Summary
Exclusivity is the pet peeve of many gamers. Not only does it prevent players from enjoying some of the most critically acclaimed single-player franchises of all time, likeThe Legend of ZeldaorGod of War, but it can also cause them to miss out onmultiplayer fun with friendsif they own different systems. Unfortunately, exclusive titles don’t seem to be dying out, and they will likely continue to be a prominent feature of the ninth generation of home consoles.
However, one of the great things about the gaming industry today is that the enormous amount of games released yearly provides players with many alternative options to exclusive titles.Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Furyis one example of a game that was released exclusively on the Nintendo Switch to the envy of many gamers. Thankfully though, there are tons ofgames likeMarioon Xboxthat offer similarly enjoyable platforming experiences for fans of Microsoft’s home console.
Updated on June 21, 2025, by Mehrdad Khayyat:Nintendo Switch is home to platformer masterpieces, as most internal studios of the company excel at this genre. But the problem is all Nintendo-developed games are exclusive to their consoles, leaving players of other platforms to look for similar experiences.
Thankfully, platformer is such an established genre in gaming that so many developers around the world would love to choose it as the framework for their new project, especially indie developers who have to deal with limited budgets and resources. So, it’s not that difficult to find a replacement for the Mario franchise on other platforms.
After what felt like eons,Psychonautsfinallyreceived a sequelthat was a long time in the making. People were glad to enjoy more of Razputin’s mind-bending adventures, using a wealth of psychic powers to traverse the minds of others in levels that are as creative as they come.
It’s one of the best titles for players who wantgames likeMarioon the Xboxwith a psychological edge. With improved visuals, gameplay, and a story that lets players learn the history of the Psychonauts themselves, it’s easy to see why so many people found this sequel to be a worthwhile addition to the legacy ofPsychonauts.
It Takes Twoisa delectable co-op adventurewhere a huge chunk of the gameplay involves players using tight platforming mechanics to explore the many levels present in the game. By switching the tools players have at their disposal numerous times to keep things fresh, the game makes up for a rather lackluster narrative and is certain to keep gamers enraptured until the very end.
People who loved the varied powers present inSuper Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Furywill find this title’s shifting gameplay systems to be a perfect fit. Players must compete both with and against each other in mini-games to make for an entertaining time that further establishes this title as one of thebest co-op gamesever made.
Crash Bandicootwas created by Naughty Dog as Sony’s answer to Nintendo’sMarioand Sega’sSonic. Although the orange marsupial never quite reached the heights of the Italian plumber, he still became an iconic character and featured in one of the best platforming trilogies of all time on the PlayStation 1.
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogywas released in 2017 and is a remaster of the classic trilogy that gives a wonderful new look to the games that is bursting with charisma and color. The games still hold up today, making theN. Sane Trilogyan obvious choice when looking forgames likeSuper Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury.
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shakeis a sequel toSpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottomand was made by the same studio that developed theRehydratedremake of thecult classic game.
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shakedoesn’t disappoint, offeringBattle for Bikini Bottomfans a similar brand of gameplay to its predecessor while massively increasing the size of levels and offering more variety to gameplay. Players who love the colorful and cheery nature ofSuper Mario 3D World+ Bowser’s Furywill find a lot of things to like aboutThe Cosmic Shake.
Sonic Frontierswas released in November 2022 and saw theSonic The Hedgehogfranchise join the open-world trend with its wide open zones that players were free to explore. The mix of open zones and platforming could have been a hot mess, but mostSonicfans will find the game to be an absolute blast despite it being a little rough around the edges.
Those who enjoyed theBowser’s Furyportion ofSuper Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Furyshould consider giving theSonicgame a try. The open world does a great job of establishing this title as one of the bestgames likeMarioon Xbox.
As the title suggests,New Super Lucky’s Taleis an expanded and improved version ofSuper Lucky’s Tale,which was released at the end of 2017.New Super Lucky’s Tale’s improvements include better-designed levels and much-needed tweaks to the game’s camera.
New Super Lucky’s Talecertainly isn’t themost challenging platformer in the world, but it manages to remain interesting for more experienced players with its collectathon elements. To complete the game 100%, players need to complete multiple objectives in each level, such as collecting 300 coins and solving a hidden puzzle. As long as players aren’t into the more challenging levels ofSuper Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, they’ll love whatNew Super Lucky’s Talebrings to the table.
From one of the Xbox’s most laid-back platformers to one of its most intense,Celestewas released at the start of 2018 and quickly drew comparisons toSuper Meat Boyfor its punishing but rewarding difficulty. BeatingCelestenormally provides a tough platforming challenge, though it only tells part of the story. Completing the game 100% isone of modern gaming’s hardest tasks, as players need to collect difficult-to-reach strawberries, complete tricky B-side tapes, find the well-hidden Crystal Hearts, and much more.
Celeste’s difficulty is far from just a gimmick, as it ties into the game’s touching story. It may lack the freeform movement ofBowser’s Fury, but the tight movement mechanics and high challenge ofCelestemake it perfect for fans who want to check outgames likeMarioon Xboxthat are more difficult than the average platformer.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Timewas released in October 2020 with a large weight of expectations on its shoulders from the marsupial’s loyal fan base, who had waited many years for a new platform game in the series.
Thankfully, the game didn’t disappoint, as it provided players with one of Crash’s best adventures yet. Much likeCeleste,beating the game normally is challenging enough, yet the difficulty still manages to crank up far higher when attempting to complete it 100%. When it comes to checking outgames likeMarioon Xbox,Crash Bandicoot 4couldn’t be a better fit.
Another classic platformer that delighted fans with a grand return isPsychonauts.The originalPsychonautswas published by Majesco Sales and differentiated itself from other platformers with its emphasis on psychic themes.
Not only does the story revolve around a summer camp of gifted psychic children, but the playable character, Razputin, has multiple abilities that players can utilize. Raz’s psychic powers through the game include invisibility, telekinesis, and levitation. Players who loved using the many unique powerups inSuper Mario 3D Worldwill find Razputin’s varied moveset inPsychonautsto be a great fit.
A Hat in Timeis one of gaming’s many crowd-funding success stories. The game wasadvertised on Kickstarter, where it smashed its $30,000 goal with an eye-watering $296,360 pledged. Although the game doesn’t reach the heights of some of the platforming genre’s top titles, it was still well-received by both fans and critics.
As for the game itself,A Hat In Timetakes inspiration from classic collectathon titles likeBanjo-Kazooie.The game makes great use of the money pledged, with its visually impressive and well-designed open levels for players to explore. It’s one of the more charminggames likeMarioon Xboxplayers can check out.
