Best games
Best Platformer games of 2014
The 17 best Platformer games released in 2014, ranked from 6,004 critic and player ratings.
The best Platformer game of 2014 is Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove, with a critic score of 91/100 — updated August 2026.
01
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove
91
/100
02
Shovel Knight
Shovel Knight is a sweeping classic action adventure game with awesome gameplay, memorable characters, and an 8-bit retro aesthetic. It's a hot mashup of new and old! You play as the eponymous Shovel Knight, a small knight with a huge quest. Shovel Knight has come to this land with two goals: to defeat the evil Enchantress and quest for his lost beloved. He wields a Shovel Blade: a multipurpose weapon whose techniques have now been lost to the ages. Always honest and helpful, Shovel Knight is a shining example of the code of Shovelry: Slash Mercilessly and Dig Tirelessly! But, between Shovel Knight and his beloved stands a cadre of villainous knights. These terrible foes, known as The Order of No Quarter, have been dispatched to prevent Shovel Knight from reaching the Enchantress, and will pursue their mission at any cost. If you love games with perfect platforming, beautiful art, infectious music, crazy bosses, humor and levity, and real heart… Shovel Knight is for you!
89
/100
03
Child of Light
The Black Queen has stolen the Sun, the Moon and the Stars. You play as Aurora, a young princess with a pure heart whose soul is brought to the kingdom of Lemuria. Embark on a quest to recapture the three sources of light, defeat the Black Queen and restore the kingdom of Lemuria.
88
/100
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove
91
/100
02
Shovel Knight
Shovel Knight is a sweeping classic action adventure game with awesome gameplay, memorable characters, and an 8-bit retro aesthetic. It's a hot mashup of new and old! You play as the eponymous Shovel Knight, a small knight with a huge quest. Shovel Knight has come to this land with two goals: to defeat the evil Enchantress and quest for his lost beloved. He wields a Shovel Blade: a multipurpose weapon whose techniques have now been lost to the ages. Always honest and helpful, Shovel Knight is a shining example of the code of Shovelry: Slash Mercilessly and Dig Tirelessly! But, between Shovel Knight and his beloved stands a cadre of villainous knights. These terrible foes, known as The Order of No Quarter, have been dispatched to prevent Shovel Knight from reaching the Enchantress, and will pursue their mission at any cost. If you love games with perfect platforming, beautiful art, infectious music, crazy bosses, humor and levity, and real heart… Shovel Knight is for you!
89
/100
03
Child of Light
The Black Queen has stolen the Sun, the Moon and the Stars. You play as Aurora, a young princess with a pure heart whose soul is brought to the kingdom of Lemuria. Embark on a quest to recapture the three sources of light, defeat the Black Queen and restore the kingdom of Lemuria.
88
/100
04
Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty
87
/100
05
Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition
Guacamelee! STCE is an enhanced version of Guacamelee! Gold Edition that adds in two huge new levels, an explosive new ‘Intenso’ power mode, 4-player local co-op support and more. You’ll need to use every bit of your skill and power to defeat STCE’s new challenges (including a scheming new boss- El Trio de la Muerte), in addition to everything the original game's sprawling world has to throw at you.
86
/100
06
Super Time Force Ultra
Super Time Force Ultra is an action-packed platformer with a time-travelling twist! You’re in control of time itself, bending and stretching it to your advantage on the battlefield. Rewind time and choose when to jump back into the action, teaming-up with your past selves in a unique single-player co-op experience! Take control of up to 16 unique characters, and battle across 6 different time periods, from the long-ago past to the far-away future.
84
/100
07
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
84
/100
08
Duck Game
Enter the futuristic year of 1984, an age where ducks run wild in a frantic battle for glory. Blast your friends with Shotguns, Net Guns, Mind Control Rays, Saxophones, Magnet Guns, and much, much more. This is DUCK GAME. Don't blink.
83
/100
09
Freedom Planet
81
/100
10
inFAMOUS Second Son
Infamous: Second Son, a PlayStation 4 exclusive , brings you an action adventure game where surrounded by a society that fears them, superhumans are ruthlessly hunted down and caged by the Department of Unified Protection. Step into a locked-down Seattle as Delsin Rowe, who has recently discovered his superhuman power and is now capable of fighting back against the oppressive DUP. Enjoy your power as you choose how you will push your awesome abilities to the limit and witness the consequences of your actions as they affect the city and people around you.
80
/100
11
Kirby: Triple Deluxe
80
/100
12
Trials Fusion
79
/100
13
LittleBigPlanet 3
79
/100
14
Valiant Hearts: The Great War
76
/100
15
A Story About My Uncle
73
/100
16
Never Alone: Kisima Ingitchuna
71
/100
17
Lumino City
70
/100
Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty
87
/100
05
Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition
Guacamelee! STCE is an enhanced version of Guacamelee! Gold Edition that adds in two huge new levels, an explosive new ‘Intenso’ power mode, 4-player local co-op support and more. You’ll need to use every bit of your skill and power to defeat STCE’s new challenges (including a scheming new boss- El Trio de la Muerte), in addition to everything the original game's sprawling world has to throw at you.
86
/100
06
Super Time Force Ultra
Super Time Force Ultra is an action-packed platformer with a time-travelling twist! You’re in control of time itself, bending and stretching it to your advantage on the battlefield. Rewind time and choose when to jump back into the action, teaming-up with your past selves in a unique single-player co-op experience! Take control of up to 16 unique characters, and battle across 6 different time periods, from the long-ago past to the far-away future.
84
/100
07
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
84
/100
08
Duck Game
Enter the futuristic year of 1984, an age where ducks run wild in a frantic battle for glory. Blast your friends with Shotguns, Net Guns, Mind Control Rays, Saxophones, Magnet Guns, and much, much more. This is DUCK GAME. Don't blink.
83
/100
09
Freedom Planet
81
/100
10
inFAMOUS Second Son
Infamous: Second Son, a PlayStation 4 exclusive , brings you an action adventure game where surrounded by a society that fears them, superhumans are ruthlessly hunted down and caged by the Department of Unified Protection. Step into a locked-down Seattle as Delsin Rowe, who has recently discovered his superhuman power and is now capable of fighting back against the oppressive DUP. Enjoy your power as you choose how you will push your awesome abilities to the limit and witness the consequences of your actions as they affect the city and people around you.
80
/100
11
Kirby: Triple Deluxe
80
/100
12
Trials Fusion
79
/100
13
LittleBigPlanet 3
79
/100
14
Valiant Hearts: The Great War
76
/100
15
A Story About My Uncle
73
/100
16
Never Alone: Kisima Ingitchuna
71
/100
17
Lumino City
70
/100
FAQ
What is the best Platformer game of 2014?
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove currently tops the ranking with a score of 91/100 across 322 ratings. Ranking updated August 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.