From the very beginning of gaming, platforms have been essential, from the paddles of Pong to the blocks of Tetris. Platformers are some of the oldest games there are, considering how long the Mario series has been around. They're the bare essentials of a game, with such a strong focus on timing and gameplay above all else.
But as time went on, people have found new ways to innovate on them. Sure, plenty of this has come about in gameplay, and that's always important! But many more now have stories that they want you to care for. Stories that urge you to push forward beyond just the thrill.
8 Oddworld
Released back in 1997 for the original Playstation, Oddworld was met with critical acclaim, going on to become one of the system's bestselling games. It was also a pretty difficult game, though maybe that was the point. Protagonist Abe died in a single hit, forced to rely on speed and subterfuge.
Oddworld is about oppression. Abe is of a race of people enslaved to work for a massive corporation in their factories. It's pretty damn explicit. And though the moment-to-moment story might not be thrilling, the themes of its world, of breaking free and opposing your captors, ring through across the games.
7 Inside
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Playdead originally gained fame for Limbo, a voiceless game in black-and-white, its young protagonist being made to face endless fears. It's a great experience. Inside runs on a similar premise, though this time the side-scrolling adventure is in 3D. You're still running about solving puzzles while trying to stay alive.
Inside never tells you anything, not explicitly. You're made to run through this world and pick up clues in the same way you figure out where to go. You have to be paying attention to realize the gruesome nature of what's truly going on. It's the very fact that figuring out puzzles uses the same logic as piecing together the story that makes it shine so much.
6 Ori
The Ori series is well-known now, originally seen as a starring series of Microsoft until the reports of abuse at Moon Studio arose. That said, Ori is a platforming game through and through, taking heavy inspiration from the likes of Rayman and Metroid. And though the gameplay is great, its art and story are enthralling.
Set in the forest of Nibel, Ori must embark on a grand quest to help keep the forest in balance, traveling across its beautiful hand-drawn environments. Along the way you'll meet many characters, all with their own place in the world, and all with their own emotions. The story is one of loss, and how to build back from it.
5 Mirror's Edge
Mirror's Edge is a tremendous game that so few have ever managed to truly match in terms of movement. The likes of Dying Light have tried, but nothing will beat the parkour movement of Mirror's Edge. The game is a speedrunner's dream. Thing is, the actual narrative isn't what's great. It's the story of the world that shines.
In Mirror's Edge, you move fast. You have to, to survive. So as a result, everything is color-coded to immediately be identifiable. But you're an outlaw, being hunted down for rebellious actions. The world is devoid of color, a pristine dystopia disguised as paradise. And those brief patches of color are what bring you further.
4 Hollow Knight
Indie darling supreme, Hollow Knight is a great game. Easily beating its initial Kickstarter goals, it's become one of the most beloved titles out there, its cute little characters hiding a grueling world with haunting music. It's heavily inspired by Metroidvanias, though has plenty of precision platforming too.
But while it is usually compared to Dark Souls for its difficulty, where it really shows in Hollow Knight is the world. For the most part, you need to piece together the world yourself from items, enemies, and locations. Very little is given to you, and that understanding is core to getting different endings.
3 Psychonauts
Psychonauts is a special little duo of games. They came from a rough beginning, poor sales, and little support, to the beloved and well-selling series it is now. In short, you play as Raz, a young boy with psychic abilities, able to enter the minds of others and help them overcome their fears.
The concept is used wonderfully. In gameplay, it's a whimsical adventure, with every level the realization of someone's psyche, while in terms of story it shows the benefit of letting someone in to actually help you, a point made even clearer in the sequel. They're games that make you seek the best in others, all while jumping around fantastic worlds.
2 Celeste
Celeste takes its platforming pretty seriously, tying it heavily into both the setting of the game, and its story beats. The game we know and love now is actually a heavily expanded version of the original Celeste made as part of a game jam. It was intended to be something difficult, but not in a way to deter you.
See, Celeste is very much a game about mental health, about overcoming the struggles that keep you down. And that can be hard. Hard like climbing a mountain. Harder still to beat your demons while doing so. So you'll try, and you'll make mistakes. But you'll keep climbing that mountain until you come out on top a better person.
1 Thomas Was Alone
Thomas Was Alone was a special thing when it was released. It showed people that more money doesn't equal a better story. It doesn't need cutscenes and heavy exposition and lore. That with care and an endearing voice, even simple shapes can become beloved characters. Thomas Was Alone is a narrated adventure about rectangles.
It's much deeper than that, of course. But only from intuition. These shapes are all working together, taking advantage of all their unique traits to the benefit of the whole group. In many scenarios, you could view them as tools. But here, these little shapes are embodiments. And you will come out the other end loving these funky shapes.