No deserted island full of all the games and consoles imaginable would be complete without a few good, old-fashioned 2D platformers. Games in this staple genre combine action, adventure, and story without the need for complex battle mechanics, infinite skill trees, and inventory management. (Well…mostly.) These games are all about getting from point A to point B unscathed while picking up goodies and battling bosses along the way. Progression increases the challenge with each new level discovered, and victory always offers sweet relief along with a welcome sense of accomplishment. These are the 2D platformers I’d want to have by my side on my island while drinking coconut water and waiting for that rescue plane (if I must).
Super Metroid
Out the gates running, I don’t know that I can add much more to the pantheon of adoration I’ve already expressed for Super Metroid. It’s not only my favorite classic platformer, but it remains one of my top favorite games of all-time. No matter how many times I travel with Samus through the underbelly of the planet Zebes to face off with Ridley and Mother Brain, it just never, ever gets old. Super Metroid is just the best there is.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Of all the platformer series that I considered, whittling things down to the one Mario game to include proved almost impossible. How in the world could I pick just one??! Well, after sitting with all the titles I’ve played in front of my, it turned out there was a clear winner – the latest entry, Super Mario Bros. Wonder. I suppose I might be bending the rules a little as it could be considered a 2.5D platformer, but that’s really just splitting hairs. I don’t know if it was the levels or the graphics or the characters or what, but Super Mario Bros. Wonder hit all the right notes. I still dip into it every now and then to replay a few levels. And when I have all the time in the world on my island, maybe I’ll finally open up all the Special World levels, too!
Ori and the Blind Forest
In choosing between Ori and the Blind Forest and its sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, I picked the first game because of its story. It’s not that the second game’s story is lacking, or that anything about the second is generally bad – it’s an incredible experience! – it’s just that I found the first game’s story to be more poignant, touching, and memorable. It’s story that I wouldn’t mind revisiting over and over and over again…with some excellent platforming, too.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
“Always imitated, never duplicated.” That phrase swiftly comes to mind when I think of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. A PS1 classic, it remains one of the most graphically stunning games I’ve ever played, even in our current climate of Unreal Engine 5overload. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is simply a game I love to look at as much as play. It had solid platforming and a fantastic good versus evil story that’s well-written and unforgettable. This game also gives me the perfect excuse to keep a PS1 around… (Well, this and perhaps a few choice Final Fantasy titles, too.)
LittleBigPlanet
I’m ending my list with yet another, technically, 2.5D platformer, and one that I’ve actually never finished. But see, that makes it perfect fit on my deserted island! That game is none other than LittleBigPlanet…the original, though the sequels are fine, too. LBP was a special game when it came out, and it stands out as one of the most lovable platformers I’ve ever played. Yes, it’s challenging, but it’s also an amazing game to inhabit, what with its oddball, handmade world, unique levels, and brilliant characters. I live everything about LBP in principle and in purpose, and I’d like to keep it at my side for as long as me and my deserted island exist.
Lede image captured by author during gameplay of Super Mario Bros. Wonder (©Nintendo).
VIRTUAL BASTION 
Oh! Super Metroid! Man, I could play that one forever too! Love how even though it’s primarily an exploration game, there’s still a lot of satisfying and sometimes even tricky platforming. Like seriously, they absolutely *nailed* traversal in that one!
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In my mind, Super Metroid is the closest thing to a perfect game. Like you said, there’s lots of exploration, and the platforming is spot-on. It also has a great story, memorable boss battles, and beautiful graphics. It’s challenging but never punishing, too. Nintendo has tried to capture its magic in newer (2D) games, but the original Super Metroid is still the best!
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Yeah. They came awfully close with Metroid Dread, but while it certainly exceeds Super Metroid when it comes to exciting and challenging boss fights, it falls short in terms of exploration and atmosphere. I also feel like 3D visuals doesn’t suit 2D Metroid as well as the old pixel art did. With 3D everything is clearly defined, but pixel artwork leaves room for your imagination to fill things in.
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That’s a good point about the graphics. There’s no room for interpretation in Dread, but there’s plenty of leeway for it in Super Metroid, which makes it even more tense/thrilling at times. Dread also fell a little short in the soundtrack department. Not that it wasn’t good, but it wasn’t nearly as memorable or excellent as Super Metroid’s.
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