Best free-to-play platformers in 2026, ranked
The 5 best F2P platformers you can play right now in 2026. From the roguelike loop of Spelunky 2 mods to the casual party chaos of Fall Guys, here's where to find your next jump-and-run fix without paying retail.
How we picked them
"Platformer" used to mean Mario. In 2026, it covers 4 sub-genres:
- Roguelike (procedural, die-and-restart)
- Party (multiplayer minigames, casual)
- Speedrun (high-skill, leaderboard-driven)
- Metroidvania (exploration-driven, 2D)
This list picks the best F2P option in each.
Spelunky 2 (community mods) — Roguelike
Spelunky 2 is paid ($20) but the community mod scene has been porting the game to free engines for years. The current best free alternative is Spelunky Classic HD, a community remake of the original Spelunky with the Spelunky 2 daily challenge format. Free on itch.io.
Fall Guys — Party
The best F2P party platformer. 40-60 players, 3-5 minigames, last bean standing wins. Free on every platform (PC, PS4/5, Xbox, Switch, mobile). Cross-play with cross-progression.
Celeste Classic (browser port) — Speedrun
The original Celeste Classic is a free browser game and one of the most speedrun-friendly platformers ever made. The 2026 speedrun scene has the world record at 27:14. The paid Celeste game is $20 but the classic is free forever.
Holocure — Metroidvania
Holocure is a free fan-made game based on Hololive VTubers, with the deepest metroidvania progression of any free platformer. 30+ characters, 8+ hours of content per character. Available on Steam (free).
Animal Well (free demo) — Exploration
The free demo of Animal Well is a 2-hour standalone platformer that doubles as a teaser for the paid game. The full game is $25 but the demo is one of the best free platformer experiences of 2025.
What's next
The 2026 F2P platformer scene is dominated by Fall Guys and the Spelunky mod scene. The most-anticipated upcoming addition is Animal Well: Lost Chapter (free expansion, Fall 2026) which adds a new 4-hour story arc to the demo.
FAQ
What's the best F2P platformer in 2026?
For casual party, Fall Guys. For roguelike, Spelunky Classic HD (community port). For speedrun, Celeste Classic (browser). For metroidvania, Holocure. For exploration, the Animal Well demo.
Are there any good F2P platformers on
mobile?
Fall Guys is on iOS and Android with full cross-play. Holocure is on Steam only. The Spelunky and Celeste classics are browser games (work on any device with a browser).
How long are these games?
Fall Guys matches are 10-15 minutes. Spelunky runs are 10-30 minutes. Celeste Classic speedruns are 27 minutes for WR. Holocure is 8+ hours per character. Animal Well demo is 2 hours.
Can I play these with friends?
Fall Guys is the only multiplayer option on this list. Spelunky, Celeste, Holocure, and Animal Well are single-player.
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