10 Platformer Video Games Nobody Admits Are Better Than Mario

Upon initial impressions, The Messenger is just another retro-style platformer for the modern day. Yet quickly it subverts those assumptions and proves itself to be so much more. Something truly special.

You see, The Messenger starts out as an 8-bit Ninja Gaiden-inspired action game, but halfway through it changes into a 16-bit MetroidVania. It's an unprecedented gameplay design choice and one that pays off in spades. Combining the two genres was no easy feat, but what we're left with is a tremendous achievement in design and execution.

Speeding through the initial levels feels great, with your character just the right weight, and the platforms just wide enough to make you question your jump midway through. And, while the MetroidVania portion isn't perfect, it's still fun and even more exciting when you consider just how good a sequel might be.

The Messenger is a beautiful game with an entrancing soundtrack. It feels less like it's attempting to recapture the glory of the eras it's emulating, and more like its blazing a trail all of its own, while wearing its inspirations on its bracer.

Easily one of the best platformers to emerge in the past two decades.