A brand new year has begun, and many gamers are eagerly anticipating what fantastic releases are in store. It seems 2021, like the year before it, will be a great year for video games -- especially for fans of 3D platformers. The gaming community as a whole is knee-deep in a resurgence of 3D platformers, and there seems to be no end in sight.
Not since the late '90s and early 2000s has a wealth of new 3D platformers hit the landscape of games to such a critical and sales success. Many players who were young children when those games were popular 20 years ago have now returned to the genre, fueled by nostalgia and as fans of solidly made, mechanically sound platforming action.
The days of Jak and Daxter, Sly Cooper and Spyro the Dragon have given way to a slew of new releases. Games like the brilliant indie A Hat in Time have joined returns of beloved characters like Crash Bandicoot, who made a comeback last year with Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time. Here are three upcoming 3D platformers that fans shouldn't miss.
Psychonauts 2
Psychonauts 2 is a title over 15 years in the making, one that follows up one of the most beloved games in the genre. Developer Double Fine is looking to pick right up with the adventures of Psychonaut Raz as he delves into the bizarre landscapes of others' minds. The sequel takes place right after the events of Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin, Double Fine's recent VR entry in which hero Raz discovers that the Psychonauts organization is not all that it seems.
Although Double Fine expressed interest in creating a sequel to the beloved 2005 original Psychonauts, funding was never available over the years. Eventually, Double Fine turned to crowdfunding, which raised millions and proved fans are still interested in this weird world. Psychonauts 2 still doesn't have a solid release date yet, but things are looking good for a 2021 release.
Balan Wonderworld
Square Enix has joined the fray with its delightfully bizarre and adorable new effort, Balan Wonderworld. The game stars two children, Leo Craig and Emma Cole, as they follow the maestro Balan through the Wonderworld, a "mixture of reality and imagination." Wonderworld is being directed by Yuji Naka with art direction from Naoto Oshima, both of whom are responsible for creating Sonic the Hedgehog and NiGHTS Into Dreams. The latter is a title Balan Wonderworld clearly draws its art style and direction from, as fans of NiGHTS will instantly recognize in the design of character Balan.
Balan Wonderworld's fantastical aesthetic features around 12 unique areas, with characters Leo and Emma donning over 80 different costumes that possess unique abilities to help them traverse and explore. The gameplay seems reminiscent to Cappy's powers from Super Mario Odyssey, mixed with ultra colorful and fun art design. Balan Wonderworld is planned to launch on consoles and PC on March 21.
Clive 'N' Wrench
Banjo-Kazooie fans should take notice because there's a new pair on the block with Clive 'N' Wrench, a game that seems to be a direct homage to the Nintendo 64 classic. Rabbit Clive has a literal monkey on his back named Wrench, and the two cute critters will have to work together to get through a time-traveling adventure that takes the pair on a sprawling journey across 11 levels. Clive 'N' Wrench's gameplay is straight out of Banjo-Kazooie, with Clive and Wrench using each other to roll, jump, spin and hover along as the player controls the pair.
Clive 'N' Wrench was originally slated to release last winter, but it has been pushed to this year. Although Clive 'N' Wrench doesn't have a concrete release date, whenever it does come out, it seems to be a great alternate for fans of the stagnant Banjo-Kazooie franchise that provides colorful romp worth checking out on Switch and PC.
The future looks to be bright for the 3D platforming genre as a whole in a way that hasn't been evident in a decade. And in a genre where movement alone provides so much of the fun and challenge, it's hard to beat the purity of the 3D platformer. If any of these upcoming releases are an indication, it looks like fans of the genre will be pleased with 2021.