The 20 Best 2D Platformers (2026)

Super Mario World earns its place on presence rather than on a score. That is why it tops the ranking.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island earns its place on presence rather than on a score. Enough for the podium: number 2.

Super Mario Bros. 3 earns its place on presence rather than on a score. Enough for the podium: number 3.

Rayman Origins is here because of its players — they are who it won over. Number 4, inside the top 10.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 earns its place on presence rather than on a score. That gets it into the top 10, at number 5.

Players and critics agree on Sonic Mania, which is rarer than it sounds in 2D Platformer Games. That gets it into the top 10, at number 6.

Critics rated Super Mario Bros. Wonder higher than the public did. It holds the best critic score on the whole list, 91/100. That gets it into the top 10, at number 7.

New Super Mario Bros. has little in the way of ratings and a great deal of standing. Number 8, inside the top 10.

TowerFall Ascension is one of the few 2D Platformer Games where players and critics say the same thing. No other entry of the 20 has a higher share of positive reviews: 95%. Number 9, inside the top 10.

LittleBigPlanet has little in the way of ratings and a great deal of standing. Number 10, inside the top 10.

Players and critics agree on SpeedRunners, which is rarer than it sounds in 2D Platformer Games. It lands at 11 of 20.

Super Mario Bros. earns its place on presence rather than on a score. It is the oldest game in the ranking (1985) and still here. It sits at 12 of 20.

Players and critics agree on Gravity Circuit, which is rarer than it sounds in 2D Platformer Games. It is the newest on the list (2023), and has already earned its place. It lands at 13 of 20.

Players and critics agree on Spiritfarer, which is rarer than it sounds in 2D Platformer Games. It is the most reviewed of the 20: 52,219 Steam reviews. It sits at 14 of 20.

Mega Man 2 has little in the way of ratings and a great deal of standing. It lands at 15 of 20.

Mega Man X has little in the way of ratings and a great deal of standing. It lands at 16 of 20.

Super Mario Maker is more loved by critics than by the average player. It sits at 17 of 20.

Crash Bandicoot: Warped earns its place on presence rather than on a score. It sits at 18 of 20.

Critics were lukewarm on Metal Slug 2; players were not. It lands at 19 of 20.

Sonic Generations is here because of its players — they are who it won over. It lands at 20 of 20.