Crash Bandicoot is a platformer you play running into the screen, with the camera trailing behind Crash. Some levels flip the view and have him flee from a rolling boulder, and others are played side-on. You jump on enemies or spin them off the screen. Crates are scattered through each level, and smashing them open is half the fun. Two levels put Crash on a wild boar that will not slow down. It was the first game in a series that made Naughty Dog's name.
Crash shared the PlayStation with a crowd of other cartoon heroes. These are the 23 games players recommend most to Crash fans, ranked by how many different people named each one. 20 of the 23 are PS1 games.
23 Games Like Crash Bandicoot Where You Jump Your Way Through Cartoon Worlds
Kingsley's Adventure (1999)
Kingsley's Adventure is a 1999 PlayStation game from Psygnosis about an orphaned fox who wants to become a True Knight, like his father. You travel through foxholes to new places and help people in distress along the way. The villain is called Bad Custard, and he turns True Knights into Dark Knights. With a name like that, you know the tone.
The big difference is the gear. Kingsley's Adventure is an action-adventure, and you collect weapons as you go: an axe, a sword, a crossbow and a dagger. That gives it more fighting than Crash ever had. It was made at Psygnosis' studio in Camden Town and came to North America in September 1999. Few people remember it, but it has its fans. Play it on PS1.
40 Winks (1999)
40 Winks is a 1999 platformer from Eurocom where you play as the siblings Ruff and Tumble. The Winks protect people from nightmares and bring them good dreams. Then an old man named NiteKap, who cannot sleep, sends his teddy bear minion Threadbear to kidnap them all. Each of the six worlds has three levels and ends with a boss.
The big difference is the dream setting. Ruff carries a candle that burns enemies. Tumble has a teddy bear. You open doors with golden tokens called cogs. Critics liked the visuals, and AllGame compared it to Banjo-Kazooie. The Nintendo 64 version was cancelled before release and only came out after a 2018 Kickstarter. Play it on PS1, PS3 or PSP, or on N64.
Gex: Enter the Gecko (1998)
Gex: Enter the Gecko is the 1998 game where Crystal Dynamics took its wisecracking gecko into 3D. Gex is a TV-binging lizard, and his levels are themed on television. You collect remotes to unlock new TVs in the hub world, and each TV is the way into a new level. His arch-nemesis is Rez.
The big difference is the jokes. Much of the game's humor was inspired by The Simpsons, and scriptwriter Robert Cohen had written for that show. Critics took issue with the camera and the simple design, but the funny lines go a long way. Break small TV sets and you find flies that add health or extra lives. Play it on PS1, PS3 or PSP.
Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko (1999)
Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko sends Gex back to the Media Dimension to rescue Agent Xtra from Rez, his arch-nemesis. Comedian Dana Gould voices Gex in the American release, and Gex is still a wisecracking pop culture fan. Your base is Mission Control, looked after by Gex's butler, Alfred. New stages open as you collect TV remotes, with 50 to find in all.
The big difference is the variety. Gex 3 has bigger levels and a retooled camera, and some stages put you on a camel or a snowboard. Gex can also swim and glide in certain levels. The bugs you collect are capped at 100 per level, which makes finding the ones you need harder than in Enter the Gecko. Play it on PS1.
Jersey Devil (1997)
Jersey Devil is a 1997 3D platformer from Behaviour Interactive. You play the Jersey Devil himself, though he looks more like a bat. He takes on a villain named Knarf and his army of mutated vegetables and prehistoric monsters. He punches and jumps, and he can glide. In many areas you have to collect all five letters of Knarf's name to move on.
The big difference is the camera, which got most of the criticism along with the graphics. Reviews were mixed. GamePro called it the PlayStation's most ambitious 3D platformer to date and said fans of Crash or Croc should pick it up. It also warned of some devilishly frustrating situations. That is a fair warning. Play it on PS1.
Rayman 2: The Great Escape (1999)
Rayman 2 is the 1999 game that took Ubi Soft's hero from 2D into 3D. Like Crash, you move through a mostly linear run of levels. You fight robotic pirates and collect lums, the small shards of magical energy that open up new parts of the world. Rayman 2 was critically acclaimed for its gameplay and graphics.
The big difference is how Rayman moves. He shoots energy orbs from his fist, and you can charge them for more power. His helicopter hair slows his fall when you jump, and later he can fly with it. Break all the cages in a level and grab all its lums to unlock a bonus race. The PS2 got an enhanced port called Rayman Revolution. Play it on PS1, N64, PS2, PS3 or PSP.
Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue (1999)
Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue is the 1999 movie game from Traveller's Tales. You play Buzz Lightyear across fifteen levels based on places from the film, on your way to rescue Woody. Buzz fires a wrist laser you can charge up. He spreads his wings for a double jump and stomps to hit switches.
The big difference is the tokens. Each level hides five Pizza Planet tokens, and each one asks for something different, like beating a mini-boss or winning a race against another character. Bring 50 coins to Hamm and he gives you one more. Rex shows up in each level with hints. Movie games rarely got this much care. Play it on PS1 or N64.
Blasto (1998)
Blasto is a 1998 PlayStation shooter platformer starring Captain Blasto, an extremely muscular and dimwitted alien fighter. Phil Hartman voices him. He spent six hours recording all of the hero's possible dialogue in a single day. The platforming is a big part of it, with rotating 3D sections you have to cross while shooting aliens.
The big difference is the gun. Reviews were mixed. Critics found the controls and level design frustrating, but they praised Hartman's voice acting. GameSpot said "There's a good game here", but that it is "hidden under many layers of frustration." Come for the voice and the jokes, and expect a fight with the controls. Play it on PS1.
Wild 9 (1998)
Wild 9 comes from Shiny Entertainment and designer David Perry, the people behind Earthworm Jim, and it came out in September 1998. It is a side-scrolling run and gun platformer with 3D graphics, played on a 2D plane that sometimes lets you move into the foreground or background. You play Wex Major.
The big difference is the Rig, an electrical beam that comes out of Wex's back. You use it to defeat enemies, and IGN praised how much fun it is to torture them in many ways, without feeling guilty, since the enemies look neither human nor realistic. Reviews were favorable, though EGM found the difficulty unforgiving. It was also an award finalist for its sound and music. Play it on PS1.
MediEvil (1998)
MediEvil is a 1998 PlayStation adventure about Sir Daniel Fortesque, a charlatan knight. He tries to stop Zarok's invasion of the Kingdom of Gallowmere and redeem himself at the same time. The look is heavily influenced by Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, and critics praised its Halloween-themed visuals.
The big difference is the fighting. MediEvil is an action-adventure: Dan swings swords and clubs or fires a crossbow, with a shield that wears out. Each level hides a Chalice of Souls that you earn by beating enough enemies. Clear the level with it and Dan goes to the Hall of Heroes for a reward. Critics did complain about the controls and the camera. Play it on PS1, PS3 or PSP, or the remake on PS4.
Jumping Flash! (1995)
Jumping Flash! is a 1995 PlayStation platformer that holds the Guinness World Record as the first platform game in true 3D. You play Robbit, a robotic rabbit, hunting for the jet pods the villain Baron Aloha scattered across Crater Planet. A year after release it made Next Generation's Top 100 Games of All Time.
The big difference is the view. You play in first person, and the game is built around the jump. Robbit can jump up to three times in mid-air, and the camera tilts down on a double or triple jump so you can see his shadow and plan where to land. Each level has a ten-minute time limit. Later 3D platformers overshadowed it, which is a shame. Play it on PS1, PS3 or PSP.
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee (1997)
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee is a 1997 platformer about Abe, a meek Mudokon slave at the RuptureFarms meat processing factory. He finds out that he and his fellow Mudokons are about to be slaughtered to make a new product. He escapes and tries to free as many of them as he can. By December 2012 it had sold 3.5 million copies.
The big difference is the pace. Abe's Oddysee is a 2D cinematic platformer: you travel screen by screen, solving puzzles and avoiding enemies. Abe commits to each step and jump, and you cannot adjust a leap in mid-air. He can tiptoe so enemies do not notice him, which adds some stealth. The learning curve is steep, and you only save at checkpoints. Play it on PS1, PS3 or PSP.
Bugs Bunny: Lost in Time (1999)
Bugs Bunny: Lost in Time starts with Bugs taking a wrong turn at Albuquerque and switching on a time machine he thinks is a carrot juice dispenser. To get home he travels through five eras of time, 21 levels in all, collecting clocks and golden carrots. The eras work as hub worlds, and new ones open when you have enough clocks or carrots.
The big difference is the cartoon feel. Critics praised how faithful it is to the Looney Tunes source. Bugs can dive into rabbit holes and tiptoe past enemies, and he uses his ears like propellers to float down from high places. One review summed it up: "There are better platform games out there, but Lost in Time is a good one." Play it on PS1.
Ratchet & Clank (2002)
Ratchet & Clank is Insomniac's 2002 PS2 game about a Lombax named Ratchet, who meets the robot Clank on his home planet of Veldin. Together they go after Chairman Drek, who plans to build a new planet for his species and destroy other planets in the process. Critics praised the gameplay and the comedic story.
The big difference is the arsenal. There are up to 36 weapons and gadgets to buy or find, from the OmniWrench 8000 to the Suck Cannon, which turns small enemies into ammo. You pay for them with bolts, the game's money. Beat the game and challenge mode raises the difficulty but lets you keep your bolts and weapons. Play it on PS2, the HD collection on PS3 or Vita, or the 2016 remake on PS4.
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (2001)
Jak and Daxter is what Naughty Dog made after Crash. The idea came up while the studio was making Crash Team Racing, its final Crash game, and it came out on the PS2 in 2001. You play Jak, out to turn his friend Daxter back to normal after he becomes an ottsel, a mix of otter and weasel.
The big difference is the open world. Its seamless world has no load times, and reviewers said it set a new standard for platformers. You collect Power Cells to move on, and colored Eco changes what Jak can do: Blue Eco boosts speed, and Yellow Eco lets him throw fireballs. Jak has unlimited lives. By 2007 it had sold two million copies in the US alone. Play it on PS2 or PS4.
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus (2002)
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus is a 2002 PS2 platformer from Sucker Punch with stealth mixed in. Sly and his gang, Bentley the Turtle and Murray the Hippo, set out to recover the lost pages of the Thievius Raccoonus, a book of every thieving technique his ancestors created. A rival gang called the Fiendish Five has them.
The big difference is the sneaking. Blue sparkles mark the spots where Sly's thief senses let him pull off a stealth move, and the music gets louder and faster when he is detected. Find the clue bottles in an area to open a safe, and each page inside gives Sly a new move. The cel-shaded look was praised, and the main complaint was that it is too short. Play it on PS2, or The Sly Collection on PS3 or Vita.
Pandemonium! (1996)
Pandemonium! is a 1996 platformer from Toys for Bob and Crystal Dynamics. Nikki, an acrobat bored of carnival life, runs away to become a wizard. Fargus and Sid talk her into trying a 10th level spell. For each level, you choose which character to play.
The big difference is the path. Pandemonium! is 2.5D: the levels are rendered in 3D, but you play on a 2D surface that twists and bends through the world. You beat enemies the classic way, by bouncing on their heads, and power-ups like a freeze ray and a shrink ray help. The PlayStation version has 18 levels, and a sequel followed in 1997. Play it on PS1, PS3, PSP or Vita.
Pac-Man World (1999)
Pac-Man World is the 1999 game that brought Pac-Man into a 3D adventure. He goes to Ghost Island, where his family is held hostage by someone claiming to be the real Pac-Man. The team wanted it to live up to the "flavor and feel" of the original Pac-Man, and it sold 1.5 million copies.
The big difference is the arcade touch. You still collect pellets and eat fruit, and spelling out PACMAN with the letters in a level unlocks a secret bonus stage. There are six worlds, most with four levels, and a boss waits at the end of each. Reviewers praised its originality, though some found the backtracking repetitive. A remake, Pac-Man World Re-Pac, came out in 2022. Play the original on PS1, PS3 or PSP.
Tomba! (1997)
Tomba! is a 1997 platform-adventure from creator Tokuro Fujiwara about a feral child who has to get his grandfather's golden bracelet back from the evil Koma Pigs. Tomba jumps onto enemies, bites into their backs and tosses them away. He can also pick up weapons such as flails and boomerangs.
The big difference is the freedom. Tomba! is a 2D side-scroller, but it plays as an open world with RPG elements, and Fujiwara built a non-linear system of events to set it apart from other platformers. Critics praised the controls and the varied goals, and the game has kept a cult following for years. Limited Run Games released an enhanced version in 2024. Play it on PS1, PS3 or PSP, or the new version on Switch or PS4.
Ape Escape (1999)
Ape Escape is a 1999 platformer where an ape named Specter gains intelligence and a mean streak from an experimental helmet. He sends an army of apes through time to rewrite history. Spike has to catch them with special gadgets, and you need a set number of apes to clear each level.
The big difference is the controller. Ape Escape was the first game to require the DualShock: the left stick moves Spike and the right stick works his gadgets, like the Stun Club and the Time Net. Each ape's helmet has a siren that shows how alert it is, from blue for relaxed to red when it is about to run. Critics praised the dual analog controls. Play it on PS1, PS3 or PSP.
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile (1997)
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile is Namco's 1997 platformer about Klonoa and his friend Huepow, who set out to save the dream world of Phantomile from an evil spirit. Director Hideo Yoshizawa wanted a dream world that could appeal to children and adults. It is considered one of the best 2.5D platformers and PlayStation games.
The big difference is the grab. Klonoa grabs an enemy and it puffs up like a balloon. Throw it at other enemies, or jump off it for a bigger leap. You can even throw enemies into the foreground or background. The world is 3D, but you move along a 2D path, and some bosses fight you in round 3D arenas. Critics praised the clever level design. Play it on PS1, PS3 or PSP, or the remake on Wii.
Croc: Legend of the Gobbos (1997)
Croc: Legend of the Gobbos is a 1997 3D platformer from Argonaut about a young crocodile who sets out to rescue his adoptive family, the furry Gobbos, from the evil magician Baron Dante. It started as a pitch to Nintendo for a 3D platformer starring Yoshi. Nintendo turned it down, and Argonaut made Croc instead.
The big difference is the rescue. You pick levels from a world map and run to the gong at the end. Each level also has six Gobbos to save, and the last one is in a bonus room behind doors that need five colored crystals. It sold over 3 million copies on the PlayStation. Critics praised the visuals and music, and criticized the controls and camera. A remaster came out in 2025. Play it on PS1, or the remaster on Switch or PS4.
Spyro the Dragon (1998)
Spyro the Dragon is Insomniac's 1998 platformer about a young purple dragon and his dragonfly friend, Sparx. Gnasty Gnorc has trapped the other dragons in crystal and turned their gems into an army of minions, and Spyro sets off across the Dragon Kingdom to stop him. It made Spyro a PlayStation mascot alongside Crash, and it sold nearly five million copies.
The big difference is the space. Spyro's levels are large and open-ended, built for exploring and hunting down gems and trapped dragons. Spyro fights with fire breath and a head-on charge. His glide gets him across long distances. Stewart Copeland of the Police wrote the music. Some critics noted its low difficulty. Players recommend it to Crash fans more than any other game. Play it on PS1, PS3 or PSP, or the Reignited Trilogy remake on PS4 or Switch.
Which one to play
There you have it, the whole list of games like Crash Bandicoot. Most of them come from the same PlayStation years as Crash.
If you want another mascot to explore with, play Spyro the Dragon. If you want what Naughty Dog made next, play Jak and Daxter. If you liked the side-on Crash levels, play Klonoa or Pandemonium!. If you want a stiffer challenge, try Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee. If you want gadgets, play Ape Escape or Ratchet & Clank. If you want jokes with your jumping, play Gex 3 or Blasto. If you are picking for a younger player, start with Toy Story 2.
