The 10 BEST PlayStation 3D Platformers

The 10 Best PlayStation 3D Platformers

Welcome to MojoPlays, and today, we’re taking a look at 10 of the greatest 3D platformers across PlayStation consoles!

“Ape Escape” (1999)

Before “Ape Escape”, 3D platformers mostly stuck to the traditional controls involving one analog stick to move and incorporating moves into just one or two button inputs. “Ape Escape” showed that there were other ways to play not just 3D platformers, but games as a whole. Using the second analog stick of the original DualShock controller, you could utilize more movement and have some precision in your actions as you ran around chasing mischievous monkeys. And it boasted a ton of personality to boot with its various jungle-themed levels. The most amusing part about this game? It hasn’t aged a day - it still handles like a dream.

“Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal” (2005)

Ideally, you could play almost any “Ratchet & Clank” and have a good time, guaranteed. But if you want to see the series at its best, “Up Your Arsenal” remains to be the best in the franchise. This was where Insomniac Games perfected their blend of 3D platforming with third-person shooting. Rather than just strafe around, your defensive maneuvers involved jumping around shots, doing flips, bolting behind cover, bouncing over smaller enemies - cool stuff you only see in action movies! And you did it while wielding some of the wildest weaponry imaginable. Plus, this was the game to introduce Doctor Nefarious, one of the funniest villains in PlayStation history.

“Pac-Man World” (1999)

Prior to this spin-off series going multiplatform, the only way you could play “Pac-Man World” was if you owned a PS1. And it was a real gem of a game! Rather than copy “Super Mario 64” or even a certain marsupial, Namco retained traditional 2D level design with 3D visuals and controls. Old-school design mixed with evolved technology. It was a pleasant blend, and it came with a diverse mix of levels and gimmicks. That isn’t to say the game was perfect - Anubis Rex still haunts us to this day. Even so, “Pac-Man World” was a fun romp to spend a weekend evening playing, and the 2022 remake made it even better with more refined controls and mechanics.

“Sackboy: A Big Adventure” (2020)

Ever since the first “LittleBigPlanet” game, we had wanted to see Sackboy and friends make the jump to 3D in some fashion. Better late than never, we suppose. “Sackboy: A Big Adventure” wasn’t exactly what we were wanting, but it still managed to deliver something remarkable. It was a similar experience to Nintendo’s “Super Mario 3D World” in that you had linear paths with hidden areas branching off and a small handful of collectibles for players to find. And there was a hearty helping of different costumes for players to unlock as well. It was a simple jaunt that was perfect for the PS5’s launch. If only more people gave it a fair shake at the time.

“Daxter” (2006)

Most would likely reminisce over the first “Jak & Daxter” game. However, we keep coming back to Daxter’s solo outing a lot more than the game that kicked off the franchise. Between the enemy variety, clever reuse of “Jak II’s” open world, and different minigames parodying popular movies, “Daxter” was one of the best PSP games you could play at the time, and it still is. Sure, there may be a minor character or two that we’d remove from the game if we could…Ximon, but overall, the ottsel’s misadventure is a solid A+ game.

“Bugs Bunny & Taz: Time Busters” (2000)

The PS1 saw a nice handful of excellent “Looney Tunes” games. Some will reminisce over “Bugs Bunny: Lost in Time” or “Looney Tunes: Sheep Raider”. But of the looney games we saw in the 90’s and 2000s, “Bugs Bunny & Taz: Time Busters” was the looniest. Swapping between Bugs and Taz opened the door for thrilling platforming challenges and cleverly assembled puzzles. And it was done while incorporating the hilarious antics the Looney Tunes had become known for. Now, if only we could get this on the modern hardware since PS1 games can be brought forward.

“Sly 2: Band of Thieves” (2004)

Sucker Punch was no stranger to 3D platformers prior to Sly; the studio’s first game was an obscure N64 platformer called “Rocket: Robot On Wheels”. But when they began making exclusive games for Sony, “Sly 2: Band of Thieves” quickly became one of their best games ever. From the intricately designed worlds to the different playable characters and unique abilities, this was among the best games in the PS2’s catalog. If you haven’t already, you need to go and play this game right now.

“Spyro: Year of the Dragon” (2000)

Both the original 1998 “Spyro the Dragon” and “Ripto’s Rage” are excellent in their own ways, but “Year of the Dragon” is the supreme “Spyro” adventure through and through. In addition to featuring the refined controls and mechanics introduced in “Ripto’s Rage”, “Year of the Dragon” excelled at incorporating exciting missions that changed how you explored the world. Whether it was finding secret areas or taking control of brand new characters like Sheila and Agent 9, this was a 3D platformer that was literally bursting with creative concepts. How unfortunate that Spyro would never reach these heights after Universal took their purple dragon away from Sony.

“Crash Bandicoot: WARPED” (1998)

Speaking of imaginative platformers, “Crash Bandicoot: WARPED” was, without a doubt, the best 3D platformer ever made for the PS1. The heroic marsupial was now dashing through time periods to gather crystals and doing so in other means. Yes, you had your tried and true “Crash” levels where you jumped over obstacles ahead of you. But then, you had the runs through China with Pura, the plane segments, the motorcycle races, the jetski levels - so many levels that messed with new mechanics while retaining the difficulty we’d expect from “Crash Bandicoot”. This was Sony’s best 3D platformer ever for decades…until a little robot made his way into our hearts.

“Astro Bot” (2024)

Some may say the praise comes from the charm. Others will dismiss it for excessive nostalgia. No, “Astro Bot” is more than that. Yes, it is a game boasting personality, but it also boasts challenging levels such as the ones based on the Sacred Symbols. Yes, it is a game with a ton of levels to play in order to complete it, but every level has a fun idea behind it in theme, mechanics, and more. Yes, it is much shorter than some people may like, but for most, it's perfect. “Astro Bot” is the premier 3D platformer for Sony, and Team Asobi’s potential is on full display here. And if you haven’t already, you should go play the Astro games that came before this - “Astro’s Playroom” and “Astro Bot: Rescue Mission are just as great!

Which 3D platformer did you play most on a PlayStation console? Let us know down in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe to MojoPlays!