10.ClusterTruck
In many ways,ClusterTruckis a deconstruction of the platformer genre. You’re running and jumping, but you’re not on a massive adventure or a journey to save a princess—you’re just hopping from truck to truck, ones that are driven by some truly awful drivers.
Similar to a game likeSuper Meat Boy, this is a “just one more try” run to the end.ClusterTruckis a simple idea, but that doesn’t make it any less fun.
Related:The Best Action Games on Xbox Game Pass, Ranked
9.Unravel Two
Unravel Twohints at the gameplay right in its title. Yes, sure, this is a sequel to the firstUnravel, but it also introduces a second playable version of the game’s main character, Yarny. You can play the entire game single-player, of course, but it’s much better if you play it with a friend.
Both the original and the sequel are worth playing, and both are on Xbox Game Pass. But if you’re only going to play one? Play the sequel.
Related:The Best Local Multiplayer (Couch) Games on Xbox Game Pass
8.Max: The Curse of Brotherhood
Max: The Curse of Brotherhoodis the kind of game that seems like it’s actually a remake of a PlayStation 2-era cult classic platformer, but that’s not the case! While it isn’t exactly new, it isn’t that old either, as it was released on the Xbox One in 2013.
This is a 2.5D puzzle platformer with Pixar-style graphics and a Disney-inspired story. The end result is a world of puzzles that aren’t brain-breakingly difficult, at least until the end when it ramps up.
7.Human Fall Flat
Human Fall Flatis what I like to call… a comedy physics game. There isn’t much of a story to speak of, but that’s okay because the humor comes from the act of trying to do literallyanything.
The game has intentionally imprecise controls, which means you’ll fail over and over again—and that’s totally fine, because you fail so ridiculously and so spectacularly that you can’t help but bust out laughing.
You may never actually finish the game. That isn’t the point.Human Fall Flatis a platformer game unlike any other on Xbox Game Pass.
Related:The Funniest Video Games That’ll Make You Laugh
6.New Super Lucky’s Tale
Don’t be confused: Xbox Game Pass has bothSuper Lucky’s TaleandNew Super Lucky’s Tale, and it isn’t immediately clear what the difference is.
Basically,New Super Lucky’s Taleis a much more polished version of the original game, so you should just stick with this one.
New Super Lucky’s Taleis a 3D platformer in the tradition ofMario, complete with plenty of running, jumping, and collecting shiny objects. It doesn’t add much new to the formula, but it’s a solid game overall.
5.Hollow Knight
Its somewhat divisive art style aside,Hollow Knighthas earned a deserved reputation as one of the best Metroidvania games ever made.
Hollow Knight: Voidheart Editionis just the name for the Xbox and PlayStation versions. There’s virtually no difference between this and the original game except that it comes with all four content packs (instead of needing to download them separately).
Compared to most of the other games on this list,Hollow Knightis far less whimsical in its tone. Looking for a platformer that doesn’t look like every color of crayon was thrown at the screen? This one’s for you.
Related:The Best Indie Game Soundtracks of All Time, Ranked
4.Record of Lodoss War -Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth-
You can tell a game has been crafted well when tons of people are playing it despite having a name likeRecord of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth. But it’s based on an anime series, so I suppose there’s no avoiding it.
Don’t let that turn you away! While there’s plenty inRecord of Lodoss Warfor fans of the anime, you don’t need to be familiar with the anime to enjoy the game. You’ll have fun even if you’ve neverheardof the anime.
The game is strongly influenced byCastlevania: Symphony of the Night, right down to the art style, but it has plenty of its own ideas as well.
Related:The Best Anime Games on Xbox Game Pass, Ranked
3.Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Do you like Metroidvania games but prefer it to be less anime-ish than the aforementionedRecord of Lodoss War? Then you’ll probably have a better time withOri and the Will of the Wisps.
This game is more of a traditional Metroidvania and less of aSymphony of the Nightclone, and the art is absolutely gorgeous. Following upOri and the Blind Forest, it’s a sequel that offers tighter and more satisfying platforming (but can still feel a bit frustrating in the on-rails segments).
Related:The Best Metroidvania Games on Xbox Game Pass, Ranked
2.Psychonauts 2
When the originalPsychonautscame out, people loved it. The bizarre characters mixed with quirky art, tone, and level design made for a uniquely lovable experience—especially for 2005.
So, of course,Psychonauts 2sounded like a good idea… but as development dragged on, it felt more and more like a game that would never release. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case! Indeed, the wait was worth it, withPsychonauts 2surpassing the original in nearly every way.
Most importantly,Psychonauts 2improves on the platforming. The writing and environments are as sharp as ever, but the gameplay is much tighter this time around, making it a must-play platformer game.
Related:The Best Xbox Game Pass Games for Achievement Hunters
1.Tinykin
Tinykinis the rare example of a game that mashes two genres together that would never work on paper, but somehow makes it work.
You’ve probably heardTinykindescribed as a mix of Nintendo’sPikminseries with 3D platformer mechanics, but it certainly leans more toward the platformer angle than thePikminangle.
Sure, you’re guiding armies of tiny creatures around, but that’s really just a side mechanic; the main focus is platforming. The end result?Tinykinis one of the most original platformers to hit a non-Nintendo system in years.
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