The 10 BEST Nintendo 3D Platformers

“Super Mario 3D World” (2013)

So many great gems got passed because of the Wii U’s poor commercial performance. “Super Mario 3D World” was one of those gems, and it was one of the few that got a second wind thanks to being ported on Nintendo Switch. You and up to three friends can jump through dozens of fun levels, each with its own assortment of gimmicks. But what brought everyone together was the balance between competitive and cooperative play. Sure, you can work together to get through the level, but those with the highest score got to wear their very own golden crown. For bragging rights, of course. To this day, this is a multiplayer Mario game we find ourselves coming back to every once in a while.

“Wario World” (2003)

While many major GameCube titles get talked about constantly, “Wario World” is a cult classic that does not get as much attention as it should. When an evil jewel awakens and destroys his castle, Wario must recover his lost treasure using brute force…and a little bit of puzzle-platforming. “Wario World” is nothing but a good time as you have various attacks to beatdown foes. Be it punching, headbutting, bodychecking, swinging, or piledriving, you can bully every enemy in the most humiliating ways. It’s so satisfying that you’ll want to spend the extra time searching for every treasure.

“Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker” (2014)

One of the coolest parts in “Super Mario 3D World” were the sections where you could guide Captain Toad across different dioramas to collect Green Stars. Well, the mode was so beloved that Nintendo developed a whole game around it. “Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker” has you guiding Toad in search of diamonds while avoiding all kinds of dangerous foes like Shy Guys. Each level is cleverly designed with all kinds of different mechanics that it makes it tough to put down. Before long, you’re likely going to start trying to collect every diamond before moving on to the next level. Trust us, it gets that enthralling.

“Super Mario Odyssey” (2017)

Some may have a problem with how bloated the game is, but “Super Mario Odyssey” is still one of the greatest 3D platformers Nintendo has ever made. Sure, the possession ability with Cappy still flashbangs us a bit today, but there is something truly magical about this title. The music, the environments, the puzzles, the many Power Moons to find, the purple coins that are scattered across every world - it all makes you want to venture forth and explore every nook and cranny you can find. This is why so many people were constantly raving about “Odyssey” back in 2017, and once you’ve experienced Pauline’s concert, it’s hard to ever feel down about this game.

“Kirby and the Forgotten Land” (2022)

Much of Kirby’s career has been spent on the 2D plane for so long that it was hard to imagine he’d ever get his own 3D game. Well, “Kirby and the Forgotten Land” might be the best way to transition into the third-dimension. Not only could you wield a wealth of different Copy Abilities, you could even upgrade them to create more devastating versions of them. As for the music, it’s all so joyous and catchy that you’ll likely develop an earworm for a few tunes. And yes, the boss fights are just as challenging as the 2D games, if not more.

“Chibi-Robo! Plug Into Adventure” (2005)

In all honesty, this is the strangest game on our list here. “Chibi-Robo” puts you in the role of a miniature robot whose sole purpose is to keep the house tidy. However, there is more to your humble abode than just a quirky family to help take care of. At night, various toys and objects come to life with stories of their own. Find different ways to make them happy, and you might find yourself with new tools and abilities to mess with…as well as the title of being the best Chibi-Robo in the world. Just make sure you keep that battery charged if you want to avoid a sorrowful demise.

“Donkey Kong Bananza” (2025)

Those concerned about bloat might want to steer clear of “Donkey Kong Bananza”. This is a game meant entirely for the players that love exploration. This game gives you almost complete freedom in how you want to explore its many worlds…er, layers. You can climb almost any structure you see and punch through almost every piece of terrain. Not only that, but you can use transformations to reach other areas faster or destroy parts of the layer faster. You can even use some of the terrain to build bridges or dissolve other parts of the world. It's a whole 3D platformer affected by your own beefy hands!

“Super Mario Galaxy” (2007)

“Super Mario Galaxy” will forever remain the most legendary title to ever grace the Wii, and deservedly so. Many will point to the beautiful orchestral soundtrack that sells the majesty of outer space exploration. Others will point to the fun worlds inhabited by creatures like bees and robots. And then, there are those who will never forget the story of how Rosalina and the Lumas found themselves wandering through the galaxy. There is so much love poured into this title that’s hard to find any reason to complain about even a minor inconvenience.

“Banjo-Kazooie” (1998)

Though it wasn’t made by Nintendo, they did publish it way back in 1998, and we’d be remiss to leave out one of the greatest 3D platformers ever seen on the Nintendo 64. “Banjo-Kazooie” had everything you could want in a video game: fun collectibles to find, levels that felt big but not vast and empty, a plethora of fun abilities to make navigation easier, a captivating soundtrack, and so much more. Rare hasn’t been forgotten all these years because of the bear and the bird and the witch, and if you haven’t played it yet, what have you been doing all this time?

“Super Mario 64” (1996)

Obviously, we were going to end on this. Obviously, you cannot talk about the best 3D platformers or the best Nintendo 64 games or the best Nintendo games, or even the best video games ever without “Super Mario 64”. This was such a historic title for the industry in how it showed the possibilities of 3D gaming, and it did it with flying colors. Because of the responsive controls, the brilliant level design, and balanced pacing, “Super Mario 64” has become timeless. It does not matter how long its been since 1996, it continues to age like fine wine.

What’s the best 3D platformer you’ve played on a Nintendo console? Let us know down in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe to MojoPlays.