15 Best Video Game Platformers Ever

4. Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage

video game platformers
Activision

The third game in a row to be a franchise’s second offering, Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage built on the first game in all the best ways. Called Gateway To Glimmer in some territories, the game did away with the restrictive realm worlds in the first game to give a much greater variety of levels.

The realms in Spyro 1 were fantastic, but it did feel like the game had done all they could with it. Shedding the need to keep groups of levels thematically linked, the game was free to bring us Skelos Badlands, Mystic Marsh, Metropolis and Aquaria Towers without needing to tie them all together.

This just makes links between the levels like Breeze Harbour and Zephyr all the more interesting.

The added ability to hover, the introduction of mini challenges for orbs and the widening cast make this the standout Spyro game. One is brilliant but a bit too basic, while the third over complicated things with the skateboarding and other playable characters wedged in there.

Still good games, but Spyro 2 is the clear winner. A masterclass in the 3D roaming platformer.

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