Need a boost of adrenaline? High-speed platformers are a great way to get your daily dose of thrills. There's nothing more exhilarating than zooming through fast-paced levels at speeds that would make Mario blush. While Sonic the Hedgehog may be the first series that comes to mind, many other platforming mascots can more than keep up with the Blue Blur.
In addition to a few must-play triple-A titles, you'll find many excellent high-speed platformers in the indie game community. Whether you want a loving homage to your favorite 16-bit classics or something brand-new, the platforming genre has got your back with a diverse line-up of fast, exciting games.
8 Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom
A Psychedelic N64-Inspired Collect-A-Thon
As one of the most underrated platformers ever, Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom combines elements from Sonic, Crazy Taxi, and N64 collect-a-thons. You control a toy car tasked with zooming through sandbox worlds while knocking over everything in sight and running over as many people as possible.
Secrets are everywhere, including in the most well-hidden, hard-to-reach places. You'll need to master the taxi's moveset and think outside the box to find ways to grab every collectible. Thankfully, the psychedelic tone, quirky characters, and high-speed movement make every second a blast.
7 Freedom Planet
A Love Letter To The Sega Genesis
Outside the Sonic series, Freedom Planet is the st you'll get to a modern version of the Classic Sonic games. The plot follows a dragon girl named Lilac and a motorcycle-riding cat named Carol, who must prevent an intergalactic war by protecting a magical relic called the Kingdom Stone.
The visuals, music, and level design perfectly capture the feel of the Sega Genesis era, while the voice acting and intricate story add a modern touch. With plenty of fast-paced platforming and engaging speed sections, Freedom Planet is a worthy successor to the 16-bit Sonic titles.
6 Pizza Tower
A Score Attack Platformer Inspired By 90s Cartoons
Pizza Tower
Platform(s) PC Released January 26, 2023 Developer(s) Tour De Pizza
Pizza Tower combines gameplay elements from the Wario Land series with an art style inspired by 90s cartoons. The result is one of the greatest platformers ever made. You play as Chef Peppino Spaghetti, who must stop a sentient pizza pie from firing a laser cannon at his restaurant. You know, business as usual.
As a score-attack game, Pizza Tower is all about pummeling enemies, grabbing collectibles, and running as fast as possible to keep up your combo. The beat-up-em combat blends surprisingly well with the Sonic-like speed, and the goofy humor is the cherry on top.
Pizza Tower happens to be my favorite platformer. As a long-time arcade fan, I can't get enough of the score-attack gameplay.
5 Lunistice
A Dreamlike PS1-Style 3D Platformer
If you love 3D platformers from the PlayStation 1 and Sega Saturn era, you'll feel right at home with Lunistice. Hana the Tanuki wakes up in a strange, dreamlike world where every level is based on a memory from her past. The more you play, the more you learn about this bizarre place and why you're there.
The stages have a nice mix of speed-based sections and collect-a-thon elements, rewarding exploration and curiosity with thrilling, fast-paced platforming. You can even do a tail attack similar to Mario's Tanooki Suit. Fans of retro platformers should definitely try this underrated gem.
4 Spark The Electric Jester 3
The Spiritual Successor To Sonic Generations
If you want something similar to Sonic Generations or Sonic Colors, your best bet is Spark the Electric Jester 3. Everything from the boost to the homing attack is here, along with some new melee attacks to give the gameplay a unique flair.
The titular Spark is a former street performer with electric powers. When the world gets taken over by an oppressive organization, the heroic jester vows to use his abilities to restore freedom. Fast-paced and exhilarating from start to finish, Spark 3 is among the greatest 3D platformers on Steam.
3 Rayman Origins
The Silliest 2D Platformer Ever
Rayman Origins
Platform(s) 3DS , PC , PS3 , PS4 , PS Vita , Xbox 360 , Xbox One , Wii Released November 15, 2011 Developer(s) Ubisoft Montpellier
Rayman Origins is the perfect platformer if you need something to make you smile. Everything from Rayman's goofy expressions to the cartoonish animations is brimming with charm, quirkiness, and humor. Even the moveset is delightfully silly, thanks to the ability to throw your detached limbs at enemies and glide by twirling your hair.
As Rayman, you zoom through gorgeous hand-drawn levels while grabbing collectibles and hunting for secret areas along the way. You can even grab some friends for four-player co-op. There's no better title to bring laughs to your next game night.
2 Super Meat Boy
A Hilarious Yet Challenging Indie Platformer
Super Meat Boy
Platform(s) PS4 , PS Vita , Xbox 360 , Switch , Nintendo Wii U , PC Released October 20, 2010 Developer(s) Team Meat
Often considered one of the best indie platformers, Super Meat Boy is famous for its tight controls, dark comedy, and brutal difficulty. You control the titular wad of meat as he runs and wall-jumps through a series of short, fast-paced levels packed with every obstacle imaginable, including buzzsaws and waterfalls made of syringes.
The gameplay strikes a nice balance between high-speed movement and precision platforming. Each stage requires timing, strategy, and carefully planned jumps while rewarding you for beating it quickly. Overall, Super Meat Boy is perfect if you're looking for a challenge.
1 Sonic Mania Plus
The Best Sonic Game Of All Time
Sonic Mania
Platform(s) PS4 , Xbox One , Switch , PC Released August 15, 2017 Developer(s) PagodaWest Games , Headcannon
When it comes to the Blue Blur, it doesn't get better than Sonic Mania Plus. This game faithfully revives the Classic Sonic formula, delivering a mix of fan-favorite Genesis stages and brand-new zones. Long-time fans will undoubtedly recognize the many Easter Eggs, including the boss fight from Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine and the return of Mighty and Ray.
The game's greatest strength is its top-notch level design. Each stage cleverly features branching paths, encouraging multiple playthroughs with different characters to find new shortcuts and secrets. In short, Sonic Mania Plus is not just a celebration of the hedgehog's history. It's the best game in the Sonic series.
