10 Best 3D Platformers On Handheld Systems

Summary

• 3D platformers can be successfully played on handheld devices, like the PSP and Nintendo Switch, with games like Secret Agent Clank and A Hat In Time.
• Remakes, like Super Mario 64 DS, can build on the existing game and add new content to enhance the experience, despite the limitations of handheld controls.
• Kirby and the Forgotten Land and Super Mario 3D Land prove that even long-standing franchises can successfully transition to the third dimension on handheld devices, providing unique and enjoyable gameplay experiences.

3D platformers and handheld systems are not two things that you often associate with each other. And yet, some terrific platformers have broken into the third dimension and been playable in the palm of your hands.

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Adding a whole new dimension to the genre.

From spinoffs to classic franchises to forgotten gems, dating all the way back to the Nintendo DS to the Nintendo Switch, these games prove that 3D game design works on even the smallest of devices. After all, why should only the big consoles get to have all the good 3D platformers?

10 Secret Agent Clank

Platform

Release Date

PS2, PSP

June 17, 2008

Beginning life as an in-universe spinoff holovision show, Secret Agent Clank finally got its own game in 2008 for the PSP. Other than the novelty of having Clank be the star of his own game, Secret Agent Clank also excels in infusing its gameplay with plenty of espionage, gadgets, and fun nods to tropes of the spy genre.

The game’s story centers around Clank trying to recover the stolen Eye of Infinity—a crime that everyone believes was committed by none other than Ratchet. It’s an enjoyable side adventure that lets you explore this beloved universe in style as Clank in a tuxedo.

9 Sly Cooper: Thieves In Time

Platform

Release Date

PS3, PS Vita

February 5, 2013

Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time released simultaneously on the PS3 and PS Vita, with its handheld iteration faring surprisingly well. Very little compromise was made when developing the PS Vita version, allowing you to take this stylish, time-jumping adventure wherever you want.

The Sly Cooper formula of stealthily navigating gorgeous cel-shaded levels as various anthropomorphic characters is lovingly captured in Thieves in Time, with the various time periods providing a range of diverse backdrops for being sneaky—a more than worthy sequel to the original Sly trilogy on PS2.

8 Super Mario 64 DS

Platform

Release Date

Nintendo DS

November 21, 2004

What better way to showcase the 3D capabilities of your new handheld than to launch it with a remake of one of the most iconic 3D games ever made? Thankfully, Super Mario 64 DS is more than just a proof of concept; this remake builds on the existing game in clever ways.

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The addition of new playable characters, levels, and minigames all heighten the experience, and even though the DS controls aren’t ideal for 3D platformers, the touchscreen movement is perfectly adequate.

7 A Hat In Time

Platform

Release Date

PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

October 5, 2017

A Hat In Time captures the magic and wonder of your favourite childhood 3D platformers but through a modern design lens that makes it immediately accessible to gamers of all ages. The adventures of Hat Kid deserve to stand alongside those of Mario or Banjo-Kazooie, as the game’s moveset, level design, and sense of exploration rival the giants of the genre.

The fact that such a comprehensive experience is available to play on Switch is the cherry on top. Whether you are playing A Hat In Time on the TV, in your bedroom, or at the library while you try to “study,” its endearing sense of whimsy will sweep you away to its vibrant, time-tangled world.

6 Kirby And The Forgotten Land

Platform

Release Date

Nintendo Switch

March 25, 2022

For years, it never seemed like Kirby was going to make the jump to the third dimension. That all changed when Kirby and the Forgotten Land came out for the Nintendo Switch. Fans could finally control the pink puffball on the X, Y, and Z axis!

That wasn’t the only incredible thing about Kirby and the Forgotten Land, as the game was brimming with creative ideas that threaded together one of the most complete Kirby games yet. From swallowing cars to exploring deserted cities, this game gave the Kirby series the much-needed boost it was yearning for.

5 Super Mario 3D Land

Platform

Release Date

Nintendo 3DS

November 3, 2011

A common complaint some players have with 3D platformers is that the depth perception in these games isn’t as accurate as their 2D counterparts. Super Mario 3D Land sought to address this issue with a game that is masterfully built around the stereoscopic 3D capabilities of its hardware.

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With that 3D slider turned up, it’s never been easier to anticipate where Mario will move, jump, glide, or butt-stomp relative to the world around him. Beyond that, Super Mario 3D Land is just a really great game, with all the tight level design and surprises you would expect from this icon of gaming.

4 Daxter

Platform

Release Date

PSP

March 14, 2006

Daxter works as a spinoff of the Jak and Daxter series because it doesn’t try to be a watered-down Jak game. Instead, the mechanics and character progression have been built from the ground up to work for everybody’s favorite Ottsel/Haven City’s most feared bug exterminator.

Just like its titular character, Daxter is a more playful experience than the later Jak games, but that doesn’t mean it’s less valuable. The memorable levels, colorful characters, and effortless pacing ensure that Daxter is as worthy as anything else in this beloved series.

3 Tearaway

Platform

Release Date

PS Vita

November 20, 2013

Endless imagination and a love for all things whimsical is what forms the heart of Tearaway—one of the most idiosyncratic platformers ever made, handheld or otherwise. The papercraft world of Tearaway is an absolute joy to explore, with every small detail adding to the mountain of creativity behind this game's aesthetics.

Thankfully, this creative energy is also channeled into Tearaway’s gameplay. Almost every aspect of the PS Vita’s hardware is used in gameplay. But instead of feeling gimmicky, the touch screens and motion controls are integrated as genuine mechanics that heighten the overall experience.

2 Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time

Platform

Release Date

PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch

October 2, 2021

Not only is Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time one of the most graphically impressive games on Switch, but it is also one of the most undeniably fun on the system. The fact Toys For Bob were able to pull this off with the game’s Switch port is a minor miracle.

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Crash Bandicoot 4 is a brilliant modernization of the classic Crash formula, with bigger levels, bigger bosses, and more bombastic items to play around with. It’s hard not to smile seeing this classic series brought back in such a delightful manner, and that smile gets even bigger when playing it on Switch.

1 Super Mario Odyssey

Platform

Release Date

Nintendo Switch

October 27, 2017

Super Mario Odyssey has a strong claim of being one of the greatest platformer games ever made. The fact that it was developed for a system that isn’t tethered to the TV makes its quality all the more impressive.

The game’s vast levels, creative use of capture abilities, and cinematic scope mean its portability factor hasn’t lost a shred of its novelty all these years later. No matter where you are in the world, as long as you have a Switch and a copy of this game handy, you will always have access to one of the all-time great 3D platformers.

Next: Best 3D Platformers On Nintendo Switch