Top 50 Best 2D Platformers of All Time

The 2D platformer genre is the one I have the most experience with. Super Mario Bros was my very first video game, after all. I’ve been playing 2D platformers ever since. My love for them isn’t even just tied to nostalgia. There’s something about the simple premise behind these games that has, and probably always will, keep me coming back for more. With that said I’ve already done a list for the best 3D platformers, and years later I wanted to do a similar write-up for the other side. I feel like I owe it to the genre because it is what’s responsible for my love for the medium. With that out of the way these are the top 50 best 2D platformers of all time.

Let’s dive right in because this is going to be a long ride.

#50. – Super Mario Land

Yep, we’re starting off this list with somewhat of a controversial title. It’s Mario so you’d expect it to be good, right? Well, Super Mario Land is, but it’s not your typical Nintendo platformer. This was a launch title for the Game Boy and as such it’s quite basic in terms of graphics. It’s an obvious step down from even the original Super Mario Bros. This one also takes place outside of the mushroom kingdom and focuses on an Egyptian motif. It makes little sense, but the platforming is still a lot of fun and that’s what important here. Unfortunately you can complete this one in less than an hour.

#49. – Castlevania: Bloodlines

This is the only Sega Genesis installment in Konami’s big vampire slayer franchise. It ditches most of the new elements introduced in Super Castlevania IV and instead plays more like the 8-bit iterations. That’s not a problem though because I’m a big fan of this style. What’s nice is the fact that you can choose between two different characters right from the start and both have their own weapon which functions uniquely. Castlevania: Bloodlines is one of the lesser titles in the series but it’s still quite fun.

#48. – Mega Man 4

In my opinion most of the 8-bit Mega Man games are underrated. Part 4 is no exception. This was the first time we had a new antagonist, in the form of Dr. Cossack, but in the end you’ll be facing off against Wily, again. I really liked the line-up of robot masters in this title. It’s also one of the few games in the franchise to feature not one but two water based boss characters, and that’s pretty cool in my opinion. This title also introduced the charge up shot for the mega buster which some don’t like, but I was kind of lukewarm on it. This makes the game a bit easier but it’s still no cakewalk. Mega Man 4 is criminally underrated.

#47. – Little Samson

Any collector of NES cartridges is sure to tense up whenever they hear the name of this game. Little Samson is one of the rarest games for the platform. Tracking down a copy of this title will cost you a pretty penny. Complete in box this one will easily rack up a thousand dollars. It’s definitely not worth that price tag, but the game itself is pretty fun. You can play as several different characters each with their own unique skills. The stages make great use of these abilities and it makes for some pretty well thought out puzzles and obstacles. Little Samson is very unique, but one of the best platformers for the NES.

#46. – Psycho Fox

This one took me by surprise, to be honest. Originally I was under the impression that all the Master System had to offer in this genre was Alex Kidd and late downports of Sonic the Hedgehog. It turns out that I was wrong. Psycho Fox is a really interesting platformer. In it you switch between multiple characters with their own unique abilities (kind of like in Little Samson) but this mechanic is a bit more interesting here to be honest. This is due in part to the better level design. The physics however are a bit floaty, but after a while I didn’t mind this. Psycho Fox grabbed me and didn’t let me go until I finished it.

#45. – Adventure Island 3

I’ve always been a huge fan of the Adventure Island series. Well, wait a minute. The first game was awful, but after that it was great. Adventure Island 2 was one of my first rentals and with the plethora of power-ups (mostly consisting of animal friends you ride on). This follow up is largely more of the same. All of the dino pals make their triumphant return here along with some new faces. The formula is intact and part 3 is a great deal of fun. The only downside is that Hudson didn’t focus quite as much on the stage designs. They’re a step down, or in some cases, retreads. Adventure Island 3 is still one of the best platformers around.

#44. – Gex

Spoiler alert; this is the only game on the Panasonic 3DO which made this list. Yes, Gex was released for other platforms but I haven’t played it there yet. The original version here is the one I’m talking about. Gex was somewhat of a mascot for the platform. It makes sense because this is one of the few 2D side scrolling platforms released for the system. In Gex you eat flies, bounce off of enemies with your tail, and can climb vertical surfaces. There’s also a neat movie/tv theme for the stages here. It’s plenty fun, and the biggest obstacle to enjoying this one is getting past all of the cheesy voice samples. Gex has bad jokes, and lots of them.

#43. – Mega Man

Some would put this game at the top of their list. The original Mega Man is clearly one of the best platformers of all time but with so many better sequels out there it’s hard to recommend it over them. Either way, the lineup of robot masters is great and by now iconic. The level design is unforgiving but rewards memorization and practice. You’ll be losing many of your mega lives while trying to tackle this mega adventure. If you can’t already tell Mega Man is super. Here’s a fun bit of trivia; this is the only mainline title in the franchise with a scoring system.

#42. – Kid Dracula

It’s no secret that in the 90s Konami was big on making parody games based on their big franchises. This is their goofy take on Castlevania. Here you play as Dracula’s son (Alucard I suppose) when he is just a child. The action is far removed from the franchise which it is sourced from. Kid Dracula feels at times like a Kirby game in handling, but minus the ability to eat enemies and float. You have a variety of different power-ups to aid Kid Dracula on this rather short quest. The level designs are what make this one shine. In addition, I loved the lighthearted take on horror conventions and from Castlevania as well. It’s cute, and it’s fun.

#41. – Dynamite Headdy

In the 1990s the Treasure logo was synonymous with a good time. This case is no different. Dynamite Headdy is a side scrolling platform/action title wherein you play as the titular hero. He’s a puppet and travels across various performance stages in an effort to stop an evil puppet lord. The gimmick here is that our hero has a detachable head. You can shoot it in all directions and must do so to dispatch foes. The main draw of any Treasure game is the crazy gameplay scenarios they throw at you and Dynamite Headdy is no different. Some of the boss encounters are downright wacky and always memorable. This could have easily been a franchise.