Platform games can be thanked for creating the console experience most gamers enjoy today.Super Mario Bros. certainly wasn’t the first game for the NES, but it was without question one of the most influential games of all time. And let’s not even get into the many sequels and spinoffsMariohas amassed.
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But what about all of the other platform games that didn’t star Mario? These ten games range from a plethora of classic consoles including the Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, and PS1. These games did not reach their full potential as a series that carried on for decades, but are still worth something today. All dates are based on North American releases unless otherwise noted.
10Panic Restaurant
Panic Restaurantreleased for the NES in 1992. It was developed by EIM and published by Taito. While bizarre, this platformer is chock full of personality from the chef hero to the anthropomorphic vegetable enemies.
Because of the late release, it is one of the NES' rarest games, going for hundreds of dollars for a sealed copy. EIM no longer exists and Taito was absorbed into Square Enix meaning they could potentially put this out on the Switch NES online service at some point. Fingers crossed.
9Ristar
Ristarlaunched for the Sega Genesis in 1995. It was developed and published by Sega. It is widely considered one of the greatest the Sega Genesis has to offer, but it was never given the sequel treatment just likePanic Restaurant.
Apparently a star with stretchy powers was not as viable to market as a blue hedgehog that runs fast. At the very least this has been collected in many Sega anthologies over the years so it isn’t completely forgotten, but it is overshadowed.
8The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse
The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mousereleased for the Super Nintendo in 1992. It was developed by Capcom and published in collaboration with Nintendo and Disney Interactive. This was made during a time when Capcom was making a lot of Disney platformers, most of which are still highly regarded including these Mickey games,DuckTales, and many others.
While Mickey has appeared in more modern games viaKingdom HeartsandDisney Infinity, it has been a while since he reached the heights of this game, or any of the sequels that followed. That is to say while novel,Epic Mickeywas a letdown.
7Bonk’s Adventure
Bonk’s Adventurelaunched for the TurboGrafx-16 in 1990. It was co-developed by Red and Atlus and published by NEC Home Electronics. Bonk was a mascot created for the TurboGrafx-16.
The big-headed cave boy made it to other consoles though too including the Super Nintendo and most mainline entries are worth recommended due to their solid platforming and bizarre facial expressions. The last game released was inBonk’s Returnin 2006 for phones. This game was chosen as an origin piece to the series and because it is easy to get on PSN for PS3 and PSP.
6Klonoa: Door to Phantomile
Klonoa: Door to Phantomilereleased for the PS1 in 1998. It was developed and published by Namco. This did get aremakeon the Wii in 2009 along with a direct sequel and several spinoffs prior to this. The remake was the last game released, however.
The last actual project on the furball was an animated film announced in 2016, which was canceled last year. No footage was ever shown. This game was chosen among the many in Klonoa’s roster because it is the only one that can be officially purchased via PSN for PS3, PSP, and PS Vita.
5Ape Escape 2
Ape Escape 2launched for the PS2 in 2003. It was developed by SCE Japan Studio and published in collaboration with Ubisoft. Over the years Sony has tried to make a platform mascot to rival Mario between internal developers and third-party ones.
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TheApe Escapefranchise held on tight for a while with games releasing as far as the PS3 albeit with spinoffs. The last core, original game released wasApe Escape 3in 2005. The second game was chosen over the others because it is the one game available on a current system via PS4’s PS2 classic line.
4Little Nemo: The Dream Master
Little Nemo: The Dream Masterreleased for the NES in 1990. It was developed and published by Capcom. This is technically based on a comic strip that started in 1905 and lasted until 1927, but realistically this game was made as a tie-in to the animated filmLittle Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland.
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Funnily enough, the game released before the film did in North America, which was 1992 compared to the 1989 Japan debut. There was also an arcade game made by Capcom,Nemo. Both games were never re-released so tracking either down legally can be tricky, but worth it.
3Plok
Ploklaunched for the Super Nintendo in 1993. It was developed by Software Creations and published by Tradewest. The titular Plok, who can shoot his arms and legs, predates Rayman in concept who has a similar limb launching aesthetics.
There was never asequelreleased and it appears to have never made it off the SNES. It might never get re-released due to both companies being defunct. Who owns the rights now is anyone’s guess. So, aside from picking up an SNES and the original game, anyone looking to dive in would need to find some sort of emulator. But where would one be able to do something like that?
2Tomba
Tombareleased for the PS1 in 1998. It was developed by Whoopee Camp and published by Sony. It did get a sequel in 1999 and while almost lost to time, both games eventually wound up on PSN and are still available. So it’s not too late for anyone looking to get into the series.
While both are fun, the original is more recommend thanks to the cleaner 2D visuals and platforming action. Pop-out that PS3, PSP, or PS Vita and go to town on some piggy minions.
1Wario Land: Shake It
Wario Land: Shake Itlaunched for Wii in 2008. It was developed by Good-Feel and published by Nintendo. Okay, so putting Wario on here may be a bit of cheat since he is still widely recognized by Nintendo in many ways.
However, as he has not had a platform adventure since this, it was deemed necessary to put Mario’s number one rival on here. TheWario Landgames showed so much creativity and weirdness the mainline Mario games had forgotten up untilSuper Mario Odyssey. This game, in particular, is still gorgeous.
