The last main entry into the Crash Bandicoot franchise, not including mobile titles, spin-offs, or remasters, was way back in 2008, called Mind over Mutant. Given that it dates back to the PS2, Wii, Xbox 360, and PSP, it can be said with certainty that fans have waited their time.
So, Toys for Bob are coming onto the scene with their perfectly titled It’s About Time, a sequel that serves as the fourth main entry into the franchise, continuing where the N. Sane Trilogy left off. It’s coming out next month, so there’s not much time to cram many games in. But, if you had to pick a selection, here are ten that are worth looking into.
10 Spyro: Reignited Trilogy
Naughty Dog’s Crash Bandicoot wasn’t the only classic 3D platformer from the PS2 era to get the modern upscale treatment with sparkly new graphics and refined gameplay to boot, as Insomniac’s Spyro joined the fray with the Reignited Trilogy.
The first three Spyro games are back on PC, Switch, Xbox, and PS4, all bundled together in the aforementioned, aptly titled Reignited Trilogy, bringing the hit platformer to an entirely new generation. Given it’s similarities to Crash, serving as a precursor to a spiritual successor featuring two buddies along with an animal protagonist, it seems fitting to give it a whirl.
9 Ratchet & Clank (2016)
Whilst the story garnered a less-than-lukewarm reception from fans and critics alike, the core aspects of Ratchet & Clank are well worth venturing into, particularly it’s signature high-octane, run-and-gun platforming, doubly so with a PS5 entry underway.
This re-imagining of the PS2 classic has Ratchet & Clank embark on an adventure to stop Nefarious and Drek, two iconic villains of the franchise, with Qwark and co returning in all their magnificence. There are collectibles to be had, weapons to upgrade, levels to traverse, bosses to slaughter, and optional side-quests with booty to plunder.
8 Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
Now available on the PS4, the spiritual successor to Crash Bandicoot itself can be played in HD glory, albeit not remastered but rather ported, retaining its rough PS2-looking edges. However, you can always give the crispier PS3 trilogy a spin if you still have one of those old models rocking about.
It’s more open than the title that spawned it, but Jak & Daxter has all the signature Naughty Dog charm, with vibrant luscious landscapes that vary from the upbeat green grass to a ravaged volcanic environment to an abyss-infested outlying island housing the big bad. Gameplay simply has you jumping and punching, solving puzzles and nabbing orbs—it’s a peaceful but engaging romp.
7 Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Nintendo’s Captain Toad, a spin-off of Super Mario 3D World, isn’t your traditional 3D platformer, with the emphasis being on action-packed puzzles framed in a fashionable isometric bubble with cube-clad worlds.
That being said, Crash Bandicoot wasn’t exactly a traditional 3D platformer, so why not take a leap of faith and give a fellow experimental entry a go, especially considering it sports nifty co-op features?
6 Knack 2
The Knack games aren’t exactly the best on offer when it comes to 3D platformers on the PlayStation, but they have their charm and manage to pull a wonder of great aspects from their inspirations.
They didn’t quite get the knack of the genre until the sequel, with the first netting a measly 54% on Metacritic, but the second sits at a more boast-worthy 69%. It’s all about a measly little protagonist—whose designs scream precursor architecture from the Jak series—that can enlarge and shrink at will, toppled with a wealth of combat choices from the boomerang to the body-slam.
5 Yooka-Laylee
From the developers of Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong Country comes this spiritual successor all about a dynamic duo who like to jump and punch—there’s something about these sequels that invites a buddy system.
In true platformer fashion, it boasts a world of collectibles, charming personality-rich characters that enhance the vibrant scenery, and a killer score to boot. It might not be the best on the list, but it’s one to stick on the wish-list all the same.
4 Mario Odyssey
One of the Switch’s debut titles was, naturally, a Mario game, bringing the open-world platforming style that kickstarted with Super Mario 64 to the modern-day with a fresh twist that helps it stand out—that being a sentient hat.
The fittingly-named Cappy joins Mario to collect a wealth of Power Moons that are used to power the Odyssey airship, which is, you guessed it, the means of which our Italian plumber friend will use to reach and rescue Princess Peach. Or, if you can handle a small wait, there’s always Super Mario Galaxy coming to the Switch if you haven’t got a Wii lying around somewhere.
3 Snake Pass
How do you truly take the platformer genre and flip it on its head? Snake Pass found the answer: remove the ability to jump. It sounds ludicrous—the most crucial aspect of any entry into the genre gone—and yet Sumo Digital pulled it off.
Coral snake Noodle and his sidekick Doodle venture across a bright and cheery diverse collection of worlds to nab Keystones which are and various other optional collectibles. Given that the protagonist is a snake, his means of traversing is by slithering along, wrapping around objects.
2 Sly Cooper
Naturally, this member of the PlayStation platformer trifecta, Sly Cooper, stands tall as a scandalous entry into the halls of Ratchet & Clank and Jak & Daxter, with a French protagonist who loves to steal, buddying about with his pals Bentley and Murray.
It’s a platformer with an emphasis on stealth, replayability, and, as you’d expect, collectibles. Re-playing levels with a time limit, sneaking past spot-lights, and beating down guards with your trusty cane, Sly Cooper is a refined gem that’s a must for anyone who treasures the medium.
1 Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
Naturally, before delving into the fourth entry of the Crash Bandicoot series, you should probably take a trip down memory lane and re-play the first three. They were recently remastered, bringing Crash to the modern generation with all his charm and spunk in-tact.
All of the first three games are bundled together in a neat little package dubbed the N. Sane Trilogy, available on PS4, Switch, Xbox, and PC, meaning that before 4 drops, everyone can get up to speed with ease.
NEXT: 10 Canceled Platformers You Never Knew Existed
