Run, guns blazing, and jump from platform to platform. You know what you’re getting into when it comes to side-scrolling chaos, and you’ll need the three Ps: patience, precision, and prayers to your gods of physics.
We know it’s well into 2025, but perhaps there are some platformers from last year that might pique your interest. Whether you’re craving run-and-gun mayhem or pixel-perfect precision platforming, many of these gems still deserve some love.
So before this year gets away from us, for your consideration, I bring you 2D platformers you might have missed in 2024:
Iron Meat
Image: Retroware
Availabe on PC (Windows); Consoles (Steam Deck)
In Ivan Suvorov and Retroware’s run‑and‑gun arcade shooter, humanity has made significant advances in teleportation and portal jumps thanks to one Yuri Markov. Unfortunately, an unsanctioned experiment caught the attention of The Meat, an alien biomass that loves, you guessed it, iron and meat. So… curse you, Yuri Markov!
Go solo as Vadim, a supersoldier from the Earth Counter Invasion Force (ECIF), or opt for a two-player playthrough and team up with Dimitry. Blast your way through meat-and-iron abominations and bosses, get weapons and upgrades from fellow ECIF soldiers, and stop the turned-mad scientist Markov before the outbreak consumes Earth.
This MAGFest Indie Videogame Showcase (MIVS) 2023 Best in Show winner, with its fiery guitar riffs from Vladimir Tugay (Darkman007) and the glorious pixelated blood and meat splatter, does not only remind me of Contra, but Metal Slug with a little bit of cosmic horror. Might want you to consider becoming vegetarian though.
Sonder
Image: Finally Games
Available on PC (Windows); Consoles (Steam Deck)
If you like more of the two-player adventure types, this is a 2.5D couch co-op platformer
whose narrative will sure to put you on a little introspection trip. It is said to be the resulting combination of Inside and Portal 2, but the gameplay reminds me a bit of Unravel.
As the tandem Robot and Soul, your seamless collaboration will be put to the test as you solve puzzles, combat enemies, dash, pulse, hookshot, and light grenade your way to become one whole entity.
This is an SGA 2024 Gamer’s Choice winner and for good reason. Even without dialogue, it manages to deliver its message through Carl Montgomerie and Sarah Abbas’ slightly minimalistic visual narration and Martin Cervell’s ominous music. Touches on the subjects of trauma and friendship, but is centered on the definition of humanity which is quite open to interpretation.
Desvelado
Image: Vampi Team
Available on PC (Windows); Consoles (Steam Deck)
To Vampy, a bat-like vampire, sleep is a priority. And putting out the flames before you hit the coffin sounds easy enough, right? Wrong! Those blasted ghosts will keep you and your flames up all night if they have to. Hence, the name of the game (Spanish for “wide awake”).
Extinguish all the lights by jumping and dashing through platforms, and dodging those darn ghosts. There are plenty of rooms to go through– perhaps the only downside to living in a huge castle– and you have to watch out for the spiked surfaces and other obstacles.
Its smooth animation seems cozy, even with a bit of blood and its overall gothic setting. And if ya like jazz, well its upbeat and snazzy soundtrack is likely going to help you stay awake.
Saviorless
Image: Empty Head Games
Available on PC (Windows); Consoles (Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5)
Becoming a savior is one of Antar’s teenage dreams and that’s what you set out to do as you chase down that glowing heron to the Smiling Islands and collect pages to tell your story.
In terms of mechanics, you’ll mostly have to run, jump, crawl, and rely on the environment for movement, but this changes as the story progresses. Respawn is available, but there are so few autosaves and that’s what will be frustrating about it. You must also expect some twists and shifts in pacing, combat, chases and perspectives.
Regardless of its mixed reviews, its beautiful 2D hand-drawn animation could be described as Grimm’s fairy tales if it were a graphic novel. Visually, it’s a little similar to the metroidvania Hollow Knight, but in terms of its dark fantasy theme, it would be like that of Blasphemous.
Symphonia
Image: Sunny Peak
Available on PC (Windows); Consoles (Steam Deck)
Oh, you will *want* to be part of this symphony. But instead of dolphins jumping out of the waves, you have Philemon, our mysterious masked violinist, launching himself on and out of platforms to bring music back to life in Symphonia.
To do this, you must find the other three prodigies for your new orchestra, and these will be from every family of a traditional orchestra: strings, woodwinds, and brass. Its momentum mechanic is unique and there will be upgrades to movement (gameplay variants) as you move on to more difficult levels.
The art and design are gorgeous thanks to Simon Lerguier and Nicolas Derio. The soundtrack that Olivier Esman and Scoring Orchestra Paris have produced is a true joy to the ears– would be a crime to its namesake if it weren’t, of course. It’s delightfully non-violent; quite difficult, but rewarding.
Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines
Image: Medallion Games
Available on PC (Windows); Consoles (Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch)
Grapple Dog is back with a sequel and it’s double the fun as Pablo, our swinging Labrador Retriever hero, teams up with the notorious Luna, the gun-wielding Siberian Husky (?)– breeds are not important, but the eyeliner and her tenacity reminds us of sassy husky energy. Together they travel across the multiverse to save every dimension’s reality!
The use of the grappling hook is still there, of course. The addition of a new character allows you to switch between our two heroes: Pablo for melee attacks and speed runs, and Luna for range and run-and-gun flow. Health upgrades and customisable equipment or outfits can be bought by the fruit collectibles.
There’s still the nice fluidity moving through the game, and both the colorful visuals by Joseph Gribben and the pop-synth soundtrack by Jazz Mickle give this action platformer nice late 90s to early 2000s/y2K nostalgia.
Decline’s Drops
Image: Moulin aux Bulles Studio
Available on PC (Windows); Consoles(Steam Deck)
Maybe you shouldn’t mess with Globule and her garden, while she’s just out there minding her own business. So you can imagine the wooden puppet-like gardener to readily trade in her garden gloves for boxing gloves after its destruction.
Collect drops and other collectibles to exchange for tools and such, and run, jump and punch your way as you fight mutated frogs, chickens and the hydra heads of Eternal Corp. (One less evil corpo we need.)
This platform-brawler has a charming take on a revenge story with its whimsical art by Drazglb, and backed by ModalModule’s and SFX by Pixel Audio.
And as of writing our beat ‘em up baddie will be joined by another heroine in the recent special Shoes & Mirrors update. I hear she’s a real kicker.
Unrooted
Image: 85 Plus Games
Available on PC (Windows); Consoles(Steam Deck)
This plant precision platformer might not be for everyone, but if you’re a masochist, well then, this is for you (the devs really did write “made for masochists, by masochists”).
As a sapling, there’s really no other way but up, as you prepare to launch yourself skyward with the help of your stem/root/plant-pointer thing. And while you conquer your acrophobia, you get to meet NPCs who will either offer you words of encouragement or vicious mockery, and uncover secrets. Winning jump or not, autosaves are guaranteed. So really… look before you leap.
The ethereal glow, especially from its nighttime forest scenery, reminds me of Ori and the Blind Forest. Matching these visuals with ambient soundtrack by Koaster completes your attempts to ascend.
Fowl Damage
Image: May Gardens and Red Nexus Games Inc.
Available on PC (Windows); Consoles(Steam Deck)
Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall, but did not wait for that long and had many great falls and jumps. Okay, you won’t be playing as Humpty Dumpty in this one, but you will be a small, fragile egg with a little smile on his face. (More masochists? Yes.)
From an abandoned factory and through riverbeds, forests and slimy caves, your main objective is to find your new home. Apart from being precise with your jumps and landing, collect feathers and make use of ramps for speed boost, bubbles for launching or cushioning, moving platforms, and more to survive bosses.
If you can (once again) look past some frustrating levels, its cute pixelated art and generally chill ambient music make this platformer fun. If you need further proof, just look at that little egg’s smiling face!
Momo and the Mine
Image: Tamboril Studio (indie)
Available on PC (Windows; Consoles(Steam Deck)
Adventure lies not deep in the mines of Moria, no, but a haunted mine nonetheless. You enter said mine as Momo, an adorable mole-friend with the cutest hardhat.
Your goal is to collect matchsticks across 40 levels to bring some light to the mine. Jump, double-jump, burrow– you are a mole, after all–, enter passageways and avoid all enemies and bosses chasing you down. And don’t worry about the many times you might die, the devs are generous with checkpoints here.
The retro 8bit design, music and SFX that is reminiscent of Super Mario in dark mode makes it a delightful platformer to play.
High risks, high rewards, right? Oh, and don’t forget to go left first! Not all rewards are that risky.
