in Nasira's Revenge
- Donkey Kong:
- Elliot and the Musical Journey
- The Emperor's New Groove
- Epic Mickey
- Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
- Eternum Ex
- Evil Twin: Cyprien's Chronicles
- The Fairly OddParents! games:
- The Fantastic Game
- Feathery Ears
- FreezeME
- Frogun
- Funk Unplugged
- Futurama: The Game
- Garden Trills
- Garfield: Saving Arlene
- Garn47
- Ghostrunner
- Gift
- Ginger: Beyond the Crystal
- Giraffe and Annika
- Gizmo
- Glimmer In Mirror
- Glover
- Glyph
- Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure
- A Happy Place
- A Hat in Time
- Haydee
- Hell Pie
- Hidden Dragon: Legend
- House Of Decay
- inFAMOUS
- InMomentum
- Jak and Daxter: (includes elements of Wide-Open Sandbox and Third-Person Shooter)
- Jersey Devil
- Jet Jumper
- Journey (2012)
- Jumping Flash! (a rare example of a first-person platform game)
- Jumping Flash! 2
- Robbit Mon Dieu
- Kao the Kangaroo
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land
- Kila Flow
- Kitty May Cry
- Knack
- The Kore Gang
- Kukoos: Lost Pets
- Kya: Dark Lineage
- Landfall Archives
- Le Fantabulous Game
- Legend of Kay
- Lil Gator Game
- Ling Rise
- The Lion King: Simba's Mighty Adventure
- Looney Tunes games:
- MacBat 64: Journey of a Nice Chap
- Mail Mole
- Malediction
- Malice
- Marble Blast Gold
- Meatgrinder
- Mega Man X7
- Mineirinho Ultra Adventures
- Mirror's Edge
- Monsters, Inc.: Scream Team
- Mort the Chicken
- The Munchables
- Myth Caller: The Nightmare Shaman
- My Little Pony (Generation 5):
- Ninpen Manmaru
- Nikoderiko: The Magical World
- Over the Hedge
- Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures
- Pac-Man World trilogy
- Paperklay
- Penny's Big Breakaway
- Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension
- Phix: The Adventure
- Pilfer: Story of Light
- POD (2018)
- Poi
- Prince of Persia (2008)
- Pseudoregalia
- PsiloSybil
- Psychonauts
- Pumpkin Jack
- Raccoo Venture
- Rambo
- Rascal
- Ratchet & Clank: (which also dips into Action-Adventure and Third-Person Shooter)
- Ratchet & Clank (2002)
- Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando
- Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
- Ratchet: Deadlocked (which had less platforming than previous installments)
- Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters
- Secret Agent Clank
- Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
- Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty
- Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time
- Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One
- Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault
- Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus
- Ratchet & Clank (2016)
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
- Rayman:
- Rayman 2: The Great Escape
- Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc (a mix between platformer and Beat 'em Up)
- River Tails: Stronger Together
- Robot64
- Rocket: Robot on Wheels
- Rollin Rascal
- Ruffy And The Riverside
- Sabrina The Teenage Witch: A Twitch In Time!
- Scaler
- The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian
- Scrap Garden
- A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
- SEUM: Speedrunners From Hell
- Shrek:
- The Simpsons Game
- Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure and Skylanders: Giants (the Nintendo 3DS versions)
- Skylar and Plux: Adventure On Clover Island
- Sly Cooper:
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Spark the Electric Jester:
- Spirits & Spells
- SpongeBob SquarePants games:
- Spyro the Dragon
- Starshine Legacy
- Starshot: Space Circus Fever
- Star Wars: DroidWorks
- Stitch: Experiment 626
- A Story About My Uncle
- Stray
- Super Mario Bros.
- Super Monkey Ball
- Super Sami Roll
- Suzy Cube
- Tak and the Power of Juju
- Tamarin
- Tinykin
- Tomb Raider
- Tonic Trouble
- Toree 3D
- Train Your Minibot
- Ty the Tasmanian Tiger
- Tyler: Model 005
- Uncharted
- Vexx
- Voodoo Vince
- Wario World
- The Watchmaker (2018)
- The Way of Cinnamon
- Willy Wombat
- Woodle Tree Adventures
- Woolfe - The Red Hood Diaries
- Yokai Hunter Shintaro
- Yo! Noid 2: Enter the Void
- Yooka-Laylee
- Zera: Myths Awaken
Others
- In Kamen Rider Ex-Aid, a video game-themed live action tv show, there are multiple games of this type:
- Mighty Action X, a classic platformer
- Mighty Brothers XX, a co-op platformer with two player characters
- Maximum Mighty X, a mecha platformer (yes that's apparently a thing)
- Possibly Hyper Muteki as well, which is somewhat of a patch for MMX but also not because, used correctly, it can be used as an invincibility power-up as well.
