Frequently Asked Questions
The most-asked questions about platform games.
What is a platform game?
A platform game is a video game genre built around navigating levels by jumping across platforms, avoiding hazards, and reaching an endpoint. The core loop typically involves precise movement, timed jumps, and collecting items or defeating enemies along the way.
Who are the most iconic characters in platforming history?
Mario from Nintendo and Sonic the Hedgehog from Sega are the two most recognizable faces of the genre, with Crash Bandicoot, Mega Man, and Rayman also holding major cultural weight. These characters became household names through the 1980s and 1990s console wars.
What platformer should a newcomer start with?
Super Mario Bros. (1985) remains the most recommended entry point because its level design teaches core mechanics intuitively and is available on numerous modern re-releases. For a modern 3D experience, Super Mario 64 or Super Mario Odyssey are frequently cited as ideal starting titles.
Where did the platform genre originate?
The genre is generally traced back to Donkey Kong (1981), where a carpenter character climbed platforms to rescue a companion from a large ape. That arcade cabinet established the side-scrolling, jump-based structure that defined the genre for decades.
What's the difference between 2D and 3D platformers?
2D platformers confine movement to a side-scrolling or top-down plane, emphasizing precise horizontal and vertical jumps. 3D platformers add a depth axis, trading some precision for spatial exploration and free-form traversal across three-dimensional spaces.
What are some of the most critically acclaimed platformers?
Celeste (2018), Hollow Knight (2017), and Super Mario Odyssey (2017) are frequently cited as modern benchmarks for the genre. Earlier standouts include Super Mario World, Crash Bandicoot, and the original Mega Man series.
What are the core mechanics every platformer shares?
At minimum, a platformer requires a controllable character that can run and jump, with levels designed around gaps, obstacles, and collectibles. Difficulty scaling, checkpoint systems, and enemy encounters are near-universal supporting elements.
What is a speedrun in the context of platformers?
A speedrun is a community activity where players attempt to complete a game or level in the shortest possible time, often exploiting glitches or finding optimal routes. Platformers like Super Mario World and Celeste have especially active speedrunning communities due to their tight level design.
What notable records or milestones exist in platformer history?
Super Mario Bros. remains one of the best-selling single video games of all time, with over 40 million copies sold across its original and re-released versions. In 2020, a speedrunner pushed the Super Mario World world record below two minutes, a barrier that had held for years.
How have platformers evolved beyond traditional level-based design?
Modern titles blend platforming with metroidvania exploration (Hollow Knight), roguelike structure (Dead Cells), and narrative-driven storytelling (Celeste). This hybridization has broadened the genre's audience while preserving the core jump-and-navigate identity.