Hello everyone,
Welcome to Gaming Influence, a reboot of the same name I created back in WrestleCorp. However, not only will I be giving my thoughts on certain video games and video game series, but also video game movies, video game anime, video game digital presentations, etc.
For this edition of Gaming Influence, will be doing something different as I will be ranking my favorite video games/franchises in a particular genre.
What genre will I be talking about? I will be talking about my favorite platformers.
Anyway, let's get started!
Before I do my rankings, for those who are wondering, what is a platformer? A platformer is also known as a platform game which is a sub-genre of action games where the player moves the character between points in an environment whether 2D or 3D.
When discussing my favorite platformers, I won't be having multiple games from the same franchises on the rankings as I wanted to give other games/franchises a chance to shine and highlight. So don't expect multiple games from the same franchises on my ranking list here.
Anyway, let's get started!
Here are my honorable mentions of platformers that didn't make it on my list:
Honorable Mentions: Ristar, Super Meat Boy, Limbo, Oddworld, Neon White, It Takes Two, Gex, Geometry Dash, Conker, Earthworm Jim, Little Big Planet, Croc, Yooka-Laylee, Kaze and the Wild Masks, Splasher, Yoshi
Now, let's start with my #20 platformer franchise:
Rayman is a franchise of platformers created by video game designer, Michel Ancel from Ubisoft.
Rayman is well known for its platformers back in the PSX days and is one of the most well-known Western platformers out there. Despite the series not having a new original game besides the mobile game since Rayman Legends which was released back on PS4, Xbox One, and Wii U in 2013, the series is still well beloved and a lot of their games still hold today. Even though Rayman is not my favorite platformer franchise ever, I understand its importance and history when it comes to platformers and the games are fun too.
Here's my #19 favorite platformer franchise:
Astro Bot is a platformer series developed by Team Asobi and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.
Astro Bot series has the potential to be something bigger than what they are right now and I have a feeling over time, it's only going to get bigger for them in the future. Despite only having two games in the series, one being VR and one being a tech demo for the PS5, this series screams a lot of what makes platformers great, fun level designs, unique gameplay mechanics involving power-ups, and its charming in its own way where Astro Bot proved to do that. Astro Bot reminds me of a lot of Super Mario and if Team Asobi can improve on Astro Bot with its series, it has the chance to be its own Super Mario on PlayStation more than Little Big Planet in my opinion. Only time will tell.
Here's my #18 favorite platformer franchise:
Sonic the Hedgehog is a Japanese video game series mainly known for its platformers created by Sega.
Sonic the Hedgehog series especially with its platformers is a classic, especially in the Sega Genesis days. Though there is a big mix with the Sonic games, especially in the past decade or so. I find the 2D Sonic games for the most part deliver big time like Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and Sonic Mania. While 3D Sonic games are a big hit or miss where they are very inconsistent. Either way, Sonic the Hedgehog is still a huge figurehead in the platformer genre and it's not going to change anytime soon as well as having a lot of nostalgia for the franchise.
Here's my #17 favorite platformer franchise:
Mega Man, known as Rockman in Japan, is a Japanese science fiction video game franchise mainly known for its action platformers created by Capcom.
Like Sonic the Hedgehog, Mega Man is another classic platformer franchise that is generally well-known, especially during the 90s. Just like Sonic the Hedgehog, the series also has its ups and downs, but to the point where Capcom doesn't even develop Mega Man games annually anymore. They only come out once in compilations of the old games and the last new original Mega Man game that is not mobile is Mega Man 11 back on Switch, PS4, and Xbox One in 2018 so it's not as common to see a lot of Mega Man games nowadays compared to the 90s and 2000s. However, just like with Sonic the Hedgehog, Mega Man is still an icon in the platformer genre, and I hope to see maybe one day, Mega Man makes a comeback for the long-term, but just not have annual releases with their games anymore.
Here's my #16 favorite platformer franchise:
Lucky's Tale is a 3D platformer series developed and published by Playful Studios.
Despite not being as popular compared to other 3D platformers out there, Lucky's Tale does a great job capturing what makes 3D platformers fun in terms of great-level designs and cool power-ups. This is probably one of the good 3D platformers out there so if you enjoy 3D platformers, would recommend checking out Lucky's Tale.
Here's my #15 favorite platformer franchise:
Sly Cooper is a platform stealth game series developed by Sucker Punch Productions and Sanzaru Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.
Even though Sly Cooper hasn't had a game since Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time which was released back in 2013 on PS Vita and PS3, Sly Cooper was an interesting take on the platformer genre as it also added stealth which makes the game a lot more intriguing and fun to play. It is unfortunate that the series has been dormant for a decade, but if you're looking for fun platformers to play mixed in with stealth, the Sly Cooper series is the series to get into.
Here's my #14 favorite platformer franchise:
Crash Bandicoot is a video game franchise mainly known for their platformers developed by Naughty Dog, Toys for Bob, Vicarious Visions, and King.
Crash Bandicoot is probably the most iconic when it comes to platformers in the West. With the series slowly making a comeback in the past few years, it's great to see despite the games being made by different developers, the games are still fun to play and the Crash Bandicoot platformers are a great example of what platformers should be. Even though the future of Crash Bandicoot is questionable with its current owner, Activision, things could change for the better when Activision joins Microsoft where changes are hopefully made for the better. We see the Crash Bandicoot series rise again. Only time will tell, but the platformers in Crash Bandicoot are generally good for the most part.
Here's my #13 favorite platformer franchise:
Spyro is a video game series mainly known for its platformers developed by Toys for Bob, Insomniac Games, and Vivendi Games.
Even though not as popular compared to Crash Bandicoot, Spyro is another platformer franchise that is well-known in the West where there are people that prefer Spyro over Crash Bandicoot myself included. Just like with Crash Bandicoot, the series has a small resurgence with the Spyro Reignited Trilogy which was released back on PS4 and Xbox One in 2018 but hasn't gotten a new original game yet. Hopefully, just like with Crash Bandicoot, would love to see Spyro make a huge comeback as the platformers in the series for the most part have been good.
Here's my #12 favorite platformer:
Psychonauts is a platformer series developed by Double Fine, Budcat Creations, and React Games.
With the latest game of the series Psychonauts 2 being released on Xbox Series X and PC in 2021, Psychonauts reminds me of how great 3D platformers can be in the modern age. In addition to the fun level designs and cool power-ups, the series also has an intriguing story that can keep players to continue on with their adventures. Great to see Psychonauts back and hope to see the series continue and get bigger from here.
Here's my #11 favorite platformer:
A Hat in Time is a platformer developed by Gears for Breakfast and published by Humble Bundle.
To me, A Hat in Time is one of the best indie platformers out there with its fun level designs, cool power-ups, charming environments to explore, intriguing characters, and the voice-acting is pretty well done. Plus, this game also reminds me of Banjo-Kazooie in some ways, which is a plus. If you're looking for a fun 3D platformer, A Hat in Time is the game for you.
Now, we're in the top ten. Here's my #10 favorite platformer franchise:
Klonoa is a platformer series created by Namco.
To me, Klonoa is the most underrated platformer series out there today. With its creative level designs, the unique gameplay mechanics with the power-ups and platforming, the graphics have a certain charm to it, and it has an actual dark story that caught me off guard when first playing it. I'm so glad that Klonoa is somewhat having a comeback with the Phantasy Reverie Series that was released last year so if you like platformers, would recommend checking out Klonoa as it's worth it. Wahoo!
Here's my #9 favorite platformer franchise:
Ratchet & Clank is an action platformer and third-person shooter series developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.
Ratchet & Clank is one of the more unique platformers out there due to the series involving action along with third-person shooting. Due to its unique gameplay compared to other platformers, the series does stand out and they're a lot of fun because of that. Granted, it could be argued that the action and third-person shooting is more focused compared to the platforming, but the actual platforming on the series are well done. However, they could definitely be more fleshed out for sure. Despite that, if you enjoy platformers, but want to add in action and third-person shooting, Ratchet & Clank series is for you.
Here's my favorite #8 platformer franchise:
Ape Escape is a series of video games mainly known for their platformers developed by Japan Studios and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.
A series that is pretty much dead due to Japan Studios being gone as the series with its platformers are a lot of fun. Actually trying to catch apes while platforming is a lot of fun and I really wish that PlayStation can bring them back with new original games besides online services/subscriptions with the old ones, but probably not going to happen which is unfortunate. However, the platformers of the series still have a special place in my heart and that won't change at all.
Here's my favorite #7 platformer:
Celeste is a platformer developed and published by Maddy Makes Games.
Celeste is one of the most challenging platformers out there, but very rewarding when completing the levels and Maddy Makes Games managed to create an indie platformer to do just that. Granted, it may not be for everyone due to its difficulty at times, but man, it is so good if you love challenges so it you're up for it, would recommend checking out Celeste.
Here's my favorite #6 platformer:
Shovel Knight is a platformer developed and published by Yacht Club Games.
Shovel Knight pretty much defined what indie platformers are and laid down the foundation for indie games, in general, to be as big as of what they are today. Shovel Knight reminds me of classic Mega Man in so many ways with its level designs, power-ups, boss battles, and music so in that sense, Shovel Knight is incredible. If you love platformers, you should definitely check out Shovel Knight. You won't be disappointed.
Now, we're in the top five. Here's #5 of my favorite platformer franchise:
Ori is a platformer-adventure Metroidvania series developed by Moon Studios and published by Xbox Game Studios.
Ori is one of the rising indie platformer series mixed in with Metroidvania elements to make the series stand out compared to other indie games out there. Even though Ori to me is more of a Metroidvania than a platformer, the series does have actual platforming in them and they're actually quite good. If you're looking for platformers mixed in with Metroidvania, the Ori series is for you.
Here's my favorite #4 platformer franchise:
Kirby is an action-platform series developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo.
Kirby is such a classic when it comes to platforming from the original games on the Game Boy to the current games on Switch. They're lovable, charming, and just fun to play where each game in a way stands out from the other games where they have their own gimmick to it, but still have the core Kirby gameplay which I love. If you want generally good consistent platformers, the Kirby series is for you. Poyo!
Here's my #3 favorite platformer franchise:
Banjo-Kazooie is a series of video games mainly known for their platformers developed by Rare.
Even though this series is dead and despite the last game not being great with Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, the first two Banjo-Kazooie games have a special place in my heart as those games still hold up to this day as amazing 3D platformers with its great level designs, fun gameplay mechanics, and well-written dialogue and characters. Still hope that one day this series will return, but until then, just going to enjoy the classics that we still have. Guh-huh!
Here's my favorite #2 platformer franchise:
Donkey Kong Country is a series of platformers developed by Rare and Retro Studios.
I feel like Donkey Kong Country series doesn't get talked about a lot as much compared to the other major platformers out there because Donkey Kong Country probably has some of the best platformers ever, especially with the original trilogy on the SNES. Heck, even the ones made by Retro Studios are great as well. Still hoping for a new Donkey Kong Country game and you can't beat The Kong Family at what they do best which is their 2D platformers.
Now, here's my #1 favorite platformer franchise:
Super Mario is a platformer series created by Nintendo.
Of course, the series that defined platformers today is the Super Mario series. Even though there are a few games in the series that definitely feel repetitive and overused, they are still the best and without Super Mario, there wouldn't be any other platformers out there today. The 2D Mario games on NES and SNES are classics and the 3D Mario games on current platforms are fun as well. If you want to know what platformers are all about, the Super Mario series is the one to check out.
Those are my favorite platformer franchises as of 2023.
What is your favorite platformer franchise?
Let me know in the comments below.
Thank you for reading.
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