Everyone talks about Super Mario Bros., Mega Man, and Castlevania when the topic of NES platformers comes up. And while they deserve the recognition, there’s a whole world of lesser-known gems on the NES that get overlooked. Digging into those obscure corners of the 8-bit library has been one of the most rewarding parts of my retro gaming journey. These hidden titles push the limits of what the NES could do, innovative mechanics, great music, and satisfying challenge, all bundled into carts that slipped under most people’s radar.
When putting together my personal list of the Top NES Platformers You’ve Never Played, I focused on games that offer strong gameplay but didn’t get the attention they deserved either due to limited releases, poor marketing, or just bad timing. Some of them were Japan-only releases that I only discovered years later through fan translations or reproduction carts. Others were available in North America but never got traction next to Nintendo’s big franchises.
Let’s dive into some of the best hidden platformer gems the NES has to offer. If you think you’ve seen it all, this list might just surprise you.
Gimmick! (Mr. Gimmick)
I don’t know how this one slipped through the cracks in the West. Gimmick! was developed by Sunsoft and released only in Japan and Scandinavia. It’s a gorgeous, advanced platformer that uses the NES hardware in ways that seem impossible. From the vibrant parallax backgrounds to the smooth animation and physics-based star attack, everything about it screams late-era NES brilliance.
The main character, Yumetaro, throws a star that behaves like a ricocheting boomerang. You can use it to attack enemies or as a springboard to reach new areas, making it an integral part of both combat and traversal. Mastering the physics takes practice, but once it clicks, it’s pure joy.
If we’re talking about the Top NES Platformers You’ve Never Played, Gimmick! is a shining example. It’s challenging, beautiful, and deeply rewarding.
Ufouria: The Saga
Developed by Sunsoft again, Ufouria is a quirky and inventive game that feels like a proto-Metroidvania. Released only in Japan and parts of Europe, this one never saw a North American release until the Virtual Console days. I played it on a PAL cartridge with a converter, and it quickly became one of my favorites.
You start as one character and gradually rescue your friends, each with their own abilities, similar to Little Samson or Kirby’s Adventure. There’s an open world structure, backtracking, and puzzle-solving that adds layers of depth. The game is funny, strange, and creative, with a unique rubbery art style and great music.
If you’ve missed Ufouria, you’ve missed one of the more original and ambitious platformers on the system. It deserves a solid spot among the Top NES Platformers You’ve Never Played.
Little Samson
This one is getting more attention lately, but it still hasn’t reached the popularity it deserves. Little Samson is a technical masterpiece for the NES, stunning graphics, smooth animations, and tight controls. You switch between four characters on the fly, each with their own health bar, abilities, and movement style.
The dragon can fly and shoot fireballs, the golem is slow but powerful, the mouse can climb walls and drop bombs, and Samson is the all-rounder. The level design encourages creative use of all four characters. The game never forces one path, but the optimal one usually depends on who you choose for each situation.
It came out late in the NES’s life cycle and was overshadowed by the SNES launch, which likely explains why so many missed it. For me, Little Samson is one of the most polished NES games and easily earns a place on the list of Top NES Platformers You’ve Never Played.
Kick Master
At first glance, Kick Master looks like your typical fantasy-themed platformer. But once the gameplay kicks in, literally, you realize it’s something special. You control a martial artist named Thonolan who uses a wide variety of kicks to fight enemies. It mixes platforming with light RPG elements, like leveling up to learn new attacks and casting magic.
The combat feels snappy and fluid, and the level design is well thought-out. There’s more depth here than in many better-known games from the same era. I found myself experimenting with different move combinations and even managing MP like I would in a full-blown action RPG.
This underrated gem flew under the radar, but it’s exactly what I think of when someone asks about the Top NES Platformers You’ve Never Played.
Power Blade
Power Blade combines Mega Man-style stage selection with a more action-heavy protagonist who tosses boomerangs in eight directions. You play as Nova, a futuristic soldier tasked with retrieving data tapes from enemy-infested stages. The game has a great cyberpunk vibe, tight controls, and solid level variety.
What makes it shine is its flexibility. You can climb, crouch, and attack in multiple directions, which makes the game feel smoother and more fluid than many NES platformers. The level design is open-ended, letting you explore and tackle objectives at your own pace.
There’s also Power Blade 2, which is more linear but still a great sequel. I played both back-to-back and was impressed with the polish and challenge. These two games remain criminally overlooked and easily belong on any list of Top NES Platformers You’ve Never Played.
Vice: Project Doom
Combining platforming, driving, and shooting, Vice: Project Doom takes a cinematic approach to NES storytelling and gameplay. The platforming sections are the core of the game, and they’re fantastic, tight controls, responsive jumping, and three different weapons to switch between. The cutscenes remind me of Ninja Gaiden, and the tone is pure ’80s action flick.
I was surprised by how good the driving and shooting levels are, too. They break up the pacing and add variety without feeling like filler. The music is top-tier, and the visuals are above average for a mid-era NES game.
Not many people talk about Vice: Project Doom, but it’s the kind of game you can’t put down once you start. If you’re looking for depth, variety, and style, this one’s a hidden gem in the realm of Top NES Platformers You’ve Never Played.
Kabuki Quantum Fighter
Here’s a game where you play as a digitized soldier who fights computer viruses by whipping enemies with his long, flowing red hair. It sounds ridiculous, but it absolutely works. The story is wild, the gameplay is fast-paced, and the controls are precise.
Kabuki Quantum Fighter features tight platforming combined with melee combat, power-ups, and one of the coolest art styles I’ve seen on the NES. It takes place inside a computer system, with glitchy backgrounds and weird enemies, giving it a unique aesthetic.
I finished it over a weekend and was hooked by the gameplay loop. It’s challenging but fair, and the presentation makes it memorable. It doesn’t get nearly the credit it deserves, and that’s why I had to include it on my personal list of Top NES Platformers You’ve Never Played.
Shatterhand
This is one of those late-era NES games that feels more like a 16-bit experience than an 8-bit one. You play as a cybernetic soldier who punches enemies instead of using a traditional weapon. The combat is satisfying, every hit has weight, and the controls are responsive.
The game lets you collect alpha and beta symbols that combine into different robot companions, each with unique attacks. This mechanic adds a layer of strategy that keeps the gameplay fresh. The music is catchy, the boss fights are epic, and the difficulty is balanced.
Shatterhand barely got noticed when it launched, but it stands as one of the NES’s most polished and replayable platformers. It’s a must-play for fans of the genre and one of the Top NES Platformers You’ve Never Played without question.
Whomp ‘Em
Based on the Japanese title Saiyūki World 2, Whomp ‘Em is a westernized version with a Native American theme. It plays a lot like Mega Man, you choose stages in any order, defeat bosses, and gain new abilities. But what makes it special is the emphasis on vertical movement and hidden upgrades.
I was drawn in by the colorful sprites and fluid animation. The combat feels good, and the challenge ramps up nicely. It’s not too long, but there’s enough variety in weapons and stage design to keep it from feeling repetitive.
This one slipped by a lot of people, probably due to its limited marketing and late release. It deserves a spot in the conversation when we’re talking about the Top NES Platformers You’ve Never Played.
Final Thoughts
There’s so much more to the NES platformer library than the usual suspects. Digging into obscure releases and regional exclusives is like opening a treasure chest full of forgotten greatness. Whether it’s the technical wizardry of Gimmick!, the character-switching of Little Samson, or the cyberpunk vibes of Vice: Project Doom, these hidden gems show just how much the NES still has to offer.
For anyone bored of the classics or looking for a new challenge, exploring the Top NES Platformers You’ve Never Played can breathe fresh life into your retro collection. These aren’t just curiosities, they’re top-tier platformers in their own right, and they deserve a second look.