If your very first game ever involved jumping on colourful blocks, collecting coins, and dodging spikes or lava pits — chances are, you were playing a platformer.

This is one of the oldest and most iconic game genres out there — and even decades later, it’s still going strong. But what exactly is a platforming game? And what makes us keep hitting “Play” again and again?

What Is a Platformer?

A platformer is a game where the core mechanics are simple: run and jump — over platforms, gaps, onto enemies, and past all kinds of traps. You control a character navigating a world full of levels, dangers, and obstacles.

It’s a genre that focuses on timing and reflexes. Some platformers add combat, puzzles, or even deep storytelling into the mix. But at the heart of it all, it’s about skilfully jumping through increasingly tough levels, climbing, bouncing, and dodging your way forward.

Platformer Meaning In Games

What makes a platformer… a platformer?

  • Side-scrolling view – Most classic platformers are 2D side-scrollers, meaning you see the action from the side and move left or right (though 3D platformers exist too).
  • Jumping is everything – The gameplay revolves around moving between different levels of terrain — literally, the “platforms” that give the genre its name.
  • Skill over story – No complex crafting or long dialogues here. It’s about whether you can make that jump before the floor collapses, or if you can wall-jump twice in a row without falling.
  • Level-based progression – From easy starter levels to brutally tough stages, with bosses and new mechanics along the way. There’s always something fresh ahead.

Platformer Classics and Modern Gems

Super Mario Bros

The classic of all classics. Mario (and his gravity-defying jumps) defined the genre. Every level is a lesson in rhythm and timing — simple, but clever. Full of enemies, traps, power-ups… and, of course, mushrooms.

Hollow Knight

Dark, stunning, and challenging. This is more than just jumping — it’s a “metroidvania” platformer, blending open-world exploration, combat, and story. Every frame is hand-drawn and polished to perfection.

Ori and the Blind Forest

A platformer that looks like a moving painting. It mixes precise platforming with an emotional story, breathtaking music, and silky-smooth controls. Jumping has never felt this poetic.

Why Do People Love Platformers?

Platformers are gaming in its purest form — simple on the surface, but challenging for hours. They’re pure, satisfying motion. A well-designed platformer feels like dancing between obstacles. They give you joy through movement, teach patience, and reward precision.

And best of all: they make you feel like an absolute legend when you finally beat that one impossible section… on your 17th try.