Summary
- Some platformers like Conker's Bad Fur Day and Super Meat Boy offer darker themes and content than traditional Mario games.
- Games like Limbo and Inside blend Mario-esque gameplay with disturbing elements and darker narratives.
- Celeste combines challenging platforming with a deep story about mental health, making it a standout game for fans of the Mario series.
Nobody can deny that Mario is the biggest video game icon in the world, a prestigious status that he rightfully earned by starring in some of the best, most polished, and most influential 2D and 3D platformers in the entire industry. All the games in the Mario franchise have universal appeal, but they also never really shy away from their colorful and cartoony presentation.
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The iconic Super Mario Bros. Games are typically family-friendly platformers. Yet, many offer some enticing, yet particularly grueling, extra stages.
There’s no problem with that, but some gamers may also want to try out something that plays similarly to a Mario game, but has a darker art style, story, themes, or characters. Fortunately for them, both AAA and indie developers have made several high-quality platformers that fulfill that specific niche, and these are some of the best examples.
Conker's Bad Fur Day
A Raunchy And Violent Parody Of 3D Platformers
Conker's Bad Fur Day
- Released
- March 5, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Animated Violence, Mature Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
In 1996, Super Mario 64 revolutionized 3D gaming and quickly popularized the collect-a-thon platformer, which is why the rest of the decade was filled with new releases in this genre. Rare was one of the many studios making these types of games during that era, and in 2001, it released Conker's Bad Fur Day, a raunchy 3D platformer that is not suitable for children at all.
Conker's Bad Fur Day plays a lot like Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie, but its bigger focus on over-the-top scenarios and goofy parodies of popular films and shows set it apart from its contemporaries. While this game is infamous for its crass sense of humor, it does feature many surprisingly dark and gruesome moments, like the war level and its ending sequence.
Psychonauts
A Brilliant (Albeit Bizarre) Mind-Bending Adventure
Psychonauts
- Released
- April 19, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- 3D Platformer
Needless to say, the popularity of 3D collect-a-thon platformers was successfully carried over to the early 2000s, and in 2005 (just a few years after Super Mario Sunshine), Double Fine released Psychonauts, one of the most creative games in this genre. Of course, this is still a cartoony and relatively lighthearted 3D platformer, but it does tackle some deeper and bleaker themes that younger players may find too confusing and/or overwhelming.
Psychonauts revolves around a young psychic boy named Raz who can enter other people’s minds, which means that every single level is brilliantly designed after each character's individual stories, personalities, tastes, and, of course, the disturbing secrets they’re trying to hide deep inside. The movement and exploration of this game are reminiscent of Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine, and the entire experience is elevated by its bizarre, Tim Burton-esque aesthetic.
Braid
A Seemingly Mundane Indie Platformer That’s Hiding Some Shocking Secrets
Braid
- Released
- August 6, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Language, Mild Cartoon Violence
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle, Platformer
When it comes to independent 2D platforming games that tried to replicate Mario’s playstyle, Braid is undoubtedly one of the most well-known and impactful ones on the market. At first, this may look like a traditional 2D puzzle-platformer with a unique art style and a fascinating rewind mechanic that keeps the gameplay engaging and refreshing.
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However, Braid is actually hiding some surprisingly dark secrets, especially in its final levels. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to further discuss this aspect of the game without spoiling all of its mind-blowing twists and reveals, but it’s safe to say that new players who want to give this classic indie title a shot will be shocked and moved by its ending.
Super Meat Boy
A Challenging Platformer, Starring A Piece Of Meat
Super Meat Boy
- Released
- October 20, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Animated Blood, Cartoon Violence, Crude Humor, Language
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Super Meat Boy has always had Mario elements in its DNA, which is why one of the reasons this beloved indie darling became so popular in the late 2000s. Creator Edmund McMillen and Team Meat have stated that this game was partially inspired by the Super Mario Bros games, and that’s immediately evident by its fun but challenging 2D gameplay that requires a lot of patience and precise timing.
Of course, Super Meat Boy is a colorful and silly adventure, but it does feature some darker elements that are not suitable for kids, with the most obvious one being its playable main character, Meat Boy himself, who’s a boy without skin who leaves a trail of blood behind him. Curiously enough, this game’s upcoming 3D sequel, Super Meat Boy 3D, was announced via an animated trailer that parodied Super Mario 64, which proves that this series hasn’t abandoned its Mario influences.
Limbo
A Dark Game, Both Literally And Figuratively
Limbo
- Released
- July 21, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Animated Blood, Mild Violence
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Playdead is famous for making not one but two critically-acclaimed 2D platformers that play a lot like Mario, but feature some surprisingly dark elements in both their stories and presentation. The first one was Limbo, a game that made a huge impact on the indie scene back in the day and quickly put the studio on the map.
Limbo is a 2D puzzle-platformer with an ominous black-and-white art style and a bleak atmosphere. While jumping through platforms and solving puzzles can be quite fun and engaging, the biggest highlight of this game is all the traps the playable character can fall into, which always result in some truly gruesome deaths. Additionally, Limbo is infamous for featuring a giant spider that relentlessly chases the player around, which has been terrifying gamers since 2010.
Inside
Playdead’s Most Disturbing Project So Far
Inside
- Released
- June 29, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle, Platformer
Inside is Playdead’s second indie release, and while it has a lot in common with Limbo, this game is a lot bleaker, more disturbing, and more shocking than its predecessor. Players take control of a young boy who decides to explore a mysterious forest while escaping from unknown guards. Without spoiling anything, this game’s plot also hides many dark secrets, and its final sequence is among the most shocking moments ever put in an indie game.
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When compared to most Mario games, the movement of Inside is admittedly a lot slower and more realistic than usual, but, like most 2.5D platformers, it still shares many elements with Nintendo’s flagship franchise: the boy can jump, climb, solve puzzles and even take control of vehicles, but if the player fails one of the game’s many challenges, he will suffer some very gruesome deaths.
Celeste
A Story About Mental Health, Hiding Behind A Colorful 2D Platformer
Celeste
- Released
- January 25, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Similar to Super Meat Boy, Celeste is a 2D indie platformer with a colorful art style and challenging gameplay that requires a lot of precision and timing. Due to its similarities to the Mario games, fans of that series will definitely enjoy Celeste, especially when considering that its creators have cited both Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario Maker as major sources of inspiration.
However, while it may not be evident at first glance, Celeste is quite dark, touching, and mature when it comes to its story and the themes it tackles. The main character, Madeline, chooses to climb the titular Celeste Mountain to face her anxiety and depression, and gamers who have gone through similar things in their lives will find her struggles both relatable and emotional.
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