Premier Platformers Unveiled: Unveiling the Best of 2024

2024's Top 10 Platformers: A Genre-Defining Year

Platformers, a cornerstone of gaming history, continue to thrive, consistently evolving and delivering fresh experiences. 2024 saw a wealth of releases, and we've curated a list of the ten most exceptional titles that deserve your attention.

Table of Contents

• Astro Bot
• The Plucky Squire
• Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
• Animal Well
• Nine Sols
• Venture To The Vile
• Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus
• Neva
• Tales Of Kenzera: Zau
• Symphonia

Astro Bot

Image: youtube.com

Release Date: September 6, 2024 Developer: Team Asobi Platform: PlayStation

Team Asobi's vibrant 3D platformer, Astro Bot, swept the "Game of the Year" award at The Game Awards 2024, earning critical acclaim and widespread player appreciation. Its high Metacritic and OpenCritic scores solidify its top-tier status. The game's meticulously crafted world is brimming with interactive elements, puzzles, and hidden secrets. Diverse challenges and collectible items fuel exploration, while environmental interaction ensures replayability. The DualSense controller's haptic feedback and adaptive triggers elevate the experience, adding remarkable realism to every action. Astro Bot masterfully blends innovation with classic design, showcasing the genre's continued evolution.

The Plucky Squire

Image: thepluckysquire.com

Release Date: September 17, 2024 Developer: All Possible Futures Platform: Steam

The Plucky Squire seamlessly blends 2D illustrations with a captivating 3D adventure. Its vibrant art style, reminiscent of a children's book, creates an enchanting atmosphere. Jot, the brave knight protagonist, is banished from his book and must journey between flat pages and a three-dimensional world, a unique gameplay mechanic that sets it apart. The gameplay is diverse, encompassing puzzle-solving, mini-games (badger boxing and jetpack flights), and exploration of interactive environments. The fluid transitions between 2D and 3D are mesmerizing and highly engaging. Its distinctive style and mechanics make The Plucky Squire a truly memorable 2024 release.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Image: store.steampowered.com

Release Date: January 18, 2024 Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier Platform: Steam

Despite not meeting Ubisoft's commercial targets, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown resonated strongly with players, praised for its stunning visuals, engaging gameplay, and innovative take on the series. The game's atmospheric Eastern setting is breathtakingly beautiful. Levels demand both agility and strategic thinking, with a helpful map and screenshot feature aiding exploration. Platforming seamlessly integrates with dynamic combat, utilizing dual blades and progressively unlocking new weapons, combos, and abilities. While not a massive commercial success, The Lost Crown remains a standout platformer of 2024, appreciated for its visuals, refined gameplay, and unique mechanics.

Animal Well

Image: store.steampowered.com

Release Date: May 9, 2024 Developer: Shared Memory Platform: Steam

A five-year labor of love from a single developer, Animal Well is a 2024 revelation. Its minimalist pixel art style brings its surreal world to life. The game is packed with secrets, collectibles, and engaging puzzles. Its unique approach to exploration eschews traditional platformer mechanics, instead utilizing original abilities like soap bubbles and a frisbee disc, encouraging creative problem-solving. Animal Well injects refreshing originality into the platformer genre.

Nine Sols

Image: youtube.com

Release Date: May 29, 2024 Developer: Red Candle Games Platform: Steam

Nine Sols blends Eastern mythology, Taoist philosophy, and cyberpunk aesthetics into a unique taopunk world. Yi, a legendary warrior, must overthrow the nine Sols rulers. Exploration is rewarding, with responsive controls and well-designed levels filled with challenges, secrets, and puzzles. Gameplay combines platforming and action-packed combat, featuring parry mechanics similar to Sekiro, allowing for powerful counterattacks. Despite its difficulty and minor narrative flaws, Nine Sols impresses with its visual style, gameplay, and memorable atmosphere.

Venture To The Vile

Image: venturetothevile.com

Release Date: May 22, 2024 Developer: Cut to Bits Platform: Steam

The Tim Burton-esque Victorian town of Rainbrook sets a mysterious and intriguing atmosphere. Players explore multi-layered 2.5D environments, with each plane revealing secrets and pathways. Dynamic weather and time of day add depth, unlocking new areas and tasks. The combat system evolves with the story, granting access to previously unreachable locations. Its dark aesthetic, unique mechanics, and multi-layered levels make Venture To The Vile a standout platformer.

Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus

Image: store.steampowered.com

Release Date: July 17, 2024 Developer: Squid Shock Studios Platform: Steam

Inspired by Japanese folklore, Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus features mythical creatures and yōkai in a world reminiscent of traditional Japanese scroll paintings. Bo, a celestial spirit, must restore balance between worlds using a magical staff. Gameplay involves jumping, gliding, and combat, with new abilities unlocking hidden areas. Challenging platforming, puzzles, and hidden paths encourage exploration and replayability.

Neva

Image: mobilesyrup.com

Release Date: October 15, 2024 Developer: Nomada Studio Platform: Steam

From the creators of Gris, Neva employs a similar watercolor style, complemented by Berlinist's evocative score. Alba and her wolf pup journey through a crumbling world to restore harmony. The game blends platforming and puzzle elements, with the wolf gaining new abilities to overcome obstacles. Neva excels at conveying emotion through visuals and music, leaving a lasting impact.

Tales Of Kenzera: Zau

Image: store.steampowered.com

Release Date: April 23, 2024 Developer: Surgent Studios Platform: Steam

Inspired by African mythology, Tales Of Kenzera: Zau follows Zau, a young shaman seeking his father's soul. Gameplay combines platforming and adventure puzzles, with Zau's abilities enhancing both exploration and combat. The combat system, using Sun and Moon masks, allows for tactical flexibility. Despite simpler mechanics and limited enemies, the game captivates with its art style and moving narrative.

Symphonia

Image: store.epicgames.com

Release Date: December 5, 2024 Developer: Sunny Peak Platform: Steam

A hardcore platformer emphasizing precision, Symphonia seamlessly integrates music and visuals. The diverse and detailed environments are complemented by the Scoring Orchestra of Paris's orchestral score. Philimon, a violinist, must restore lost music and rebuild the orchestra. Gameplay relies on precise jumps, quick reactions, and using the bow for various actions. The linear levels offer branching paths, encouraging exploration and discovery. Symphonia achieves a perfect balance of art, music, and gameplay.

Conclusion

2024 showcased the platformer genre's enduring appeal and capacity for innovation. These ten games, each with engaging stories and original gameplay, offer something for every player.