Summary
Exclusive titles can be a real pain for gamers. Although competition between brands is inherently a good thing for consumers, it’s a shame that many gamers haven’t experienced franchises likeHalo,The Legend of Zelda,orUncharted.
One other exclusive series that has eluded many gamers isRatchet & Clank.The sci-fi series' exclusivity is particularly disappointing for Nintendo Switch owners, as Switch owners are, generally speaking, the biggest advocates for mascot platformers. Thankfully, Nintendo’s console has tons of excellent platforming titles of its own that can scratch the itch of anyone who likesgames likeRatchet & Clank.
Updated on Jun 25, 2025, by Ritwik Mitra:Ratchet & Clank surprised many players with its technical fidelity in the current generation of consoles, with Rift Apart making great use of the power of the PS5. Sadly, not all gamers will have access to the acclaimed series, but there are other options available. Fans of the series who own a Nintendo Switch can check out several great platforming games that are reminiscent of Ratchet & Clank in many ways. These titles either replicate the platforming challenges of the series or feature combat mechanics that provide a similar feeling.
13Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
A Trilogy Of Classic Platformers With Limited Self-Defense Options
The remake of the originalCrash Bandicoottrilogy is something that excited fans to no end. The hard-as-nails gameplay coupled with a suite of memorable characters is a package that even players unfamiliar with this beloved marsupial are certain to enjoy.
Much likeRatchet & Clank,Crash Bandicootis one of the franchises that contributes to the PlayStation’s rich history in the gaming industry. After competing withMariofor the longest time, fans with access to a Nintendo Switch will be glad to get their hands on Crash’s zany adventures, especially if they enjoy whatRatchet & Clankhas to offer in terms of fun gameplay, challenges, and visuals.
Sonic is a video game character who continues to be relevant in the mainstream despite having a rather rocky history of game releases ever since the series' transition to 3D. As such, fans were glad to see thatSonic Frontierswas a lot of fun to play despite featuring its fair share of jank.
Players who love the focus on platforming and combat ingames likeRatchet & Clankwill loveSonic Frontiersfor much of the same. Sure, Sonic may lack ranged options, but that doesn’t matter since he himself can match the pace of a speeding bullet.
It Takes Twois one ofthe best co-op gamesthat players can get their hands on. In this game, gamers start off with a moveset fit for a platforming game before the title throws numerous gameplay curveballs at them based on the levels they traverse.
This includes segments where players can engage in traditional third-person shooter mechanics, making it a perfect game for players seeking outexperiences likeRatchet & Clankon the Switch. By switching its gameplay elements time and time again,It Takes Twowill entertain players until the very end of this memorable journey as they help Cody and May rekindle the spark in their relationship.
Spyro Reignited TrilogyandRatchet and Clankshare a common bond, as both franchises were created by Insomniac Games. The American studio developed the originalSpyrotrilogy on PlayStation 1 before leaving the franchise to work on the firstRatchet and Clankgame.
Unfortunately, theSpyroseries sharply dropped in quality after Insomniac stopped developing the series' games, and many people thought that the franchise was dead after the underwhelmingThe Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragonin 2008. However, following the success ofCrash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Activision teamed up with Toys For Bob to remaster the first threeSpyrogames.
Spyro Reignited Trilogywas well-received by fans, as, like theN. Sane Trilogy, it brought the iconic series back to life with a beautiful fresh coat of paint that makes the game tantalizing for both adults returning to the series and children experiencing it for the first time. The three games inthe remastered collectionall feature a blend of action and platforming like theRatchet & Clankseries does, particularly the third game, which introduced a handful of new playable characters and new gameplay mechanics.
A game that is considered a spiritual successor to the classicBanjo-Kazooiewas always going to draw attention. Playtonic Games’Yooka-Layleestarted life on Kickstarter, where it broke multiple records for the money it raised. Unfortunately, the game’s huge expectations weren’t reached, and many people were disappointed by the final product.
Despite failing to match the qualities ofBanjo-Kazooie,Playtonic Games' platformer is still worth checking out for anyone interested ingames likeRatchet & Clankas long as they don’t mind the combat taking a backseat. The first level, in particular, is extremely well-designed, as players can easily get lost in it for hours while searching for all of thesecrets and hidden itemstucked around every corner.
Kirby and the Forgotten Landwas released exclusively on the Nintendo Switch in March 2022. The game was well-received by fans and critics, exemplified by its 85 critic score and 8.8 user score on the review aggregator site Metacritic.
Kirby and the Forgotten Landimmediately grabbed the attention ofKirbyfans by being the first main series game in the franchise to be fully 3D, along with its beautiful art design and expansive copy mechanic that often produces hilarious results. Players who loved the charming art style and endearing characters ofRatchet & Clankwill find this title to be right up their alley.
Another mascot character that has survived many decades and changes to gaming over the years isDonkey Kong.Players who like the idea of controlling anthropomorphic characters in unique platforminggames likeRatchet & Clankwill find the games with this lovable gorilla to be right up their alley. However, these fans should keep in mind that the majority ofDonkey Konggames focus on platforming challenges, with combat taking a backseat here.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freezeisone of many Wii U games that has been ported to the Nintendo Switch, and it is considered to be of a similar quality to the classic SNES gameDonkey Kong Country, which is tremendously high praise. The Nintendo Switch edition adds a handful of new features, including New Funky Mode, whichadds Funky Kong as a playable character. Funky Kong is far more skilled than Donkey Kong, making the game considerably easier.
The Metroidvania genre has had a welcome resurgence in recent years.Hollow Knightis just one of the many fantastic entries into the retro genre during the eighth generation of consoles. The game itself impressed in almost every key area, as the gameplay, music, and overall level design makeHollow Knightone of the Metroidvania genre’s best-ever titles.
Along with its excellent Nintendo Switch Metascore of 90,Hollow Knightpicked up numerous awards, including Independent Game of the Year at the Australian Game Awards. As long as players don’t mind sacrificing the colorful art style and third-person perspective of theRatchet & Clankgames, they’ll findHollow Knightto be an excellent recommendation.
From one excellent modern Metroidvania to another,Guacamelee! 2was releasedin August 2018 on PC and PlayStation 4 before coming to the Nintendo Switch a couple of months later. Much likeHollow Knight,DrinkBox Studios’Guacamelee! 2is faithful tothe Metroidvania games of oldbut brings plenty of new ideas to the table to differentiate it from other titles.
Along with its unique art style,Guacamelee! 2stands out with its innovative combat styles, inspired by a common professional wrestling style in Mexico known as Lucha Libre. The focus on platforming and combat makes this a greatgame on the Switch likeRatchet & Clank.
The Legend of Zelda-inspiredOkami HDmay not have as many platforming sections asRatchet & Clankor any other game on this list, for that matter. However, Clover Studio’s classic adventure is certainly worth checking out for simply being one of the best third-person adventures of all time.
Despite the universal praise and 93 Metascore thatOkamireceived when it was initially released on the PlayStation 2,the game struggled to perform sales-wise. Thankfully, the Nintendo Wii port and multipleOkami HDreleases have finally given the adventure the commercial success it always deserved.
