Top 10 3D Platformers

Top 10 3D Platformers

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Who needs deep combat systems or endless character customization when you have precision jumping? Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10 3D platformers. As usual, our one game per franchise rule is in effect.

#10: “Donkey Kong 64” (1999)

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First up is the only 3D platformer starring everyone’s favorite tie-wearing ape. King K. Rool has captured DK’s allies, and he must free them all to stop the plot to destroy DK Isles. Featuring five playable Kongs, this title employs a mix of adventure and platforming gameplay. The Kongs can gain special abilities at Cranky’s Lab or outfit themselves with weapons at Funky’s armory, as well as find a slew of collectibles around DK Island. No two Kongs play the same, as each one has their own weapon, instrument, strengths and weaknesses to play around with.

#9: “Spyro: Year of the Dragon” (2000)

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During the Year of the Dragon celebration, a cloaked figure steals all of the dragon eggs and scatters them throughout the world. Naturally, it’s up to Spyro to retrieve them. Spyro’s third adventure perfects the series’ formula of adventure, platforming and action. Armed with his familiar ram and fire breathing abilities, you can explore a diverse set of levels to find 150 dragon eggs that have been scattered across the world. An expanded cast and secondary set of playable characters help to set this game well above its predecessors.

#8: “Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped” (1998)

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Crash and little sister, Coco, set off into this time-traveling quest to recover powerful crystals, previously found in “Cortex Strikes Back”, in their original places in time before Dr. Neo Cortex and the evil voodoo spirit Uka Uka can. Crash Bandicoot it set apart from many others on this list in that its straight-forward, point A to point B tests of skill. Spanning numerous locales, this game is about running, jumping and spinning your way through a level, although this being the 3rd entry also added motorcycle and flying sections into the mix.

The mark of a truly great platformer is creative level design, and you’d be hard pressed to find a game more creative than Psychonauts. Hopping through the twisted minds inhabiting Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp is a blast thanks to Raz’s arsenal of psychic abilities, like levitation and pyrokinesis. Psychonauts’ tasks include sorting emotional baggage (Quite literally), dusting up mental cobwebs, and collecting figments of your host’s imagination. Top everything off is a great story with a fantastic set of characters, and you’ve got a game that more people really should’ve played.

#6: “Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy” (2001)

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The first entry in this trilogy is quirky, colorful and the truest-to-genre platformer of the series. Jak and Daxter’s open world is filled with enough collectibles to please anyone’s inner completionist and features an abundance of personality. There are no weapons like the later entries, just jumping, punching, spinning, with the occasional portion with the A-Grav Zoomer. While Jak himself retains a core set of actions, various forms of Eco, a powerful elemental substance, allow him some temporary power-ups, including a speed boost and the ability to throw fireballs.

#5: “Conker’s Bad Fur Day” (2001)

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Initially intended to be a kid-friendly game titled “Conker’s Quest”, developer Rare decided to go in another direction after multiple criticisms that it seemed like just another kids game. Needless to say, the end project was of a much different sort. Crude, brash, sometimes downright vulgar, it arrived a bit too late in the N64 life cycle to really make an impact, but it’s still remembered as a cult hit for standing out from the crowd.

#4: “Prince of Persia: Sands of Time” (2003)

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Though not the first 3D entry in the series, Sands of Time is considered by many to be the best. It laid the groundwork for the parkour-style platforming that has become so common in modern games. It also boasts an interesting rewinding mechanic that allows you to undo mistakes, to a certain extent, and avoid death, so falling to your death doesn’t instantly result in a load screen. This was, you know, before games began putting checkpoints in every five seconds. The many acrobatic puzzles still remain interesting over a decade after release.

This game easily among to wittiest to ever be created, with intelligent writing and spot-on delivery by the voice cast. The puzzles, however, are the true stars of the show. They start out with simple portal placements, but soon expand to include switches, turrets, aerial faith plates, thermal discouragement beams, hard light bridges and an assortment of colored gels. Always clever and rarely frustrating, they give a true sense of satisfaction upon being solved. Few games can claim to be as brilliant as this.

#2: “Banjo Kazooie” (1998)

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Often rivaling Super Mario 64 as the best platformer on the N64, and unrivaled in having the best bear/bird pair in gaming, this adventure from Rare follows Banjo and Kazooie as they try to rescue Banjo’s sister from the evil witch, Gruntilda. Banjo was one of the best looking games of its day, and well known for its intricate worlds and levels. Each one brings with it a variety of challenges, puzzles and collectibles, making sure the gameplay never gets stale. Bolstered by an expanding set of abilities, Banjo just gets better as it goes. Before we reveal our top pick, here are some honorable mentions. “Rayman 2: The Great Escape” “Sonic Adventure 2” “Mirror’s Edge” “Jet Set Radio”

#1: “Super Mario Galaxy 2” (2010)

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Well, as is the case with 2D platformers, it’s pretty obvious the top spot would go to the plumber, it’s just a question of which one. If Mario 64 revolutionized the platforming genre, then Galaxy 2 perfected it. It takes everything that made 64 and the first Galaxy game great and improves upon them. The levels are more creative and more challenging. The soundtrack re-masters old favorites like the slide theme from Super Mario 64, Yoshi makes a return, And with 242 stars to collect, you’re sure to be busy for a while. Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a wonderful game, and the best the genre has to offer. Do you agree with our list? What platformers make you jump for joy? For more top tens published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com