10. Bubsy Two-Fur (PC)

Bubsy Two-Fur review and gameplay

For those who have yet to experience this SNES platformer, Steam offers the original two as a bundle. Bubsy was  Accolade’s attempt at creating a platforming mascot amid the console wars of the 1980’s. Years later it’s up to you to decide whether or not they succeeded.

Background design is one of Bubsy’s strong points 

Bubsy’s gameplay finds itself somewhere between Mario and Sonic

9. Kunai (PC, Switch) 

Kunai gameplay

Kunai is in the Metroidvania(your favorite overtalked about subgenre) vein of platformers. Gradually unlock new abilities as a sentient tablet that uniquely emotes almost every action.

Radically change your approach to movement with the twin kunais. 

Kunai’s visual style harkens to the simplicity of the Gameboy but with a more expansive palette 

8. Duck Tales Remastered (PC)

Reveal Trailer

One more throw back for the list, Duck Tales Remastered is a port of the 1989 NES title.

Updated graphics bring this 1989 gem up to modern standards

Help Scrooge Mcduck find out if greed ever pays off. 

7. Shovel Knight Treasure Trove (PC, Switch, PS4, WiiU, Xbox) 

Launch trailer and gameplay

Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove is a collection including every Shovel Knight game released so far.. Serving as an answer to the demand for old school styled platformers, Shovel Knight is now heralded a mascot of the indie gaming scene.

Shovel Knight’s aesthetic qualities bring to mind the golden age of Mega Man 

Utilize an array of attacks with the Shovel Blade to take down challenging foes

6. Super Meat Boy (PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox, WiiU)

Super Meat Boy gameplay trailer

Super Meat Boy is considered one of the most challenging platformers of all time. Adding insult to injury, once you complete a level, you get to see all of your previous attempts played back at once to relish in your success of the one run that went right. 

Avoid an array of giant blades as you traverse increasingly difficult levels

Become a pro at wall jumping or die trying

5. Super Win the Game (PC)

Review and gameplay

Super Win the Game is an 8bit style platformer. Adding another element of nostalgia, the game is designed to appear as if it’s being played on a tube TV.

World map navigation is reminiscent of Super Mario Bros 3

Dungeons also have a slight Legend of Zelda influence

4. Pixel Hunter (PC)

Gameplay

Pixel Hunter takes the 8bit aesthetic and adds a 3D element. Play as a hunter trying to recover his weapons from animals, for no other reason besides them simply being stolen from said animals.

Pixel Hunter takes a familiar graphical approach but adds further dimension

Pixel Hunter has a rather simplistic approach in terms of both story and gameplay

3. Mutant Mudds Deluxe (PC)

Mutant Mudds Deluxe is described as “12 bit,” placing it somewhere between NES and SNES graphical capabilities.

Mutant Mudds Deluxe feels inspired by the aesthetic choices of Super Mario World

Mutant Mudds Deluxe makes use of spatial depth in order to utilize background space

2. Super Life of Pixel (PC, PS4, Switch)

Announcement trailer with gameplay

Super Life of Pixel takes players on a history of gaming as they traverse various consoles.

Gameboy green ages surprisingly well

Each world is reminiscent of past console graphics

1. Ori and the Blind Forest (PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox)

Explore a vivid forest that grows with you as you progress through increasingly difficult challenges. Play as Ori, a small guardian spirit seeking to restore the forest from darkness.

Experience a lush forest teeming with life 

Master new mechanics such as Bash, allowing you to manipulate movement. Pick up where you left off in the recently released sequel