Platform
Description
Platform games (platformers) are action games in which the playfield is set up as a series of planes (floors, levels, or platforms) for the player to navigate.
Platform games often involve combat, but include additional challenges by making navigation hazardous. Often the challenges of overcoming environmental dangers surpass those posed by combat. The player character is usually required to jump over gaps and damaging areas, or to access a different platform. In many platform games the player character is very vulnerable and can die easily from falling damage, environmental traps, or enemy attacks.
Early platform games (e.g.
Donkey Kong) were confined to one screen and required the player character to climb in order to reach higher platforms. Later platformers, popularized by
Super Mario Bros., began to focus on traversing side-scrolling levels, often within an allotted time limit, fending off upcoming enemies and jumping. This style, commonly referred to as
jump-and-run, has preserved itself in many later platformers as well.
Other platform games, such as
Prince of Persia, emphasize exploration, combat, and problem-solving in addition to the usual platform challenges. Such games have become known as
cinematic platformers. This style has had a considerable influence on many 3D platformers (e.g. later
Prince of Persia games,
ICO, etc.), which incorporate extensive puzzle-solving.
 Game Title |
BBC Micro (1987) and Electron (1987) In this sequel to Stryker's Run you once again play the role of John Stryker whose mission it is to... |
Windows (2004) Codename: Gordon is a 2D sidescrolling fan project based on the Half Life universe and programmed in Flash. In this... |
NES (1990) Set against the backdrop of the war on drugs from the late 1980s/early 1990s, Code Name: Viper directly confronts the... |
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Windows (2003) Coin World is a platform game, where you control Colin the Coin on his quest to collect all lost coins,... |
ZX Spectrum (1987) In this game you play the role of a cleaner who works at a museum. The gameplay involves you collecting... |
Atari 8-bit (1985), Amstrad CPC (1985) and Commodore 64 (1985) Collapse is a simple puzzle game where players control Zen the Mole who is presented with a network of sticks... |
DOS (1997) In one bad day for humans, mankind was overwhelmed by an alien's captors. It was written year 2013 and human... |
Atari ST (1992) Color Clash is a platform puzzle game. The player controls a chameleon that can change into different colors, each color... |
Macintosh (1994) This is the color remake of the original Dark Castle. While it's a remake, it also includes some new things... |
Browser (2009) Colour My Heart is a short game of exploration in a detailed, monochrome world. Even though there are small platforming... |
DOS (1992) In the puzzle-game you have to gather the pictures divided on 30 fragments placed on sides of bricks. You are... |
Windows (2001) Loosely based on the tank portion of the Atari 2600 cart that originally came packed with the console, Combat brings... |
Amiga (1989), Atari ST (1988), Commodore 64 (1989), Amstrad CPC (1988) and DOS (1989) Lace up those boots soldier, and get ready for five levels of challenging action in this boot camp simulator. As... |
DOS (1992) In the simulation of another CBS' TV gameshow with 1,000 questions you can play with a friend or challenge a... |
Xbox 360 (2010) Comet is an obstacle-course platform game much like The Impossible Game or Canabalt. The player controls their Xbox Avatar, which... |
MSX (1984) and Commodore 64 (1986) A baker tries to bake and deliver bread while fighting raccoons.
Pieces of bread are moving along a factory line.... |
Xbox 360 (2010) Comic book super hero Captain Smiley and his sidekick Star are down on their luck. The last issue of the... |
Game Boy Color (2001) Commander Keen is a platform action game similar to the earlier installments of the series, though with more colorful and... |
DOS (1990) Billy "Commander Keen" Blaze, an eight-year-old genius, has flied to Mars in his Bean-with-Bacon Megarocket build out of common household... |
DOS (1990) Commander Keen 2: The Earth Explodes is the second game in the first trilogy of Commander Keen platform games, called... |
DOS (1990) Commander Keen has already foiled the Vorticons' plans to destroy Earth. Now he heads to their home planet in order... |
DOS (1991) Commander Keen 4: Secret of the Oracle is a platform game, the fourth in the Commander Keen series as a... |
DOS (1991) Commander Keen 5: The Armageddon Machine is a platform game, the fifth in the Commander Keen series as a whole,... |
DOS (1991) Commander Keen 6: Aliens Ate My Baby Sitter! is a platform game, the sixth in the Commander Keen series as... |
