There are plenty of games out there like Crash Bandicoot. Considering how Crash has become such a beloved IP over the years, it’s understandable why people would want to capitalize on that success.
However, for every copycat out there (or, should we say, copy-bandicoot), only a few manage to capture what makes Crash Bandicoot so great.
To help you find more games with tough platforming challenges and tight controls, here’s a list of 15 platformer games like Crash Bandicoot to check out today.
15. Super Mario 3D All Stars
Super Mario 3D All-Stars brings together the best of the best when it comes to Mario’s 3D platformer outings. It’s a collection of games that Crash fans need to check out.
Starting out with Super Mario 64, this game revolutionized the platforming genre when it was first released. While other games perfected the formula, Super Mario 64 laid the foundation for every game that followed.
When it comes to Super Mario Sunshine, Mario has never felt smoother to control. With tons of flips and new movement mechanics, the only thing missing is the long jump.
And, finishing up with Super Mario Galaxy, this game skipped over the freedom of movement found in the other two titles but replaced it with jaw-dropping spectacle and one of the greatest video game scores ever conceived.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars is a great way to experience Mario’s glory days. If you’re looking for more games like Crash Bandicoot from a classic franchise, this is the pick for you.
14. Sonic Origins
If you love old-school 2D platforming challenges, then Sonic Origins is the best pick for you. This bundle allows players to relive the original trilogy + Knuckles, all in a modern style.
The first three Sonic games managed to propel the blue hedgehog into the stratosphere of mainstream popularity, and it’s clear to see why.
There were a few teething problems with the first game, but Sonic team really kicked it into gear from the sequel onwards.
The gameplay is fast, highly reactive, and most of all, fun! Sonic has seen his fair share of misfortune over the years, much like another shirtless orange gaming mascot you might know.
Still, the originals will always be there to replay, and thanks to Sonic Origins, they are as accessible as ever.
13. Super Mario Odyssey
The world of 3D Mario games can seemingly do no wrong. Ever since Super Mario 64, each new release has continued to push the boundaries of what makes platformers so great.
Super Mario Odyssey is no exception, and many would rank it as one of the best platformers on the Nintendo Switch.
Super Mario Odyssey’s unique game mechanic involves using your hat to take control of various objects around the game world. It is a simple premise but allows for so much creative movement around levels and provides even more unique puzzles to solve.
Games like Mario Odyssey are few and far between, but the amazing level design, fluid controls, and challenging but fair gameplay is something found in most Crash Bandicoot titles also.
The only downside to Mario Odyssey would be that some of the worlds feel a bit by-the-books.
The generic water, desert, and ice worlds, however, are juxtaposed with amazing new levels such as the Metro Kingdom and the Ruined Kingdom.
All in all, Super Mario Odyssey is a must-play for an avid Nintendo Switch enjoyer.
12. Super Meat Boy
Super Meat Boy offers players some of the toughest platforming challenges around. With a control scheme that is easy to pick up but difficult to master, Super Meat Boy is a great game for both casual players and hardcore gamers alike.
What makes Super Meat Boy so great are the smooth-as-silk controls.
There is no such thing as a cheap death in Super Meat Boy. Every game over can be attributed to something you, as a player, did incorrectly.
Crash Bandicoot hasn’t always been like this. In the early days of the series, cheap deaths seemed to appear around every corner.
Thankfully, this has been ironed out a lot in the newer games. Namely, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time’s inclusion of a small shadow is nothing if not a godsend. Being able to precisely pinpoint where you will land has never been easier, thanks to this inclusion.
If you love the sometimes brutal difficulty of Crash Bandicoot titles, Super Meat Boy will not disappoint.
11. Sackboy: A Big Adventure
A spin-off from the Little Big Planet series, Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a PS5 exclusive platforming adventure with tons of charm.
Players will travel through various levels and take on increasingly difficult platforming challenges as everyone’s favorite modern-day PlayStation mascot, Sackboy.
This game is far less taxing than your average platformer. This goes doubly so when talking about a game like Crash Bandicoot.
Much like LittleBigPlanet was created as a pseudo tech demo for the PlayStation 3, Sackboy: A Big Adventure does the same thing for the PS5. It shows off the capabilities of the platform perfectly and stands out as one of the best platforming experiences, hands down.
If you enjoy a casual platformer to wind down with after a long day, this is the one for you!
10. Cuphead
When Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course came out, people immediately fell back in love with the Cuphead franchise, and with good reason.
Let’s start off with the most striking thing about Cuphead; its art style. Every frame of Cuphead’s gameplay is hand-drawn, making the style all but timeless.
The gameplay is full of unique abilities to keep casual players interested and enough challenge to test speedrunners to their very limits.
The Delicious Last Course comes with a brand-new character that plays completely differently than Cuphead and Mugman. Additionally, the game comes with a plethora of new weapons and challenging boss fights, each with its own unique mechanics.
Cuphead is easily one of the most unique platformers around and fans of games with a Crash Bandicoot vibe will love it.
9. Sonic Mania
Sonic, much like Crash Bandicoot, has had a rough ride over the years, with the developers behind the IP being unable to recapture the magic of the original games.
Sonic has lost a lot of magic at this point, with crazier and crazier mechanics detracting from what made the blue blur special.
Fans have always been asking for a return to form, and a dedicated few decided to take things into their own hands.
Sonic Mania come from fans, for fans. It reimagines some of the classic Sonic levels with a modern touch.
High-octane, fast-paced, and side-scrolling gameplay is par for the course in Sonic Mania.
Crash Bandicoot’s bonus levels (and a few stages in Crash Bandicoot 4) opt for a 2D side-scrolling shift, and these are a nice break between the traditional levels.
Sonic Mania is a great return to form for Sonic and is arguably the best game of this series since Sonic Generations.
8. Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair
The original Yooka-Laylee was designed from the ground up to be a spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie.
Unfortunately, it seems this end goal clouded the creative vision of some of the developers, as the final product felt more like a fan game honoring the original, and less like a fully fleshed-out product.
Luckily, Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair takes things in a different direction and is much better for it.
The game still takes inspiration from a retro title (this time, Donkey Kong Country), but the unique mechanics on display here make the game able to stand on its own two feet.
The sidescrolling challenges in Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair are great for both newcomers and veteran gamers alike.
One problem with Crash Bandicoot is its crushing difficulty in certain sections. If you find yourself unable to progress through a particularly tough platforming challenge in this game, there isn’t really much you can do about it.
However, Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair allows players to take on the final level right from the get-go.
This level, as you might expect, is incredibly difficult.
Luckily, by playing through the game’s other levels, you can acquire more health with which to take on the Impossible Lair.
This is a great mechanic that allows true hardcore players to test their mettle while the more casual audience can actively increase their durability.
7. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury completely revitalizes the 3D World lineup of Mario games.
Everything that makes these games great goes to the absolute breaking point in Bowser’s Fury.
Despite this arguably being only one level, there are so many things to do and so much content to unpack here that it can easily pass for its own game.
A lesser-appreciated aspect of Bowser’s Fury is the soundtrack. The game is one massive world, but each different area has a unique and captivating background track to go along with it.
Crash Bandicoot has always had great music, from the simple but effective riffs of the first game to the strangely unique acapella score of Crash Twinsanity.
6. Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart
Ratchet and Clank has had a significant rebranding over the years.
What started out as a buddy cop story about a snarky and quick-to-anger mechanic and his by-the-books robot partner has fallen by the wayside.
The new age of Ratchet and Clank shifts Ratchet and Clank’s personality and makes them more into generic heroes.
The first game featured in this reimagining of the pair was met with a mixed reception. The gameplay was fun, and the new weapons are still enjoyable to use, but there was a lot less character and overall challenge.
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart seeks to amend some of these mistakes.
Tons of unique weapons, plenty of new mechanics, and a far more interesting story are what lies in store this time around.
Definitely be sure to check out Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart if you haven’t done so already. Games with a Ratchet and Clank vibe are perfect for Crash Bandicoot fans.
5. Psychonauts 2
Psychonauts 2 is an absolute classic, and it’s one of the best games like Crash Bandicoot that you should be adding to your library today.
The main difference between Psychonauts 2 and Crash Bandicoot is that it places a lot of focus on narrative. Crash Bandicoot has a fun story in places, but Psychonauts 2 absolutely blows it out of the water by comparison.
That isn’t to suggest that the core platforming gameplay of Psychonauts 2 isn’t up to par.
There are still plenty of tricky challenges and interesting mechanics on display that will test even the most capable of gamers.
If you love Crash Bandicoot but want a game with a little more of a storyline to sink your teeth into, Psychonauts 2 is the game for you.
4. Rayman 2: The Great Escape
This is an absolutely legendary title, and Crash Bandicoot fans are sure to know it by name at least if they haven’t played it already.
Despite being a relatively old game, Rayman 2 still offers tons of tough platforming challenges and unique gameplay features.
Much like Crash Bandicoot, Rayman 2 is always willing to try something new.
In Crash Bandicoot, one minute, you will be running and jumping, and the next, you will be riding on the back of a polar bear or participating in a motorcycle race.
Rayman 2 keeps things just as fresh. One moment, you will be firing away at a group of enemies while on foot, and the next, you will be on a makeshift jetski trying to avoid perilous objects coming your way.
3. Spongebob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated
Trying to create a game based on a TV show or movie is always risky.
There’s a few examples of some successful ones (e.g. the Harry Potter games, for the most part) but a lot of the time, they are seen as cash-grabs by the gaming community.
The original Battle for Bikini Bottom was a far better game than anyone could’ve expected it to be. The plot was solid, the platforming levels were tight, and the voice acting was stellar.
The game quickly developed a cult following, with dedicated speedrunning fans to this day.
Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated was made with these fans in mind, but unfortunately, a lot of them felt like it missed the mark.
Don’t get us wrong, the story is still solid and the gameplay still holds up. It was just a little disappointing to not see many quality of life improvements.
That being said, this game is still undoubtedly a must-play for Crash Bandicoot fans. Whether you choose to play the original or the remake, it’s an absolute delight to play through.
2. Banjo-Kazooie
Banjo-Kazooie is one of the greatest 3D platformers ever made.
It goes to show how amazing this game is that it still remains relevant decades after its initial release.
Moreover, despite having only two mainline games that make up its entire franchise, fans still praise the bear and bird duo for perfecting the platforming formula.
Banjo-Kazooie takes players through various worlds where they can learn new attack moves, acquire new abilities, and take on various platforming challenges.
Much like Crash Bandicoot, one of the key incentives for completionists out there is the countless collectible items on offer.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time took this to the next level, including more items required for 100% completion than ever before.
Banjo-Kazooie was one of the pioneers of the “collect-a-thon” genre alongside other Rare classics like Donkey Kong 64.
Moreover, Banjo-Kazooie’s writing is another aspect that makes it special. Newer Crash Bandicoot games have great writing for characters like Cortex, and the hilarious character writing of Banjo-Kazooie will make fans of the Bandicoot feel right at home.
1. Spyro Reignited Trilogy
Crash Bandicoot and Spyro go hand in hand the same way Mario and Sonic do. Both these mascots have gone through similar development cycles over the years and are still popular with modern gamers to this day.
Both the original Crash Bandicoot and Spyro trilogy were incredibly popular on the original PlayStation.
Then, things got a little rocky as these IPs each had their brands exploited in different ways. Unfortunately, this resulted in arguably quite a few bad Crash Bandicoot and Spyro games for various gaming systems over the years.
However, now Crash Bandicoot and Spyro are back in the world’s good books, thanks to the full remakes of their original games.
The Spyro Reignited Trilogy has been praised by both newcomers and veterans alike for its great art direction, solid gameplay, and faithfulness to the original three games.
Yes, a few speedrunning glitches no longer exist in these remakes. However, a large helping of new glitches can be found in these games that make the overall run completely different!
If you enjoy the tight platforming challenges, dozens of collectibles, and charming art style of Crash Bandicoot, the Spyro Reignited Trilogy should definitely be the next game on your list.
