Platformers were a little sparse this year, but what was released was very solid. We saw a drizzle of platformers from nearly every system and variety.

Shovel Knight

What made Shovel Knight so great was its personality. While it brought back the long lost platforming days of yesteryear, it also infused a little bit of current gaming quality into the mix. With tight controls, funny dialog, and fantastic level design, Shovel Knight is the just-right amount of hard that keeps you coming back for more.

Runner-Ups

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

Valiant Hearts: The Great War

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

BattleBlock Theater