Though they may look rudimentary, there’s a great deal of art as well as skill in a good 2D platformer. One of the earliest video game genres (pretty much the entire Mario canon comes under the 2D umbrella), players move right to left across the screen over a series of multi-levelled platforms, smashing baddies and collecting loot as they go.
Though technology has moved on, this underappreciated genre still packs in plenty of charm – while their easy controls mean they’re perfect for picking up and whiling away a few hours on. With more than 30 years of titles to look back on, here’s our pick of some of the best.
Celeste (2018)
This retro-flavoured, pixel-art game from 2018 manages to tug on a whole lot of heartstrings despite being seriously lo-def. The controls are easy to pick up (there are only three) but the level design weaves in story beats alongside the action, the characters are beautifully written and memorable, and the narrative – which discusses the pressures of modern life – is surprisingly resonant. A little gem.
Gris (2019)
Every pixel in this colourful (or colourless) game is gorgeous. This dreamy, ethereal work follows the titular Gris, a protagonist weighed down by life – and the colour palette is one of depressing greys. But as she rediscovers her love of life, those greys morph into rainbow bursts that follow her across the levels. At only three hours long, it’s short, but the puzzles are satisfying and the overall vibe rather beautiful.
Levelhead (2020)
One of the newer entries on this list, Levelhead’s premise is unusual, but it’s a must-play. As part of the bureaucratic Levelhead division, the player’s task is to create and play as many levels as possible to train a package delivery robot, the rather adorable GR-18, to boss any situation when it’s out on the job. This game rewards creativity: the package can be used as a tool, there’s an endless amount of doors and switches to use, and there are even enemies to defeat. Very cute.
Evergate (2020)
The perfect blend of adorable and tricky. Play as Ki, a tiny wisp who’s waiting to be reincarnated by travelling through the Evergate. But when a crisis threatens the entire afterlife, it’s yours truly who has to jump through the gate to try and fix the disaster. Drawing inspiration from the Ori series, the gameplay lets you spring off objects mid-air to clear platforms across several levels – levels which become more complex the longer the game takes.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (2014)
After four years languishing on the Wii U, DK finally made the switch to a playable console in 2018. And about time too, because it’s a real delight of a game. Playing as Donkey Kong (or as one of his buddies, each of which have unique abilities of their own), the game is a tightly orchestrated puzzle box of tricky levels and big boss fights. It’s packed with fun twists and a sliding difficulty scale, it’s well worth spending the 10-hour playtime trying to beat.
Rain World (2017)
A game for masochists: don’t start playing Rain World without being prepared to throw down the controller in exasperation. Gorgeously animated – the enemies slink across the screen, while characters slide through ventilation shafts and leap across gaps surprisingly gracefully – there’s a simple target. Guided by a mysterious figure known only as Slugcat, your character must sneak and battle their way to safe rooms across a huge ruined world. But it is fiendishly tricky.
Shovel Knight (2014)
Do they get more charming than Shovel Knight? Paying homage to the original Nintendo classics (especially Mega Man), this retro-flavoured game tells the story of Shovel and his friend, Shield Knight, who set out on a quest to defeat evil sorcerer the Enchantress. It’s pleasingly quirky – anybody for a Propeller Knight or Mole Knight? – and there’s also a very simple control scheme: attack, jump, and move forward. Very it easy to pick up and easier still to while away hours on.
Super Mario World (1990)
A stone cold classic. Debuting as an arcade game all the way back in 1990, it tells the usual Mario story: Princess Peach has been kidnapped and the Italian plumber must go on a quest to win her back. Though the graphics are simple, the gameplay is characteristically imaginative and finding those secret levels are still a joy.
Sonic Mania (2017)
This game debuted to rave reviews upon its release, and for good reason: it’s probably the best 2D Sonic game out there. Arriving for its 25th anniversary, Sonic Mania is a showcase for what made the original games so good, with great bosses, a soundtrack that encourages speeding and inventive levels. It’s a great blend of old and new, with classic levels like Stardust Speedway sitting side-by-side with brand new ones like Mirage Saloon: all in all, very entertaining.
