Best Platformer Games Worth Buying in 2026

Platformers remain one of gaming’s most consistently satisfying genres because tight jump physics and clever level design age far better than flashy graphics alone. Unlike many story-driven genres, a well-designed platformer often gets more valuable with time as speedrunning communities and secret-hunting completionists keep finding new reasons to replay it years after launch. This guide covers five platformer games from about $15 to $60, spanning tough-as-nails 2D precision games to sprawling 3D collect-a-thons, for players who want genuine replay value rather than a five-hour campaign.

1. Super Mario Bros. Wonder — best all-around pick

Nintendo’s Wonder introduces genuinely surprising level gimmicks in nearly every stage, avoiding the formulaic feel that even good platformers can fall into after a few hours. Its co-op support also makes it one of the better family or couch-play platformers currently available.

• Street price in 2026: $45–$60
• Why it’s a good buy: the most consistently inventive level design of any platformer released recently
• Where to buy: Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy

2. Celeste — best precision platformer

Celeste pairs unforgiving, pixel-precise jump mechanics with a genuinely moving story about anxiety and self-doubt, and its assist mode makes the challenge accessible to players who want the story without the punishing difficulty. It’s frequently cited as one of the best-designed platformers of the last decade.

• Street price in 2026: $18–$25
• Why it’s a good buy: the tightest, most rewarding precision-platforming mechanics on this list
• Where to buy: Amazon, Best Buy

3. Rayman Legends — best couch co-op platformer

Rayman Legends’ hand-drawn visuals and rhythm-based music levels have held up remarkably well, and its four-player local co-op makes it one of the most reliably fun platformers for a group. Frequent sales have also made it one of the best value picks in the genre.

• Street price in 2026: $15–$25
• Why it’s a good buy: the best local multiplayer platformer experience for groups
• Where to buy: Amazon, Walmart

4. Super Mario Odyssey — best 3D collect-a-thon

Odyssey’s open, secret-packed kingdoms and the cap-throwing possession mechanic gave the 3D platformer genre a genuine creative jolt, and it remains one of the best-reviewed platformers of its console generation. Completionists will find dozens of hours of Moon-collecting beyond the main story.

• Street price in 2026: $40–$55
• Why it’s a good buy: the deepest, most replayable 3D platformer on this list
• Where to buy: Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy

5. Hollow Knight — best value for hours of gameplay

Hollow Knight blends platforming with exploration and combat in a huge interconnected world, and it consistently ranks among the best value-per-dollar games available given the 30-plus hours most players spend completing it. Its difficulty curve rewards patience without ever feeling unfair.

• Street price in 2026: $15–$20
• Why it’s a good buy: the most hours of quality gameplay per dollar of any game on this list
• Where to buy: Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy

Platform availability is worth double-checking before buying, since several of these titles are sold across multiple consoles at slightly different prices — a digital storefront sale on one platform can beat the physical retail price on another by a meaningful margin.

Difficulty preference should also factor into the decision: Celeste and Hollow Knight both lean into deliberately challenging design as a core part of the experience, while Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Rayman Legends are built to be approachable for players of nearly any skill level, including kids.

How to get the best price

• Set a price-tracking alert rather than buying at full price. Celeste, Rayman Legends, and Hollow Knight all see frequent 40-60% digital storefront discounts.
• Check seasonal digital sales on the Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, and Steam, which run major platformer-inclusive sales around summer and winter holidays.
• Buy physical copies when available for resale flexibility. Physical platformer games hold resale value better than most genres if you decide to trade in later.
• Watch for bundle deals that pair a platformer with its sequel or DLC at a lower combined price than buying separately later.
• Compare prices across platforms before buying when a title is available on multiple consoles or storefronts, since regional pricing and sale timing can differ meaningfully between them.

The takeaway: Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the best all-around pick for most players, Celeste is worth it for anyone who wants the genre’s tightest precision platforming, and Hollow Knight delivers the most hours of quality gameplay for the price. Track the price before buying — nearly every game on this list goes on meaningful sale multiple times a year.