June was an interesting month with a huge focus on 2D platformers, specifically the "precision platforming" kind.
Klonoa 2: Empire of Dreams (2001 Game Boy Advance)
I started playing this late in May. It turned out to be one of those games that stuck and I ended up 100% finishing it. The game is incredibly fun and addictive. It's a good mix between precision and puzzles. Difficulty curve is on point, late-game content is rich, and it definitely gives me the impression I got better at platformers just by playing it.
Super Meat Boy (2018 Nintendo Switch)
A Switch port of the original 2010 game. A huge hit in the indie world, credited for reviving the 2D platformer genre. Game is hard. You die a lot. It requires timing and precision. It's not for everyone.
But it's definitely for me. I loved every second of it. I'm not completely done with the dark world yet, but I know it's gonna happen.
Great game to play in short 10-15 min bursts. Amazing physics, cute graphics, awesome music.
Micro Mages (2019 - NES)
Yes, a 2019 NES game. Gotta love the indie devs.
Micro Mages is a real tour de force. I've played over 50 NES games in my life and none come close to what MM can do. It's a 2D vertical platformer with fluid physics and advanced movement options (mostly smart double jumps). The level design is solid, bosses are fun (and hard) and the game gets pretty challenging towards the end.
There's more content, better graphics and generally so much more than a regular NES game.
Oh and the soundtrack is absolute gold.
Dimenshaper (2026, linux)
https://barkhallastudios.itch.io/dimenshaper
This is not a full game yet, but a demo made available by an indie dev. I enjoyed the creativity and uniqueness. The demo is pretty short, I was able to go through the whole 15 levels (3 difficulties each) in about 10 minutes. Not a lot of content but a solid design.
It's a regular 2D platformer with a twist. You can make blocks appear/disappear by "switching dimensions". Levels are well-made, and the possibilities are immediately obvious.
Again, it's just a demo, there's little content, but I thought it deserved a mention for its creativity. I'll be buying the full game once it's out
