The Best Platformer Games Nintendo Switch has arguably the strongest 2D platformer library of any platform since the SNES — spanning Nintendo’s own first-party lineup, standout indie games that redefined what the genre can achieve, Metroidvanias for players who want exploration depth alongside platforming challenge, and classic collections that bring the best of gaming history to modern hardware. Whether you want approachable family games, precision-demanding challenge, or atmospheric exploration, the Switch has outstanding platformers in every category.
This guide covers 20 essential Switch platformers in 2025, organized by category with notes on difficulty, co-op options, and who each game suits best.
Best Switch Platformers: Quick Reference
| Game | Metacritic | Difficulty | Best For |
| Super Mario Bros. Wonder | 93 | Easy-Medium | Best first-party platformer; family play |
| Donkey Kong Country Returns HD | 86 | Medium-Hard | Best precision platformer; co-op |
| Celeste | 94 | Hard (adjustable) | Best precision challenge; best indie platformer |
| Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove | 90 | Medium | Best NES-style platformer; most content |
| Sonic Mania | 86 | Easy-Medium | Best 2D Sonic game; speed-based |
| Hollow Knight | 87 | Hard | Best Metroidvania; dark atmosphere |
| Mega Man 11 | 82 | Medium-Hard | Best modern Mega Man |
| SteamWorld Dig 2 | 89 | Medium | Best digging platformer; great story |
| New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe | 81 | Easy-Medium | Best 4-player co-op Mario |
Nintendo First-Party Platformers on Switch
1. Super Mario Bros. Wonder — Best First-Party 2D Platformer on Switch
Genre: 2D Platformer | Metacritic: 93 | Co-op: 4 players | ESRB: Everyone
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the best 2D platformer Nintendo has made in decades and the definitive first-party Switch platformer recommendation. The Wonder Flower mechanic — activating a flower at key moments in each level transforms the experience in unpredictable ways on a first playthrough, from reversing gravity to changing Mario’s form to making pipes come alive — keeps every level feeling genuinely fresh rather than a variation on the same template. Nintendo maintained the Wonder effects as surprises between players in development, meaning even the designers didn’t know what each other were making, which explains the genuine variety.
Mario and friends received significant animation upgrades that make every movement expressive — idle animations, jumping reactions, and character-specific effects communicate personality that the New Super Mario Bros. series never achieved. The game is the best co-op Mario experience on Switch, accommodating up to 4 players simultaneously, and includes Yoshi and Nabbit as no-damage characters for younger players.
- Best for: Everyone — the best starting point and most consistently excellent 2D platformer on Switch
- Difficulty note: Accessible with Yoshi/Nabbit; some later levels have meaningful challenge
2. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD — Best Precision Platformer
Genre: 2D Precision Platformer | Metacritic: 86 | Co-op: 2 players | ESRB: Everyone
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is the remastered version of Retro Studios’ acclaimed 2010 Wii game, upgraded to HD for the Nintendo Switch with improved visuals, performance, and a new Beginner Mode that adds extra checkpoints and assists for players who find the original’s difficulty demanding. The standard game’s challenge is genuine — precision jumps over perilous gaps, barrel cannon sequences with tight timing windows, and boss fights that require pattern recognition across multiple phases.
The level design is exceptional: each world introduces a specific environmental theme and mechanics that evolve across its levels before the world concludes and moves on. The silhouette levels — where gameplay takes place against brilliantly colored background imagery — are visually striking and mechanically inventive. Two-player co-op allows Dixie Kong to join Donkey Kong, with players able to ride on each other’s backs for coordination-based gameplay.
- Best for: Players who want genuine platforming challenge with precise controls; fans of Donkey Kong Country
3. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
Genre: 3D Platformer (mostly 2D-style) | Metacritic: 89 | Co-op: 4 players | ESRB: Everyone
Super Mario 3D World is not a pure 2D platformer — the game uses a 3D movement space — but the level design and camera angle are close enough to 2D platforming that it belongs in the conversation. The level design philosophy matches the best 2D Mario games: each level introduces a new mechanic, develops it through three or four stages, and retires it before it overstays its welcome. The Cat Suit power-up allowing wall climbing adds a vertical dimension to the platforming.
Bowser’s Fury, included with the Switch version, is a different and shorter open-world experience where a giant Bowser periodically appears and chases the player while they collect Cat Shines. Both experiences are worth playing. Four-player simultaneous co-op makes this one of the best Mario party games on Switch.
4. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe — Best 4-Player Co-op Mario
Genre: 2D Platformer | Metacritic: 81 | Co-op: 4 players | ESRB: Everyone
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is the most content-rich 2D Mario game on Switch — the base New Super Mario Bros. U campaign plus the New Super Luigi U campaign with shorter, harder levels tuned for expert-level platforming. As a co-op game with 4 simultaneous players, it is frantic, fun, and occasionally maddening as players collide, accidentally kill each other, or inadvertently solve each other’s problems. Nabbit and Toadette provide easier modes for players who need accessibility options.
Wonder is the better single-player experience; NSMBU Deluxe is the better large-group co-op experience.
Best Indie 2D Platformers on Switch
5. Celeste — Best Indie Platformer on Switch
Genre: Precision 2D Platformer | Metacritic: 94 | Single player | ESRB: Everyone 10+
Celeste is the highest-rated platformer on Nintendo Switch (Metacritic 94) and one of the most critically acclaimed games of the decade. Madeline’s climb up Celeste Mountain is mechanically pure precision platforming — a dash ability combined with careful air control, wall-climbing, and level design that demands reading each room’s hazard pattern and executing the solution. Every death (and there will be thousands) is immediately clear: the game teaches through failure with no randomness, only refinement.
The B-Side and C-Side levels add extreme challenge extensions for players who complete the main game and want further tests. The Assist Mode provides customizable difficulty adjustments (slower game speed, infinite stamina, additional dashes) without changing trophies or progress — the most thoughtfully implemented accessibility system in any Switch platformer. The story addresses anxiety and self-doubt with an earnestness and specificity that resonates beyond its gameplay context.
- Best for: Players who want the best-crafted precision platformer on Switch; players interested in accessible challenge
- Notable: Metacritic 94; Assist Mode for difficulty adjustment; B-Side/C-Side extreme content
6. Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove — Best NES-Style Platformer
Genre: NES-style 2D Platformer | Metacritic: 90 | Single player + co-op | ESRB: Everyone 10+
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove is the most content-rich indie platformer package on Switch — four complete campaigns (Shovel of Hope, Plague of Shadows, Specter of Torment, and King of Cards) each focusing on a different character with a distinct playstyle, plus the Showdown multiplayer battle mode. Together they represent well over 30 hours of content that captures the design principles of NES-era platformers (particularly Mega Man 2 and DuckTales) while adding modern precision and quality-of-life improvements.
Each campaign plays differently: Shovel Knight uses a pogo-stick shovel mechanic; Plague Knight uses bomb jumps; Specter Knight uses scythe dashes; King of Cards uses card-based moves. The variety ensures the package doesn’t feel repetitive despite the shared visual aesthetic. Shovel Knight is one of the few games where the question of which campaign is best generates genuine debate — all four are excellent.
- Best for: NES-platformer fans; players who want the most content per dollar in the indie platformer space
7. Sonic Mania — Best 2D Sonic Game
Genre: Speed-based 2D Platformer | Metacritic: 86 | Single player + 2-player co-op | ESRB: Everyone
Sonic Mania is the best 2D Sonic game released since Sonic 3 & Knuckles in 1994, developed by a team of Sonic fans turned professional developers who understood the Genesis-era momentum physics better than Sega’s own teams. The level design balances classic-era nostalgia (remixing iconic Sonic 2 and 3 stages) with genuinely new stages that are the highlight of the game for players who know the originals well.
The momentum system — accumulating speed through correctly timed slopes and movement, losing it through poor jumps or wall collisions — is the closest any 2D Sonic game since the Genesis era has come to capturing the original physics feel. Each playable character (Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and the Mania-original Mighty and Ray) has distinct movement properties that reward different approaches through the same stages.
8. Hollow Knight — Best Metroidvania on Switch
Genre: Metroidvania | Metacritic: 87 | Single player | ESRB: Everyone 10+
Hollow Knight is the best Metroidvania on Nintendo Switch and one of the finest games in the genre’s history. Set in the dying underground kingdom of Hallownest, the game is defined by its atmospheric world design — vast interconnected areas with distinct visual identities, hidden passages, and a mythology revealed through environmental storytelling rather than exposition. The combat system uses a nail (sword) with precise timing requirements and a magic system (Soul) that rewards both aggressive play and careful management.
The scale of Hollow Knight is remarkable for an indie game: the map is genuinely enormous with dozens of areas, hundreds of secrets, and a post-game that extends content significantly past the main story’s conclusion. The boss fights are among the best in any 2D action game — each with multiple phases, distinct attack patterns, and a difficulty that rewards learning through death. Total completion runs to 40+ hours.
- Best for: Players who want the deepest exploration and world-building in a 2D game; Metroidvania fans
- Note: Hollow Knight is technically a Metroidvania rather than a pure platformer, but it belongs in the conversation
9. SteamWorld Dig 2 — Best Mining Platformer
Genre: Metroidvania-adjacent / Mining platformer | Metacritic: 89 | Single player | ESRB: Everyone
SteamWorld Dig 2 is the finest game in the SteamWorld series and one of the most satisfying platforming experiences on Switch. The player digs downward through a procedurally-influenced world, collects resources, upgrades tools including a grappling hook and jetpack that expand the platforming movement vocabulary, and gradually uncovers a mystery about the events of the first game. The game rewards both exploration (hidden secrets are abundant) and mastery of the movement tools, with late-game platforming challenges that test command of every tool the player has gathered.
Unlike the first SteamWorld Dig, this sequel has a complete and engaging story with well-realized characters. The combination of mining loop satisfaction and genuine platforming challenge makes it one of the most replayable medium-length games (12 to 20 hours) on the Switch.
10. Mega Man 11 — Best Modern Mega Man
Genre: Classic Precision Platformer | Metacritic: 82 | Single player | ESRB: Everyone 10+
Mega Man 11 is the best modernization of the classic Mega Man formula in the series’ history. The Double Gear system — a Speed Gear that slows time for precision dodging, and a Power Gear that doubles attack power — adds strategic depth to the traditional run-and-gun platforming without undermining the series’ core identity. The eight Robot Master stages are the best-designed in the numbered series since Mega Man 3, and the boss fights reward learning attack patterns through repeated attempts.
The game is genuinely difficult at standard difficulty — Mega Man veterans should play on Normal; newcomers might consider Newcomer difficulty to understand the level structures before attempting the full challenge. The weapon system (acquiring abilities from defeated bosses and using them in other stages) remains intact and as satisfying as ever.
11. Iron Meat — Best Hidden Gem Platformer
Genre: Contra-style Run-and-Gun Platformer | Single player + co-op | ESRB: Mature
Iron Meat is one of the most technically polished indie platformers on Switch — a Contra-style run-and-gun with extraordinary pixel art in a grotesque horror aesthetic. Every mechanical element performs precisely: the shooting, the movement, the platforming, and the boss designs. The game is short (completable in 2 to 4 hours) but the challenge on Hard mode and the unlockable characters provide meaningful replay value. Strongly recommended for fans of classic Contra who want a modern game that captures the feel correctly.
- Note: Mature rating for horror content
Classic Collections and Retro Platformers
12. Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection
Genre: Classic Precision Platformer collection | Metacritic: 79 | Single player
The Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection brings six games to Switch: the four Mega Man Zero GBA titles (challenging, precise, acclaimed) and two Mega Man ZX games (which are full Metroidvanias — a grey area for pure platformer lists but worth noting). The Zero games are among the most mechanically demanding platformers available on Switch, with tight controls and level design that punishes careless play. For players who grew up with the Zero series on GBA, this is the definitive way to experience them on modern hardware.
13. Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap (2017 Remake)
Genre: Action Platformer / light Metroidvania | Metacritic: 82 | Single player
Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap is a 2017 remake of the 1989 Sega Master System classic, rebuilt with hand-drawn animation that can be toggled between the modern art style and the original 8-bit graphics at any point during gameplay. The game follows a knight cursed into various animal forms (Lizard-Man, Mouse-Man, Piranha-Man, Lion-Man, Hawk-Man) each with unique movement abilities that open new areas. The game is relatively short (4 to 6 hours) but beautifully executed and historically significant as a classic that influenced the entire action platformer genre.
14. Mighty Gunvolt Burst
Genre: Mega Man-style Precision Platformer | Single player | ESRB: Everyone
Mighty Gunvolt Burst is a retro-style platformer directly inspired by the classic Mega Man series — tight jump timings, stage-specific hazards, boss fights that require pattern recognition, and a progression system for weapon modifications. It is one of the most faithful contemporary Mega Man-style games available and well worth playing for fans of the genre at its modest price.
Best Switch Platformers by Player Type
| You want… | Best Switch Platformer |
| Best overall platformer | Super Mario Bros. Wonder or Celeste |
| Best for families / young kids | Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Yoshi/Nabbit mode) |
| Best 4-player co-op | New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe or Super Mario 3D World |
| Best precision challenge | Celeste or Donkey Kong Country Returns HD |
| Best Metroidvania | Hollow Knight or SteamWorld Dig 2 |
| Best Mega Man style | Mega Man 11 or Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove |
| Best 2D Sonic game | Sonic Mania |
| Best NES-style retro platformer | Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove |
| Best value (most content) | Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove (4 full campaigns) |
| Best hidden gem | Iron Meat or Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best platformer on Nintendo Switch?
Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Metacritic 93) is the best overall platformer on Nintendo Switch for most players — it is the best 2D Mario game in decades, accessible for all skill levels with Yoshi/Nabbit modes, and supports 4-player co-op. Celeste (Metacritic 94) is the highest-rated individual platformer on the platform and the best choice for players who want precision challenge and one of gaming’s most celebrated stories. For players who want the most content in an indie platformer, Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove (Metacritic 90) includes four complete campaigns.
What is the best 2D platformer on Nintendo Switch?
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the best traditional 2D platformer. Celeste is the best precision 2D platformer. Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove is the best NES-style 2D platformer. Hollow Knight is the best Metroidvania, which is an adjacent genre. Sonic Mania is the best 2D Sonic game. The right answer depends on what kind of 2D platformer experience you’re looking for.
Is Celeste too hard for casual players?
Celeste has Assist Mode, which allows full customization of the difficulty — slower game speed, infinite stamina, extra air dashes, and invincibility. The developer intentionally designed Assist Mode to be judgment-free, without separate trophies or progress markers. Casual players can use Assist Mode freely and experience the full game and story. The main game without assists is a precision challenge game with thousands of deaths expected; with assists, it becomes playable at whatever level of challenge feels right.
Final Thoughts
The Nintendo Switch platformer library covers every style and skill level — from the welcoming, joyful Super Mario Bros. Wonder and its Yoshi no-damage mode, through the demanding precision of Celeste and Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, to the deep atmospheric exploration of Hollow Knight. The indie catalog (Celeste, Shovel Knight, SteamWorld Dig 2, Iron Meat, Hollow Knight) is as strong as any first-party lineup.
Start with Super Mario Bros. Wonder for the safest recommendation that works for almost any player. Add Celeste if precision challenge sounds appealing. Add Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove for the deepest NES-style content package. And add Hollow Knight if atmospheric exploration and demanding combat are what you’re looking for.
