Platform video games

Platform video games are video games wherein players control a character by jumping or otherwise operating on physical (virtual) platforms. Gameplay tends to be simplistic, usually involving only one or two dynamics for using the character to solve puzzles or defeat enemies.

Types of platform video games

 * 2D platformers, or two-dimensional platform video games, are typically side-scrolling, and are either free-form, or with a constantly moving screen to force player movement and simplify scripted events.


 * 3D platformers, or three-dimensional platformers, are 3D games which emphasize platforming mechanics, whether in first-person or third-person view. Some can suffer from camera problems, as the genre, which encourages obstacles surrounding the player, is not always friendly to an external camera object.


 * Metroidvania, a portmanteau of Metroid and Castlevania, is used to refer to platform video games with open-world and non-linear gameplay.


 * 3D action platform video games


 * First-person shooters with jumping puzzles are not considered platform video games of either type, and are often treated outright as action video games.