Celestial Hacker Girl Jessica Ball

3D Platformers released between 1990 to 2020The revival of a genre once considered dead and outdated has been a team effort between AAA’s like Super Mario Odyssey and a powerful indie brigade that doesn’t appear to be slowing down — and boy am I glad that’s the case. This is a watchlist tracking newer 3D platformers, and will be continuously updated. Please note that remasters and remakes are included while ports of older games are not.While you’re here, I recommend checking out this awesome Twitter thread by PixelProspector which details 20+ upcoming 3D platformers in stunning GIF & video formats. Recently, I had the honour of co-hosting a panel all about 3D platformers/collectathon games at. Thank you so much to all the people who made that possible, it was a real dream come true. These are the slides for anyone interested (posted with permission).

See what Jessica Ball (jesskball) has discovered on Pinterest, the world's biggest collection of ideas. See what Jessica Ball (jesskball) has discovered on Pinterest, the world's biggest collection of ideas. Stay safe and healthy. Please practice hand-washing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Celestial Hacker Girl Jessica Puzzle, adventure, ball roller? Don't know how to define it really, but it's a game on the lighter side, but has it's weird indie charm.

This type of presentation serves as a tribute to the lasting appeal of 3D platform games, but more must be done to properly archive the genre. A book seems like the best option. The presentation link:Thank you, developers, for not forgetting us. A.huge. thanks goes out to all the people who have shared this page and are helping the list grow, especially to for contributing a staggering 100+ titles to The List™. This author aims to complete mini reviews for all titles with publicly available demos wherever possible (graphics specs/software errors/time/energy are the only barriers).

Thank you also, who kindly suggested creating a changelog for this watchlist – sometimes, not all day to day changes are immediately reflected in uploaded PDFs, but they will be in forthcoming PDFs. Release: TBA Developer: TuttiCrute Press Description: CardBound is a nostalgic adventure 3D platformer set in a vivid world made of children’s arts and crafts.

Take up the role of Snip, as you run, jump and slide through a multitude of platforming obstacles built of styrofoam, Popsicle sticks and cardboard. Mini review: An impossibly cute trek through hand-crafted environments with a cozy soundtrack to match. Once the prominent, movement halting glitches and slippery edge detection (particularly on icy platforms) issues are weeded out, Cardbound will earn its seal of approval. Release: TBA Developer: DinosaurBytes Press Description: Clive ‘N’ Wrench is a 3D platformer centered around Clive, a rabbit, and Wrench, the literal monkey on his back. Your adventure will take you through time and space in a 1950’s fridge, all on a quest to to undo Clive’s cousin Nancy’s mistake and ultimately thwart the tyrannical Dr Daucus. Mini review: Even in its early alpha stages back in 2015, Clive ‘N’ Wrench featured impressive animation work and generally tight controls.

Character art has since been given a massive cute injection – a definite change for the better – but the world-building is consistently top notch. Rounds it all out with a pretty superb little suite of original themed compositions. Release: TBA Developer: Dariusz G. Jagielski Press Description: Computer Virus Simulator is flat-shaded, lowpoly 3D platformer/shooter in which YOU ARE A COMPUTER VIRUS. There will be several missions with various goals made using flexible level goal system, one mission per level, so gameplay won’t feel bland. Mini review: Computer Virus Simulator is chock full of wonderful geek humour and has a strong, idiosyncratic retro vibe with graphics reminiscent of 3D platforming’s earliest ancestors.

While character & environmental art could make a better impact with more TLC, and clearer onboarding would improve overall clarity, the mission-based gameplay is simplistic fun at its best and the accompanying chiptunes only enhance the experience. Bonus points for an interactive menu. Release: TBA Developer: Yoram GameDev Press Description: David&Eva forever together – is a 3D platformer game, where you gonna explore the worlds as you protect your country. David powers come from his relation to his wife Eva. Mini review: Simplistic block-style playground decorated with collectible coins provides a good testing ground for an open beta that has its moments of fun. Protagonist is well modelled, and grappling dash is a cool skill that suits the environment, however, lack of player-controlled camera makes movement disorienting too often, and controls occasionally lag/don’t properly register – issues which hopefully get rectified in future updates.

Release: TBA Developer: Matthew Schreiner Press Description: An adventure game that’s out of this world! A curious robot that was built for one thing, to travel to the farthest reaches of the galaxy and explore the wackiest of planets, in search of an adventure of a lifetime. The game starts at the beginning of DOT’s adventure. Just after leaving her home planet, Dot’s spaceship was suddenly struck by a meteor! The impact of the meteor sent DOT’s spaceship on a collision course for the planet – Kepler 96. Now DOT must explore this strange new world in search of an energy source to fix her spaceship and continue her journey across the galaxy, time for an Adventure! Mini review: Jetpacking your way around a blocky archipelago to retrieve missing energy orbs is actually loads of fun. Dot’s Galaxy Adventure has a cool layout that’s stitched together by simple puzzles and a solitary objective that could be applied to multiple subsequent levels: repair your ship.

Initially plagued by lag issues which have since been ironed out. Bonus points for mystery floating cubes. Release: TBA Developer: StudioBesus Press Description: A 3D platforming game set in the style of a Nintendo 64 title.

You control Firewing, a dragon tasked with collecting all of the Peace Crystal fragments. To do so will require exploration, collectibles, mini-games, and of course, platforming! Mini review: Firewing 64‘s stretched polygons are an unmistakable siren call of the late nineties, and while they’re not as photorealistic as other Unity-bound projects, they do carry a certain charm. In combination with clean, memorable level design, excellent camera angles, gameplay surprises and a stack of secret areas, it’s got the same great building blocks of the classics. Release: TBA Developer: FelixBlobDev Press Description: Kewtia: Crystallite Hunt is an old-school 3D Platformer, inspired by some of the first in the genre. Mini review: Fans of PS1 era graphics needn’t look further than Kewtia’s sublime polygons.

Intrigue is cultivated through a constellation of coins and special collectibles called ‘crystallites’, which reward players with Super Mario 64-style victory animations once picked up. Wall-jumping also gets a huge tick.

Climbing animations need a jump-start, and FelixBlobDev has already vowed to tweak the slightly monotonous background music, so let’s raise a glass to further improvements and more levels. Release: TBA Developer: OhiraKyou Press Description: Nytro is an in-development 3D platformer game inspired by the original Spyro trilogy, featuring a robot cat that can jump, glide, charge, and swim around colorful worlds full of collectibles and subtle environmental storytelling. Mini review: Simplistic yet elegant expedition starring an android cat. Screws and cogs are the main currency, and are cleverly arranged to fish out curiosity. Good collectathon allure plus hints at controller-breaking challenges with turbo snails. Further visual polish will only make an already solid draft go pop. Release: 2019 Developer: Jonas Manke/Studio InkyFox Press Description: Omno is a single player adventure that will take you through lush forests, across a sun blasted desert, over a frigid tundra, and where the power of a lost civilisation will even carry you to the clouds.

How light could be our darkest hour?None will be left when they comeTo collect their blood debtsAccounts will be dry, binary vesselFull of nothing but dustA vicious lust for control has turned usInto pawns for the faceless kingsShed rivers of blood turned the colorOf their lucre greedFiscal commandments impelAnd we will obeyBlindlyFury of, furyThe fury of the sun has passedInto the hands of menWhose hands were already too fullOf abused strength and angerOf abused strength and powerBio-economics killing again and again. Ruiner lyrics nin.

On the way you will meet strange creatures, encounter many surprises and maybe make a friend. Besides offering an interactive world, Omno challenges you with puzzles, hidden secrets and obstacles to overcome in 3D puzzle platformer style.

Release: 2020 Developer: Nicolas Meyssonnier Press Description: Pumpkin Jack is a single-player 3D platformer game where you embody Jack, the mythical Pumpkin Lord. Journey through a vast kingdom, fight monsters with your dazzling powers, and dive into an epic quest for the right to your own life. Mini review: Spectacularly dark, halloween-themed creation with original storyline that lets you play as a villanous pumpkinoid. Pumpkin Jack gives off an amazing first impression thanks to its smart puzzles, challenging combat, and thoughtful boss designs, but Meyssonnier is to be commended for expertly weaving in light tutorials into gameplay.

Collectathon aspect (crow-beaks!) is very well done, as is general pacing and weapon progression (from pitchforks to axes). Only caveat is inability to uninvert y-axis controls. Shaping up to be a big hit. Release: TBA Developer: Sticky Gecko Games Press Description: Save Albasia from destruction by the Tascalonian Elder.

Play as Terra – a young Kapra who can wield the power of the Mother Crystal fragment on his wrist. Terra is accompanied by Pocca, who’s existence is a complete mystery! Who sent him?

Where did he come from? Search Albasia for monster eggs. Hatch them and raise the monsters within. The monsters become your weapons and armour, which you can wield against other monsters. Collect them all, and save Albasia from destruction! Release:Apr 2021 Developer: Christopher Ogden Press description: Toby’s Topsy Tale revolves around a tiny gingerbread man named Toby exploring a small, secluded home in the 1970’s.

The sweet, nostalgic setting bares many secrets, from small details to discover to entire worlds to explore. The basis for Toby’s Topsy Tale is simple; We want to take the old formula of 3D platformers that defined the genre and incorporate it into an adult, narrative based experience; mixing old school 3D platforming with elements of psychological thrillers and survival horrors.

Release: TBA Developer: Cyreides Press Description: Zera: Other Worlds is an upcoming 3D platformer/collectathon, inspired by such classics as Spyro the Dragon, Crash Bandicoot, Super Mario 64 etc. The game follows new protagonist Zera, an Axolotl/Bat hybrid, in an adventure featuring beautifully designed worlds, with tons of characters, abilities, and more. Help Zera aid an entity known as Gaia, and travel to Mythica and save it from the clutches of Medusa, who has awoken and now intends to rule the lands in addition to stealing all Mythica’s Essence in order to secure her immortality! Mini review: One glance at Zera: Myths Awaken’s gameplay roster – charge running, an abundance of collectible gems and transport whirlwinds – should be all you need to decipher its identity as a heartfelt homage to Spyro the Dragon. A cease and desist order almost threw a spanner in the works, but Cyreides came back swinging with unique timed challenges, intriguingly designed worlds, and a goregeous pink ‘Axobat’ protagonist that is incredibly fun to manoeuvre. If you ask me, anyone who’s inventive enough to create their own species is going places.Working title.

Games released/releasing in 2020: 1. Release: October 9 Developer: Otherside Interactive Press Description: 1984 Rewired is a first-person platformer set in a dystopian society in which the Great Warden controls everything and everyone. The main source of his power is the Cyber Reality, a super network where every citizen has his own digital identity. Thanks to this network the Great Warden can reach anyone with his propaganda and keep his control on everything.

The Great Warden grants security, wealth, prosperity, but he took freedom in exchange. Release: October 31 Developer: Loveridge Designs Press Description: Castle Costume is a platform action-adventure game set in a semi-open world environment and played from a third-person perspective. The player travels between four worlds, which can be explored without time limits. Throughout the game, the player unlocks many different abilities to aid them on their journey, The game is set in a mysterious world locked in a cycle of Halloween, The story follows a young boy who must save Halloween from the evil Angry Aaron, a former child who was scorned one Halloween night, His rage and envy has locked the world in an everlasting torment, You as the player must befriend many characters throughout the game as only together can you save Halloween Via @nbnt 29. Release: Dec 12 Developer: Diego Ras Press Description: Raccoo Venture is a 3D platform adventure game with playful aesthetic and a retro style of the 90s gameplay. Raccoo is not just a simple raccoon, he is the last heir of the Guardian Power, who has protected the Holy Relic for many years, maintaining Harmony in Verta.

But the evil Tattooed Tatus has stolen it and now Verta is in great danger. Take control of Raccoo and awaken Sacred Force to face enemies and solve puzzles while exploring the 5 regions of Verta, discovering magic items that will help in this journey in search of the Relic’s Parts. Mini review: Adorable raccoon platforming soldered together with a solid but simplistic moveset, intuitive pathfinding, and wonderful boss battles. While the visuals bear resemblance to Super Lucky’s Tale, inventive puzzles, rougher NPCs, and soft, jazzy musical numbers that rekindle the spirit of The Sims ‘build mode’ give Raccoo Venture a very different edge—not to mention the unexpected cultural twists. The highly promising comes with a fantastic little homage to Super Mario 64. Sly Cooper better watch out. Release: September 4 Developer: Cultbrain General observationsThere’s a slight tendency for recent 3D platformers to opt for either a ‘robot’ style protagonist ( Scrap Garden, Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, Tyler: Model 005, Dot‘ s Galaxy Adventure), cartoonish cubes ( Suzy Cube, Funk Unplugged) or dragons ( Dragon Step, Firewing 64, Spyro Reignited Trilogy). I think the techy makeover is reflective of the times, whilst players are already well acquainted with reptillian mascots – which makes them a smart choice.

That said, I am very intrigued by the alt wave of animal mascots and stylised human/undefinable adventurers that have been concocted so far. 3D Platformer historyApproximately 344 3D platformers were released between 1990 and 2020, with the late nineties and early 2000s contributing a bulk of the total. The year 2000 proved to be a real blessing for the genre with a strong focus on diverse releases; Disney, Looney Tunes and DreamWorks joined The Jim Henson Company in pumping out television franchise spinoffs, Tate Interactive jumped into the fray with a boxing kangaroo, and Rare struck gold again. Two years later, we witnessed the birth of Sucker Punch’s clandestine raccoon, Insomniac’s robot/Lombax duo, as well as Krome Studios’ thunder egg collecting tiger, Ty, and of course, Mario was there at the crack of 2002’s dawn to light the way in Super Mario Sunshine. Then things got all experimental in 2003 with voodoo dolls, cave men and court jesters. We had sequels to Jak and Daxter and Ratchet & Clank as life support in case things went haywire, but that wasn’t the case. On the contrary, the risks taken by developers in the years 2000, 2002 and 2003 absolutely paid off, and players were treated to the biggest selection of 3D platforming candy ever. Perhaps that’s the moral of the story here— we can’t properly revive the genre if creators aren’t willing to let their imaginations run wild.

Creative innovation is necessary, now more than ever. While Tiny Hands Adventure might be using Crash Bandicoot like a stencil a little too much, games like Pitterpot and Tyler: Model 005 take a chance on acorn collectathon gameplay and a 1950s periodical setting (respectively), and just look at the shockwaves Astro Bot: Rescue Mission is causing with its matured, intuitive use of VR. A grand total of 28 3D platformers were released in 2018.

Considering the fact we had over 30 releases in 2017, we can now say one thing for certain: this is not a fluke. Furthermore, the freedom digital distrubition platforms continue to grant independent developers is a wonderful thing for the proliferation of the genre.

Who knows what surprises 2019 will bringa Sly Cooper/ Jak and Daxter trilogy remake announcement? Perhaps it’s time for Ty, Gex and Croc to break their dormancy? The possibilities excite me.PDF of 3D Platformer history:, , , Key: n= via, r= via, p = via z= via,b= via @, g = via, b = via. 1990 – Alpha Waves. 1994 – Geograph Seal. 1995 – Jumping Flash!. 1995 – Bug!.

1996 – Floating Runner: Quest for the 7 Crystals. 1996 – Jumping Flash! Source: Platformer Power: The Return of 3D Collectathon Games. Featuring quotes from Gregg Mayles, Grant Kirkhope and Ed Bryan.In character design and illustration, there is always a great deal of experimentation that goes on, and as such, the final product may be a result of random, last minute additions or take inspiration from a previous design that worked well.

That Mumbo first made an appearance roughly three months after the first ever jinjo tells us there is probably some stylistic overlap between them. So while Mumbo may not be a jinjo now, that doesn’t mean he never was. Grant Kirkhope’s take on the matter, that Mumbo was a jinjo, is consistent with Bryan’s comments, and Gregg Mayles’ remark will haunt anyone with a serious interest in Mumbo’s origin.Will the secret identity of this masked magician ever be revealed? But let’s just say I still have suspicions Val Valentino wasn’t actually the magician in Breaking the Magician’s Code.