Platformers are always a joy to play as it is just a blast to jump around in levels and feel the satisfaction of overcoming the many obstacles that were in the way. 3D platformers, in particular, are a joyful experience, and one of the best places to look for games in the genre is the Nintendo Switch.
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Nintendo has a handful of games that they made that are some of the best 3D platforming games of all time. That said, there are also quite a few indie developers that have tried their hand at it and have been very successful. Plus, there are a few established third-party developers adding to the 3D platformer catalog too.
10Splatoon 3
Most of whatSplatoon 3is known for is its multiplayer modes, whether going head-to-head in Turf War or teaming up with friendsin Salmon Run. However, the game has a solid single-player campaign that can best be described as an action platformer.
Assigned to take on the role of Agent 3, the player and their buddy Smallfry work together to clear the area of Alterna of fuzzy ooze that has come from mutated Octarians. Each level inSplatoon 3has its own unique win condition, but a lot of them involve navigating a linear section by using the squid’s skills to move around.
9A Short Hike
Not many 3D platformers are presented in a top-down fashion, butA Short Hikedoes this as a perfect way to not spoil the journey up to the highest point in the game. The indie darling takes place on an island with various characters to interact withand do tasks for.
As a small bird named Claire, who is visiting the island with her Aunt May, players are looking to make it to the top of Hawk Peak to get cellphone reception.A Short Hikeis all about gathering golden feathers that will build Claire’s stamina to a strong enough point to be able to climb the entirety of the mountain.
8Tinykin
Before a brand-newPikmingame was announced on the Nintendo Switch, players had its Wii U edition ported to the platform. In addition, there is an indie 3D platformer that is heavily inspired by the Nintendo series fittingly calledTinykin.
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As an astronaut named Milo who landed on a planet that is much larger than he anticipated, players will explore a house as the tiny human as he meets various creatures that live in the house. Along with collect-a-thon platforming elements, Milo can pick up and use creatures called Tinykin to solve navigational puzzles from room to room.
7It Takes Two
While there are very few pure co-op experiences in Nintendo’s first-party library, Hazelight Studios has been one of the biggest namesin cooperative gamesover the course of the last decade. One of their biggest titles isIt Takes Two, a colorful puzzle platformer strictly for two players.
The game is about a married couple who is going through a rough patch in their relationship and their daughter who wishes that they would stop fighting. A magical book then turns them into dolls and they have to work together to turn back to normal.It Takes Twomakes sure that players have a unique experience, with both characters having different roles per chapter.
6Lil Gator Game
Inspired by the platforming ofA Short Hikeand the exploration ofThe Legend of Zelda,Lil Gator Gameis a delightful day out in nature of a kid who is looking to get his older sister to stop working on her group project and play games with them.
To do this, Lil Gator tries to convince his friends and many kids on the island they are on to come together and create the best game ever at the local playground.Lil Gator Gamehascollect-a-thon elementswith plenty of cardboard monsters to destroy, while also giving the player many cosmetics to dress up Lil Gator and many tools to enhance the game’s movement.
5Neon White
A lot of the best 3D platformers on Nintendo Switch tend to be colorful romps for the whole family. ButNeon Whiteis definitely for a more mature audience, as the game also includes a heavy dose of demon slaying and flirtatious visual novel storytelling.
As a Neon who has been brought back from hell, White must fight his way through heaven to get rid of any demons that have infiltrated the area, all while confronting his past.Neon Whitecombines fast-paced platforming with a first-person shooter, with the game tailor-made for those wholike to speed run.
4Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time
Well over a decade since the last mainline entry in the franchise,Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Timecame out and reignited the love for the former Naughty Dog series. Developed by Toys for Bob, the new adventure takes place after the events ofCrash Bandicoot: Warped.
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Doctor Neo Cortex and Doctor Nefarious Tropy are looking to take control of the multiverse. Crash and Coco Bandicoot work together to collect Quantum Masks and stop them from getting too much power.Crash Bandicoot 4features Crash, Coco, Dingodile, and Tawna as playable characters.
3Kirby And The Forgotten Land
A staple in Nintendo’s library of games,Kirbyhas had many 2D platforming entries over the course of its 30-year existence. However, in 2022, HAL Laboratory released the first 3D platformer in the iconic series calledKirby and the Forgotten Land.
Sucked into a new world, Kirby looks to help the Waddle Dees that have been captured as he travels across areas he hasn’t been to before. ThroughoutKirby and the Forgotten Land, Kirby can complete challenges that earn him Waddle Dees while also finding Waddle Dees hidden in each level. He also has the abilityto upgrade abilitiesfor the first time in the franchise.
2Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
An absolute hit on the Wii U,Super Mario 3D Worldwas a sequel to a 3DS game that once again took the classicMarioformat of linear levels to reach a flag pole and made it 3D. It received a port to the Nintendo Switch in 2021 calledSuper Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury.
Along with the original Wii U game,Bowser’s Furyincorporates elements ofSuper Mario 3D Worldbut in a more open-world setting. Plus, with Bowser Jr. by Mario’s side, it featuresa giant Bowserthat will show up after a certain amount of time to reign chaos across the world.
1Super Mario Odyssey
An early title on the Nintendo Switch,Super Mario Odysseyis one of the biggestMariogames to date. After his sister is kidnapped by Bowser along with Princess Peach, Cappy the Ghost joins Mario on an adventure across many kingdoms.
ThroughoutSuper Mario Odyssey, there are many Power Moons that can be collected throughout each kingdom. To get them, Mario can do a range of challenges whether it is his normal platforming or using the Capture ability to become another being and use their power to complete a task.
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