Ever since the launch of Super Mario Bros. in the 1980s, the platformer has been synonymous with video games. In addition to being one of the most prolific genres in gaming, it’s also one of the most recognizable. The hallmark of a great platformer is being accessible and challenging at the same time, which is a difficult balance to achieve. However, a handful of titles in 2009 delivered fun and unique platforming experiences. LittleBigPlanet PSP took one of the best games of 2008 and reworked it on a smaller scale, recreating the fun of the PS3 version on a handheld system. Trials HD’s insanely addictive time trials kept us all coming back for more weeks after the downloadable game’s release. Scribblenauts tasked players with using their imaginations, inserting almost anything to get from one end of a level to another, and Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure seamlessly combining platforming with puzzle elements, and then threw in a right proper character as a bonus. These games were undeniable highlights of 2009, but only one title can be the Best Ever Platformer of the Year.

That’s right, almost fifteen years after Super Mario Bros. hit the NES, another 2D Mario platformer has won over gamers worldwide. Borrowing elements from Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World, two of the most beloved games of all time, NSMB Wii combined classic gameplay with a few new tricks. The “coopetition” that emerged while playing with friends made the multiplayer experience decidedly different than the single-player, and ensured that this game will be a Wii staple for a long time to come. With heightened difficulty and wonderfully designed worlds, New Super Mario Bros. Wii felt both refreshingly new and comfortingly familiar. You can’t ask for much more from a 2D Mario platformer.