Jump, dodge, set off at exactly the right moment: platformers were one of the most popular genres of the Flash era. Many came from small teams or solo developers who dared to try ideas you rarely saw in big console games – worlds that flip over, characters that stick to walls, levels that only work in black and white. Lots of these games run right in your browser again on our site, thanks to the Ruffle emulator, with no Flash plugin needed. Here are eight to get you started.
The list
1. Shift 1 and Shift 2 – turn the world upside down
The Shift series is built on one clever idea: every level exists in a dark and a light version. If you can't get any further on one side, switch to the other – and suddenly a wall becomes a path. In Shift 2 the puzzles get trickier with every level. Play Shift 1 · Play Shift 2
2. Moss and Moss 2 – stick where others fall
You're a small green ball exploring the world. Your special skill: you can stick to walls, so with a bit of practice you can get over even tall barriers. In Moss 2 the little round adventurer once again uses those skills to leave seemingly impossible obstacles behind. Play Moss · Play Moss 2
3. Contraste – contrast as a tool
Colour takes centre stage here too: you control a cube and can change its contrast, which is exactly what you need to beat the levels. If you liked Shift, Contraste is well worth a try. Play Contraste
4. Sinta – a cat with a bow and arrow
Sinta is a little white cat trying to escape from a huge castle. Armed with a bow and arrow and a sharp mind, she works her way from room to room looking for the way out. A platformer for anyone who likes a bit of thinking alongside the jumping. Play Sinta
5. Dragon Quest – a rescue in the castle
In Dragon Quest you fight your way through a medieval castle, room by room, to free your best friend. Besides the jumping, there are some puzzle elements you have to solve before you can move on. Play Dragon Quest
6. Soul Searchin' – a trip inside Benjamin's head
Soul Searchin' was made for the Ludum Dare 23 game jam, whose theme was "Small Worlds". The story takes you inside Benjamin's mind, where you hop from platform to platform as a tiny figure. Press the space bar to start. Play Soul Searchin'
7. Extreme Building Runner – above the rooftops
This one is all about speed: run from building to building, leap over the gaps and earn medals. The game has a help screen for the controls and a high-score table – perfect if you like beating your own best. Play Extreme Building Runner
8. Infamous: Precinct Assault – the minigame for the PS3 hit
A piece of gaming history: Infamous: Precinct Assault is the official 2D Flash minigame for the PlayStation 3 game Infamous by Sucker Punch. As Cole, you fight your way through the city streets in a side-scroller. There are three levels, with a tutorial before the first one that you can skip. Play Infamous: Precinct Assault
More to jump into
Still hungry for more? In Star Island a round little adventurer hunts for his stars under water and up in the sky, in GoGo Plant a potted plant with unexpected powers makes its way through the world, and in Underneath you take a pixel character deep down an underground shaft.
Tips for tricky jumps
Watch first
Stand still for a moment at the start of a level and see how the enemies and platforms move. Many sections follow a fixed rhythm.
Click into the game
If the keyboard doesn't respond, click once inside the game area. Then your key presses go to the game instead of the page.
Check the controls
Many Flash games explain their keys in the menu or the first level. A quick look saves a lot of frustration later.
Take a break
If a jump fails ten times in a row, a short break often helps more than the eleventh attempt.
And today?
Flash may be history, but the jumping goes on. You'll find new free browser games every week at Playit-Online and in the overviews on our home page.
For more Flash games like these, take a look at our platform games and all our Flash classics.
More Flash classics
Lots of old Flash games run right in your browser again on our site – no plugin needed.