The release of Super Mario 64 in the mid-90s saw an extreme uptick in 3D platformers, as numerous developers attempted to steal Nintendo's thunder. 3D platformers remained incredibly popular for roughly 10 years after Super Mario 64's release, but then interest started to wane. 3D platformers became a rarer breed, as the video game industry shifted its focus to shooters and online multiplayer games.
Fast forward to 2021, and the 3D platformer is enjoying a major resurgence. This past year alone has delivered some truly incredible 3D platforming games, some of which could very well be in the conversation as some of the best 3D platformers ever made. And the thing is, 2021 isn't even over yet. While the biggest 3D platformers have seen their release, there are still some notable titles on the horizon that should go a long way in defining 2021 as the year of the 3D platformer.
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Here are some of the great 3D platformer games that have released in 2021 and why they have helped make this year such a memorable one for the genre.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (February 2021)
The Wii U was a sales failure, and so a significant portion of the video gaming audience never had the chance to play the original release of Super Mario 3D World. This made the Super Mario 3D World Switch port much more exciting than it would be otherwise, as the Nintendo Switch install base absolutely dwarves that of the Wii U's. Not content on simply porting Super Mario 3D World to the Switch, though, Nintendo sweetened the pot by making general gameplay improvements and including support for online co-op.
That could've been enough, but Nintendo boosted Super Mario 3D World's value even further by creating a completely original experience called Bowser's Fury. Bowser's Fury is essentially an open world take on the typical Super Mario 3D platforming formula, with many likening it to the Super Mario version of Breath of the Wild. Bowser's Fury is a short but sweet experience, and definitely makes it worth the price of admission, even for those that have already extensively played the base game on Wii U.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time (March 2021)
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time originally released in 2020, but the game got a second lease on life in 2021 thanks to its next-generation ports. An already impressive-looking game, the next-gen versions of Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time look absolutely phenomenal and perform even better than their last-generation counterparts. While it doesn't add any substantial new content like Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions of Crash Bandicoot 4 are certainly the definitive way to experience the game, and it still represents a notable release for the 3D platformer genre.
It Takes Two (March 2021)
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury and Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time are both great games, but there's no denying that they are essentially re-releases of existing titles. Fans of the 3D platformer genre may be more interested in completely original titles, and that's where a game like It Takes Two steps in. From the same studio that developed A Way Out, It Takes Two stands out in the 3D platforming space by being built entirely with co-op play in mind.
In It Takes Two, co-op isn't just an extra feature that players can take advantage of. On the contrary, co-op is absolutely integral to the It Takes Two experience, as it's one of the rare games that can't be played at all solo. It Takes Two earned rave reviews at the time of its release for fully embracing co-op play and using that focus to create brand new 3D platformer gameplay scenarios that wouldn't necessarily be possible in a more traditional game in the genre.
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The cherry on top is It Takes Two's incredible variety. Yes, it is a 3D platformer and players will be doing plenty of jumping and swinging on things as is typical of the genre, but each level has a brand new gameplay hook to ensure that no two stages feel alike. It Takes Two is paced brilliantly so that whenever it's wrung everything it can out of an idea, it immediately moves on to something new. There's a reason the game is one of the highest-rated games of 2021 so far, and it seems many are in agreement that its high praise has been well-desesrved.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (June 2021)
Another original 3D platformer came with the release of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, a PlayStation 5 exclusive that marks the long-awaited return of PlayStation platforming icons Ratchet and Clank. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is quite possibly the best-looking 3D platformer ever made, with absolutely jaw-dropping visuals brought to life thanks to the added horsepower of the next-generation PlayStation 5 console.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart doesn't only use the PS5 to produce impressive graphics, though. It takes advantage of the PS5's unique features in other important ways as well, like using its SSD to allow for near-instant loading and the Rift mechanic that sees players teleport to completely different-looking areas instanty. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart also makes notable use of the PS5's DualSense controller's adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, with all of it adding up to Rift Apart being a phenomenal 3D platformer and one of the best games in the entire long-running franchise.
Psychonauts 2 (August 2021)
The most recent release on the list is also the game that fans of the 3D platformer genre had to wait the longest to play. The original Psychonauts released in 2005 to strong reviews but poor sales, throwing Double Fine's plans for a sequel into jeopardy. However, Psychonauts was able to earn a dedicated group of fans over the years, to the point where Double Fine was able to use crowdfunding to fund the development of the sequel, Psychonauts 2.
Many release date delays later and Psychonauts 2 is finally out for the masses to play. Psychonauts 2 reviews have been largely positive, with a great deal of praise given to Double Fine's sharp writing, the engrossing story, and the insanely creative 3D platforming levels. Psychonauts 2 is now one of the highest-rated new video game releases of 2021, and hopefully its availability on Xbox Game Pass starting August 25 ensures that it is enjoyed by many more people out of the gate than the original Psychonauts game.
More New 3D Platformers to Come in 2021
There are more new 3D platformers that are on the way in 2021, with at least two having already been confirmed. Sonic Colors: Ultimate and Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania are both re-releases of older titles, but they offer significant enhancements that may make them worth a second look. Sonic Colors: Ultimate is a remaster of the fan favorite Sonic Colors game, whereas Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania is a collection of the original three Super Monkey Ball games with improved graphics and a bevy of guest characters to play as.
It's entirely possible that there are even more 3D platformers set to release later in the year, though that remains to be seen. Even if this is all fans of the genre get for 2021, it's such an impressive lineup that the year could definitely be considered one of the best for 3D platformers.