The Best 2D Platformers on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2
The best 2D platformers on Switch and Switch 2, from Mario Wonder and Tropical Freeze to Celeste, Rayman Legends and Shovel Knight, and who each one suits.
The Switch has become one of the best homes the 2D platformer has ever had. Nintendo’s own series sit alongside acclaimed independent games and polished ports from other publishers, and nearly all of them also run on Switch 2. The trouble is choosing. A precision platformer built to test reflexes is a terrible gift for a six-year-old, and a gentle co-op romp may bore an experienced player. This list picks out the standout 2D platformers available on the Nintendo eShop as of 2026 and explains who each one is best for.
A quick note on compatibility: every game below is an original Switch release. Nintendo’s store pages list each as supported on Switch 2, where they behave as they do on the original console unless noted otherwise.
How We Chose
We looked for games that excel at the fundamentals of 2D platforming, namely responsive controls, inventive level design and a satisfying difficulty curve, and that are currently available to buy on Switch. We also aimed for variety: big Nintendo releases, indie favorites and games that suit very different players. Metroidvanias, which blend platforming with exploration, are a large genre of their own and are covered separately on our site, so they are left out here.
Nintendo’s Heavy Hitters
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Best for: everyone, especially families and newcomers.
Released on October 20, 2023, Wonder is the most inventive 2D Mario in decades. Touching a Wonder Flower transforms a level in surprising ways: pipes start crawling like caterpillars, the camera shifts perspective or Mario turns into a Goomba. Badges let you tweak abilities, and the Elephant power-up is as delightful as it sounds. Choosing Yoshi or Nabbit, who do not take damage from enemies, makes it ideal for young or nervous players, while the toughest special stages challenge veterans. On Switch 2, the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park released on March 26, 2026, adding further multiplayer content.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Best for: players who want a substantial challenge with Nintendo polish.
Retro Studios’ Tropical Freeze arrived on Switch on May 4, 2018, after starting life on Wii U. Its levels are gorgeous, its soundtrack, with contributions from series composer David Wise, is beloved, and its difficulty is real. The Switch version added Funky Mode, letting players control Funky Kong, who has extra hearts and abilities that make the game much more forgiving.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
Best for: fans of classic, momentum-heavy platforming who want co-op.
This January 16, 2025 release brings Retro Studios’ 2010 Wii revival to Switch, including the extra levels from the later 3DS version. It supports local two-player co-op and is a natural warm-up before Tropical Freeze.
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe
Best for: young children and groups of up to four players.
A remake of the 2011 Wii game, released on Switch in February 2023. Kirby’s float ability and generous health make it one of the friendliest platformers around, and the four-player mode lets families play together. A bonus epilogue adds extra challenge for older players.
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
Best for: traditional Mario fans and multiplayer households.
A Switch version of the Wii U game and its New Super Luigi U expansion. It is more conventional than Wonder, but it is a solid, lengthy package with characters such as Toadette and Nabbit that make it more approachable for beginners.
Yoshi’s Crafted World
Best for: younger players and relaxed sessions.
Released on March 29, 2019, Yoshi’s Crafted World is a 2.5D platformer set in a world built from cardboard and household craft materials. Levels can even be played from the “back” side. Its Mellow Mode gives Yoshi wings for an easier experience, making it a great first platformer.
Independent Standouts
Celeste
Best for: players who want a tough challenge and a meaningful story.
Celeste (January 25, 2018 on Switch) follows Madeline as she climbs a mountain while confronting anxiety and self-doubt. It is a precision platformer: jumps, dashes and wall climbs must be exact, and you will die many times. Instant respawns and short screens keep frustration in check, and its Assist Mode lets players slow the game speed, add extra dashes or become invincible. That combination of high difficulty and genuine accessibility made it a landmark of the genre.
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove
Best for: fans of NES-era games and anyone who wants a lot of content.
Yacht Club Games’ homage to 8-bit classics was a Switch launch title on March 3, 2017. Treasure Trove bundles the original adventure with several additional campaigns that each star a different character with a distinct move set. It feels retro but is designed with modern conveniences in mind, such as checkpoints you can choose to destroy for extra treasure.
Cuphead
Best for: experienced players who love boss fights and hand-drawn animation.
StudioMDHR’s game arrived on Switch on April 18, 2019. Its 1930s cartoon style is stunning, but it is better described as a run-and-gun boss-rush with platforming segments than a pure platformer. Expect a stiff challenge. Two players can team up locally.
Classics From Other Publishers
Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition
Best for: co-op groups and fans of creative level design.
Ubisoft’s acclaimed platformer arrived on Switch on September 12, 2017. Its musical levels, where jumps and attacks are synchronized with songs, remain highlights of the genre. It supports up to four players, and its lively art style appeals to all ages.
Sonic Mania
Best for: fans of speed and classic Sonic.
Released on Switch on August 15, 2017 and published by SEGA, Sonic Mania is a love letter to the Genesis-era games. It mixes reimagined classic zones with new ones and nails the momentum-based physics that define 2D Sonic.
Sonic Superstars
Best for: families who want a modern-looking 2D Sonic with co-op.
SEGA’s October 17, 2023 release brings classic Sonic gameplay to 3D-rendered stages and supports local co-op for up to four players.
Honorable Mentions
A few more games deserve a look once you have worked through the list above:
- Super Mario Maker 2 (2019): less a single adventure than an endless supply of levels, built by Nintendo and by players, plus tools to make your own. Great for creative kids who enjoy designing as much as playing.
- Mario vs. Donkey Kong (2024): a remake of the Game Boy Advance puzzle-platformer, in which you guide Mario through compact stages to collect keys and rescue Mini Marios. Its Casual Style makes it gentle enough for beginners.
- Kirby Star Allies (2018): an easygoing 2D Kirby built around recruiting enemies as helpers and combining abilities.
- Classic libraries on Nintendo Switch Online: Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World and the Donkey Kong Country trilogy are among the influential 2D platformers available through the service’s classic libraries, which makes them an inexpensive way to explore the genre’s history.
Quick Comparison
| Game | Difficulty | Co-op | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Bros. Wonder | Easy to hard (character-dependent) | Up to 4 local | Everyone |
| Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze | Hard (Funky Mode easier) | 2 local | Challenge seekers |
| Donkey Kong Country Returns HD | Medium to hard | 2 local | Classic platforming fans |
| Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe | Easy | Up to 4 local | Young children, families |
| Yoshi’s Crafted World | Easy | 2 local | First-time players |
| Celeste | Very hard (Assist Mode available) | No | Experienced players |
| Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove | Medium | 2 local (main campaign) | Retro fans |
| Cuphead | Very hard | 2 local | Boss-fight lovers |
| Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition | Medium | Up to 4 local | Groups |
| Sonic Mania | Medium | 2 local | Speed fans |
Choosing the Right Game for Your Household
Start with who will play. For very young children, choose games where falling or getting hit carries little penalty: Kirby, Yoshi’s Crafted World, or Mario Wonder with Yoshi or Nabbit. For mixed-age groups, co-op games such as Rayman Legends and Kirby work well because a more skilled player can carry a less experienced one.
For experienced solo players, Celeste, Tropical Freeze and Cuphead offer the deepest challenge. Remember that difficulty in 2D platformers is often about practice rather than talent. Short levels and instant retries are designed to make failure part of learning.
It is also worth checking ratings and descriptors before buying. Most games here are aimed at broad audiences, but a few, such as Celeste and Cuphead, list descriptors like alcohol references or mild language on their store pages.
Common Mistakes When Buying
- Judging difficulty by art style. Cuphead looks like a children’s cartoon but is one of the hardest games on this list.
- Ignoring assist features. Celeste’s Assist Mode, Tropical Freeze’s Funky Mode and Yoshi’s Mellow Mode change who can enjoy these games.
- Overlooking co-op limits. Some games allow up to four players, others only two, and a few are single-player only.
- Buying a Switch 2 exclusive for the wrong console. Every main pick on this list runs on both generations, but Switch 2 Editions and some newer releases need Switch 2.
- Assuming “retro style” means easy. Pixel-art games such as Shovel Knight are designed to evoke 8-bit classics, including some of their difficulty, even if they add modern conveniences.
- Forgetting the classics. Nintendo Switch Online includes many classic 2D platformers in its NES, Super NES and Game Boy libraries.
New to the genre? Our explainer on 2D vs 3D platformers covers the basics, and our Super Mario guide maps the whole series.
