Spyro the Dragon is a 1998 platformer from Insomniac 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. Spyro's levels are large and open-ended, built for exploring and hunting down gems and trapped dragons. Each of the six dragon home worlds works as a hub, with portals into the levels. Spyro fights with fire breath and a head-on charge, and his glide gets him across long distances. Stewart Copeland of the Police wrote the music, and the game sold nearly five million copies.
Spyro shared the PlayStation with a crowd of other cartoon heroes. These are the 26 games players recommend most to Spyro fans, ranked by how many different people named each one. 21 of the 26 are PS1 games.
26 Games Like Spyro Where You Jump and Explore With a Cartoon Hero
Blasto (1998)
Blasto is a 1998 PlayStation shooter platformer starring Captain Blasto, an extremely muscular and dimwitted alien fighter. Like Spyro, it is a 3D platformer with a cartoon hero and a sense of humor. The platforming is a big part of it, with rotating 3D sections you have to cross while shooting aliens. Phil Hartman voices the captain, and he spent six hours recording all of the hero's possible dialogue in a single day.
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." Spyro is the gentler of the two by a long way. Play it on PS1.
Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko (1999)
Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko is a 1999 platformer from Crystal Dynamics that sends Gex back to the Media Dimension to rescue Agent Xtra from Rez, his arch-nemesis. It plays a lot like Spyro. 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. Gex can also swim and glide in certain levels.
The big difference is the talking. Comedian Dana Gould voices Gex in the American release, and Gex is still a wisecracking pop culture fan. Gex 3 has bigger levels and a retooled camera, and some stages put you on a camel or a snowboard. 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, until NiteKap sends his teddy bear minion Threadbear to kidnap them all. Like Spyro, it is split into worlds, six of them, each with three levels and a boss. You open doors with golden tokens called cogs. Critics liked the visuals, and AllGame compared it to Banjo-Kazooie.
The big difference is the dream setting. Ruff carries a candle that burns enemies, and Tumble has a teddy bear. 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. The setup will feel familiar to Spyro fans. You collect remotes to unlock new TVs in the hub world, and each TV is the way into a new level, the same way Spyro's portals lead out of each home world.
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. Break small TV sets and you find flies that add health or extra lives. Critics took issue with the camera and the simple design. Play it on PS1, PS3 or PSP.
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 from a rival gang called the Fiendish Five. Each level hides clue bottles, which will suit anyone who hunted down every gem in Spyro.
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 all the bottles to open a safe, and each page inside gives Sly a new move. The cel-shaded look was praised. Play it on PS2, or The Sly Collection on PS3 or Vita.
Rayman 2: The Great Escape (1999)
Rayman 2 is the 1999 game that took Ubi Soft's hero from 2D into 3D. You fight robotic pirates and collect lums, the small shards of magical energy that open up new parts of the world. Collecting to move forward is the same idea as Spyro's gems and dragons. His helicopter hair slows his fall when you jump, and later he can fly with it, which works a lot like Spyro's glide.
The big difference is the path. You move through a mostly linear run of levels, where Spyro lets you roam. Rayman shoots energy orbs from his fist, and you can charge them for more power. Rayman 2 was critically acclaimed for its gameplay and graphics. The PS2 got an enhanced port called Rayman Revolution. Play it on PS1, N64, PS2, PS3 or PSP.
Bugs Bunny: Lost in Time (1999)
Bugs Bunny: Lost in Time is a 1999 platformer from Behaviour Interactive. It 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. Spyro fans will know the loop.
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. 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. You play Wex Major. It comes from the same PS1 years as Spyro and has the same cartoon streak.
The big difference is the Rig, an electrical beam that comes out of Wex's back. 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. IGN praised how much fun it is to torture enemies in many ways, without feeling guilty, since the enemies look neither human nor realistic. Reviews were favorable, though EGM found the difficulty unforgiving. Play it on PS1.
Muppet Monster Adventure (2000)
Muppet Monster Adventure is a 2000 PlayStation platformer where you play Robin the Frog, out to save the Muppets from becoming monsters forever. The gameplay is reminiscent of popular 3D collectathon platformers of the time, and Spyro is the obvious one. Each level takes a certain amount of evil energy to open, and enemies drop it or you find it scattered around.
The big difference is the amulets. Collect all four pieces of one and Robin can change into that Muppet's monster. Noseferatu lets him glide, and the Wocka Wocka Werebear lets him climb. Bosses open with Muppet Tokens. Reviews were mixed, with praise for the polish and the fun factor. Play it on PS1.
A Bug's Life (1998)
A Bug's Life is the 1998 PlayStation game based on the Disney and Pixar film. You play Flik across five lands, consisting of three levels each. Like Spyro, it rewards poking around. Collect the letters F, L, I and K in a level for an extra life, and 50 pieces of grain restore Flik's health completely.
The big difference is the berries. Flik throws them at enemies, and stronger ones grow from seeds you plant. You can carry most seeds over your head to other spots. By May 1999 it had sold 1 million units. Play it on PS1 or N64.
Banjo-Kazooie (1998)
Banjo-Kazooie is Rare's 1998 Nintendo 64 platformer about a bear named Banjo and a bird named Kazooie, out to save Banjo's sister Tooty from the witch Gruntilda. It came out the same year as Spyro and scratches the same itch. You explore nine worlds and gather musical notes and jigsaw pieces called Jiggies to move on, in whatever order you like. Kazooie can even glide Banjo down from a jump.
The big difference is the move list. There are 14 special moves in all, and Bottles the mole teaches some of them. Critics said it surpassed Super Mario 64 as the best 3D platform and adventure game, and it sold over three million copies. Play it on N64, or on Switch through the Nintendo Classics service.
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 punches and jumps, and he can glide. The glide alone will feel like home to Spyro fans. He takes on a villain named Knarf and his army of mutated vegetables and prehistoric monsters. 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 warned of some devilishly frustrating situations. Play it on PS1.
Super Mario 64 (1996)
Super Mario 64 is the first Super Mario game with 3D graphics, and Spyro followed the path it opened. Its influence can be seen in 3D platformers such as Spyro the Dragon and Banjo-Kazooie. Bowser hides the Power Stars in worlds inside the castle's paintings. You jump into a painting to reach a course, and each Star you find opens more of the castle hub.
The big difference is how Mario moves. He can run, swim, punch and climb, and his special jumps include the backflip and the wall jump. Fifteen courses hold 120 Power Stars in all. It is the best-selling Nintendo 64 game, with nearly twelve million copies sold by 2015. Play it on N64, Wii, Wii U or Switch.
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. Saving the trapped Mudokons scratches the same itch as freeing Spyro's crystal dragons.
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. The learning curve is steep, and you only save at checkpoints. By December 2012 it had sold 3.5 million copies. Play it on PS1, PS3 or PSP.
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. Sony published it, as it did Spyro. 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. 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.
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (2001)
Jak and Daxter is the 2001 PS2 platformer from Naughty Dog, the studio behind Crash. You play Jak, out to turn his friend Daxter back to normal after he becomes an ottsel, a mix of otter and weasel. If Spyro's open levels were your favorite part, this is the next step up. Its seamless world has no load times, and reviewers said it set a new standard for platformers.
The big difference is the Eco. 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.
Jumping Flash! (1995)
Jumping Flash! is a 1995 PlayStation platformer that holds the Guinness World Record as the first platform game in true 3D. It came out three years before Spyro. You play Robbit, a robotic rabbit, hunting for the jet pods the villain Baron Aloha scattered across Crater Planet. Like Spyro's gem hunts, each level is a search.
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. Play it on PS1, PS3 or PSP.
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. It has the same bright fantasy look as Spyro.
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. For each level, you choose which character to play. 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. 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. Spyro fans will like the collecting. You still collect pellets and eat fruit, and spelling out PACMAN with the letters in a level unlocks a secret bonus stage.
The big difference is the structure. 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. It sold 1.5 million copies. A remake, Pac-Man World Re-Pac, came out in 2022. Play the original on PS1, PS3 or PSP.
Ratchet & Clank (2002)
Ratchet & Clank is the 2002 PS2 game Insomniac made after its three Spyro games. You play 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. Like Spyro, you hop between worlds and pick up everything you can find.
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. Critics praised the gameplay and the comedic story. Play it on PS2, the HD collection on PS3 or Vita, or the 2016 remake on PS4.
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. It plays like a Spyro level with a laser. 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.
The big difference is Buzz's kit. He fires a wrist laser you can charge up. He spreads his wings for a double jump and stomps to hit switches. Bring 50 coins to Hamm and he gives you one more token. Rex shows up in each level with hints. Movie games rarely got this much care. Play it on PS1 or N64.
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. Klonoa has a sidekick the way Spyro has Sparx. Director Hideo Yoshizawa wanted a dream world that could appeal to children and adults, and Spyro fans will feel at home in it.
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. The world is 3D, but you move along a 2D path, where Spyro lets you roam free. It is considered one of the best 2.5D platformers and PlayStation games. Play it on PS1, PS3 or PSP, or the remake on Wii.
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. It plays as an open world with RPG elements, and Spyro fans who loved poking into corners will find plenty here. Tomba jumps onto enemies, bites into their backs and tosses them away.
The big difference is the view. Tomba! is a 2D side-scroller, 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. Hunting apes feels a lot like hunting Spyro's last few gems.
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.
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. The rescue will remind you of Spyro freeing the crystal dragons. Each level has six Gobbos to save, and the last one is in a bonus room behind doors that need five colored crystals.
The big difference is the layout. You pick levels from a world map and run to the gong at the end, a straighter road than Spyro's open levels. It started as a pitch to Nintendo for a 3D platformer starring Yoshi. It sold over 3 million copies on the PlayStation. A remaster came out in 2025. Play it on PS1, or the remaster on Switch or PS4.
Crash Bandicoot (1996)
Crash Bandicoot is the 1996 Naughty Dog platformer that shared the PlayStation with Spyro. Spyro became a PlayStation mascot alongside Crash. You jump on enemies or spin them off the screen, and crates are scattered through each level. Smashing them open is half the fun. Players recommend it to Spyro fans more than any other game.
The big difference is the direction. Most of the game has you running into the screen, with the camera trailing behind Crash, where Spyro lets you wander. Some levels flip the view and have him flee from a rolling boulder, and others are played side-on. Two levels put Crash on a wild boar that will not slow down. Play it on PS1, PS3 or PSP, or the N. Sane Trilogy remake on PS4 or Switch.
Which one to play
There you have it, the whole list of games like Spyro. Most of them come from the same PlayStation years as Spyro.
If you want Spyro's old PlayStation partner, play Crash Bandicoot.
If you want what Insomniac made next, play Ratchet & Clank.
If you loved freeing the dragons, play Croc.
If you want big worlds to roam on a Nintendo console, play Super Mario 64 or Banjo-Kazooie.
If you want gadgets, play Ape Escape.
If you want jokes with your jumping, play Gex 3.
If you are picking for a younger player, start with Toy Story 2 or A Bug's Life.
