The best beginner-friendly platformers

Platformers have been around in the gaming world for a very long time, and over the years, the genre has evolved in dozens of new directions, bringing new themes, mechanics, and settings that players have never seen before. As old as the place is, there are always newcomers looking to try it out, and diehard fans are always quick to recommend what they consider the best starting points.

Many of these games fall into one of a few categories that make them more accessible to less hardcore players, but the common thread is the lack of barriers to entry. It doesn't matter if players are running through sawdust or bouncing through clouds; The mechanics and gameplay style are all incredibly easy to understand, allowing anyone to jump in for the first time and have an absolute blast.

Celeste

Simple but impressive

Details:

• A solid platform with a minimal aesthetic

• The emotional story behind the gameplay

Celeste Stands out as one of the most sophisticated 2D platformers of its generation, built around precise movement and carefully designed challenges that will test new players without straying too far from their comfort zone. Each level introduces new mechanics that expand traversal options, from air dashes to environmental interactions, and this structure encourages players to improve through repetition, ensuring that failures feel like part of the learning process.

There are also plenty of checkpoints and assistive features that make the trickier sections feel more manageable, meaning that even when things get tough, players can always keep moving forward. Beyond its mechanics, the game's story is fascinating, exploring mental health and anxiety in a deeply emotional way that keeps players invested more than just in the gameplay, and when you look at everything together, it's very hard to find another platformer that's more sophisticated. Celeste.

Super Mario Odyssey

Another iteration of the king

Details:

• Open-ended level design

• So much freedom in movement

Super Mario Odyssey takes the franchise in a whole new direction, introducing players to large, sandbox-style kingdoms that replace linear levels, allowing them to explore and approach objectives from multiple angles. Mario's movement is expanded through the toolkit capture mechanic, enabling him to control enemies and objects, each with unique abilities that open the door for some pretty crazy moves.

Because of how natural the progression is, players will always feel like their discoveries are earned rather than given, and even when the game directly introduces new ideas, they're never too drastic. It's accessible, colorful, and most of all, pure fun, and is the perfect starting point for players looking to experience a new era of 3D platforming.

Ori and the Blind One

Atmosphere at its best

Details:

• Satisfactory movement that develops through play

• Strong emphasis on environmental storytelling

Ori and the blind forest Blends precise platforming with a strong sense of atmosphere, creating a memorable and cohesive experience unlike any other in the genre. Movement starts out simple but expands into a fluid system that allows players to string together chain jumps and dashes, as they effortlessly glide through the beautiful yet strange world around them.

The level design leans into this fluidity, guiding players through interconnected areas filled with hazards and secrets that are only accessible after players unlock a new skill. From a mechanical standpoint, it's a great example of how to do platforming movement right, and from a visual perspective, it's a stunning work of art that will dazzle players from start to finish.

Shovel Knight

Classic design made modern

Details:

• Retro-inspired mechanics with modern polish

• Clear, readable level design

Shovel Knight captures the essence of classic platformers while refining their design for a modern audience. The mechanics are simple yet versatile, built around the timing of both jumps and attacks, and the levels are structured in a way that teaches players through gameplay, gradually introducing new challenges that gradually increase in difficulty over time.

There are enemies and objects to avoid, but their locations are carefully balanced, ensuring that each section feels fair while still demanding enough attention to keep players glued to the screen. And despite the more retro aesthetic, the game looks incredibly clear, removing any clutter or awkwardness to ensure the player sees exactly what they see.

Rayman Legends

A titan of the gaming world

Details:

• Fast-paced levels built around rhythm

• Cooperatives increase access

Rayman Legends Provides a high-energy platforming experience defined by pace and speed. Many of the levels are designed to maintain a steady pace, encouraging players to move quickly through the stage, and even when obstacles do arise, tight controls allow them to quickly get out of the way before moving on to the next obstacle.

The inclusion of cooperative play makes it especially welcoming to new players, allowing multiple people to progress all together, reducing any competition over who's top dog. This shared experience makes small victories memorable and means all types of players can come together to enjoy the ride without ever being left behind.

A hat in time

Going back to a simpler age

Details:

• Inspired by classic 3D platformers

• Focus on exploring and collecting

A hat in time Revisits the structure of classic 3D platformers, emphasizing exploration and collection-driven progression within an entirely new universe. Each world offers a different theme and mechanics, letting players experiment with movement to uncover hidden passages and find new ways to navigate more dangerous areas.

Some challenges require a bit more mechanical input, but they're rarely too punishing, meaning players can progress, even if it means failing a few times. This balance between exploration and accessibility makes it a strong entry point for those unfamiliar with the genre as well as those looking for something a little different.

Limbo

Eerie and weird in all the best ways

Details:

• Minimal visual style

• Puzzle platforming built around environmental interaction

Limbo is a horror puzzle-platformer that trades the genre's vibrant aesthetics for a monochromatic palette complemented by an equally cold world. Without any dialogue or real exposition, players find themselves walking through a bleak world filled with death and decay, solving simple puzzles and hopping between spaces to avoid the sticky ending below.

As they delve deeper, more locations and snippets of environments are revealed, giving players a better understanding of their place in the world while still keeping things ambiguous and open to interpretation. Now, nearly two decades later, the game remains one of the best in the genre, and is an ideal place to kickstart a new platforming addiction.

Super Meat Boy

The ultimate test of skill

Details:

• Simple but confusing design levels

• Fast respawns encourage frequent retries

Super Meat Boy It's a platformer with all the dials turned up to eleven. From the start, the game shows its true colors, as a challenging but deeply rewarding platformer with a humorous story and style that will test all types of players, but also gives newcomers the opportunity to dive into the deep end.

Early levels will have a few spikes and saws to avoid, but as things progress, the jumps get more complicated, and the windows shrink, turning a few deaths into dozens in a matter of minutes. Despite the increasingly high challenge, it's a great game for new players to pick up, as no matter how many times they fail, they can quickly move on to the next one, with no downtime or awkward restarts along the way.