Why Platformers Still Shine on Steam
Every year, the genre of platformer games continues to evolve, offering fresh experiences, creative level design, and challenging gameplay. In 2025, the Best Platformers on Steam span everything from puzzle-heavy indie gems to high-octane metroidvania adventures. These games remind us that platformers never get old—they just get more inventive.
The appeal of platformers lies in the purity of control, the rhythm of movement, and the reward of mastering tight levels. Steam remains a perfect stage for the genre, offering games that blend nostalgia with modern mechanics and stunning visuals. Whether you prefer story-driven exploration, precision jumping, or action packed sequences, platformers on Steam continue to deliver.
Hollow Knight: Silksong – Returning with Refined Elegance
The sequel to one of the most beloved indie platformers, Hollow Knight: Silksong brings sharper combat, richer environments, and deeper exploration. Silk’s graceful acrobatics and intricate town and wilderness design make this sequel one of the strongest contenders for the Best Platformers on Steam in 2025. Its expansive lore and layered corridors tempt exploration and reward persistence—keeping players immersed long after they’ve set foot in the halls of Pharloom.
Venba – Cooking Up Heartfelt Platformer Narratives
Unique among the Best Platformers on Steam, Venba blends cooking mechanics with storytelling in an elegant side-scrolling puzzle adventure. As you guide Venba through immersive levels, the act of preparing meals becomes a metaphor for memory, family, and heritage. Its charming visuals and emotional pacing make it more than a game—it’s an experience that stays with you long after the last ingredient.
Ghost Song – Metroidvania on a Dying World
Ghost Song delivers suspense and exploration in a haunting atmosphere. Descending into the ruins of an abandoned world, players navigate caverns, uncover secrets, and face spectral creatures. Its combination of tight platforming, eerie ambiance, and rewarding backtracking earns it a spot among the Best Platformers on Steam. As you map strange corridors and piece together lore, the game’s solitary beauty becomes hauntingly unforgettable.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps – Artistic Flow and Precision
Already a hit on other platforms, Ori and the Will of the Wisps continues to dominate Steam charts. Its fluid movement, emotional narrative, and gorgeously animated world make it a go-to for platforming fans. Leaping across glowing forests and battling shadowy creatures, players discover a rhythm that feels both challenging and graceful. It’s proof that artistic platformers remain timeless—and it’s certainly among the Best Platformers on Steam in 2025.
Olija – Precision Meets Pulp Adventure
Adventurous and precise, Olija offers tight controls, varied combat, and a beautiful pixel art world inspired by lost civilizations. As you swing, grapple, and explore the shores of a forgotten land, the rich atmosphere and forged tension keep players hooked. Its blend of action-platforming and narrative discovery marks it as one of the Best Platformers on Steam worth adding to your roster.
Celeste: Farewell Edition – New Chapters in a Classic
The legendary Celeste returns with Farewell Edition, offering new levels and more emotional depth. Known for its pixel-perfect jumps and heartfelt story, Celeste’s new content remains true to what made the original a critical darling. Its refusal to simplify gameplay even in 2025 places it prominently among the Best Platformers on Steam, especially for fans who value tough climbs both physically and emotionally.
Axiom Verge 2 – Retro Sci-Fi Platforming
Expanding the classic metroidvania formula, Axiom Verge 2 drops players onto a broken planet in search of secrets. It offers layered traversal, arsenal upgrades, and cryptic lore. Its mechanics are mastered through movement experiments and world interactions—exactly what makes it shine among the Best Platformers on Steam. The blend of mystery and momentum keeps it in active rotation for platforming enthusiasts.
Sifu – Martial Arts Platform Combat
Though not a traditional platformer, Sifu blends intense kung-fu combat with platforming finesse. Its timing-based movement and vertical encounters feel like a dance of offense and defense across dynamic, shifting levels. Its fusion of fight choreography and level design earns it a place among the Best Platformers on Steam, especially for players wanting fast-paced, movement-based challenges.
Why These Platformers Stand Out
Each game makes the cut not just for how they play, but for how they resonate—emotionally, visually, and mechanically. The Best Platformers on Steam of 2025 share a commitment to design that is tight, thoughtful, and expressive. They use the richness of the platformer medium to tell heartfelt stories, challenge reflexes, or spark curiosity through puzzling worlds.
The variety keeps the genre vibrant—whether you’re exploring ruins, battling with martial arts, or cooking memories into reality, there’s a platformer with your name on it.
For fans who connect deeply with game worlds and characters, representing your passion through merchandise is a natural extension. If you’re building out your fanhood, consider linking to a Steam-themed hoodie or T-shirt that celebrates these platforming adventures in style.
Final Thoughts on the Best Platformers on Steam in 2025
Platformers remain a vibrant, endlessly creative genre. Steam’s library continues to expand with games that push the boundaries of movement, storytelling, and design. Whether you’re chasing pixel-perfect jumps or exploring emotional landscapes, the Best Platformers on Steam of 2025 invite you in with fresh ideas and expert execution.
