Best Platformer Games in 2026: 3 Titles Compared (And Which One You Should Buy First)
Platformers span a huge range — from breezy, family-friendly hops to brutally precise challenges built for speedrunners. To help you pick the right one, we compared three of the best-selling platformers on the market: one built for approachable, co-op fun, one for atmospheric, story-driven exploration, and one for punishing, skill-based precision.
Quick Comparison
| Super Mario Bros. Wonder | Hollow Knight | Celeste | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Nintendo Switch | PS5 / Xbox / PC / Switch | PS5 / Xbox / PC / Switch |
| Style | Colorful, inventive, co-op friendly | Atmospheric, exploration-driven Metroidvania | Precision platforming with a story core |
| Best For | Players who want approachable, playful co-op fun | Players who want atmosphere and exploration | Players who want a genuine skill challenge |
| Multiplayer | Up to 4-player local co-op | Single-player | Single-player |
| Difficulty | Easy–Moderate | Moderate–Hard | Hard (with optional assist mode) |
1. Super Mario Bros. Wonder — Best for Approachable Co-op Fun
Wonder reinvents the classic side-scrolling formula with genuinely surprising level gimmicks and vibrant visuals. Up to four players can jump in together, making it one of the best pure “fun with friends or family” platformers available right now.
Best if you: want colorful, inventive level design and easy local co-op with friends or kids.
2. Hollow Knight — Best for Atmosphere and Exploration
Hollow Knight combines tight platforming with a vast, interconnected world dripping in atmosphere. It’s less about speed and more about discovery — secrets, lore, and hidden paths reward players who like to explore every corner. The soundtrack and hand-drawn art style have made it a genre benchmark.
Best if you: want a moody, exploration-heavy world with real depth beneath the platforming.
3. Celeste — Best for Precision and Real Challenge
Celeste is built for players who want their platforming skills genuinely tested — tight, punishing level design paired with a surprisingly emotional story about mental health and perseverance. An assist mode makes it accessible even to players who want the story without the full difficulty.
Best if you: want a real skill challenge alongside a story that actually means something.
Final Verdict
- Want playful, approachable co-op fun? → Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- Want atmosphere and deep exploration? → Hollow Knight
- Want a genuine, rewarding challenge? → Celeste
All three are also great starting points for speedrunning content, if that’s an angle your audience is into.
🍄 Ready to jump in? Tap the links above to grab your copy today!
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