Platformer

A platformer is an exciting type of action game.

In these games, your main goal is to move a character between different points. You must navigate through environments with uneven ground and floating platforms. This often requires you to jump and climb to get where you need to go. Some games add even more movement, like swinging from vines or using grappling hooks. You might also jump off walls or glide through the air. These games are very dynamic and test your reflexes and timing.

Playing a platformer involves many different ways to move. Most games let you walk, run, jump, climb, or attack. Jumping is the most important part of the genre. In some games, like Donkey Kong, your jump follows a set path. In other games, you can change your jump while you are in the air. You must also watch out for many dangers. Falling can cause damage or even end your game. Some levels have traps like lava pits or bottomless holes. To help you succeed, you can often find items called power-ups. These give your character new abilities to help you overcome hard jobs.

These games have a long and interesting history. Some people think Space Panic from 1980 was the first platformer. It had ladders and climbing, but it did not have jumping. Donkey Kong was released by Nintendo in July 1981. It was the first game that let players jump over gaps and obstacles. This game helped make Nintendo a famous name in the video game world. Many other games followed soon after in 1982. Some were called climbing games or ladder games. For example, the game Miner 2049er had ten different screens. Another game called Jumpman had 30 screens to explore.

New ideas kept appearing to make the games better. The game Jump Bug was released in 1981 and used scrolling graphics. This means the screen moves as you play. Pac-Land was another important game from 1984. It was a pioneer because it had a background that moved sideways. Shigeru Miyamoto said Pac-Land helped inspire Super Mario Bros. Nintendo released Super Mario Bros. in 1985. It became the most famous version of this kind of game. It sold over 40 million copies around the world. This success made many companies want to make their own platformers.

Today, you can find many different kinds of platformers. Some use two-dimensional movement, which looks like a side view. Others use 3D graphics with a camera behind the character. There is even a modern version called an endless runner. This is very popular on mobile phones. In an endless runner, the character is always moving forward. You must dodge or jump to avoid hitting things. You might also see games with big boss battles. These are special enemies you must defeat to finish a level. Whether they are simple or complex, platformers remain a beloved way to play.