Best PlayStation Games Like Mario

Key Takeaways

• Mario’s exclusivity to Nintendo consoles may be disappointing for some gamers, but there are many great games like
  Mario
  on PlayStation.
• PlayStation has a wide variety of platformers like
  Super Meat Boy
  ,
  Shovel Knight
  ,
  Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, Sackboy: A Big Adventure, Celeste, New Super Lucky’s Tale, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Spyro Reignited Trilogy
  , and
  Rayman Legends
  that provide fun and challenging gameplay.

Since his first appearance in the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong, Mario has gone on to become one of the most recognizable characters in not just gaming but all media. Mario’s success stems from the incredible lineup of games that he has featured in over the years, many of which have helped elevate the gaming industry to where it is today.

One of the plumber’s few downsides is that he only appears on Nintendo consoles, preventing millions of gamers from enjoying his many excellent adventures. Thankfully for PlayStation users, there are many great games like Mario on the PS5 they can enjoy to have a great time and elicit a lot of what makes everyone’s favorite Italian plumber such a joy to control.

Updated on November 23, 2024, by Usama Ali: Nintendo’s Mario franchise is one of the most successful in gaming history, especially the platformers, where Mario jumps through levels to rescue Princess Peach. Even though Mario has been a beloved gaming icon for decades, PlayStation gamers have often missed out on his adventures. Thankfully, many fantastic platformer games like Mario are available on PS5 and other Sony consoles that offer similar levels of fun and excitement. This list has now been updated with a few more classic platformers, with challenging missions, colorful worlds, and memorable characters that players will like if they’re Mario fans.

18 The Messenger

A Challenging Platformer Perfect For Fans Of Hard Classic Nintendo Games Like Mario

An action-packed platformer that pays homage to both the 8-bit and 16-bit eras of this genre, it’s easy to see why The Messenger deserves all its plaudits and then some. The game’s tough-as-nails gameplay makes it perfect for fans of games like Ninja Gaiden and Mario.

The quirky writing of The Messenger coupled with its excellent presentation makes it a great game like Mario on the PS4. It’s a love letter to the golden era of this genre that fans will find easy to get into and hard to tear themselves away from.

17 Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time

The Latest Game Featuring This Beloved Marsupial Is Perfect For Players Seeking Out Modern Platformers

Crash Bandicoot fans loved the recent turnaround of this marsupial. Not only did they get a remaster of the original trilogy that rivaled Nintendo’s mascot, but they were also treated to a brand new game in the series that brings some unique ideas to the table.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time features an amazing level of presentation and fun levels that fans of this character love. It’s one of the best games like Mario on the PS5 players can check out if they want to enjoy an excellent platformer on this console.

16 Fez

Perfect For Platforming Fans Who Love Mario’s Creative Level Design

An indie platformer that blew everyone’s minds when it launched, Fez shows the power of perspective and how it alters a game’s level design for the better. Featuring hallmarks of both the puzzle and platforming genre, it’s easy to see why so many players hailed Fez as one of the best games like Mario on the PS4.

It’s a shame that this title’s sequel was canceled since the developer hated how much this game was pirated. Players who have yet to check out this imaginative platformer are doing themselves a huge disservice.

15 Spelunky

Platforming Action With A Roguelike Twist

Spelunky was first released in 2008 on PC before arriving on a range of other consoles. The game is one of the most influential indie releases of all time, both for popularizing the roguelike genre and for showing consumers how great indie games could be at a time when they were looked down upon for a perceived lack of quality compared to AAA titles.

Spelunky‘s procedurally generated levels, along with its wide range of weapons and enemies, have given the game tremendous replayability and were instrumental in showing just how much value-for-money roguelike games could provide. Players who love the revolutionary nature of Mario games will love Spelunky’s charming formula. The game’s sequel, Spelunky 2, is also well worth playing.

14 Psychonauts 2

Channel Your Psychic Powers in This Platform-Adventure Game

Psychonauts 2, the sequel to 2005’s Psychonauts, has been praised by critics as an even better game than its predecessor. This platform-adventure game continues the story of Razputin Aquato, a young boy with extraordinary psychic abilities. The game is set in the world of the Psychonauts, an international agency of psychic spies, where Raz is now a trainee.

Players go on a journey through the minds of various characters, each with their own unique and bizarre mental landscapes. These mental worlds are full of creative puzzles and challenges. As Raz explores people’s brains and battles their inner demons, he unlocks hidden memories and resolves their emotional baggage.

13 Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

A Beautiful 3D Platformer That Makes The Most Of The PS5’s Advanced SSD

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is the latest release on this list, having hit stores in June 2021. The game was released exclusively on the PlayStation 5 and features some of the most eye-catching visuals on the system thus far.

Rift Apart maintains the series’ unique blend of platforming and third-person shooter gameplay, making it perfect for players seeking out games like Mario on the PS5 with gameplay that involves guns. It also implements a few new features for good measure, such as Rift Tether, which lets players seamlessly warp between areas. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is one of several games that were once PlayStation exclusives but have since been released on PC.

12 Sonic Mania

A Solid Platforming Title From Mario’s Biggest Competitor Back In The Golden Age Of Platformers

Although Sonic’s 3D games have divided opinion, the hedgehog’s early 2D games are still highly thought of and remain great fun to play today. So, a team comprised of notable fan game developers teamed up to release Sonic Mania, which features several “remixed” levels from the classic games and a handful of new ones.

Granted, Sonic Mania lacked the innovation of Sonic Team releases, but it succeeded in its aim of simply giving fans a modern take on the classic Sonic experience — something that many had been asking for, resulting in one of the most highly-praised Sonic games of all time. It’s a perfect title for fans seeking out games like Mario on the PS5, given the history these two mascots share as rivals during the classic years of gaming.

11 Super Meat Boy

Perfect For Players Who Love Mario’s Gameplay But Want A Substantial Challenge

Like Spelunky, Super Meat Boy is one of the most influential indie releases of all time for its impact on indie gaming and for revitalizing the side-scrolling platformer genre.

Prior to Super Meat Boy‘s release in October 2010, platform games were struggling to justify their price tag compared to the ever-expanding open-world and adventure games. Super Meat Boy‘s lower price tag gave Team Meat the freedom to offer a classic linear platforming experience without having to worry about justifying an inflated price.

Super Meat Boy was also influential for removing Game Over screens and letting players instantly restart upon dying — a common feature in platformers today. Mario‘s Game Overs may have more impact but the moment-to-moment gameplay is pretty similar in both titles.

10 Shovel Knight

Elicits The Classic Goodness Of Platformers In The Past, Like Mario

Shovel Knight was initially released on PC in June 2014 before arriving on a plethora of other consoles. The game adopts an 8-bit graphical style reminiscent of classic NES platformers, such as Mario‘s classic games.

The crowdfunded indie game was a huge commercial success, which led to the release of multiple well-received DLCs. December 2019’s Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove is the best way to play Shovel Knight today, as the value-for-money package comes with the original game and four DLC packs.

9 Yooka-Laylee And The Impossible Lair

A Collectathon Perfect For Fans Of Mario’s Simple Gameplay Loop

It’s fair to say that the Yooka-Laylee franchise didn’t get off to the best of starts. The original game had a ton of hype behind it and broke records with its Kickstarter backing, though the final product failed to impress, exemplified by the PlayStation 4 version scoring just 68 on Metacritic.

Many people thought that the lackluster reviews and fan response would mark the end of the franchise. However, a new game was released just a couple of years later with a significant change of direction. Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair ditched its Banjo-Kazooie influences in favor of side-scrolling action similar to Donkey Kong Country and Super Mario Bros. and was a far more enjoyable experience.

8 Astro’s Playroom

An Interactive Platformer That Takes Players on A Journey Through the PS5’s Inner Workings

Astro’s Playroom is a delightful 3D platformer game that comes preloaded on every PlayStation 5 console. It was designed in such a way that it gives players an interactive demo of PS5’s DualSense Controller. Astro’s Playroom features four fantastical worlds, each inspired by a different component of the PS5. Each of the four worlds is further split up into four interconnected levels.

Players take control of an Astro Bot and follow his crew on adventures as they navigate through the PS5’s inner workings. The player’s Astro Bot can leap across gaps, bounce on enemies, and collect hidden items as they explore each level in Astro’s Playroom. Those who are a fan of the classic Mario platformers will feel right at home in Astro’s Playroom. Both games feature vibrant, imaginative worlds filled with quirky characters and challenging platforming puzzles.

7 Sackboy: A Big Adventure

A Charming Platformer Perfect For Fans Of Mario’s Colorful Aesthetic

Launch titles are often key to a console’s success in its first year. Consequently, there was significant interest from those with the PlayStation 5 on pre-order when Sackboy: A Big Adventure was released on the same day as the console.

Although the game is directly linked to the LittleBigPlanet series, the gameplay is vastly different. Sackboy: A Big Adventure ditches LittleBigPlanet‘s 2.5D perspective in favor of 3D and is more intent on providing a focused, linear experience rather than a wealth of customizability. It’s one of the best games like Mario on the PS5 that players can check out.

6 Celeste

An Excellent 2D Platformer With Clever Level Design And A Heartwarming Story

Celeste is one of modern gaming’s toughest platformers. Not only is simply reaching the end credits a tricky task, but beating the game 100% is incredibly challenging as players need to collect difficult-to-reach strawberries and well-hidden Crystal Hearts, as well as beat the punishingly tough B-side tapes.

Although the game is undeniably difficult, it never feels unfair, thanks to the wonderfully crafted control scheme that makes controlling Madeline feel tight and responsive. Moreover, the difficulty doesn’t feel like a gimmick as it ties perfectly into the game’s profound story. Players looking for games like Mario on the PS4 with a story-heavy approach will find Celeste to be right up their alley.

5 New Super Lucky’s Tale

A Fun And Simple Platformer That Mario Fans Will Love

When the original Super Lucky’s Tale was released in 2017, many PlayStation owners were understandably disappointed that the platformer wasn’t coming to the blue brand of console. However, such people were in luck when New Super Lucky’s Tale came to PlayStation 4 in 2020. New Super Lucky’s Tale is an expanded version of the original game, with significant improvements to the level design and camera.

New Super Lucky’s Tale is certainly not the most difficult game on this list, though it’s not patronizingly easy either, as the simple levels are made more challenging with the numerous side objectives and items to find and collect within. It’s a simple and fun game like Mario for the PS4 that players can check out.

4 A Hat in Time

An Adorable 3D Platformer Where A Girl Stitches Hats For Magical Powers

A Hat in Time is another adorable platformer game where players take on the role of Hat Kid, a young space traveler whose journey is interrupted when her spaceship’s fuel, Time Pieces, is stolen. To restore her fuel and continue her voyage, Hat Kid must explore strange new worlds, collect Time Pieces, and battle enemies, like the Mafia of Cooks.

Hat Kid’s unique superpower is that she can craft various hats by finding and collecting rare magical yarn. Each stitched hat grants her special abilities. For instance, the witch hat allows her to cook explosive concoctions. Players can freely explore five massive worlds and Hat Kid loves to jump and climb walls and swing through the sky. Every mission in A Hat in Time is unique and fans of Mario will truly enjoy this game.

3 Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy

A Remake Featuring A Character Created In Response To Mario’s Popularity

The original Crash Bandicoot was Naughty Dog’s first PlayStation game, and it was an attempt by the studio and Sony to create a mascot to rival Nintendo’s Mario and Sega’s Sonic. Naughty Dog undoubtedly did their part, as they created three games that are still among PlayStation’s best platformers today.

Activision delighted fans of the orange marsupial when they announced that they were teaming up with Vicarious Visions to remake the original Crash Bandicoot trilogy. The levels in Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy are far more linear than those featured in Mario’s 3D adventures, but like Mario, Crash has some of gaming’s most well-designed stages with numerous extra challenges to complete, such as gems for smashing every box and relics for completing time trials.

2 Spyro Reignited Trilogy

A Great 3D Platformer That Mario Fans Will Get A Kick Out Of

Crash Bandicoot isn’t the only PlayStation mascot that has had its PS1 trilogy remade, as Activision released Spyro Reignited Trilogy just over a year after the N. Sane Trilogy following the game’s commercial success.

The trilogy’s platforming doesn’t compare to Mario‘s, and the purple dragon’s move-set is far more limited. However, Spyro‘s excellently designed open levels are filled to the brim with well-hidden collectibles to find, giving Mario’s best collectathons, like Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Odyssey, a run for their money.

1 Rayman Legends

Rivals Mario’s Creative Level Design And Technical Polish

For fans of Mario’s side-scrolling adventures, Rayman Legends is the perfect substitute. It once seemed as though Rayman was hanging up his floating boots as a platformer and starting a new life in party games with the release of Rayman Raving Rabbids.

However, Rayman returned to platforming life in style, as Ubisoft released one incredible platformer after another, with Rayman Legends following Rayman Origins. The games proved that there was still a place for side-scrolling platformers in modern gaming, and the PS5 will hopefully see the series make a return.