Whether it is back on the NES or the best Switch games coming out today, Nintendo has always been home to the best platformers on the market. The Mario games obviously set the standard for the genre, but now there are tons of other games that rival our favorite plumber. We live in a golden age of platformers where we’re getting both the best 2D and 3D platformers ever created, and the Switch is home to nearly all of them. Of course, with such a popular genre, there are also a lot of platformers that feel more like pitfalls. No matter what style of jumping you enjoy, we made sure to only include the most solid platformers you can get on your Switch for this list.
Don’t forget to see what upcoming Switch games might also scratch your platforming itch.
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Note that we will only be including one game per franchise on this list to offer a greater variety of games.
Super Mario Odyssey
89%
Platforms
Nintendo Switch
Genre
Platform, Adventure
Developer
Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 8
Publisher
Nintendo
Release
October 27, 2017
Where else could we start than with the most iconic platformer — and video game character in general — Mario? We had to go with Mario Odyssey for our top pick. As much as we love the creativity and amount of content you can get in something like Mario Maker 2, it just can’t compete with the finely tuned level design and polish of the latest 3D adventure. Each of the words if packed with secrets, little interactions, and fun ways to get around and reach new areas. The capture mechanic adds new layers of depth in each level depending on what creature you inhabit. It is easy enough to just get through to the end, but there are hundreds of optional Moons and costumes to unlock for more reasons to go back to old worlds. When the simple act of running around feels this good, you know you’re playing a Nintendo game.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
77%
Platforms
Nintendo Switch
Genre
Platform
Developer
Retro Studios
Publisher
Nintendo
Release
May 04, 2018
Donkey Kong hasn’t had a chance to shine in 3D yet, but he’s mastered the 2D space at least at the same level as Mario. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze might be the best 2D platformer ever created thanks to the ingenious level design. It is one thing for the levels to be visually appealing, but they all have a perfect flow to them once you master the movement. This time you can control DK, Diddy, Dixie, and Cranky as well who each have their own movement options to experiment with. Unlike a lot of other 2D platformers, Tropical Freeze isn’t afraid to crank up the difficulty, either. If you’re attempting the bonus worlds, get ready for a real challenge.
Sonic Mania
84%
Platforms
PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Platform, Adventure
Developer
Headcannon, PagodaWest Games, Christian Whitehead, Sega Games
Publisher
Sega Games
Release
August 15, 2017
The days of Sonic and Mario competing on different platforms are far in the past and the two now sit side-by-side on the Switch. Sonic has been enjoying a resurgence for a while, but Sonic Mania kicked it all off and remains the best Sonic game on the Switch. This game evokes the style and speed of the original trilogy on the Genesis better than any other 2D outing since those days. It nails the sense of momentum, stages with multiple pathways, and catchy music that made the series special in the first place. While it does feature plenty of the old classic stages, it also introduces a good deal of new ones that feel right at home.
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair
71%
Platforms
PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Platform, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Playtonic, Playtonic
Publisher
Team17, Team17
Release
October 07, 2019
The first Yooka-Laylee game was a good attempt at a follow-up to Banjo-Kazooie but didn’t quite live up to those expectations. Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair was a sequel we weren’t expecting that feels like a much better format for the characters. Instead of a 3D collectathon, this is a 2D platformer a lot like the Donkey Kong Country games on the SNES. There are plenty of fun and colorful stages to experience, each with multiple collectibles to track down, but even the overworld is full of secrets and puzzles that make the entire world feel more alive. What is special here, though, is that the game can be beaten at any point. The final level can be accessed whenever you feel ready, and beating other stages rewards you with bees that let you take additional hits during that challenging final level.
Mega Man 11
77%
Platforms
PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Shooter, Platform, Adventure
Developer
Capcom
Publisher
Capcom
Release
October 02, 2018
We don’t get nearly as many Mega Man games as we used to, but if they are all as good as Mega Man 11 then we don’t mind waiting. Unlike 9 and 10, Mega Man 11 doesn’t use an 8-bit style and instead goes for something new with a more modern cartoony look. Love or hate the art style, the gameplay is pure Mega Man. You have a new set of robot masters to challenge in whatever order you want, going through stages full of enemies and platforming challenges before facing off against the boss. The big change for this entry is the Double Gear system which gives Mega Man two new powers. One lets you temporarily slow time to make jumps or avoid attacks and the other improves your damage and can let you fire two charged shots at once.
Antonblast
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch
Genre
Platform, Puzzle, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Summitsphere
Publisher
Summitsphere, Joystick Ventures
Release
December 03, 2024
Wario might look like just an off-brand Mario, but his games are anything but traditional 2D platformers. Sadly, we haven’t gotten a real Wario game in a while, but Antonblast is a worthy spiritual successor. This game is all about momentum and explosive action crafted in an animation that calls back to early ’90s cartoons. You will blast through stages at a break-neck speed pulling off various moves to plow through wacky enemies and collect items as you move between the foreground and background. The amount of variety in stages, mechanics, and bosses is fantastic and highly addicting.
Spyro Reignited Trilogy
83%
Platforms
PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Platform, Adventure
Developer
Toys for Bob
Publisher
Activision
Release
November 13, 2018
PlayStation had a couple of big platforming mascots back in the day, but we always had a soft spot for the purple dragon Spyro. Spyro Reignited Trilogy remakes all three of those classic 3D platformers and makes them look like Pixar movies come to life in one complete package. Spyro still feels great to control dashing, jumping, and gliding around the levels collecting gems. It has a great balance between platforming challenges, combat, and collectibles for a breezy and fun experience that only gets better as you move through the games.
