Astro App took best honors at the 2024 Game Awards, and we don’t get prouder of the little man and his many friends. But Astro Bot doesn’t occur in a vacuum – Team Asobi’s award-winning warrior comes from an famous tradition of PlayStation platformers spanning means back to the original PlayStation, from first-party producers and third-party developers and publishers alike. There is no better way to explore the reputation of PlayStation platformers from the beginning to the present day than with the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog and Classics Catalog. Here are a few notable platformers that you can enjoy right then. *
The” collectathon” style of 3D platformer, emphasizing the hunt for thousands of miscellaneous doodads in sprawling rates, was very popular around the turn of the millennium. A Hat in Time is a sweet rehash of the time when people controlled the Hat Kid’s desire for Time Pieces in a sizable and absurd film earth. Consider Yarn Balls to create new hats and gain new abilities, battle foes to collect Pons for improvements, look for hidden Relics and Rift Tokens, and discover what Mustache Girl’s complete deal is.
Publisher: Humble Games | Developer: Wheels for Meal
Available for some chimpanzee business? You have the responsibility of bringing these overly intelligent simians back home after technology goes wrong and causes a group of hyper-intelligent monkeys that cause panic through time. Ape Leave allows you to sneak up on and buy these evil simians using careful movement and cool gadgets as one of the first game collection to utilize DualShock controller’s dual-analog sticks to their full potential. Get careful–you’ll need to pay close attention to the apes ‘ masks to evaluate their feelings before you approach.
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment | Developer: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Ah, the polite run: a truly beloved platformer movement. Celeste, an independent pixel artist, elevates the practice of using the basic jump to new levels to cross large screens full of challenging hazards. Ground dashes, multidimensional mid-air dashes, dashes from a wall climb, items to give many dashes–you’ll had loads of fun mastering the game’s strong movement to get around and grab all of its secrets. This is one pile you’ll love to hike.
Publisher: Maddy Makes Games| Developer: Maddy Makes Games
If you enjoy platforming with an element of open-world adventure and wonderful world-building, Gravity Rush is your game. Amnesiac Kat discovers that her kitten partner allows her to shift weight in the area of Hekseville in the middle of a devastating storm. She’ll apply these skills to manage Hekseville’s beautiful architecture, fight off strange monsters, and support the populace–all while delving deep into the mysteries around her.
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment | Developer: Sony Interactive Entertainment
One of the most memorable platforming duos of the PS2 era is featured in this classic Naughty Dog film. Jak’s buddy Daxter has a problem: he fell into a mysterious pool when the duo snuck onto Misty Island, and now he’s become small and very fuzzy. The two are now searching for the Dark Sage Gol Asheron to fix things and save the world in the process. Vibrant animations, colorful environments, and a then-revolutionary environment design that minimized load times keep Jak and Daxter feeling classic to this day.
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment | Developer: Naughty Dog
Day one PlayStation fans will yell their ear off about how cool Jumping Flash was and how it showcased original PlayStation power to gamers, but why not try to see what all the fuss was about? This unique first-person platformer starts Robbit, a mechanical rabbit who can jump really, really high. Explore bizarre foes, amazing weapons, and plenty of floating platforms that allow you to jump to absurd heights in surreal environments. There was nothing like it then, and it’s still a unique and fun game.
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment | Developer: Exact, Ultra
Who says you need limbs to execute incredible platforming feats? Rayman, Globox, Barbara, and the Goth Teensy have to deal with the aftermath of a century-long nap, rescuing the Teensies and once again saving the Glade of Dreams from evil forces. Besides gorgeous hand-drawn HD visuals, Rayman Legends offers up to four-player local co-op, so gather friends for a fantastic sidescrolling adventure.
Publisher: Ubisoft | Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier
Here’s the other well-known duo of PlayStation platforming, whose adventures have continued into the current generation. With the new Rift Tether gadget allowing for very quick travel, Rift Apart makes the most of the PS5’s capabilities to give players the biggest and most graphically stunning Ratchet and Clank release to date. Prepare for shooting, gadget-driven navigation, and interdimensional hijinks, and the introduction of Ratchet’s alternate-dimension lady Lombax counterpart, Rivet.
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment | Developer: Insomniac
He might be made of fabric, but Sackboy’s as tough as nails when it comes to adventure. Our stuffing-filled hero has a lot of new skills to show off when he rescues his fellow Sackpeople and Craftworld from the evil Vex. You’ll be rolling, diving, fluttering, and smacking foes around as you search for precious Dreamer Orbs. It won’t be easy, and you’ll need some help along the way. Fortunately, you can play with up to three other adventurers in online and local co-op to surmount the toughest obstacles.
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment | Developer: Sumo Digital
Who’s the stealthy, suave thief with a family history of heisting and a bushy, ringed tail? Sly Cooper, that’s who, and he’s on a mission to get back the missing pages of the Thievius Raccoonus–his family’s book of secrets–from the shady paws of the Fiendish Five. Use Sly’s distinctive sneaking and thieving skills to avoid guards, security systems, and other traps as you scurry through the Fiendish Five’s lairs, where platforming and stealth are combined to avoid guards, security systems, and other traps.
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment | Developer: Sucker Punch
Looking for more entertaining platform games? Check out this in-depth analysis of some of the best PlayStation 3D platformers.
*In some regions, the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog and the Classics Catalog lineup may vary.
**Ubisoft + Classics is available as a standalone subscription for$ 7.99 USD per month ( or local equivalent ), and is included for PlayStation Plus Premium and PlayStation Plus Extra members.