10 More Creative And Enjoyable Platformers To Play!
Despite appearing in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Banjo and Kazooie have yet to receive a new video game together. Their games warmed the hearts of many people during the Nintendo 64 era. From its variety of collectibles to its imaginative locales and characters, Banjo and Kazooie’s games delighted audiences for many years. Hopefully, they’ll get a new game one day.
If you’ve finished playing Banjo-Kazooie and are looking for alternatives – fret not! We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle with our top 10 picks.
Of course, for all the games we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link, so you can check out our full thoughts on that and see if it’s something you want to invest your time in.
So without further ado, we present 10 games to check out if you’re looking for a game like Banjo-Kazooie.
A Hat In Time
A Hat In Time is a fabulous 3D platformer developed by the folks over at Gears for Breakfast. This game mirrors the gameplay you’d find in a range of platformers from the Nintendo 64 era and onward.
This game has you play as Hat Kid, a young girl who explores numerous areas in her quest to locate lost Time Pieces. The realms she visits are brimming with lively creatures like Banjo and Kazooie’s universe. From snobby penguins to charismatic ghouls, Hat Kid has her hands full with many enemies and allies she’ll meet during her endeavor.
A Hat In Time and Banjo-Kazooie share similar gameplay structures, where you’ll explore open-ended worlds that contain different levels and objectives. The levels in A Hat In Time have diverse themes, keeping things fresh and exciting. From haunted mansions to feline-populated cityscapes, you’re in for a treat with this modern 3D platforming gem.
Super Mario Odyssey
Mario is hailed as one of the platforming kings and has embarked on many adventures over the years that stole fans’ hearts. Super Mario Odyssey is one of Mario’s newer journeys and one that’s definitely worth your hard-earned time.
Like Banjo-Kazooie, Super Mario Odyssey has Mario teaming up with a companion of his own in the form of Cappy. Both pairs have a symbiotic relationship where they use their distinct abilities to traverse various landscapes and hurdles. The worlds in Super Mario Odyssey are just as open and imaginative as the ones you’d find in Banjo-Kazooie. From the Sand Kingdom to the iconic Mushroom Kingdom, this game inserts enough clever easter eggs and hidden gems for you to find that’ll delight you.
This is a must-buy for anyone who owns a Nintendo Switch and loves 3D platformers.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a fabulous 3D platformer with enough charming characters, fantastic levels, and exciting story moments to delight Banjo-Kazooie enjoyers.
Like Banjo-Kazooie, this game features an incredible duo to play as. Ratchet and Clank display excellent chemistry on-screen and will do anything in their power to protect the other from danger. They both utilize their intellect and gadgets to overcome multiple hurdles throughout Rift Apart’s narrative. The story itself contains great depth and intrigue. It offers some delightful tension and turns that fans will find appealing.
If you’re looking for a platformer with a more sci-fi spin on things as opposed to the natural aesthetic Banjo-Kazooie offers, then give this game a try.
You can read our thoughts on Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart in our video game review here!
Spyro Reignited Trilogy
Spyro Reignited Trilogy gives fans an enhanced spin on Spyro’s first three games. This is something many fans would like to see Rare do with Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie respectively. Nevertheless, this game offers players enough varied worlds, fun storylines, and memorable characters to warrant a lengthy play session of it.
In all three games, you play the quirky purple dragon Spyro as he navigates through multiple realms. Each area harbors incredible secrets, collectibles, and challenges for players to tackle at their leisure.
This game opts for a whimsical and cartoonish art style like Banjo-Kazooie. It makes Spyro’s world feel inviting to all audiences who play it.
With some fun villains and lovely companions, Spyro Reignited Trilogy is guaranteed to reignite your love for 3D platformers.
Conker’s Bad Fur Day
Conker’s Bad Fur Day is a unique 3D platformer that’s geared toward an adult crowd. Although Conker appeared as a cuddly and lovable squirrel alongside Diddy Kong and Banjo in Diddy Kong Racing, he no longer retains those qualities in this game. On the other hand, Conker’s Bad Fur Day has enough funny jokes, enjoyable platforming sections, and splendid story beats to hold you over.
As one can tell, you play as Conker, a foul-mouthed squirrel, as he embarks on a humorous adventure. The humor in this game ranges from dirty jokes to parodies. If you’re someone who can tolerate obscene imagery and crude language then you’ll find Conker and the other characters’ foul language hysterical.
In addition to featuring some neat collectibles being developed by the same minds behind Banjo-Kazooie, there’s a lot of fun to be had with Conker’s Bad Fur Day.
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy follows Spyro Reignited Trilogy in giving fans a modern take on this former’s PlayStation mascot trio of games. Like Banjo-Kazooie, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy has players guide a lovable animal protagonist through treacherous levels filled with enemies and challenges.
Each world Crash explores is riddled with puzzles and platforming challenges. You must tread carefully through these environments if you hope to succeed. Like Banjo-Kazooie, N. Sane Trilogy mixes exploration, platforming, and puzzle-solving well, ensuring players will feel rewarded after they complete one of its more difficult levels.
On top of giving Crash a variety of power-ups, collectibles, and villains to fight along the way, you’re in for a treat with this orange fellow’s game.
Jak and Daxter (Series)
Jak and Daxter is a fabulous action-adventure series with immersive worlds, fun storylines, and amazing characters. In Jak and Daxter, you control Jak and Daxter, as they venture through different vibrant and diverse worlds. They’ll encounter many villains and allies along the way, who’ll add a layer of depth to their world. Players will love discovering the hidden secret and platforming challenges scattered across Jak and Daxter’s universe like Banjo and Kazooie’s.
Jak and Daxter aren’t without their share of power-ups and abilities. Throughout the Jak and Daxter series, you’ll acquire new powers ranging from double-jumping to shooting projectiles. All the power-ups you’ll receive will make level traversal and fighting the game’s numerous foes and bosses exciting.
On top of Jak and Daxter having rich chemistry like Banjo and Kazooie, you’ll adore following the thrilling adventure that awaits this pair in their series.
Rayman 2: The Great Escape
Rayman 2: The Great Escape is an immersive and delightful 3D platforming game that revolves around Rayman, one of Ubisoft’s most beloved characters.
Like Banjo-Kazooie, this game features a variety of objectives to complete and items for you to collect. The items you’ll collect in Rayman 2 are called Lums. Gathering Lums will help you obtain new abilities and advance through the game. Like the Jiggys in Banjo-Kazooie, players will have a blast collecting Lums in Rayman 2.
Rayman 2 also features a fun cast of characters for players to engage with. From Rayman to his pal Globox, each character receives enough depth and personality to help players grow attached to them.
On top of having imaginative locales for players to venture through, Banjo-Kazooie fans will enjoy what Rayman 2: The Great Escape delivers.
Psychonauts 2
Psychonauts 2 is a fun action-adventure title and sequel to the original Psychonauts. This game has players control the series’s protagonist Raz, who finds himself exploring his family’s past while collecting new memories and items.
Raz has an assortment of mind-numbing powers that will appeal to folks who adored the strange powers Rare gave to Banjo and Kazooie in their games. Nonetheless, Raz must execute similar jumping, running, and soaring actions in this game like Banjo-Kazooie. This will help him reach tight corners and find nifty items.
This game features many colorful characters for players to interact with too. Psychonauts 2’s cast feels lively and expressive. They have enough distinction that’ll help them feel memorable to players upon their first playthrough.
If you’re looking for a bug-themed action-adventure game with a fun storyline and satisfying gameplay, check this out.
Donkey Kong 64
Donkey Kong 64 is notorious for having an insane amount of collectibles for players to collect. While audiences’ thoughts on the game shifted over the years, no one denies the impact it had at the time. Whether you love or despise Donkey Kong 64, it’s an enjoyable time and another 3D platformer Banjo-Kazooie fans should try.
Like Banjo-Kazooie, Donkey Kong 64 was made by Rare and has similar gameplay mechanics and design. Firstly, Donkey Kong has a tight focus on exploration and collecting like Banjo-Kazooie. In it, you’ll collect numerous items from golden bananas to portraits. The golden bananas are similar to Banjo-Kazooie’s Jiggys in concept.
Further, Donkey Kong 64 features multiple playable characters, each with its own abilities and gameplay styles. The character-switching mechanic adds depth, allowing players to traverse levels and complete challenges in different ways sometimes.
On top of having well-designed worlds for Donkey Kong and his friends to explore, Donkey Kong 64 promises an enjoyable time.
So there we have it, our 10 video game picks to keep you busy after playing Banjo-Kazooie.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!