Platformers were once seen as an industry-leading genre. The jump to 🐽three-dimensional graphics allowed developers to innovate on the core platforming mechanics. The genre’s influence on gaming is apparent, with traces of its DNA even being present in next-gen triple-A titles. Due to the industry’s more recent technological advancements, the gameplay mechanics in modern releases have become much more complex.
Recent trends in gaming show that developers have been creating vast experiences that deviate away fr𒁃om the simplicities of the platforming genre. Despite this, many studios and independent developers are still producing high-quality 3D platformersꩵ. From all-new entries in classic franchises to entirely new properties, here are some of the best released in 2022.
8 ♔ Super Kiwi 64 🔯
Independent developer Siactro has made a name for himself with his retro-inspired 3D platformers. His latest bite-sized title, released on December 2, 2022, is a love letter to late-90s colle🦂ct-a-thon platformers. Super Kiwi 64 sees you take control of a little bird wearing a backpack, with a goal to collect enough power stones to fly off the mysterious floating island.
Everything from its simplified controls to its low-poly visual design pays homage to the Nintendo 64 era. While the game does act as a sequel to Siactro’s much smaller title Kiwi 64, you can easily pick up and play Super Kiwi 64 without the worry of missing context. Collecting all forty-eight p♏ower stones, and discovering the many hidden codes, will unlock additional secret⛄s, which also act as a nostalgic blast from the past.
7 𒁏 Moss🔥: Book II
2018’s VR exclusive Moss proved how well platformers translate over to virtual reality. Mixing elements ꦆof platforming, puzzle solving, and combat with VR’s unrivaled sense of scale resulted in a critically acclaimed VR masterpiece. On October 20, little Quill’s quest continued when Moss: Book II dropped onto sꦏtorefronts.
Polyarc utilized the advancements in VR technology to improve both performance and visual fidelity. Featuring neﷺw weapons, puzzle mechanics, 🎃and combat abilities, Moss: Book II is a much larger experience than its predecessor. Winning Best VR/AR Game at The Game Awards 2022, Polyarc has once again proven how well platforming in virtual reality works.
6 ๊ Sonic Frontiers ♏
The 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Sonic the Hedgehog series has had quite the rollercoaster of releases. The inconsistencies in qual📖ity over the years have both baffled and saddenꦯed many long-time fans. Thankfully, on November 8, 2022, SEGA released a truly next-generation Sonic experience.
168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Sonic Frontiers is Sonic Team’s take on open-world adventure games. While the game retains that familiar speedy Sonic platforming fans know and love, it offers up large-scale environments more akin to western-RPG releases. Spread throughout the open-world environments are Cyberspace Levels, which take inspiration from Sonic’s previous adventures. Old and new fans alike will enjoy speed platforming around the luscio🍎us environments, uncovering the secrets of the mysterious new dimension.
5 Frogun
The late nineties are considered a golden era for 3D platformers, as man꧂y of the genre’s heavily cherished classics were released during this period in gaming. Developer Molegato used the period as inspiration for the incredibly inventive Frogun, released on Augu🥂st 2, 2022.
Frogun wears 🥂its traditional platforming inspiration on its sleeve, from its visual presentation,🦹 map-based hub world, and end-of-world boss battles. It offers its own unique spin, with a completely original grappling mechanic. The sentient frog gun mutation, known as the Frogun, allows you to grapple onto platforms, activate switches, as well as pick up and throw objects and enemies. The charming story, coupled with expertly crafted puzzles, feels like something straight from Nintendo.
4 Lego Star Wars: T🍌he Skywalker Saga
For over three decades, Traveller’s Tales has made a name by creating family-friendly video games featuring licensed properties. One of their most known franchises is their168澳洲幸运5开奖网: Lego-themed collect-a-thon adventures. The latest entry 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, released on April 5, 2022, and co💫mbines the eventꦓs of all nine Star Wars Saga films.
You can play through key moments throughout over 45 years of Star Wars lineage. In addition to improved visuals that make 🌟Lego pieces look even more toy-like, Traveller’s Tales’ latest also heavily refines the gameplay. The Lego games’ platforming has never felt smoother, making this their most polished Lego platformer ꦍyet.
3 Beach Island Deluxeꦆ 🍰
When discussing free-to-play games, you might think of battle royales or competitive shooters. On August 27, 2022, Solo independent developer Kevin Ethridge fought the norm, releasing his micro-open-world platformer Beach Island Deluxe as a free download. The game comprises one single level, with a layout reminiscent to that of 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Super Mario Odyssey.
You are free to explore the open environment, with a g🍎oal of collecting all fifteen stars. The order in which the stars are collected is entirely up to you, allowing for a more open-ended experience. A pl🤡aythrough of Beach Island Deluxe can be completed in one sitting, however, its tight controls, appealing aesthetics, and lack of a price tag make it hard not to recommend.
2 Lunistice
Most retro-throwback platformers tend to take inspiration from the Nintendo 64. It's not often we see new platformers based on the PlayStation or SEGA Saturn. That is where Lunistice, released on November 10, 2022, comes into play.
A Grumpy Fox’s first release is presented with pixelated visuals that look straight off a 32-bit console. The environment has heavy Japanese influence, giving it a very distinguished aesthetic. While the game can be completed in a short length of time, collecting all the items spread throughout🦂 each of Lunistice’s levels will unlock a secret ending, all while revealing more details regarding the mysterious plot.
1 ღ Kirby And The Forgotten Land ✨
HAL Laboratory’s pink puffball is known for his 2D platforming outings. Since the series’ original NES debut, Kirby games have continued to offer easy-to-play gameplay with hard-to-master objectives. On March 25, 2022, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Kirby and the Forgotten Land was released, marking the first full-fledღged 3D Kirby adve🅺nture.
Comprised of small linear environments, each level feels expertly crafted and full of life. Platforming feels fresh, while still encapsulating everything that made the 2D Kirby games special. The addition of Kirby’s new Mouthful Mode allows him to take on abilities, unlike any transformation of the past. Kirby and The Forgotten Land acts as a𓃲 reminder that games do not need to have a sprawling open-world environment to feel oᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚriginal and innovative.