1. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii, 2010)
Super Mario Galaxy 2 is the culmination of Nintendo EAD Tokyo's wild imagination, abundance of creativity, and masterclass of game design all coming together. It's not simply a retreading or evolution of their first go around beyond the Mushroom Kingdom's atmosphere, but a continuation of pushing boundaries and redefining what a platformer is capable of. Each world is a smorgasbord of every platforming idea under the sun, re-imagined, reinvented, and honed down to perfection. Like all the greats, Galaxy 2 pays homage to the titans before it with its foundation, but quickly leaves its own mark as it rockets past the stratosphere. The greatest games aren't simply trying to reach perfection, but to even move beyond what is known into the unknown, and mark new ground where none before have dared to jump. Super Mario Galaxy 2 is everything its predecessor is, and more. It is the pinnacle of the platformer genre, and a masterclass of the gaming medium.
2. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles (Genesis, 1994)
For me, Sonic lived and died on the Sega Genesis. My personal journey with the Blue Blur would end on that console, and Sega's treatment of their most iconic franchise (Saturn: Sonic who?) was the catalyst in me heading to Nintendo's shores. So in my eyes, Sonic 3 & Knuckles would make such an end worthy of remembrance. It stands upon the foundation which Sonic 1 and 2 laid before it, both narratively and gameplay-wise. While each of the games stand on their own, Sonic & Knuckles is the rare game that makes them better, as it finally completes the Death Egg trilogy (I truly appreciate games that don't need to use exposition to explain their story, and Sonic 3 & Knuckles does a wonderful job at explaining the world and stakes through its level design) and literally enhances Sonic 2 and 3 with it's Lock-On Technology. Playing as Knuckles in Sonic 2 was a revelation. Sonic still thrives through the memory of these three games, and that's for a myriad of reasons. But the largest of which is because these games still stand tall, with Sonic 3 & Knuckles standing the tallest among them.
3. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii, 2007)
By the time 2007 rolled around, the state of the platformer was in question. Sure, NSMB was huge, but such a game relied on a tried-and-true foundation more rooted in the old than new. Beyond that there was a barely burgeoning indie scene which only later would help to push 2D platforming back to prominence. 3D platforming, a staple of the gaming anatomy only a decade ago, was in freefall. What did running and jumping have to offer gamers in a new gaming paradigm of gritty, realistic, and mature action? For the folks at EAD Tokyo... you can teach that old plumber some gravity defying new tricks. Where 64 and Sunshine were a playground of Mario's acrobatic arts, Galaxy was both a honing down to a razor's edge of game design and a complete blowout of brand new creativity and inspiration. As Wii was a revolution meant for everyone, Galaxy too was a revolution for the platforming genre. No longer could platformers be seen as a simpler, lesser, and outdated mode of playing. Whether it was the music (a masterpiece), the scope (literally out-of-this-world), or the creativity (each galaxy bursting at the seams with snacky happiness, er... ideas new and old), Super Mario Galaxy was *the* complete package. Super Mario Galaxy reminded us all that there was so much more that Mario could inspire us with.
4. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Genesis, 1992)
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was the game that made me a gamer. You know what I'm talking about, your first love that made you realize that video games were something special, unique, and worthy of not just your entertainment, but your appreciation and joy. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was all that and more. A super cool protagonist that was fast, fun, and a joy to control. The world was sprawling with sights, sounds, dangers, and journeys taking you from emerald hills to an suspiciously Death Star-esque battle station capable of enslaving the world you held so dear. It allowed a spin dash (revelatory!), two player coop or competition, incredible music, and the ability to go Super Saiyan. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was that video game for me, the game that made me proud to defend Sega on the playground and the game that gave me first blue hero.
5. Super Mario World (SNES, 1991)
While I was most definitely that Sega fanboy upon the battlefield of the school playground, I have to admit that my foes had some potent ammunition. Yeah, Sonic was fast, fun, and had that Blast Processing secret sauce, Super Mario World was absolutely massive in comparison. I could only look in wonder at the scale, scope, and enormity that Dinosaur Land offered the player (the ability to save was also a major sense of jealousy). When a neighbor invited me over to "play some Mario", I couldn't refuse, and that was my introduction to the King of Gaming: Super Mario. It was all that I envisioned and more: sprawling worlds to explore, secrets to unlock, castles to scale, haunted houses to survive, and a journey unlike anything I ever experienced. After that, I was still a true blue Sonic fan, but boy that Super Nintendo and Mario were pretty cool...
6. Super Mario 64 (N64, 1996)
The 5th generation of consoles was a time of change. 2D sprites were dropped overnight in lieu of 3D polygons. Sony entered the fray and supplanted both Sega and Nintendo as king of the castle. As for me personally, I never looked twice at the Saturn, and instead began my journey as a big ol' Nintendo fan (that's what happens when you don't make a brand new Sonic game). It was once again the wild west of video games, but it took an old Sheriff to lay down the law. Super Mario 64 was revelatory in its control, design, and ushering in a new era of gaming. Impeccable gameplay (with some arguing it's still Mario's highest achievement in control), wondrous imagination, and a joy to see a 2D world turned into a 3D living space to explore, interact with, and become a part of. Super Mario 64 is still the foundation for an abundance of games, and honestly it still stands tall on its own.
7. Super Mario 3D World (Wii U, 2013)
3 years after Galaxy 2, any fan could rightly wonder, "Where do we go from here?" We've sprawled worlds, the third dimension, and went to the center of the universe itself. With the debut of Super Mario 3D world, any fan could rightly wonder, "Is that it?" But with EAD Tokyo behind the helm, I knew the game would be a wonder. 3D World is a back to basics approach to 3D Mario. Gone are the sprawling worlds, and instead, much inspiration is taken from the 2D perspectives. Courses are linear, much more like the obstacle courses of yore than the playgrounds we were used to. But in this honing of the world, in this trimming of the fat, in this return to "What makes Mario, Mario?", we found out that Mario is simply Joy. In giving the developers more control with the layout and design, their mastery shown forth. Each level offers a new idea to play with, and by the time the thrill is winding down, you've reached the flagpoll. Playing with three other friends was a blast (as chaotic as was, incredible memories were made) and once again the team showed how much more they had to show us.
8. Banjo-Kazooie (N64, 1998)
Exploration was a concept that most benefited in the jump from 2D to 3D. To move in an open, 3D world, not simply tall and wide but deep... that was something that both developers and players relished in this new 3D world. And Banjo-Kazooie was all about exploration. These massive, open playground worlds, as varied as they were inviting. The bear and bird duo used their ever growing arsenal of abilities to traverse these worlds. And the goals were as open as the levels themselves, a player able to pick and choose what goal they wanted to tackle and use the tools available to achieve it. Banjo-Kazooie was also dripping with absolute charm and wonder, the heroes, villains, and everyone in-between topped with character (and don't get me started on that music!). The game has aged, and the IP has been dormant (hooray for Banjo-Kazooie in Smash, a dream come true), but the soul of the bear and bird duo live on.
9. Super Mario Odyssey (Switch, 2017)
If you take a look at my list, you'll see that I'm more of a fan of the Obstacle Course styled Mario Games (Galaxy 1&2, 3D World) than the open playground styled games (64, Sunshine, and Odyssey). Not by much though, and Odyssey is a deeply brilliant game that sits among not simply the best Mario games, but the best games period. Mario has never controlled better, and his world's to explore have never been more choc-filled with content. Everything is incredibly varied, from the challenges, music, and even the art style (seeing normal proportioned people around Mario will never stop being amazingly odd). The incredible designers behind the Mario games are so good at creating effortless variety. By the time you're done with one challenge, something new and shiny has caught your eye... ready for the next nimble adventure. And that one moment... that one celebration of who Mario is and what he means to all of us... that will live in my memories forever. Jump up, Super Star!
10. Disney's Epic Mickey (Wii, 2010)
Disney's Epic Mickey is easily the most flawed game in this top 10, and maybe even in my top 25. It's game design borrows heavily from the 3D platformers of the 5th generation, seemingly forgetting of the leaps that were made since the new millennium (including functioning cameras). But despite all of its flaws, there is a heart, passion, and love underlying Epic Mickey that really spoke to me as I was playing it. I had the honor to grow up close to Disneyland, and so many memories were born of visiting the Happiest Place on Earth. Warren Spector and his team have poured so much of their own love for everything Disney that every moment is like trip down memory lane. Oh wow, can you just hear that music (James Dooley's work is among the most underrated and underappreciated)? Oh wow, I remember this from _______ (insert any sort of Disney history and lore, and it's there)! Traversing the Wasteland, being an active participant in the vast world of Disney, using paint to both create and destroy... Epic Mickey took me on a path that is unlike anything I had experienced before. It truly is a diamond in the rough, and means so much to someone who's heart is still back in Disneyland.
Honorable Mentions:
11. Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove (Wii U, 2014)
12. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (SNES, 1995)
13. New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Luigi U (Wii U, 2012)
14. Rayman Legends (Wii U, 2013)
15. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii, 2009)
16. Banjo-Tooie (N64, 2000)
17. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (SNES, 1995)
18. Super Mario Sunshine (GameCube, 2002)
19. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Wii U, 2014)
20. Ori and the Blind Forest (Xbox One, 2015)
21. Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis, 1991)
22. Yoshi's Story (N64, 1998)
23. Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins (GameBoy, 1992)
24. Disney's Aladdin (Genesis, 1993)
25. Earthworm Jim (Genesis, 1994)
Best Upgrades: Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove
Best Storytelling: Disney's Epic Mickey
Best Soundtrack: Super Mario Galaxy
Best Mechanics: Super Mario Odyssey
Best Level Design: Super Mario Galaxy 2
Best Art Design: Ori and the Blind Forest
Best Boss Design: Sonic 3 & Knuckles
Considerations for choosing the titles: I see Platformers as such games which use a player controlled character to use their movement abilities (running, jumping, etc.) as the main tool in which to navigate the world and solve goals. This is why, despite being a MetroidVania, Ori can be found on this list (as Ori's main toolset is found in his movement) and not Samus or a Belmont (Where their combat skills are the way in which they primarily solve their goals).
