Platformers are an iconic genre in the video game world. Getting good and playing at a high level in a platformer just has a different feel and level of challenge that is hard to find anywhere else. All three console brands have some of the best platformers, from Nintendo with Mario to PlayStation with Ratchet & Clank, and the Xbox is no exception.
Rare and Double Fine are now a part of Xbox Game Studios, and both have a long history of stellar platform games. With the addition of backward compatibility along with some games having exclusive Xbox enhancements, an Xbox Series X|S is a great place if you're a platform game lover.
Updated on August 10, 2023, by Dominic Allen: Xbox has a truckload of great platformers, which can't be said about every genre. Some, like rhythm games, are present but in noticeably short supply in comparison to most others. Now, platformers are abundant on every platform, including PC, but you can play a lot of forgotten gems conveniently on Xbox. This is what makes the Xbox platform special compared to the PS5, and it's so cool to play these forgotten titles.
12 Bionic Commando Rearmed 2
One of the most underrated Capcom series has to be Bionic Commando. Swinging around in 2D feels amazing, and the two Rearmed entries are especially good. Rearmed 2 actually received mixed reviews when it came out, and a large reason was the new ability to jump. This seemed like blasphemy to die-hard fans, but it's not a big deal.
It's more of a small hop that you can use as a get-out-of-jail-free card in situations. Rearmed 2 features 28 levels, much more than the first game, and the boss fights are also an improvement. The music by Simon Viklund steals the show, as usual, offering one of the most bumpin' Capcom soundtracks ever. It's a shame the first Rearmed isn't backward compatible, but at least the second game is.
11 Portal 2
Valve's final single-player first-person game for nine years was Portal 2. Until Half-Life Alyx released in 2020, many thought of Portal 2 as an end of an era, and it still is. The game's great in virtually every aspect. The narrative is solid, with it being a good sequel following and expanding on the first game.
Puzzles remain excellent, especially in co-op, where they get more creative. Portal 2 is arguably still the blueprint for how co-op puzzle games should be done, similar to what Valve did for Left 4 Dead. With it running at 4K on Xbox Series X, that system is the best way to play Portal 2 on a console.
10 Banjo-Kazooie
Banjo-Kazooie is one of the best platformers of all time, let alone the best on Xbox. Coming after Super Mario 64, Rare put its own spin on the then-nascent platform-collecting genre. The art style is fantastic and still looks vibrant today, especially with HDR enabled. Personality with the cast of characters is abundant, and the level design is so good you'll rarely, if ever, get lost.
With one exception, you can collect everything upon first entertaining a world, which keeps the pacing solid. It's like Resident Evil 4 in how you start playing for the first time in years one moment, and suddenly, you've already beaten the game again. The whole Banjo trilogy is excellent, but the original can't be topped.
9 Psychonauts 2
A notable Game of the Year contender for 2021 was Psychonauts 2, the long-awaited sequel to the 2005 cult classic. First crowdfunded at the end of 2015, Psychonauts 2 still took nearly six years to release, but it was well worth the wait. The excellent platforming gameplay remains intact from its predecessor, and the collect-a-thon aspect feels much better in this polished first-party Microsoft game.
The first Psychonauts had a lot of collectibles in the environment that were far off the beaten track, which could get tiresome. Thankfully the collectibles are less out of reach in the sequel, and the game's checkpointing is much more forgiving. The boss fights are a low point, but bosses tend to be an aspect that many of the best platformers on Xbox struggle with anyway. In terms of recent Xbox Game Studios releases, Psychonauts 2 is one of the company's best.
8 Yooka-Laylee And The Impossible Lair
The first Yooka-Laylee was an extremely successful Kickstarter game that sadly didn't live up to the standards of the Banjo-Kazooie titles, which shared many of the same devs. However, Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is one of the most surprisingly good sequels in recent memory. Instead of a 3D collect-a-thon, the title is now a standard 2D platformer, and it feels much better to play. Not only is the game fun and offers solid-level design, but it has a neat gimmick.
The Impossible Lair is the last level but can be accessed anytime. Completing each normal level gives you a Beetalion that serves as an extra hit point in the Lair. You'll probably finish all the levels, so you can have the maximum amount of hit points, but if you're daring, you can beat the final level early.
7 Celeste
One of the most widely acclaimed indie games ever made, Celeste is a platformer easy to learn but hard to master. Finishing the game to the end of chapter eight is a challenging and satisfying experience. It's one of those games where you'll be completely focused on it during challenging play, to the point that hours will fly past before you know it.
The story itself is really well told and can connect deeply with members of the LGBTQ+ community. However, if you don't care for the story, the platforming alone will be enough to satiate you. Celeste's pacing and music are fantastic as well. This title is a must-buy for not only platform game lovers but anyone who loves games.
6 Alice: Madness Returns
Alice in Wonderland is one of the more popular public domain stories that gets adapted and reworked in media. American McGee's Alice is an early 2000s PC game that doesn't hold up now. In the first level, you can even get easily stuck and soft-locked if you jump to a place from the wrong angle. The sequel, released in 2011, is a whole different story.
The visuals in Madness Returns hold up much better today compared to its predecessor and shows an interesting twisted take on the popular story. Platforming and combat sequences are fun and engaging, and the pacing is quite good, with the story never dragging. While the first game is playable within Madness Returns, it's tough to go back to. The second game will allow you to get up to speed with the story, so don't worry about missing key plot points.
5 Trials Fusion
RedLynx and Ubisoft's Trials series is one of the best platforming series ever, but Trials Fusion is the most packed with content. It's another title that seems simple, but the gameplay has a lot of depth. Even when you get very good at the game, you can always get better and can always go a little bit faster than the next person on the leaderboard.
The complete package has eight extra events to play. While you'll aim to get a gold or platinum medal for each track, there are also three challenges to complete. These challenges are excellent and ask you to do a bunch of oddball things, like play tennis with a penguin. Since Trials is a Ubisoft series, this game tends to go on sale rather often and is a must-buy.
4 Clustertruck
Sometimes the best platformers on Xbox are the simplest, and Clustertruck is a perfect example. In this game, you simply get to the goal as quickly as possible while jumping on trucks. If you fall, you must start over. Despite its simplicity, this game is easy to get hooked on, and you'll most likely be determined to finish it.
The last few sections of the game are quite hard, but Clustertruck has that Super Meat Boy quickness, where you can get right back into it when you fail. Unfortunately, only the Steam version has online leaderboards, so you'll likely finish the game and move on to something else. Still, Clustertruck is a great time while it lasts.
3 Limbo
Limbo or Playdead's follow-up title, Inside, are often both hailed as two of the best indie games ever. While Inside is great, Limbo is more of a platformer. The setpiece moments are much more memorable in Limbo, and the puzzles and challenges are fairer.
Inside could be quite frustrating at points, with dying being far more common. The puzzles were also much more confusing and complex than in Playdead's previous game. Limbo is the most well-rounded of the two titles, but both are worth checking out if you love the style.
2 Jet Set Radio
The two Jet Set Radio games are some of the biggest Sega cult favorites, and it's easy to see why. The title has plenty of style, cel-shaded graphics, and an awesome soundtrack. Jet Set Radio's gameplay is unique, with a standard level forcing you to spray paint all marked locations while avoiding the police.
The beginning levels are simple but quickly become more complex, forcing you to look harder for tag locations. This game is a blast, but it can get difficult, and the last few levels are way too long and tedious. Still, the majority of the game is excellent and is a must if you're a platform lover or Sega fan. Unfortunately, if you haven't purchased this game digitally yet, you're out of luck, as it's been delisted from the 360 Marketplace.
1 Sonic Generations
An Xbox Series X is the best way to play Sonic Generations, period. On a Series X, the game has FPS Boost, running at a solid 60fps, and is one of the rare backward-compatible 360 games that run at a near 4K resolution. Sonic Generations is one of the best Sonic games ever. You play as both Classic Sonic and Modern Sonic, and the levels are amazing.
The game is short, with only nine worlds with two levels each, but you can't complain, considering the quality on offer here. Stages are so fun to speedrun and boost your way to finish. Sonic Generations is one of those games you can just play from start to finish every once in a while, and you will always have a blast doing it.