The PS4 is home to one of the richest platformer libraries of any modern console, mixing polished big-studio mascots with a huge wave of indie games built around tight controls and sharp level design. Whether you want a precision challenge, a cozy co-op adventure or a sprawling 2D exploration game, the best platformers on PS4 cover the whole range. Each entry below also notes one honest drawback.
1. Celeste#
Celeste, from Maddy Thorson and Noel Berry in 2018, follows Madeline as she climbs a mountain and confronts her own anxiety. Its controls are razor sharp, every screen is a compact puzzle of jumps and dashes, and Lena Raine's soundtrack is superb. An optional assist mode lets players tune the difficulty without losing the story. The harder B-Sides and the Farewell chapter are brutal, so perfectionists will suffer. It remains the benchmark for a precision platformer that is also emotionally honest, and it is a short, focused experience.
2. Hollow Knight#
Team Cherry's Hollow Knight drops you into the ruined insect kingdom of Hallownest, a large, hand-drawn, interconnected world full of secrets and memorable bosses. Combat is deliberate, the map is something you fill in yourself, and the atmosphere is unmatched. It is a metroidvania first, so the platforming is exploration-focused rather than fast. Progress can feel unforgiving, with few hints about where to go next and some frustrating backtracking. Still, it offers dozens of hours of content and is among the most celebrated indie games of its era.
3. It Takes Two#
Hazelight's It Takes Two, released in 2021 and directed by Josef Fares, is a co-op-only adventure about a couple turned into dolls who must repair their relationship. Every chapter introduces a new gimmick, from time manipulation to a giant toolshed, and keeps reinventing itself. It won Game of the Year at The Game Awards. You need a second player, locally or online, and the story is sentimental and slightly clumsy. As a shared experience, few platformers come close, and it is ideal for couples or friends.
4. Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time#
Toys for Bob's 2020 sequel continues the classic series after the original trilogy, with new Quantum Masks that change the rules of a level, such as slowing time or flipping gravity. It is a challenging, colorful 3D platformer with many collectibles, and the N. Verted mode remixes stages with visual twists. The difficulty and the death counter can be punishing, especially in the optional flashback tapes. It respects the old design while adding modern touches, and it is one of the best mascot platformers on the system.
5. Sackboy: A Big Adventure#
Sumo Digital's 2020 spin-off from the LittleBigPlanet series turns Sackboy into a 3D platformer with whimsical worlds, rhythm-driven levels and cooperative play for up to four players. Its craft-style look is charming and the controls feel precise and forgiving. It is a family-friendly game with gentle difficulty, so experienced players may find the main path too easy. Optional collectibles and harder bonus levels offer extra depth. It was released on both PS4 and PS5, and suits younger players and families particularly well.
6. Ratchet & Clank#
Insomniac Games released this reimagining of the 2002 original in April 2016, tied to the animated film. It pairs tight platforming with a large arsenal of inventive weapons, and the PS4 version looks like a playable cartoon. The weapons feel great, and the pacing is brisk. It follows the original closely, so series veterans will know most of the beats, and the platforming is lighter than in pure platformers. As an action platformer showpiece for the console, it still impresses.
7. Spyro Reignited Trilogy#
Toys for Bob rebuilt the first three Spyro games from the ground up for 2018, turning the PlayStation classics into a colorful, modern collection. Gliding, charging and exploring open hubs feels as good as it did originally, and the new visuals are lovely. The games remain relaxed and collection-based, and the camera can be awkward in some tight spaces. It is a generous package of three complete games, and a good choice for players who want an easy, cheerful 3D platformer.
8. Psychonauts 2#
Double Fine's 2021 sequel, led by Tim Schafer, sends Raz into the minds of troubled people, with each mental world built around a different personality. The platforming is solid, and the humor, art direction and writing are top tier. The levels are creative and often touching. Some combat sections are weaker than the exploration, and the controls are looser than in a precision game. It is strongest as a narrative-driven adventure, and a great recommendation for players who enjoy creativity over pure challenge.
9. Cuphead#
Studio MDHR's Cuphead is a run-and-gun platformer inspired by 1930s cartoons, hand-animated and set to a jazz score. Bosses are the focus, each with several phases, and the platforming levels are shorter. It is famously difficult, and learning patterns takes many attempts. Couch co-op helps somewhat. The original release was in 2017 and it came to PS4 in 2020. The look and sound are truly unique, but newcomers who dislike repeated failure should skip it.
10. Shovel Knight#
Yacht Club Games' Shovel Knight, launched in 2014, celebrates the 8-bit era with tight controls, a downward shovel bounce and a memorable chiptune score. The Treasure Trove edition bundles several campaigns, each with a different hero and its own mechanics. It is a love letter to NES-era design, yet feels modern. Retro visuals and fixed difficulty may not appeal to everyone, and some checkpoints are demanding. It is a generous, well-crafted package with lots of content.
11. Sonic Mania#
Sonic Mania from 2017 was developed with Christian Whitehead and other fan-turned-developers, and it revives the speed and loops of the Mega Drive era. It remixes classic stages and adds new ones with sharp pixel art and a great soundtrack. The game feels authentic and fast. Some stages have cheap deaths and a few bosses are frustrating, and it leans on nostalgia. For fans of 2D Sonic it is the strongest entry in years, and it is a fun, quick playthrough.
12. A Hat in Time#
Gears for Breakfast released A Hat in Time in 2017 as a love letter to 3D collect-a-thon platformers such as Super Mario 64. Hat Kid has a wide range of moves and each chapter has a distinct theme, from a murder mystery on a train to a film studio. It is charming, funny and full of personality. Technical polish is uneven and the camera can be troublesome, particularly on console. It is still a wonderful alternative to the big mascot games.
13. Inside#
Playdead's Inside from 2016, the follow-up to Limbo, is a dark, wordless puzzle-platformer about a boy in a grim dystopia. It is short, atmospheric and tightly designed, with smooth animation and one of the most discussed endings in games. The puzzles are fair and rarely frustrating. It can be finished in a few hours and offers limited replay value, and the platforming is simple. It is best seen as a short, unforgettable experience with superb pacing.
14. Gris#
Nomada Studio's Gris, first released in December 2018 and arriving on PS4 in November 2019, is a beautiful watercolor platformer about grief and recovery. Gentle platforming and light puzzles introduce new abilities as colors return to the world. There is no death or fail state, and the soundtrack is lovely. It is very easy and short, so players who want a challenge will be disappointed. As a serene, artful experience, it is a standout on the platform.
15. Super Meat Boy#
Team Meat's Super Meat Boy, first released in 2010, is a fast, brutal platformer where you guide a small cube of meat through hundreds of short levels. Controls are tight and instant restarts keep the frustration manageable. The difficulty is high and some later levels demand extreme precision. It helped define the modern indie platformer and has a strong sense of humor. If you like a demanding challenge and quick retries, it remains a superb choice.
16. Mega Man 11#
Capcom's Mega Man 11, released in October 2018, brought the Blue Bomber back with a modern 2.5D look and the Double Gear system, which lets you slow time or boost your shots. The eight Robot Masters are creative and the stage design is tight. Its difficulty is adjustable. The formula is familiar and some bosses rely on trial and error, so those seeking big surprises may be let down. It is a strong return for a classic series.