10 PS1 Platformers for Fans Who Finished Every Crash & Spyro Game
By the time you’ve gathered every crystal in Warped and saved every dragon in Spyro, you might feel like you’ve seen the best the PlayStation 1 has to offer. But the 32-bit era was a wild west for platformers, where developers experimented with 2.5D, 3D exploration, and bizarre mascot designs that haven’t been seen since.
If you’re craving that specific 90s charm but need something fresh, these 10 titles range from cult classics to weird experiments that deserve a spot in your collection.
1. Klonoa: Door to Phantomile
While Crash Bandicoot moved in a “hallway,” Klonoa uses a curved 2.5D path that creates incredible depth. Its grab-and-throw mechanic is simple to learn but difficult to master. With a beautiful soundtrack and an emotional story, this is widely considered one of the finest platformers ever made.
2. Tomba! (Tombi!)
Created by Tokuro Fujiwara (the man behind Mega Man), Tomba! is an open-ended platformer where you complete quests for NPCs in a colorful, nonlinear world. You play as a pink-haired caveman jumping on evil pigs. It’s quirky, deep, and incredibly rewarding.
3. Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee
If you want a challenge, Oddworld is a “cinematic platformer” focused on stealth and puzzles. You must guide Abe through a series of deadly screens, using “GameSpeak” to command your fellow Mudokons. It is dark, funny, and notoriously difficult.
4. Ape Escape
This was the first game to require the DualShock controller. You use the right analog stick to swing various gadgets (nets, clubs, hula hoops) to catch rogue monkeys. It offers the same sense of 3D freedom as Spyro but with a totally unique control scheme.
5. Jersey Devil
Often forgotten, Jersey Devil is a pure 3D platformer where you explore a Halloween-themed world. It captures that early-3D jank perfectly, but the level design is solid and the atmosphere is great for fans of the “spooky-cute” aesthetic.
Platformer Style Comparison
| Game | Sub-Genre | Difficulty | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Klonoa | 2.5D Side-Scroller | Moderate | Whimsical / Sad |
| Tomba! | Metroidvania | Moderate | Bizarre / Fun | 3D Action | Low | Zany / Techy |
| Gex: Enter the Gecko | 3D Collect-a-thon | Moderate | Satirical |
| Heart of Darkness | Cinematic 2D | High | Intense / Scary |
6. Gex: Enter the Gecko
A parody of 90s television, Gex explores levels based on horror movies, cartoons, and kung-fu flicks. It’s a 3D collect-a-thon in the vein of Super Mario 64, but with a lot more snarky one-liners and platforming challenges that require precise tail-bouncing.
7. Croc: Legend of the Gobbos
Croc features “tank controls” in a 3D world, which can be divisive today. However, if you can master the movement, the world is charming and the soundtrack is one of the catchiest on the system. It feels very much like a “B-side” to Spyro.
8. Pandemonium!
Fast-paced 2.5D action where you choose between a jester or a sorceress. It’s all about speed and momentum. The levels are abstract and colorful, making it a great visual break from the more “grounded” platformers of the time.
9. Pac-Man World
Released for Pac-Man’s 20th anniversary, this is a surprisingly competent 3D platformer. It blends classic Pac-Man mechanics (eating dots and ghosts) with 3D exploration and boss fights. It is polished, vibrant, and incredibly fun to 100% complete.
10. Rayman
The original Rayman is a 2D technical powerhouse. The sprite art is still some of the best ever put on a disc, but don’t let the cute visuals fool you—this is arguably the hardest platformer on this list. It requires pixel-perfect jumping and lightning-fast reflexes.
PS1 Platformer FAQ
Tomba! and Klonoa are currently the most expensive for collectors, often reaching $150-$500 depending on the condition. Fortunately, both have seen modern digital re-releases.
Only Ape Escape requires it. The others can be played with a standard digital controller, though the analog sticks make Gex and Croc much easier to handle.
The original PS1 version has limited continues and very tight hitboxes. If you’re playing on original hardware, we recommend keeping a spare memory card just for Rayman save states!