Platform Game

""There's a lot of... *wheeze* running and... *wheeze* jumping, isn't it?""

- Stimpy, Nicktoons: Attack of the Toybots

For many years, the dominant form of console video game. The Platform Game or Platformer is characterized by gameplay dominated by leaping over or onto enemy characters and between platforms of varying heights. In the traditional 2D platformer, play progresses from left to right. Other such games, mostly involving infiltration or return scenarios, choose the sneaky approach from the right. Some games (especially older ones) only allow movement in one direction. An Auto Scrolling platformer advances the scenery independent of the Player Character's movement, and thus the player can be pinned by a platform as it scrolls off the screen. Auto scrolling was rare for entire games, but frequently appeared for individual levels.

As a rule, Player Characters in the platformer are critically injured by colliding with enemies, can jump very high, and, in accordance with the special laws of physics applicable to video game characters, are able to change direction in mid-air. Bottomless Pits and other kinds of pit traps are common hazards.

The first games which started to have platform game elements are Frogs (first game which included jumping, but no platforms) released for the arcades in 1978 and Space Panic (which had platforming, but no jumping), released in 1980. Finally, Donkey Kong, which was released a year later, put those two things together, and Jump Bug added side scrolling to the mix.

The first game widely considered to fit this format is Pitfall, but the style gained its widest acceptance with Super Mario Bros. 2D platformers are still being made, due to their accessibility and ease of programming, as independent PC titles, web-based Flash games, and for the various handheld console platforms and cell phones.

The 3D equivalent to the platformer is almost always rendered in the third person, as with Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine, but Metroid Prime and its sequels are considered by many to be hybrids of the 3d Platformer and the First Person Shooter (with Metroidvania elements, of course). The only straight first-person platformer series is Jumping Flash Lately, many games have been combining elements of Third-Person Action Games as well, such as the Jak and Daxter and Ratchet and Clank series.

Like most game genres, platformers are steadily evolving with the times; they started as linear obstacle courses, but gradually became less linear, with multiple level paths, playable overworld areas, and/or map screens with different routes; eventually, the genre even began branching into the Metroidvania genre. They became much less linear with the jump to 3D, and became known as 'collectathon' titles. The first few were fine, but after the thousandth or so knock-off, gamers eventually began to get sick of this. As a result, "collectathon" titles began waning in popularity. As of right now, the genre is in a weird stage of either being based on particular gimmicks, or going back to its roots. The former became puzzle games of a sort (eventually becoming prevalent enough to be considered a sub-genre), and the latter tend to be more linear, pure platforming challenges, and spawned the Platform Hell phenomenon.

Subgenres include Cinematic Platform Game (which has a more realistic style), Platform Hell (which is really, really freaking hard - no, seriously), and Puzzle Platformer (which combines elements of Puzzle Games).

Notable games in this genre:

 * Forty Winks
 * L Abbaye Des Morts 
 * Abuse
 * Adventure Island
 * Adventures in The Magic Kingdom
 * Adventures Of Rad Gravity
 * Against the Wall
 * Aladdin Capcom
 * Aladdin Virgin Games
 * Alex Kidd
 * Alien Soldier
 * Aliens Infestation
 * Alpha Waves
 * Amagon
 * American McGee's Alice
 * Alice Madness Returns
 * Ape Escape
 * ARES
 * Ardy Lightfoot
 * Assassin Blue
 * Assault Suits Valken (a.k.a. Cybernator)
 * Astro Boy Omega Factor
 * Athena
 * Avoid the Noid
 * Awesome Possum... Kicks Dr. Machino's Butt
 * Au Sable
 * Banjo-Kazooie
 * Barnyard Blast
 * Bionic Commando
 * Blackthorne
 * Blade Kitten
 * Blinx the Time Sweeper
 * Bonk's Adventure
 * Boogerman
 * A Boy and His Blob
 * Braid
 * Brave: The Search For Spirit Dancer
 * Bubsy
 * BUG!
 * Bugdom
 * Bunny Must Die
 * Canabalt
 * Cannon Dancer
 * Captain Comic
 * Castlevania (Later installments became Action Adventure Platformers. Then... well, the series helped name the Metroidvania genre.)
 * Castlevania 1986
 * Haunted Castle
 * Super Castlevania IV
 * Castlevania the Adventure 
 * Castlevania III Draculas Curse
 * Castlevania II Belmonts Revenge
 * Castlevania Legends
 * Castlevania Rondo of Blood
 * Castlevania Bloodlines
 * Kid Dracula
 * Cat Planet
 * The Caverns of Hammerfest
 * Charlie Ninja
 * Charlie the Duck
 * Chibi-Robo
 * Chronos Twin
 * Chuckie Egg
 * Clarences Big Chance
 * Claw
 * Clonk, among about twenty other genres.
 * Cobalt
 * Commander Keen
 * Commando 2
 * The Company of Myself
 * Conkers Bad Fur Day
 * Conquest of the Crystal Palace
 * Contra
 * Cool Spot
 * Cosmos Cosmic Adventure
 * Costume Party
 * Crash Bandicoot
 * Crash Bandicoot 1996
 * Crash Bandicoot 2 Cortex Strikes Back
 * Crash Bandicoot 3 Warped
 * Crash Bandicoot the Wrath of Cortex
 * Crash Bandicoot Purple Riptos Rampage
 * Crash Twinsanity
 * Crescent Pale Mist
 * Croc
 * Crystal Caves
 * Crystal Towers 2
 * Dark Castle
 * De Blob
 * Depict 1
 * Diamond Hollow II
 * Dino Run
 * Doki Doki Panic
 * Donkey Kong
 * Donkey Kong Country
 * Donkey Kong Country 3 Dixie Kongs Double Trouble
 * Donkey Kong Country Returns
 * Donkey Kong 64
 * Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
 * Doom Troopers
 * Drawn to Life
 * Duck Tales
 * Duke Nukem
 * Duke Nukem I
 * Duke Nukem II
 * Duke Nukem Manhattan Project
 * Dustforce
 * Dynamite Headdy
 * El Shaddai Ascension of the Metatron
 * El Viento
 * Earnest Evans
 * Earthworm Jim
 * Enough Plumbers
 * Eversion
 * Evil Twin Cypriens Chronicles
 * Fancy Pants Adventures
 * Fez
 * Final Vision
 * Fire and Ice
 * Flashback
 * Galaxia Chronicles
 * A Game With a Kitty
 * Garfield Caught in The Act
 * Gex
 * Ghosts N Goblins
 * Gargoyles Quest
 * Mr. Gimmick
 * Gish
 * Glover
 * The Great Giana Sisters
 * Gun Valkyrie
 * Hagane
 * Hammerin Harry
 * Hap Hazard
 * Hard Hat
 * Holdover
 * Ice Climber
 * The Iconoclasts
 * Indiana Rodent
 * Ivy the Kiwi
 * Iji
 * I Wanna Be the Guy
 * IWBTG Fangames
 * Jackie Chans Action Kung Fu
 * Jak and Daxter (include elements of Wide Open Sandbox and Third Person Shooter)
 * Jak and Daxter The Precursor Legacy
 * Jak II Renegade
 * Jak 3 Wastelander
 * Jazz Jackrabbit
 * Jed
 * Jelly Boy 2
 * Jet Set Willy
 * Jett Rocket
 * Jill of the Jungle
 * Joe and Mac Caveman Ninja
 * Jumper
 * Jumping Flash
 * Kabuki Quantum Fighter
 * Kenseiden
 * Kid Chameleon
 * Kid Icarus
 * Kirby
 * Kirby Super Star
 * Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
 * Kirbys Epic Yarn
 * Kirbys Return to Dream Land
 * Klonoa
 * Knytt Stories
 * Kya: Dark Lineage
 * The Legendary Starfy
 * Legend of Kay
 * The Legendof Zelda CDI Games
 * Limbo
 * The Lion King
 * Little Big Planet
 * The Little Mermaid
 * Little Nemo the Dream Master
 * The Lost Vikings
 * Lucidity
 * Lyle in Cube Sector
 * Magical Doropie
 * Magic Sword Heroic Fantasy
 * Malice
 * Manic Miner
 * Mari 0
 * The Maw
 * Maze of Galious
 * Mega Man (Classic Series)
 * Mega Man 1
 * Mega Man 2
 * Mega Man 3
 * Mega Man 4
 * Mega Man 5
 * Mega Man 6
 * Mega Man 7
 * Mega Man 8
 * Mega Man 72
 * Mega Man and Bass
 * Mega Man Maximum
 * Mega Man the CRORQ Chronicles
 * Mega Man Powered Up
 * Mega Man Triple Threat 
 * Mega Man Rocks
 * Mega Man Unlimited
 * Rockman 2 Deus Ex Machina
 * Rockman Exhaust
 * Rock Man 4 Minus Infinity
 * Rockman No Constancy
 * Rockman No Exile
 * Rockmen R
 * Mega Man X
 * Mega Man X Corrupted
 * Mega Man Zero
 * Mega Man ZX
 * Mega Mari
 * Metal Storm
 * Metroid (also an Action Adventure)
 * Metroid Other M
 * Mickey Mouse
 * Mickey Mousecapade
 * Castle of Illusion
 * World of Illusion
 * Disneys Magical Quest
 * Mickey Mania
 * Epic Mickey
 * Midnight Wanderers: Quest for the Chariot
 * Mighty Jill Off
 * Miner 2049 er
 * Mini Ninjas (Also an Action Adventure)
 * Mirrors Edge
 * Mission in Snowdriftland
 * Milon's Secret Castle
 * Monster Bash
 * Monster Party
 * Moon Crystal
 * Mr. Robot
 * Mushroom Kingdom Fusion
 * My Little Pony Rise of Vicis
 * N
 * New Super Marisa Land
 * The New Zealand Story
 * Nezumi Man
 * Nicktoons Unite (Also an Action Adventure and/or Beat Em Up, depending on game)
 * Night Sky
 * Nikujin
 * Nin 2 Jump
 * Ninjabread Man
 * Ninja Gaiden
 * Nuts and Milk
 * Nyx Quest
 * Owlboy
 * Pac Man World
 * Pandemonium
 * Pitfall
 * Pitfall 3D Beyond the Jungle
 * Plok
 * Pole no Daibouken
 * Prehistorik
 * Prince of Persia
 * Prince of Persia (2008)
 * Prinny Can I Really Be the Hero
 * Psychonauts
 * Psychosomnium
 * Psycho Waluigi
 * Purple
 * Quackshot
 * Rabbids Go Home
 * Radical Rex
 * Ratchet and Clank (which also dips into Action Adventure and Third Person Shooter)
 * Ratchet & Clank
 * Ratchet and Clank Going Commando
 * Ratchet and Clank Up Your Arsenal
 * Ratchet Deadlocked (which had less platforming than previous installments)
 * Ratchet and Clank Size Matters
 * Secret Agent Clank
 * Ratchet and Clank Future Tools of Destruction
 * Ratchet and Clank Future A Crack In Time
 * Rayman
 * Rayman 2
 * Rayman Origins
 * Rework the Dead Evil
 * Rick Dangerous
 * Ristar
 * Rochard
 * Rocket Knight Adventures
 * Rocket Robot On Wheels
 * Rocky Rodent
 * Rokko Chan
 * Rolling Thunder
 * Rosenkreuzstilette
 * Run Saber
 * Run Man Race Around the World
 * Saira
 * Scaler
 * Scurge Hive
 * Secret Agent
 * Seiklus
 * Shift
 * The Simpsons Game
 * Sly Cooper
 * Snow Bros
 * Socket (aka Time Dominator)
 * Somari
 * Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Sonic the Hedgehog 2
 * Sonic CD
 * Sonic Chaos 
 * Sonic 3 & Knuckles
 * Sonic Triple Trouble
 * Knuckles Chaotix
 * Sonic Labyrinth
 * Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island
 * Sonic Jam
 * Sonic Pocket Adventure
 * Sonic Adventure
 * Sonic Adventure 2
 * Sonic Advance Trilogy
 * Sonic Heroes
 * Shadow the Hedgehog
 * Sonic Rush Series
 * Sonic the Hedgehog 2006
 * Sonic Rivals
 * Sonic Storybook Series
 * Sonic Unleashed
 * Sonic the Hedgehog 4
 * Sonic Colors
 * Sonic Generations
 * Spelunker
 * Spelunky (Also a Roguelike)
 * SpongeBob Square Pants: Battle for Bikini Bottom
 * Splosion Man
 * Ms. 'Splosion Man
 * Spyro the Dragon
 * Spyro the Dragon 1998
 * Spyro 2 Riptos Rage
 * ''Spyro Year of the Dragon
 * Spyro Season of Ice
 * Spyro Enter the Dragonfly
 * Spyro Season Of Flame
 * Spyro Attack of the Rhynocs
 * Spyro Orange the Cortex Conspiracy
 * Spyro a Heros Tail
 * Spyro Shadow Legacy
 * The Legend of Spyro Trilogy
 * Skylanders Spyros Adventure
 * Space Station Silicon Valley
 * Stinkoman 20 X 6
 * Strider
 * Super Mario Bros
 * Super Mario Bros
 * Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
 * Super Mario Bros 2
 * Super Mario Bros 3
 * Super Mario Land
 * Super Mario Land 2 Six Golden Coins
 * Wario Land
 * Super Mario World
 * Yoshis Island
 * Yoshis Story
 * New Super Mario Bros
 * New Super Mario Bros Wii
 * Super Princess Peach
 * Super Mario 64
 * Super Mario Sunshine
 * Super Mario Galaxy
 * Super Mario Galaxy 2
 * Mario Is Missing
 * Mario vs. Donkey Kong
 * Wario World
 * Super Mario Fan Games
 * Super Mario Fusion Revival
 * Brutal Mario
 * Kaizo Mario World
 * The Second Reality Project
 * A Super Mario Thing
 * An SMWC Production
 * Super Pansy World
 * Super Mario Bros 3 X
 * Super Mario 63
 * Super Marisa Land
 * New Super Marisa Land
 * Super Marisa World
 * Psycho Waluigi
 * Super Meat Boy
 * Super Monkey Ball
 * Super Robotnik Land
 * Super Star Wars
 * Tails Adventure
 * Tail Concerto
 * Tak and The Power of Juju
 * Tempo
 * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
 * Terramex
 * Thing Thing (includes elements of a Third Person Shooter)
 *  Titus the Fox
 * Toejam and Earl: Panic on Funkotron
 * Toki
 * Tomba
 * Tonic Trouble
 * Totally Rad
 * Tower of Heaven
 * Treasure Adventure Game
 * Trine
 * Tumblepop
 * Ty the Tasmanian Tiger
 * Umihara Kawase
 * Valis
 * Vectorman
 * Vexx
 * Viewtiful Joe
 * Voodoo Vince
 * VVVVVV
 * Whacked!
 * Whiplash
 * Wonder Boy
 * Wonder Boy in Monster Land
 * Wonder Boy III Monster Lair
 * Wonder Boy III the Dragons Trap
 * Wonder Boy in Monster World
 * Monster World IV
 * World of Illusion 
 * Within a Deep Forest
 * Wizards and Warriors
 * Xargon
 * You Have to Burn The Rope
 * Zeliard
 * Zool