I'm looking for some good 2D linear action platformers — something like the classicvanias or Ninja Gaiden.

[ChallahBread]

The Power Blade games and Shatterhand.
Ninja Gaiden for the Game Gear is pretty different, also fun.

 

[nobitakun]

I recommend Shadow of the Ninja, it seems a lot of fun:

 

[olivania]

rusty for pc98, it's like castlevania but with anime cutscenes !!!

 

[bjork]

Crypt Stalker
I'll second the earlier recommendation of Cyber Shadow

 

[semifraki]

Shinobi 3!

 

[Don Patch]

Some cats on here already said "Sky Blazer" and "Hagane". You should totally check both of those out.
I gottchu here tho, too:

Ranger X (genesis/MD)

Hachiemon (GBA)

D-Re-Mi Fantasy (SNES/SFC)

Majyuuou (SNES/SFC)

Youkai Buster (SNES/SFC)

Renny Blaster (PCE-CD/TG-CD)

Earthworm Jim 1-2 (MD/Genesis/Saturn)

Mugen Senshi Valis: Legend of the Fantasm Soilder (PCE-CD/TG-CD)

(Honestly, skip the original and start withe this one. It bops!)

Valis II-IV (PCE-CD/TG-CD)

Musya (SNES/SFC)

Faussete Amour (PCE-CD/TG-CD)

Hopefully this gets ya going

Post automatically merged: Jul 5, 2025

Just like the title says, i am looking for good 2d linear action platformer games — whether fast-paced like Ninja Gaiden, Shadow of the Ninja, or Alien Soldier, or slow-paced like the classicvanias or ActRaiser.

The linear part is important, so please refrain from metroidvania recommendations.

It doesn't matter to me if the game is retro or indie.

Appreciate it in advance!

Scrolling down this thread, homie, you bout' to be spoiled .
Peeps be all over this for you.

 

[Bakuma1997]

Now for some Retro stuff:
logy
Rockin' Katz
A good Platformer about a cat with those punch glove guns that lets him bounce from walls, spin from ledges and grab projectiles, hitboxes are kinda funky but still enjoyable

The Rocket Knight Trilogy, hard but fair games, basically they friggin gave Sonic a Sword and a jetpack, you can't get coller than that (maybe with guns and a bike )

Of all the Classicvanias, the one i reccomend to a newcomer the most is Super Castlevania IV, by far the easier of the saga before the Metroidvania genre settled in the franchise, you can still lose if you get cocky though

 

[secreto7]

Now for some Retro stuff:
logy
Rockin' Katz
A good Platformer about a cat with those punch glove guns that lets him bounce from walls, spin from ledges and grab projectiles, hitboxes are kinda funky but still enjoyable

The Rocket Knight Trilogy, hard but fair games, basically they friggin gave Sonic a Sword and a jetpack, you can't get coller than that (maybe with guns and a bike )

Of all the Classicvanias, the one i reccomend to a newcomer the most is Super Castlevania IV, by far the easier of the saga before the Metroidvania genre settled in the franchise, you can still lose if you get cocky though

I love Rocket Knight!
And with the description of Rockin' Katz you reminded me of "Grapple Dog".

 

[thanonyx thanonyx]

Magical Pop'n

It's a fun little platformer for the Super Famicom and she's adorable which is a bonus.

 

[ThunderBoy]

Infernax