Forget Your Fancy 3D, 2025 Just Declared a 2D Platformer Renaissance
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Jeff reports on 2025 surprisingly shaping up to be the best year for 2D platformers since the SNES era, highlighting a slew of innovative titles like *Hollow Knight: Silksong* and *Shinobi: Art of Vengeance* that are challenging the dominance of 3D blockbusters. He speculates this renaissance proves 2D gaming's continued potential for innovation and engagement.
Right, so you know that feeling when you're messing around with a new spell, expecting a little spark, and instead, you accidentally summon a whole bloody dragon? That's kinda what's happening in the gaming world right now, particularly if you’ve got a soft spot for side-scrolling, pixel-perfect action. Apparently, 2025 isn't just a year for those colossal 3D epics like *Death Stranding 2* or *Monster Hunter Wilds* – no, mate, it’s also pulled off a proper magic trick, conjuring up the best crop of 2D platformers we’ve seen since the hallowed days of the Super Nintendo. It’s a proper renaissance, and frankly, I’m absolutely buzzing about it.
Now, before you go thinking I'm just prone to hyperbole (which, admittedly, I sometimes am when discussing a truly brilliant game), this isn't just my wild, chaotic observation. As keenly noted by Giovanni Colantonio over at Polygon, the last few weeks in particular have seen a veritable flood of retro-inspired beauties that have been stealing the thunder from games with far bigger marketing budgets. It's like the universe decided to remind us that sometimes, less truly is more, especially when it comes to expertly crafted pixels and tight controls.
The argument for 2025 being the year of the 2D platformer kicks off with a triple-threat combo that landed harder than a fully charged spell. First up, we had *Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound* in late July. A faithful pixel-art throwback, it hit all the right nostalgic notes while still feeling fresh. Just when we thought we’d caught our breath, along came *Shinobi: Art of Vengeance* a month later. This one, with its illustrative art, blistering combat, and deconstructed Metroidvania format, felt like a proper evolution, fusing the old school with clever modern twists.
But let's be fair dinkum here, the real star that capped off this trilogy, the one that’s currently dominating the digital rumour mill and Steam charts, is *Hollow Knight: Silksong*. Oh, *Silksong*. The mere mention of it sends shivers down the spines of Metroidvania fans everywhere. Team Cherry's latest has been getting breathless praise, positioning itself as a potential instant classic. And here’s the kicker: it’s the only game released this year that poses a genuine threat to *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33*'s Game of the Year odds. If it snags that top gong at The Game Awards, it wouldn’t just be a win for *Silksong*; it’d be a monumental statement for 2D gaming as a whole.
Now, if those three alone aren't enough to convince you we're living in a golden age, strap in, because there's more. Nestled right in the midst of that high-profile run, we got *Öoo*. A compact platformer about a bomb-dropping caterpillar, it’s a brilliant little enigma that shows how much mileage you can get out of a single, well-implemented mechanic. We're talking Portal-level ingenuity with just a bomb. Seriously, it's a dark horse GOTY contender for a reason.
And let's not forget the Metroidvania scene was cooking long before *Silksong* dropped its magic on us. *Blade Chimera* by Team Ladybug and WSS Playground landed early in the year, bringing its own fantastic action and beating the *Ninja Gaiden* and *Shinobi* to the 'cool retro ninja' punch. Then there's *Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist*, following in *Hollow Knight*'s footsteps with stunning atmospheric art and those brutally satisfying boss fights we all secretly crave. It's a proper treat for anyone who loves their exploration with a side of suffering.
Beyond the Metroidvania sprawl, we’ve also seen some wonderfully weird stuff. *Shadow Labyrinth*, Bandai Namco’s oddball *Pac-Man* game, might have its quirks, but it uses the yellow puck in fascinating, almost hallucinogenic ways to create some truly gonzo gaming fever dreams. For the roguelike aficionados, *The Rogue Prince of Persia* riffs on a classic series, serving up *Dead Cells*-like action but with a glorious emphasis on fluid, acrobatic mobility. It’s like a parkour master decided to have a fight in a kaleidoscope.
And if you’re after a true sleeper hit, the kind you stumble upon in a dusty old digital library and wonder where it’s been all your life, then *Bionic Bay* is 2025’s hidden gem. It’s *Limbo*-inspired, full of ingenious physics puzzles that make your brain do delightful backflips, reminiscent of *Portal*'s cleverness. From swapping objects to bending gravity, it’s a brain-bender delivering some of the year’s most striking 2D spaces. Fair dinkum, it’s brilliant.
So, what does all this mean, mate? We get good 2D games every year, sure – *Super Mario Bros. Wonder* and *Animal Well* were fantastic – but this year feels different. The sheer *volume* and *quality* have ratcheted up considerably. It’s a glorious reminder that 2D games aren't just nostalgia trips; they're fertile ground for innovation, fresh mechanics, and deeply engaging experiences that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with any triple-A, hyper-realistic, 3D behemoth out there. *Silksong* dominating the charts is a pretty loud signal, if you ask me. Reckon the big studios might just wise up to this truth soon enough. Don’t be surprised if this isn't just a trend, but a full-blown, magical renaissance that's here to stay.
Tags: 2D Platformers, Metroidvania, Gaming Trends, Indie Games, Retro Gaming
Original article: Polygon