Platform games have had a standout year. 2023 has been one of the best years for the genre since perhaps 2018 and its catalog of La Mulana 2, among others. As usual, Nintendo’s seal of quality shines through with their representation, but there’s a fair bit to jump and collect regardless of your console (or PC) preference. Metroidvanias took a backseat this year to traditional platformers. While sidescrollers still reign supreme in the genre, Ghostrunner 2 was a pleasant surprise that took that parkour action I loved from the original Mirror’s Edge and cranked it up to a whole new level.
Also in Wccftech’s Best Games of 2023 lists: Shooter, Fighting, RPG, Action, Indie, Adventure, Horror, Sports & Racing
Super Mario Bros. Wonder (9.5)
Perhaps the single most unsurprising contender for best game of the year (except perhaps Larian Studio’s Baldurs Gate 3), Nintendo comes out swinging with one of their best 2D platformers in console generations. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is nothing short of a perfect platforming experience and will have you saying ‘Wowie Zowie!’. The only real negative here is that Charles Martinet wasn’t a part of bringing this latest rendition of Mario to life. Wccftech’s Nathan Birch said in the review:
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the plumber’s best platformer this generation. We haven’t been able to say that of a 2D Mario for a long time, but this game measures up to the best and most beloved side-scrollers Nintendo has ever made, delivering joyously-creative level design and rock-solid platforming in a gorgeous wrapper.
Ghostrunner 2
Moving to the other spectrum of accessibility and difficulty is One More Level’s Ghostrunner 2, featuring more traversal options than the original, including a motorcycle that mixes up the gameplay. Most of everything that players suffered through and persevered from the original has been doubled down to good effect. While the midsection can’t keep up the momentum all the way through, the moment-to-moment parkour encourages creativity and platforming in the first person. Fans have already shown their approval, aiding the game in quickly recouping the production costs and paving the way for another sequel in the series.
Gravity Circuit
In a time when Keiji Inafune departed Capcom and primarily focused on the combo-based Gunvolt series, there’s been a definitive gap for a spiritual successor to the Mega Man X series that doesn’t add too much unnecessary complexity. The shooting takes a backseat to empowered melee combat that makes it feel more like the Zero successor fans have been aching for. A huge variety of circuits can change Kai’s core mechanics and can help customize the platforming in unique and interesting ways.
Pizza Tower
A standout by style alone, Pizza Tower is one of those rare indie platform games that isn’t well known by the general public, but those who keep a keen eye on the genre can’t stop raving about it. With a visual appeal that matches John R. Dilworth’s experimental designs of Courage the Cowardly Dog, Pizza Tower is a 2D platformer with a unique twist. Not only will players have to dash to the end of the level without botching, but that’s only half of the challenge (or a quarter). Players will have to make their way back to the entrance; after that, players can opt for an additional Lap 2 and go for a victory lap for a whole new challenge and high score.
Blasphemous 2
It would be an affront to God not to consider Blasphemous 2 for one of the best platform games of 2023. This hardcore Metroidvania features the Penitent One returning to the forefront once more to prevent The Miracle from being brought into the world of the living. Without the Mea Culpa, the original title’s sole weapon, there is a trio of new weapons that each provide unique combat styles as well as traversal abilities that open up the opening acts depending on which one players opt to start their adventure with. The masocore action and ludicrous gore are dialed up from The Penitent One’s first penance while being one of the most mechanically solid Metrovania titles of 2023.
Honorable Mentions
Don’t fancy anything on our shortlist? Not to worry. Plenty more great platform games came out in 2023, including the following:
