Astro Bot took top honors at the 2024 Game Awards and we couldn’t be more proud of this little guy and his many friends. But Astro Bot doesn’t exist in a vacuum – Team Asobi’s award-winning hero comes from an illustrious legacy of PlayStation platformers dating back to the original PlayStation, from both first-party studios and third-party developers and publishers.
If you want to delve into the legacy of PlayStation platformers from the beginning to the present day, there is no better way to do it than PlayStation Plus Game catalog and classic catalog. Here’s a sampling of some notable platformers you can play right now.*
Hat in time | 2017
The “collectathon” subgenre of 3D platformers, with its emphasis on hunting down hundreds of different gadgets in broad levels, was quite popular at the turn of the millennium. Hat in Time is a loving throwback to the days spent searching every nook and cranny as players control Hat Kid on her quest to recover the Time Fragments in a vast and uniquely silly cartoon world. Find Yarn Balls to make fresh hats and gain fresh powers, fight enemies to collect Ponies for upgrades, search for hidden Relics and Rift Tokens, and find out what the whole Mustache Girl thing is all about.
Publisher: Modest games | Developer: Gears for breakfast
Monkey’s Escape | 1999
Ready for monkey business? Science gone wrong, creating a gang of hyper-intelligent monkeys that cause chaos throughout time, and it’s up to you to bring these overly sharp monkeys back home. As one of the first game series to take full advantage of the DualShock controller’s dual analog sticks, Ape Escape allows you to operate careful movement and frosty gadgets to sneak up and catch those naughty monkeys. Be careful – pay close attention to the monkeys’ helmets to gauge their mood before approaching.
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment | Developer: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Celeste | 2018
Ah, the humble run: a truly beloved platforming maneuver. Celeste, a pixel art masterpiece of an indie game, takes the act of using a straightforward stroke to a fresh level to traverse huge screens filled with challenging hazards. Ground dashes, multi-directional air dashes, wall-climb dashes, multi-dash items – you’ll have loads of fun mastering the game’s quick movement to navigate the game and grab all its secrets. This is one mountain you will love climbing.
Publisher: Maddy makes games | Developer: Maddy creates games
Gravity Rush Remastered | 2016
Gravity Rush is the game for you if you like platformers with a dose of open-world adventure and unforgettable world-building. Amnesiac Kat wakes up in the town of Hekseville in the middle of a catastrophic storm and quickly discovers that her feline companion allows her to shift gravity. She’ll operate these skills to navigate Hekseville’s stunning architecture, fight mysterious monsters, and aid the populace – all while delving into the mysteries surrounding her.
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment | Developer: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Jak and Daxter: Legacy of the Forerunners | 2001
This Naughty Dog classic features one of the most memorable platform duos of the PS2 era. Jak’s pal Daxter has a problem: he fell into a mysterious pool when the duo sneaked onto the Isle of Mists, and now he’s turned compact and very fluffy. Now the two of them are looking for the Dark Sage Gol Asheron to fix the situation and save the world in the process. Vibrant animations, colorful environments and a then-revolutionary environmental design that minimized loading times make Jak and Daxter feel classic to this day.
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment | Developer: Naughty dog
Jumping Flash | 1995
PlayStation fans will have been telling themselves from day one how frosty Jumping Flash was and how it wowed them as a showcase of the power of the original PlayStation… But why not try to see what all the fuss is about? This unique first-person platformer begins with Robbit, a mechanical rabbit who can jump really, really high. Explore surreal environments full of bizarre enemies, amazing weapons, and tons of floating platforms that give you space to jump to absurd heights. There was nothing like it back then, and it’s still a unique and fun game.
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment | Developer: Exactly, Ultra
Legends of Rayman | 2013
Who said you need limbs to perform amazing platforming feats? Rayman, Globox, Barbara and Gothic Teensy must deal with the aftermath of a hundred-year slumber while rescuing the Teensies and once again saving the Glade of Dreams from the forces of evil. In addition to stunning hand-drawn HD graphics, Rayman Legends features local co-op for up to four players, so gather your friends for a fantastic sidecrolling adventure.
Publisher: Ubisoft | Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier
Ratchet & Clank: Split | 2021
Here’s another notable PlayStation platformer duo whose adventures continue into the current generation. Rift Apart leverages the power of PS5 to give players the biggest and most graphically stunning Ratchet and Clank game ever, thanks to the fresh Rift Tether gadget that allows for ultra-fast travel. Prepare for gunplay, gadget-based navigation, and inter-dimensional kidnapping, as well as the introduction of Rivet, Ratchet’s alternate dimension Lombax counterpart.
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment | Developer: Insomnia
Sackboy: The Big Adventure | 2020
He may be made of cloth, but Sackboy is tough as nails when it comes to adventure. Our stuffed hero comes to save his fellow Sack People and the Craft World from the nefarious Vex, and he has a whole host of fresh skills to show off. You’ll roll, dive, flap and punch enemies in search of the precious Dreaming Orbs. It won’t be simple and you’ll need assist along the way. Luckily, you can play with up to three other adventurers in online and local co-op to overcome the toughest obstacles.
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment | Developer: Digital Sumo
Sly Cooper and Thievius Raccoonus | 2002
Who is the stealthy, suave thief with a family history of robberies and a bushy, ringed tail? This is Sly Cooper, who is on a mission to recover the missing pages of Thievius Raccoonus – the family book of secrets – from the shadowy hands of the Devil Five. Platforming and stealth combine as you sneak through the Devil Five’s lairs, using Sly’s unique stealth and stealing abilities to avoid guards, security systems and other traps in order to recover the valuable pages.
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment | Developer: Dryer Punch
Looking for even more platforming fun? Check out this detailed feature on some of the best 3D platformers on PlayStation.
*PlayStation Plus game catalog selection may vary in some regions.
