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Since 2010, a variety of endless running platformers for mobile devices have brought renewed popularity to the genre.Ī Donkey Kong level demonstrates extensive jumping between platforms, the genre's defining trait. As of 2006, the genre had become far less dominant, representing a two percent market share as compared to fifteen percent in 1998, but is still commercially viable, with a number of games selling in the millions of units. No genre either before or since has been able to achieve a similar market share. At the peak of their popularity, it is estimated that between one-quarter and one-third of console games were platformers. Platform themes range from cartoon-like games to science fiction and fantasy epics.Īt one point, platform games were the most popular genre of video game. North America, Europe and Japan have played major parts in the genre's evolution.
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While commonly associated with console gaming, there have been many important platform games released to video arcades, as well as for handheld game consoles and home computers. It is not a pure genre it is frequently coupled with elements of other genres, such as the shooter elements in Contra, the adventure elements of Flashback, or the role-playing game elements of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. The term itself describes games where jumping on platforms is an integral part of the gameplay and came into use after the genre had been established, no later than 1983. Platform games originated in the early 1980s, with 3D successors popularized in the mid-1990s. Games where jumping is automated completely, such as The Legend of Zelda, fall outside of the genre. These mechanics, even in the context of other genres, are commonly called platforming, a verbification of platform. Jumping, in this genre, may include swinging from extendable arms, as in Ristar or Bionic Commando, or bouncing from springboards or trampolines, as in Alpha Waves. The most common unifying element of games of this genre is the jump button. The player controls the jumps to avoid letting the avatar fall from platforms or miss necessary jumps. These challenges are known as jumping puzzles or freerunning. Dustforce trailer showing platform game features such as enemies, obstacles, double jumping and wall jumpingĪ platform game (or platformer) is a video game which involves guiding an avatar to jump between suspended platforms, over obstacles, or both to advance the game.