That's why platformers are perfect for long summer days. They are fast, colorful, often full of creative worlds, and accessible enough to play during short breaks, but also for hours if you catch that familiar feeling of "just one more level."
Platformers have made a significant comeback in recent years. Some rely on the nostalgia of the nineties, some modernize old classics, while others bring completely new ideas. If you're looking for games that fit well with summer, vacation, or casual evening gaming, these are the platformers worth keeping on your radar.
Croc: Legend of the Gobbos
The return of Croc is one of the most interesting retro moments in recent years. Croc: Legend of the Gobbos brings back the classic 3D platformer from the era of the first PlayStation, but in a more modern edition. This is a game that doesn't try to pretend to be something else – it's a colorful, simple, and nostalgic adventure with a clear focus on jumping, exploring, and rescuing the cute Gobbos.
That's why Croc is perfect for summer. It doesn't carry the weight of large open-world games, it doesn't have hundreds of systems, and it doesn't require serious concentration after a long day. It's a game you can start, play a few levels, and simply enjoy the retro atmosphere. For players who grew up with the first 3D platformers, Croc is a nice reminder of a time when simple ideas, colorful worlds, and cute characters were enough for a good adventure.
Yooka-Replaylee
If you love 3D platformers in the style of the Banjo-Kazooie era, Yooka-Replaylee is one of the most logical choices. This is a revamped version of the game Yooka-Laylee, with improvements that target exactly what collectathon fans love the most: larger worlds, item collection, exploration, and light humor.
Such games are ideal for summer days because you don't have to rush. You can explore at your own pace, collect items, return to previous zones, and simply enjoy the colorful world. Yooka-Replaylee targets an audience that loves old-school 3D platformers but wants something more accessible and comfortable for modern gaming.
Its biggest advantage is the feeling of freedom. It's not just about jumping from one platform to another, but about exploring the space, discovering hidden items, and slowly progressing through a world that feels like it was made for relaxed summer gaming.
Ruffy and the Riverside
Ruffy and the Riverside is one of those platformers that immediately feels like a game made for summer. It's colorful, playful, and has an interesting mechanic of changing textures and properties of the world. Ruffy can copy materials from the environment and use them to solve obstacles, giving the game a more creative approach than classic jumping from platform to platform.
This is a good recommendation for players who want something cheerier, yet still different enough. It's not just about nostalgia, but about a modern platformer with its own identity. Ruffy and the Riverside works particularly well as a game for those who love to explore, experiment, and discover little tricks within the world.
For summer days, such a title makes a lot of sense as it combines a light atmosphere, colors, and creativity. It doesn't try to be dark, heavy, or overly serious, but offers exactly what platformers often do best – pure, playful fun.
Gex Trilogy
Gex may never have been the biggest star of the platforming genre, but his return fits perfectly into today's wave of retro nostalgia. Gex Trilogy brings back the unusual lizard who in the nineties tried to combine platforming action, television parodies, and pop culture humor.
For summer gaming, Gex has one big advantage: it doesn't need to be taken too seriously. It's a retro package for those who want to peek into a time when 3D platformers were experimenting, sometimes successfully, sometimes chaotically, but almost always charmingly.
Gex is interesting as part of gaming history. His games show how different the nineties were for mascots and platformers. Today, when many old titles are returning through remasters and collections, Gex Trilogy seems like a good opportunity to revisit one of the stranger representatives of the genre.
Tomba! Special Edition
For players who love unusual and somewhat forgotten PlayStation classics, Tomba! Special Edition is a great choice. Tomba is not an ordinary platformer – it combines jumping, exploration, quests, and adventure elements in a world that still feels special today. It's one of those games that hasn't lost its charm because it has always had its own character.
Tomba fits well for summer because it's not just a linear level progression. The game constantly encourages you to explore, return to old locations, and discover little tasks you might have missed. That feeling of gentle discovery makes it a great game for longer, slower days.
What sets Tomba apart from many platformers is the combination of simple gameplay and adventure structure. It's not enough to just jump to the right spot – you often need to talk to characters, find an item, or figure out what the world is asking of you. Because of this, Tomba has a special rhythm that fits perfectly into relaxed gaming.
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a classic platforming challenge in a more modern edition. The collection brings revamped versions of the first three Crash Bandicoot games, with better graphics, a more modern presentation, and recognizable gameplay that still requires precision, patience, and good reflexes.
Unlike more relaxed 3D platformers, Crash is somewhat more demanding. Its linear levels, boxes, jumps, and obstacles can quickly become challenging, but that's exactly why the game has that familiar feeling of “just one more try.” It's a perfect choice for summer days if you want something colorful, fast, and nostalgic, yet still challenging enough to keep you focused.
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy also works well because it can be played in shorter sessions. One level, a few attempts, a bit of box collecting, and you already have a sense of progress. For players who grew up during the PlayStation era, this is one of the most significant retro returns of the modern age.
Spyro Reignited Trilogy
Spyro Reignited Trilogy offers a more relaxed, exploratory, and fairy-tale approach to platformers. The collection brings revamped versions of the first three Spyro games, with beautifully refreshed worlds, charming characters, and gameplay that relies more on exploration than strict precision.
Spyro is almost the perfect summer platformer. Its worlds are colorful, bright, and full of little secrets, and players can collect gems, free dragons, and discover hidden parts of the maps at their own pace. There’s no excessive pressure, no complicated systems, and no need for a long adjustment period.
Unlike Crash, Spyro is ideal when you want something calmer and more enjoyable. The game has a rhythm that suits relaxed play during long days or evenings, and with three games in the package, it offers enough content for the entire summer.
Bubsy 4D
Bubsy 4D is one of the more interesting returns for fans of retro platformers. Bubsy has long been known as one of the most controversial mascot-platformers from the nineties, which is why his new comeback carries a special dose of curiosity. After years of jokes, criticism, and nostalgia, Bubsy is once again trying to find his place among modern platformers.
What makes Bubsy 4D interesting for summer play is its lighter, colorful, and arcade nature. This is not a game to be viewed as a serious blockbuster, but rather as a retro comeback with a dose of humor and self-awareness. If you enjoy games that don’t shy away from their quirky history and try to make something new out of an old character, Bubsy 4D could be a very interesting choice.
For long summer days, such a title makes sense as it delivers exactly what many seek from platformers: simple jumping, fast action, colorful levels, and a feeling of returning to a time when mascots were everywhere. Bubsy may have never been on the level of Mario, Sonic, or Crash, but that’s exactly why his return feels like an unusual and charming reminder of the wild era of 3D platformers.
Super Mario Odyssey
Super Mario Odyssey remains one of the best examples of modern 3D platformers even years after its release. Nintendo has combined more open levels, exploration, creative mechanics, and that recognizable Mario feel that works almost regardless of the generation of players.
What makes Odyssey ideal for long summer days is its relaxed structure. You don’t have to constantly rush towards the end of the game; instead, you can explore kingdoms, collect Power Moons, seek hidden challenges, and return to old locations whenever you want. The game works great in both short sessions and in multi-hour play.
The mechanic with Cappy, Mario's hat that allows you to take control of different characters and objects, stands out particularly. Thanks to this, each world brings some new ideas and small surprising moments. Super Mario Odyssey is not only nostalgic but also constantly creative, which is why it still feels fresh today.
For summer, this is almost the perfect choice: colorful, playful, full of secrets, and accessible enough for both younger and older players to enjoy. If there’s a platformer that can easily define an entire vacation, it’s definitely Super Mario Odyssey.
Astro Bot
Astro Bot is one of the best modern examples of how a platformer can be simple, creative, and technically impressive at the same time. The game uses charm, diverse levels, and a great sense of control to create an experience that is accessible to almost everyone.
For summer days
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is excellent because it doesn't require too much explanation. It's immediately clear, immediately fun, and constantly brings small new ideas. It's one of those games that remind us why platformers never really disappeared – they were just waiting for the right moment to shine again.
Astro Bot is also a good example of a modern platformer that doesn't rely solely on nostalgia. While it leans on the classic foundations of the genre, it is fresh, fast, and imaginative enough to feel like a contemporary game, not just a tribute to the past.
Why do platformers work well in summer?
Platformers have one big advantage: they are easy to start and easy to pause. You don't have to remember dozens of quests, inventory systems, or complicated stories. Just a few minutes is enough to get back into the rhythm of the game.
Moreover, many platformers feature colorful worlds, a brighter tone, and clear objectives. This makes them an ideal choice for summer, when many players want something lighter than big RPGs, dark horrors, or lengthy open-world games.
Summer gaming often calls for just such a rhythm. Sometimes you want to play just one level before going out, sometimes half an hour in the evening, and sometimes a few hours during a day off. Good platformers work in all those situations.
Conclusion
Platformers may seem like a simple genre, but it is precisely in that simplicity that their greatest strength lies. Good platformers do not need complicated systems, long explanations, or dozens of hours of investment before they become fun. Just a few minutes, good level design, and that familiar feeling when everything “clicks” – jump, obstacle, secret passage, and another attempt.
That’s why they are ideal for summer. They can be played in short breaks, but can just as easily consume an entire afternoon. From nostalgic returns like Croc, Gex, Tomba, Crash, and Spyro, to the quirky Bubsy 4D, to modern favorites like Super Mario Odyssey and Astro Bot, each of these titles offers a different reason to return to platforming adventures.
In a time when many games try to be bigger, longer, and more complex, platformers remind us how important pure gaming fun is. Sometimes, for a good summer day, all it takes is a few colorful worlds, a precise jump, and the desire to find just one more hidden corner.
