DualShockers’ 2025 Game of the Year Awards: Best Platformers

Platformer titles have existed for almost as long as video games have been a thing. From the arcade, to the NES, all the way to the modern era, we've been graced by hundreds, if not thousands of excellent games in the genre from generation to generation.

2025 was no different, as the year saw a very nice selection of entries into the platformer family come along that took this long-standing genre to new and exciting heights. From retro-style side-scrollers all the way to Game Of The Year-nominated 3D masterpieces, we've also had a wide range of sub-genres represented within the platformer category that have made serious waves in the industry.

With all of that said, and with 2025 quickly winding down, it's time to look back at the 10 platformers that we've collectively enjoyed the most over here at DualShockers. Just be warned that you don't have too much time left to clear these from your backlog before the 2026 titles start rolling in too.

10 Constance

Heavy Themes Behind Beautiful Art

Perhaps a game that flew a bit under the radar in the scheme of 2025 thanks to a late November release date, Constance is a wonderful game that more players need to take notice of. We gave this one a very solid 8.5 out of 10, with some of the standout features being Constance's wonderful style, heartfelt story, and fluid, challenging gameplay.

The platformer genre isn't always one that delves too deeply into emotional or powerful themes in a narrative, but Constance manages to do so beautifully. In fact, the game warns players at the start that it includes some tough topics, such as depression and anxiety. As such, it might not be for everyone, but it is certain to be important and memorable for those that are ready for it.

Thematically, it's a bit reminiscent of another standout platformer of the past, Celeste, which is arguably the best example out there of a game from a typically carefree genre daring to take things a bit deeper than the status quo. For this, Constance deserves a lot of praise.

9 Windswept

Cute, Cuddly, Crushing

Originally a Kickstarter project, Windswept promised to be an homage to titles from the SNES era, primarily games like Yoshi's Island, Super Mario World, and Donkey Kong Country 2. However, the team also mentions Celeste as a big influence here as well, and it's not hard to see the comparison thanks to Windswept's deceptively deep level of difficulty.

Windswept is adorable, has an absolutely standout soundtrack, and offers some of the tightest-feeling precision platforming mechanics you can find within the genre at large. Initially, you won't discover the true challenge that waits beneath this game's charming, lovable surface, but just give it some time.

Eventually, Windswept reveals its final form, which is a playground for any expert-level fans of the genre that aren't afraid to run a section of a level dozens of times before finally figuring out the correct path through. This isn't a game for the faint of heart, but those that can rise to the extreme platforming skill-checks within have a lot to love with Windswept.

8 Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution

Truly A Blast From The Past

The Shantae games have been around for a while now, and while they've yet to break into true, genuine, mass-market success, those that love the series do so for good reason. Shantae's first title came out way back in 2002, which is incredibly relevant to the story of Risky Revolution in 2025.

You see, this year's Shantae title actually first began production for release on the Game Boy Advance in 2002 as well, and was supposed to be the second entry into the series. Sadly, it was postponed indefinitely, with little hope over the decades since that it would ever see the light of day. Other Shantae games came and went, so why would we ever expect to see this canceled GBA game from 2002 ever come back?

Surprise! Over 20 years later, Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution finally released, complete with a limited GBA cartridge as well. The game is oozing with retro, nostalgic charm while still feeling like an incredibly strong platforming title in 2025 in its own right.

7 Sword Of The Sea

Tony Hawk For Art Students

With Journey heritage and previous stellar Giant Squid titles such as Abzû and The Pathless already in existence, it was no surprise whatsoever that Sword Of The Sea also wound up being incredible. What was surprising is that it also managed to be arguably the best title of anything else found within the game's family tree.

Sword Of The Sea is truly a buffet of beauty on all fronts, from the gorgeous and evocative visuals to the 10/10 soundtrack from Austin Wintory. While other games before Sword Of The Sea might've stopped here and let the vibes of the game carry it along to an ultimately positive experience, SotS took things further.

Out of any of these artsy, highbrow platforming experiences, Sword Of The Sea is genuinely the most fun to actually play. Platforming movement takes place 100% on a fast and exciting sandboard/surfboard, which controls like a dream as you zip and trick around the most artsy, gorgeous THPS-like game in existence. We gave this game a 10, and it deserved it.

6 Yooka-Replaylee

Ode To Joy

Another game from 2025 that got a fresh start this year, Yooka-Replayee is the version of 2017's Yooka-Laylee that Playtonic now wishes they could've started this Banjo-Kazooie-inspired series off with. Even if you feel like Replaylee is perhaps eight years too late, that doesn't disqualify it from being an absolutely wonderful platformer regardless.

Yes, Yooka-Replaylee reuses the same levels from the OG title, but they're completely overhauled and reworked in every possible regard, now bursting with tons of additional (and improved) content, way better performance/visuals, and the fun-factor simply dialed up to 11.

Pound for pound, there's not a better true collect-a-thon game out there, at least since Banjo-Kazooie itself graced our N64's back in 1998. Fans of retro 3D platformers will surely love everything that Yooka-Replaylee managed to accomplish the second time around.

5 Bionic Bay

Processing Precision

Perhaps the most criminally under the radar game of 2025, Bionic Bay is another platformer that managed to score a 10/10 from DualShockers this year. The Game Awards had a pretty crowded list of "Best Indie Game" nominees, but consider Bionic Bay one of the biggest snubs.

This game might look like Limbo at a glance, but it's actually a sci-fi puzzle-platformer described as "rage bait" by the game's creator himself, but that's only if your precision platforming chops aren't up to snuff. For those craving a bit of an extra challenge within the genre, there are few games better than Bionic Bay.

By the end, it feels most similar to side-scrolling Portal, as a series of teleportation, time/space shifting powers turn Bionic Bay into a wickedly smart, rewarding platforming experience. Solutions feel earned and like you came up with your own, unique way of progressing, which is an unmatched feeling in video games. Oh, and the gorgeous artwork you'll see throughout is hand-drawn pixel-work, perhaps the best to ever exist.

4 Shinobi: Art Of Vengeance

Striking, Isn't It?

Speaking of absolutely gorgeous visual styles, Shinobi: Art Of Vengeance sports a pretty particularly breathtaking, hand-draw-style of animation. The result is a game that has a case to be made for "Best Looking Platformer Of 2025" itself.

Set the artwork aside, however, and Art Of Vengeance still has a ton of additional positives going for it as well. In fact, the game is so genuinely good that it also managed to gain a nomination at The Game Awards for Best Action Game of 2025, alongside other heavy hitters from the year like Hades 2, Doom: The Dark Ages, and Battlefield 6.

Sure, this is more of an action-heavy platformer than some others on this list, but it still absolutely deserves a seat at the table. Shinobi: Art Of Vengeance ends up being a high-octane, high-flying action-platforming experience that quite easily could've been the best example of this sub-genre in many different years.

3 Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound

The Year Of The Ninja

The Ninja Gaiden series had a moment in 2025. From the remaster of Ninja Gaiden II Black in January to Ninja Gaiden 4 in October, fans of Ryu had a lot to love this calendar year. Smack-dab in the middle of everything was the wonderful Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound.

Players have their opinions on which of the Ninja Gaiden games was actually the best in 2025, but there's no denying that Ragebound should be the representative as far as traditional platforming is concerned. This is another example on our list where a heavy dose of action will be required from challengers as well, so get ready to fight.

Ragebound has hundreds of enemies to cut down, thrilling boss fights, and intense chase sections, all while requiring your platforming skills stay sharp as ever from beginning to end if you'd like to come out of this one alive.

2 Donkey Kong Bananza

Pauline's Odyssey

Super Mario Odyssey was already pretty much a perfect platformer, so it's absolutely, categorically nutty that the same team also managed to create Donkey Kong Bananza in 2025 and somehow outdo themselves. People really aren't kidding when they argue Odyssey as the best Mario game of all time. And if many players now claim Bananza as being even better than Odyssey, then you can be sure that this game really is something special.

DK and Pauline's journey to smash everything in sight throughout the duration of Bananza is simply pure, unadulterated, video game bliss. Of any game that was released this year, be it a platformer or something else entirely, Donkey Kong Bananza is the most striking reminder that at the end of the day, video games are supposed to be fun.

Bananza is a game that's impossible not to smile as you play, and while it's ultimately up to you whether or not the team was actually able to surpass Super Mario Odyssey at the end of the day, it doesn't matter. This game is simply a joy, and 2025 is a brighter year because of it.

1 Hollow Knight: Silksong

Hype Delivered

With so many years of hype and growing anticipation for Hollow Knight: Silksong, it's one of the most remarkable feats of gaming in 2025 that Hornet's game delivered on absolutely everything that fans of the series wanted. Silksong is gorgeously designed, optimized to the pixel, and will grind your soul into the dust if you don't take it seriously.

The platforming is a brutal, expert-level set of challenges full of precise down-slash pogos, platforms littered with enemies in all the right (or wrong) places, and plenty of high-difficulty bosses that won't go down if you bobble your movement controls for even a second. Of any game with platforming DNA in 2025, it's highly likely that Silksong is the actual most demanding.

And yet, all of that combined is why we love it, along with millions of other gamers worldwide. Sure, Clair Obscur swept the actual Game Awards, but Hollow Knight: Silksong was one of the best, most deserving GotY nominees in recent memory, and earned the right to be crowned the best platformer of 2025 here at DualShockers as well.