10 Best 3D Platformer Games to Play

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One of the oldest and most beloved game genres is the 3D platformer. You jump from platform to platform — just like in the legendary Super Mario series.

As 3D gaming took off, platformers leapt into three-dimensional worlds, adding even more freedom and fun to their classic jump-and-run gameplay.

In this article, we’re highlighting the best 10 3D platformers that we think you’ll enjoy.

If you’re more into side-scrolling action games, don’t worry — we’ve got another article covering the top picks in that category.

3D action games also include action RPGs and action-adventure titles, but since those are big enough genres on their own, we’ll cover them in another article as well.

Top 10 Recommended 3D Platformers

Sword of the Sea

Experience a stunning action-adventure where you bring life back to a world where the ground constantly undulates like ocean waves.

Ride the Hover Sword, a floating sword that lets you glide across the ground at high speed like snowboarding or surfing — it’s pure exhilaration. Nailing tricks can send you soaring farther or boost your speed, but the game never forces high-level skills or scores. You’re free to glide, explore, and just enjoy the flow.

Explore mysterious ruins, deserts, and snowy mountains, and watch in awe as restoring the ocean unleashes life in a breathtaking spectacle. Whales and fish swim through the air, kelp and other marine plants flourish, and you may find yourself mesmerized, forgetting to move your character as you watch.

Fast-paced action meets a calming, almost meditative experience — even without spoken dialogue,

Donkey Kong Bananza

Donkey Kong dives deep underground in search of bananas in this charming action-adventure.
Joined by a young Pauline, he explores a strange and lively subterranean world—complete with its own sky and a mix of quirky inhabitants.

The game’s standout feature is its delightfully destructive platforming. Whether it’s the floor, a wall, or the entire stage layout, almost anything can be smashed through. If there’s no path, you make one; if you need a platform, you build it yourself. It’s a bold, satisfyingly over-the-top twist on classic platforming.

You can also transform into a zebra or an ostrich to sprint, glide, and try out entirely different moves. Longtime fans will appreciate the return of familiar Donkey Kong staples too, including barrel cannons and other iconic gimmicks.

Surprisingly for a Donkey Kong title, the story is genuinely fun as well—bringing back a beloved classic with the kind of freshness and modern flair that makes it click today.

Jusant

This action-adventure game sends you climbing a mysterious tower rising above a world long since dried up.

Managing your stamina while choosing exactly where to place each hand, you control the protagonist’s right and left arms to climb the tower just like real rock climbing. The controls feel so real that you may find yourself gripping the controller a little tighter without even noticing.

Mystical creatures and plants lend you their strange powers to help you climb, and there are moments when taking a daring leap—rather than inching along carefully—is exactly what opens the way forward.

You’re not just scaling a wall, either. Scattered letters and belongings left behind by those who once lived in the tower let you piece together their stories and imagine what became of them.

Despite the tension you’d expect from a climbing game, the journey is wrapped in a gentle, soothing atmosphere

Solar Ash

This action game has you venturing into the Ultra Void—a mysterious space that swallows everything—while hunting down colossal monsters lurking within.

The protagonist can run with such smoothness it feels like gliding forward, and the longer you keep running, the faster you go—allowing for long, soaring jumps. Using this speed-building movement, you’ll track down and destroy the hidden eyes scattered across each region, then take on the colossal monsters themselves. Boss fights focus on quickly and precisely striking weak points all over the enemy’s body, making victory depend not on raw attack power but on your skill as a platforming player.

Although the action can get extremely fast, the game gives you helpful tools—like the ability to momentarily freeze time to hook onto platforms and zip between them with ease.

While the movement feels wonderfully fluid, almost as if you yourself have turned into liquid, the story delivers a contrasting tenderness: a bittersweet tale about the memories of those consumed by the Ultra Void and the protagonist’s own inner struggles.

Super Mario Odyssey

When it comes to platformers, a Mario game is always on the list.

In this game, you can throw Mario’s trademark cap, using it as a platform or hurling it at enemies to “capture” them—letting you transform into Goombas and other foes to reach places Mario couldn’t on his own. Instead of simply stomping enemies, you’ll use their abilities and tackle clever, idea-filled gimmicks throughout each stage.

The worlds are inspired by scenic locations around the world, filled with playful touches everywhere you look, and you can even change Mario’s outfit to enjoy a bit of sightseeing flavor.

There are also moments where you shift into classic 2D Famicom-style Mario, and other stages lean toward realistic human proportions or dark-fantasy vibes—letting you experience Mario from every angle in this standout entry.

Sable

An open-world game bursting with artistic flair, where you ride a hover bike and gain wisdom through encounters with others.

There are no battle elements—you’re free to roam wherever you like on your bike, and at the mysterious ruins scattered throughout the world, you’ll climb, glide, and solve puzzles that combine exploration with light action.

The bike can be customized not only in appearance but also in performance, allowing you to explore different cities and cultures at your own pace, each with its own unique people and atmosphere.

Alongside satisfying movement and a philosophical story, the game’s biggest draw is its bande dessinée-style graphics. Every moment is so visually stunning you can’t just rush past. Simply traveling through the world and taking in the sights provides a highly relaxing, almost therapeutic experience.

Astrobot

A cheerful action game starring the adorable Astro Bot, Sony’s (probably) mascot, who blasts off into space along with the PS5 itself, rescuing scattered friends while collecting PS5 parts along the way.

The gameplay makes full use of the PS5 controller’s unique features—blowing, tilting, and more—creating an experience packed with inventive fun. Levels are full of variety, from shrinking in size to exploring construction sites, lush forests, and Japanese-style hot springs, with levels sprawling in all directions to freely explore, and countless secrets hidden in every corner.

The friends you rescue appear dressed as characters from various popular games, including characters who originally have stern or serious expressions, and their comical, exaggerated redesigns add a playful charm.

Additional courses challenge your action skills, making this a highly rated game that appeals to both casual players and hardcore action fans alike.

Psychonauts 2

A unique and humor-packed action-adventure game where you dive into people’s brains and minds to uncover conspiracies secretly plotted to bring down the organization.

The stages, set inside other people’s minds, transform in wildly imaginative ways—some are filled with teeth, others turn into psychedelic concert venues—and each world reflects the person’s traumas and emotions. Every stage comes with unique gameplay and gimmicks that keep the experience fresh.

Rather than following a straight path, stages are full of hidden power-ups, secret paths, and interesting map designs, making exploration deeply engaging.

The title “Psychonauts” refers to an organization of psychics who work to protect world peace, and the protagonist is also a psychic. You’ll enjoy battles that make full use of psychic powers, such as stopping or confusing enemies, and boss fights are both visually striking and cleverly designed. Each stage and each boss delivers a fresh, new experience.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

The beloved series starring Ratchet, a fox-like Lombax, and his small robot companion Clank, delivering a chaotic and comedic hero adventure.

This entry is notable for its dimension-bending gameplay, allowing you to move behind enemies during battles or suddenly shift into alternate dimensions where both the scenery and stage design change. Dynamic platforming actions like wall runs and rail grinding combine with shooting battles packed with unique and fun weapons—plants sprouting, strange allies appearing, and more—making the gameplay highly engaging.

With action and visual spectacle that fill the screen, this game is pure entertainment you won’t want to look away from, while also letting you enjoy a story where you team up with Rivet, a fellow Lombax.

TinyKin

Take control of Milo, a miniature explorer, as he hops from furniture to furniture in a house on an Earth emptied of humans in this action-adventure game.

A key feature of the game is the ability to command even smaller mysterious creatures called Tinykin. Each type of Tinykin has unique abilities, offering gameplay reminiscent of the Pikmin series. You can slide along ropes while riding a bar of soap, stack Tinykin to climb, and solve puzzles as you explore every corner of the house.

Ordinary household items become hazards from a tiny perspective, and simply looking up at furniture and appliances is fascinating. On top of that, you can throw Tinykin in battles, take on side quests, and enjoy a rich, action-packed adventure throughout the house.