Genre entry · Jump, run, explore

What is a platformer? Running and jumping, explained

Few genres are as instantly readable as the platformer: get from here to there, and jump at the right moment. Behind that simplicity lie some of the most polished designs in gaming.

Abstract chrome artwork for the Platformer genre

Platformer · definition

A platformer is a game in which the main challenge is moving a character through levels by running, jumping and climbing between platforms while avoiding hazards and enemies.

Hallmarks to look for

Jumping as the core action
Levels built from platforms, gaps and hazards
Precise, responsive controls
Collectibles that reward exploration
Separate stages or worlds, often ending in a boss
Checkpoints within levels

Where the name comes from

Space Panic (1980), which had platforms and ladders but no jumping, is sometimes seen as the first platformer. Donkey Kong (1981) established a template for what were initially called “climbing games” and inspired many similar titles. The genre grew rapidly through the 1980s, with Super Mario Bros. (1985) becoming one of its defining games.

The 1990s brought fully 3D platformers, and the genre has continued in both 2D and 3D forms, including many independent “precision platformers” built around demanding jumps.

What makes a jump feel good

Platformers live or die on how jumping feels. Designers fine-tune how high a character jumps, how long they hang in the air and how much control you have mid-air. Many games let you jump higher by holding the button longer, and quietly forgive small mistakes — for instance, letting you jump a moment after running off a ledge.

Those details are why the same basic action feels different from game to game. A heavier character feels powerful and deliberate; a lighter one feels nimble. When players say a platformer has “great controls”, this is what they mean.

Good platformers also teach through level design rather than text. A new idea usually appears first in a safe spot, then in a harder combination, then in a final test, so players learn without reading instructions.

2D, 3D and everything in between

Platformers come in two main forms:

2D platformers are viewed from the side. You move left and right and jump. The challenge is clear to read, which makes them good for beginners and local co-op.
3D platformers let you move in every direction through levels seen from behind the character. Judging depth adds challenge, and levels often reward exploration.

Some games mix the two, switching perspective or using 3D graphics for 2D play. 3D platformers built around collecting many items across open levels are often called collect-a-thons.

Closely related is the metroidvania, which uses platforming in one connected world rather than separate levels.

3D platformers face an extra challenge: the camera. Players need to judge distances and see what is ahead, so many games use fixed camera angles in tricky areas, shadows under the character to show where you will land, or slow-motion moments. If a 3D platformer feels hard to judge, checking the camera settings in the options menu often helps.

Precision platformers and fair difficulty

Precision platformers are built around very demanding jumps. Levels are short, deaths are frequent, and you respawn instantly at a nearby checkpoint. The difficulty is high, but restarting is so quick that failure rarely feels punishing.

Celeste is a well-known example and also shows how the genre has become more accessible. Its Assist Mode lets players slow the game, add extra dashes or become invincible, without locking them out of the story. Many platformers now include similar options, and the platformer community is also strongly linked to speedrunning.

If a section feels impossible, taking a short break often helps. Precision platforming depends on relaxed, consistent timing, and tension makes it harder.

Collectibles are another way platformers handle difficulty. Reaching the end of a level may be straightforward, while finding every hidden item demands much harder jumps. This lets the same level work for beginners and experts alike: beginners finish it, experts hunt for everything.

Playing platformers together

Many platformers support local co-op, where two to four players share one screen. Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Rayman Legends, Sonic Superstars and Donkey Kong Country Returns HD all include it. Co-op is often chaotic in a fun way, as players bump into each other and help or hinder at the same time.

Because most platformer co-op happens on the same sofa rather than online, it is an easy way for families to play together without online chat. Some games also offer online play with friends.

Some platformers designed for co-op also let a more experienced player help a less experienced one, for example by carrying them through hard sections or letting them float safely in a bubble until they are ready to rejoin. This makes the genre a good way to play with younger children.

Platformer terms you might hear

Platformer players use some specific vocabulary:

Coyote time — a short grace period that lets you jump just after leaving a ledge.
Wall jump — kicking off a wall to climb or change direction.
Double jump — a second jump in mid-air.
Collectibles — optional items hidden in levels, such as coins, stars or strawberries.
Boss — a larger enemy, often at the end of a world.
Hub world — a central area connecting levels, common in 3D platformers.
Pit — a gap that sends you back to a checkpoint if you fall in.
Speedrun — finishing as fast as possible, a popular challenge in the genre.

Most of these are learned naturally within the first few levels of any platformer.

Once these basics are familiar, you will find that most platformers share them, which makes moving from one game to the next quick and enjoyable.

Why platformers suit younger players (and which to pick)

Platformers are among the most child-friendly genres. The starters here are rated PEGI 3 or PEGI 7, with violence that is cartoonish and mild. Celeste is rated PEGI 7 but deals with themes of anxiety, which many players find thoughtful and relatable.

Difficulty, rather than content, is usually the main consideration. Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Astro Bot are designed to be welcoming; Donkey Kong Country Returns HD and Celeste can be tough but include assist settings. A few platformers sell extra content, which is why In-game purchases appears on some ratings.

Gentle places to start

Age ratings are the PEGI ratings listed for each game; always check the current listing on your platform before buying or downloading.

Game	PEGI	Platforms	Why start here
Super Mario Bros. Wonder	PEGI 3	Nintendo Switch (Nintendo Switch 2 Edition also rated)	A 2D platformer full of surprises, with drop-in local multiplayer for up to four players.
Sonic Superstars	PEGI 3	PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X\|S, Nintendo Switch	Classic-style 2D Sonic with speed, loops and local co-op; PEGI lists In-game purchases.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD	PEGI 3	Nintendo Switch (Nintendo Switch 2 also listed)	A challenging 2D platformer with optional easier settings and two-player co-op.
Astro Bot	PEGI 7	PlayStation 5	A 3D platformer designed around the PlayStation 5 controller’s features, with a large number of short, varied levels.
Rayman Legends	PEGI 7	PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One	A colourful 2D co-op platformer that includes music-synced levels.
Celeste	PEGI 7	PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch	A precision platformer about climbing a mountain, with a story about anxiety and an Assist Mode that adjusts difficulty.

Subgenres and offshoots

2D side-scrolling platformer3D platformerCollect-a-thonPrecision platformerPuzzle platformerEndless runner

Questions

What was the first platformer?

Space Panic (1980) is sometimes cited, though it had no jumping. Donkey Kong (1981) established the template that the genre grew from.

What is a precision platformer?

A platformer built around very demanding jumps, short levels and instant restarts after each failure. Celeste is a well-known example.

What is the difference between a platformer and a metroidvania?

A platformer is usually split into separate levels; a metroidvania is one connected world opened up by new abilities.

Which platformers can two people play together?

Many support local co-op, including Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Rayman Legends, Sonic Superstars and Donkey Kong Country Returns HD.

Sources we checked

Last checked: 2026-11-03