Mario has been the face of Nintendo since the '80s and he's had his gloved mitts on the platforming genre for decades. A jolly jaunt through the Mushroom Kingdom is practically one of the first adventures most gamers experience, but after a certain amount of time, things start feeling a bit too routine.
That being said, Mario's timeless nature is what makes his games so successful, but sometimes fans want something different. Fortunately, the Nintendo Eshop is loaded with other platforming adventures ready to scratch that itch. They might not all be pipes and warp zones, but there's a whole host of games for those who need a break from the Mario Bros.
Hollow Knight
If there's one genre Nintendo has made more than adequate use of, it's Metroidvanias. The Eshop is home to dozens of explorative-platformer experiences, but few stand out as much as Hollow Knight. While the Kingdom of Hallownest is certainly darker and drearier than the Mushroom Kingdom, players will still have monsters to battle and even encounters with poisonous mushrooms.
While some fans will compare it to something like Dark Souls, Mario fans will find the expansive levels and creature designs more than appealing. After all, there are only so many smiling clouds a gamer can take before things get weird.
Cuphead
Cuphead is a game for players looking for that old "Nintendo-Hard" feeling from the games of yesteryear like Contra and Gradius. Although it's not Lost Levels, the game will put the most seasoned gamer's platforming skills to the ultimate test.
A tribute to retro-hard games of the past, including some of Nintendo's own, Cuphead will cause some players to snap their Joycons in half. For those who are patient enough to get into the groove like they would a Mario title, however, it's a unique platforming experience that vintage fans and players can get behind.
Trine Series
These fantasy puzzle-platformers are unfortunately overlooked by legions of fans. Not only does it take elements from classic platformers like the Mario Bros. games, but it adds in an eccentric puzzle-solving element paired with an absolutely beautiful art design that compels players to keep going further and further into this mystical realm.
Easily one of the most gorgeous fantasy games out there, it pairs classic platforming elements with a familiar fairytale setting that is as comfortable as it is engaging. With a sprinkling of RPG elements amongst the traditional mechanics, it's definitely a different flavor of 2D platformer.
Sonic Mania
Sega does what Ninten-don't, so the old saying went. Sonic has always had a bit of a friendly rivalry with Mario, and his return to form in Sonic Mania continues to support that claim. This retro-inspired throwback is a mixture of different elements from some of the Blue Blur's best games, and it's ideal for those looking to keep that vintage vibe going outside of a Mario title.
If there's one advantage Sonic has over Mario, it's speed. The levels can go by lightning-fast, and there are enough rings and powerups to collect to make a player's head spin. Those retro-gamers out there looking for an alternative to Nintendo's portly plumber won't be disappointed.
The Mega Man Collections
It wouldn't be untrue to say that nearly all of Mega Man's games are ready and available on the Nintendo Switch. For those looking for a platforming experience with a little more action thrown in, they wouldn't be wrong for pairing up with the Blue Bomber himself. From the original titles to the X series and beyond, there's practically a Mega Man for every appetite.
This mix of run-and-gun with traditional challenging platforming action is great for those looking for something with a little bit of edge, but still accessible to those coming off a mushroom binge with Mario. Even some of Mega Man's modern entries have continued to maintain that 8-bit and 16-bit flavor that keeps drawing the retro crowd back for more.
Cyber Shadow
Those familiar with the original Ninja Gaiden will feel right at home with Yacht Club's cyberpunk platformer. Cyber Shadow takes the ninja-inspired action seen in games like Ninja Gaiden and Shinobi and drops it into a retro-inspired 16-bit world of robots, laser beams, and deadly traps.
Mario wishes he had the powerups Shadow packs on his 8-bit-inspired journey, and the developers did more than recognize the genre that inspired the game's creation. From its design to the progression and flow of the experience, Cyber Shadow is essentially what would happen if an 8-bit action platformer from the '80s was made in the modern era.
The Messenger
Similar to Cyber Shadow, The Messenger is a love letter to retro platformers of the golden age of gaming. Only instead of paying homage to the 8-bit era alone, the game goes the full length in referencing classic platformers like Ninja Gaiden along with the Metroidvania genre as well.
One of the game's most defining features is its back and forth transitions from 8-bit to a 16-bit design, bringing the best of both worlds together in one retro-fusion title. Making callbacks to several famous vintage games, its palate of inspiration pulls from enough classic sources to make any retro-gamer feel right at home.
Kaze And The Wild Masks
Although it might look like something out of Sonic the Hedgehog's universe, Kaze and the Wild Masks actually takes more from games like Mario and Donkey Kong Country than what the designs might suggest. With a design that's a mix of Sonic and an early Rayman game paired with gameplay reminiscent of the previously mentioned Donkey Kong Country series, Kaze and the Wild Masks certainly has a lot to offer.
If it wasn't for the modern graphics, this game could easily pass for a classic Nintendo title. Players collect various shiny objects, unlock bonus rooms, find powerups, and even butt-bounce on evil vegetable enemies who might be inspired by the visuals of Super Mario 2. Simply put, it's a solid platformer that knows what fans enjoy most.
Rayman Legends
The Rayman series is perhaps one of the easiest Mario substitutes to pick up. Its cartoony world and menagerie of strange creatures will bring a sense of familiarity to those who dig the Mushroom Kingdom, but there's a much more satisfying action element thrown in that Mario's platformers don't always have.
Although Origins is a favorite, Rayman Legends offers just as much cartoony platforming with a little more spit and polish to its designs. At its core, it's still the same classic Rayman experience that fans of any platforming title can jump in and enjoy with ease.
Shovel Knight
If there's one game that was designed to scratch every platforming itch imaginable, it was the iconic Shovel Knight. Drawing inspiration from Nintendo platformers across the board, the game brings a sampling of everything from Mario Bros. to Ducktales along for an enchanting ride through an 8-bit kingdom.
There are some heavy elements from Super Mario 3 that make it into the game's core, but there are also some nuanced and novel additions to the formula as well. It follows the save-the-love-interest schtick but adds a colorful tongue-in-cheek voice with a sharp gameplay experience with all the bells and whistles a champion of the genre deserves.