10. Sonic Mania After a series of disappointing Sonic titles
and movies (for now), SEGA was in a difficult position to redeem their famed Blue Hedgehog,
well, until now. Sonic Mania was the answer to everyone’s burning questions and complaints.
It was a rebirth of the ‘failing’ platformer and finally, it’s great in all directions.
GameSpot was impressed by its sentimental appeal, giving the game a 9 out of 10. Calling
it “an excellent 2D platformer which surpasses its predecessors.” It fixed the mistakes
of the old titles and managed to bring a ‘modern touch’ for its new (and old) players. For
Sonic fans, it was huge news.
But it’s not perfect. Polygon even complained about the games’ frustrating controls, which
was justified since there are new players coming in everyday. Another from VideoGamer
criticised Mania for its reliance on nostalgia, which, in turn, gave this title no innovative
changes.
However, SEGA is aware of it and they’re planning to improve the future Sonic titles.
For all its worth, Sonic Mania is the franchise’s return to form and it has a playscore of 8.80.
9. Guacamelee! 2 The Mexiverse is back to explore. A sequel
to Drinkbox’s award-winning platformer, return to the wild shoes of the brave Luchador
as he continues to use his brawn… and brains to save his beloved world from doom.
Of all the list of reviews in our database, A review from Cubed3 gave this a perfect 10/10
due to its huge improvements to its metroidvania elements. He lauds “the game’s ‘low
skill floor, but high ceiling” when it comes to its core gameplay loop.
It even rewards those who are really up for the challenge when it comes to finding every
secret in its interdimensional world.
In addition to this staggering success, IGN, GamesRadar+ and most of the gaming community
also praised the game’s heavy emphasis on exploration. However, it’s not without flaws.
Guacamelee 2 may be impressive, but to some, it is a downgrade compared to the first release
that already set the bar high.
Combat remains fun, but the sheer amount of upgrades and stuff to do left players ‘unimpressed’,
but hey, you can’t always please everyone. Nonetheless, it’s a fantastic game, Guacamelee
2 is indeed a prime example of platformers done right, and it receives a playscore of
8.82
8. Ratchet & Clank Also one of Sony’s celebrated titles spanning
decades. A re-imagining of the first game of the series and marks the comeback of the
most iconic dynamic duos in gaming. Alongside its release is a film that did not live up
to the game’s standards.
Ultimately, Ratchet & Clank is a step up compared to its older titles. IGN gave it a 9/10, admiring
its nostalgic charm and the fun selection of WEAPONS to mess around with.
Most of the negative receptions the game received point to its slower segments and the lack
of something new on its plate. At the end of the day, it’s just a remake, but Insomniac
does it with confidence. It has a playscore of 8.84.
7. Rayman Legends When we’re talking about Platformers, nobody
forgets about Ubisoft’s psychedelic display of power. Jump from painting to painting and
enjoy vibrant levels with catchy tunes and rhythmic beats. It’s a Rayman game, all
right.
It’s such a great game even GamesRadar+ and COGConnected are already calling it as
one of the best platformers in recent times.Rayman Legends continues to push the limits of the
genre by adding numerous gimmicks. They may look ridiculous at first, but on multiple
playthroughs, they keep the game rewarding as the first time.
Most of the game’s additional fun stem from its four-player co-op, where you and three
of your friends can do stupid stuff together. Aside from, maybe, Ubisoft’s Uplay launcher,
the game is a gem for the platformer community. It receives a playscore of an 8.84.
6. Hollow Knight - Voidheart Edition Recently, there has been a growing number
of games borrowing Dark Souls’ insane difficulty and ‘gothic’ style.
Of all the games coming and going, Hollow Knight stayed and proved it’s something
familiar, however different. Voidheart Edition is the ultimate Hollow Knight experience.
It’s replete with all the free DLC issued since its vanilla release in 2017. But to
label it comparable, or a spiritual successor of Dark Souls is insulting. It is not. Hollow
Knight is a league of its own. Although it does have a deep lore to uncover for dedicated
fans.
Set in a fictional world where Bugs take control of society, you play as a nameless Hero with
a sword aptly called ‘Nail’ to strike foes down.
A critically-acclaimed release; according to Push Square, Hollow Knight ““shines
bright, considering its solemn presentation and challenging gameplay.” They gave it
a 9 out of 10 on the PlayStation 4. The only gripe this game received is that fans wanted
more from it, which was great. At least for now, we have the sequel Hollow Knight: Silksong
to look forward to. Voidheart Edition receives a playscore of 8.84.
5. Celeste Indie games are all over the video game market;
heck, most of the games in this list are Indies. Celeste, if you haven’t heard of it, is
the pinnacle of platformers in 2018. A simple story about a girl trying to get to the top
of Celeste Mountain isn’t so simple at all.
By injecting relevant themes of today’s society like mental health and accessibility
in games, Celeste won numerous awards including Game of the Year. Celeste on the PlayStation
4 is exceptional. With a steady stream of hardcore triple A titles, it stood out as
a must-buy for platformer enthusiasts.
Even IGN, despite its controversial reviews, gave it a 10 out of 10. Calling it a “surprise
masterpiece”, and even we can’t deny that. It was universally praised for its responsive
controls, fantastic story and utterly challenging levels are the qualities needed for a compelling
game in 2018.
Celeste had everything on the table. It receives a playscore of 8.89
4. Dead Cells The concept of time and space is irrelevant
in platformers. Dead Cells made sure you could learn from your mistakes and maybe, mess things
up again.
It’s Groundhog Day but for hardcore gamers. As a player who can’t die, repeat the process
of hacking and slashing your way across a randomly generated castle. In its hybrid of
metroidvania and roguelike, Dead Cells is a welcome challenge for those masochists who
want to do everything as hard as possible.
The game is well-received, especially when it comes to their organic level design. Each
time you die, a different task awaits you… all procedurally-generated.
Even IGN, who before managed to plagiarize a certain content creator for its original
Dead Cells review on this game, praised the game’s flexibility and beautifully-detailed
levels. If you can get past the intense difficulty, you might enjoy this again… and again. It
has a playscore of 8.93.
3. INSIDE To call INSIDE as a mere platformer is an
understatement. It is, like Playdead’s previous title LIMBO, a game you should dive into without
knowing too much of.
You play as a young boy trying to run away from the hands of what evils may lurk in its
dystopian and somewhat ‘Orwellian’ society. And as a Platformer of sorts, you solve puzzles
and experiment with various possibilities that don’t result in your brutal death.
Push Square and Thumbsticks gave this a perfect score of 10, and we can attest to that. INSIDE
is strange, unsettling, and the narrative it tries to tell is even more surprising,
especially with its crazy ending which we won’t spoil.
Most of the game’s best features are not even features. The amount of secrets it has
in store for players is what gave it a good rating. Much like LIMBO, there is a tinge
of bizarre to the journey, which we once again won’t spoil. The only concern this game
had was its short game length, which at this point, is not a surprise by PLAYDEAD’s standards.
INSIDE is a pure test of quantity over quality, and it receives a playscore of 9.03.
2. Shovel Knight At this point, anyone with a knack for gaming
knows about Shovel Knight. The quintessential platformer that sets a new standard for Kickstarter-funded
campaigns. Inspired by numerous classic platformers, Shovel Knight has dug out of from the pile
of massive games coming all around it.
ZTGD gave it a perfect score of 10, saying “... it felt like I was discovering a wonderful
game from the past that I had somehow missed when growing up.”That’s the effect Shovel
Knight had on the people who played it. It is reminiscent of old-school games that some
veteran gamers can easily relate to.
Modern players will enjoy its simplicity. But will stay for its high replay value and
massive content, that includes its DLCs which add a whole new layer of gameplay that doesn’t
involve digging and hitting enemies with your shovel. No surprise here, it has a playscore
of a 9.06.
1. ASTRO BOT: Rescue Mission That’s right, a Sony exclusive tops the
list of our 10 best PlayStation 4 Platformers, and for good reasons.
Considered as the best VR Platformer out there, ASTRO BOT: Rescue Mission seamlessly blends
these two elements together in an effective VR journey with depth and a sense of wonder...
especially when you’re trying to introduce it to a kid.
Game Informer said that this game “feels like it came out of nowhere to quietly prove
that familiar genres can feel like new experiences with the aid of virtual reality.” They gave
it a 9 out of 10.
By putting together VR and platforming, it was pushed into new lengths, especially when
you’re trying to revolutionize the industry. Sony managed to do with such confidence. And
with the lack of good VR titles lately, this one is a must-buy for anyone who owns a PlayStation
VR. A much-needed reprieve to life’s crazy misadventures.
It receives a playscore of a 9.08