Mobile platformers have always had ahard time dealing with touchscreen controls. For a long time, it looked like this genre just could not work on mobile devices. Clever design and streamlined gameplay eventually proved the opposite. Many mobile platformers use the touch screen so well to rival atraditional gamepad.
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Games likeSonic CD ClassicandMario Runare proof that platformers belong on mobile platforms as much as any other genre. Meanwhile, original designs likeCat BirdandBean Dreamsare examples of the uniqueness of the best mobile platformers. While the genre isn’t exactly vibrant right now, the future of mobile platformers is certainly an exciting one.
10Soul Chase
Soul Chaseis a retro-platformer about a pixelated blue knight that’s got to catch his soul. Meanwhile, players have to juggle environmental hazards, enemies, and the army of ghosts catching up to them from the left side of the screen.
Soul Chasemay be asimple platformer, but it has a solid twist. Instead of racing against the timer, players are both running after a ghost and trying to run away from another. It doesn’t take long before the levels start getting harder, while each level stays short and sweet, perfect for a mobile game.
9Ninja Arashi
Ninja Arashisells itself as a platformer/RPG. In reality, this2D action-platformerrarely turns fighting into a challenge. Even the RPG elements are forgettable, amounting to minor stat boosts like critical chance or skill duration.
What makesNinja Arashiworth a try is the minimalist presentation, where everything but the background appears as a black silhouette. The game is also noticeable for its kaizo-lite design, where enemies and environment alike hide lethal traps.Ninja Arashireceived a sequel that’s more of the same, just more difficult.
8Bean Dreams
Released in 2014,Bean Dreamsis one of the oldest smartphone platformers still available for purchase. But unlike many early mobile games,Bean Dreamsplays comfortably with touchscreen controls. That is a serious requirement for a genre so reliant on precise inputs like platformers.
In thisphysics-based platformer, players control an adorable green bouncing blob wearing a cowboy hat. This blob, presumably named Bean, will never stop bouncing, no matter what. It’s up to the players to bring Bean to the end of the level and grab as much fruit as possible, the game’s main collectible. Every level also has a minimum bounce number, for those seeking an extra challenge.
7Sonic CD Classic
Sonic needs no introduction, and neither does his Sega CD add-ons debut,Sonic CD. Following the success ofSonic the Hedgehog 2, the 1993 sequel brings high-fidelity sound and multilayered stages to the historic series.
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Sonic CD Classic, the mobile port, offers a couple of advantages over the original. Not only does it keep all the content from the 1993 release, but it adds the option of choosing between the Japanese and American soundtracks. In addition, the port adds widescreen support, an absolute necessity for a game that moves as fast as Sonic.
6Bullet League
Bullet Leaguedoesn’t try to hide its inspiration, and it shouldn’t. The action-platformer battle royale has more than a superficial resemblance to genre stapleFortnite, both in design and in its presentation. At the same time, it adds more than enough originality to make up for what it takes.
Bullet Leagueis first and foremost a2D shooter-platformerof Flash games memory. It also has plenty of unique mechanics, like floating in mid-air by shooting downwards, alaCave Story.Bullet Leaguecan be played online and offline, in battle royale mode as well as in classic deathmatch.
5LIMBO
2010s indie darlingLIMBOhas a new home on Android and iOS phones. The 2022 port of the cult hit story-focused platformer is a faithful adaptation of the original.LIMBOis astraightforward horror platformer, working flawlessly even on touchscreen, redeemed by a striking presentation and a novel story.
While the story ofLIMBOmight not seem as impressive to new audiences, there is a purity in this short game that remains appealing to this day. The lack of dialogue or character building makes this the perfect narrative-focused platformer for mobile players.
4Sword Of Xolan
The premise ofSword of Xolanis simple: the hero’s village has been overrun by zombies and monsters, and the villagers have been kidnapped. While he can just head for the exit and beat up the bad guy, he should find the hostages hidden in each level for a nice little bonus. The game is quite long, with its three acts of 10 levels each, each capped by a boss battle.
3Rayman Classic
It’s not a good time to be Rayman.Ubisoft’s historic mascothasn’t had a game of its own since 2013. Nowadays, he’s reduced to a guest role in his spin-off’s spin-off,Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope. There was a time when Rayman’s name meant something different, andRayman Classicis about that time.
Rayman Classicis a port of the original PlayStation 1Rayman. Unlike the rest of the Rayman trilogy, this 2D platformer was low on action and edgy plot beats, relying on simple challenges and charming characters. Even if the challenge is minimal, the world itself is a joy to explore, full of bright colors and lively animations.
2Mario Run
While one could argue thatMario Runbelongs to the realm of endless runners, it’s easy to feel the weight that the platformer series had on this game. Mario himself is the mascot of platformer games, and the game pushes the limited controls accordingly.
InMario Run, players are given only one button: Jump. Mario will do the running for them, never stopping but occasionally being pushed back by wall-jumping or when interacting with certain blocks. Using those options wisely and choosing the right path through the level is where the game gets interesting, though the difficulty never reaches the highs it should.
1Cat Bird
Cat Birdis easily themost adorable platformer on mobile. The protagonist itself, the titular Cat Bird, sounds and moves a bit like Yoshi. And just like Nintendo’s cute, dumb dinosaur, Cat Bird can almost fly. It even makes a similar cute noise to accompany its glide.
Cat Birduses just three buttons: Left, Right, and Jump. By keeping the jump button pressed, Cat Bird will slowly glide down instead of falling. While the gameplay can become quite challenging, the star of the show is still the presentation. Cat Bird chirps happily while gliding and raises puffs of dirt when falling to the ground. And the worlds are all adorable cat-shaped planets, what more could anyone want?
