Studio Koba's Narita Boy was released in March 2021 to a warm reception from fans and critics. The indie game launched on Microsoft's Game Pass service, which succeeded in putting more eyes on the product and giving it an increased player base.
Like many indie games, Narita Boy won't take players an age to complete. According to howlongtobeat.com, the game will take players around 6.5 hours to beat the main story and 15 hours to see everything that the game has to offer. Consequently, many players will now be itching for something else to play. For those looking for some other enjoyable side-scrolling action games to play, here are ten great options.
10 Hollow Knight
Team Cherry's Hollow Knight has been one of the Metroidvania genre's best releases since the style of game made its way back into the gaming industry's limelight during the eighth generation of home consoles. Hollow Knight's complex map is extremely well designed and smartly structured to make progression feel both achievable and rewarding, a tough balance to find in the genre.
Following considerable commercial and critical success for Hollow Knight, a sequel has been announced titled Hollow Knight: Silksong.Â
9 Ori and the Wills of the Wisps
From one critically acclaimed Metroidvania to another, Ori and the Will of the Wisps was initially released in March 2020 and recaptured its predecessor's magic thanks to the game's stunning nature-inspired visuals.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps impressed fans with the intricacies of its gameplay, letting players unlock numerous abilities which they can alternate between at will. The Metroidvania is one of the most highly regarded entries on this list by critics, exemplified by its enormous 93Metascore on Nintendo Switch.
8 Super Mario World
Although Super Mario World has a few fundamental differences to Narita Boy, it's hard to list recommended side-scrollers without including the game that some believe perfected the genre back in 1990.
The game doesn't have a layered story or convoluted gameplay mechanics, but what it does offer is a pure platforming experience that almost every side-scroller today will have taken influence from either directly or indirectly.
7 Dead Cells
Generally speaking, games that combine several different genres tend to end up being a bit of a convoluted mess that have a lot of great ideas but fail to execute any of them. Dead Cells, however, is a great example of a game that implements a number of different genres in a way that makes sense and fits well together.
The game can predominantly be described as a roguelike, though it also has many elements of the Metroidvania, action, platforming, and adventure genres.
6 Rayman Legends
When the gaming industry switched focus from mascot platformers to more realistic action & adventure games in the early 2000s, Ubisoft didn't think twice about ditching their limbless hero Rayman in favor of franchises like Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell.
It seemed like Rayman's days of appearing in platforming adventures were over until Rayman Origins was announced to the delight of the character's loyal fanbase. The game was a success, so Rayman Legends followed a short time later. Legends is a fantastic example of just how good side-scrolling platformers can still be today, with its fluid gameplay, enjoyable boss fights, and overall excellent level design.
5 Contra
Konami's run and gun classic Contra was released in arcades back in 1987, before coming to home consoles such as the NES and Commodore 64 in the years that followed.
Contra is known for being one of the last entries to be considered fundamental in arcade gaming's "golden years" and for having one of the most famous examples of the so-called "Konami Code." If players use the Konami Code on the NES version's title screen, they will begin the game with a whopping 30 lives, ten times the usual amount.
4 Celeste
Celeste was released by Matt Makes Games (now known as Extremely OK Games) in 2018 and immediately turned heads with its hugely impressive review scores, including a perfect 10 from IGN.
The game impressed players with its tight platforming controls and well-crafted levels, as well as its touching story about personal hardship. Along with its critical reception, Celeste also garnered interest for its punishing difficulty, which will test even the most experienced platforming gamer.
3 Another World
Despite its short runtime between 2-3 hours, Another World managed to encapsulate players with its fantasy world, memorable characters, and tricky puzzles. The cinematic adventure-platformer was originally released on the Amiga and Atari ST in 1991 but has become available on a whole host of platforms since from mobile devices to modern home consoles.
Although the graphics don't compare to modern releases, Another World's beloved art style still strikes a chord with many gamers today, which is a testament to the game's creators.
2 Braid
Puzzle-platformer Braid is today recognized and appreciated for being a pioneer in bringing indie games and studios into the attention of mainstream audiences.
The game engrossed players with its ingenious puzzle mechanics and layered story, which acted as a critique of both the gaming industry and, according to some, aspects of modern society. Braid's development team was led by Jonathan Blow, who has become one of the gaming industry's most well-known and well-respected designers.
1 Guacamelee! 2
The original Guacamelee! hit stores back in 2013 and was fundamental in bringing the Metroidvania genre back in fashion. The game was a commercial and critical success, so it's no surprise that a sequel was released a few years later.
DrinkBox Studios' Guacameele! 2 doesn't try to reinvent the wheel and keeps what worked in the original game while simply adding a few new features and visual improvements. Much like its predecessor, the game stands out with its wonderful art style, which is inspired by aspects of Mexican culture such as Lucha libre and the Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival.