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The Best Story-Driven 3D Platformers to Play After Psychonauts 2

By Freedom251 Team · · 9 min read

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If you want another game that pairs imaginative worlds with 3D platforming, start with A Hat in Time. It is the closest substantiated follow-up for Psychonauts 2’s whimsy, collectathon play and varied scenarios—but the available coverage supports its tone and level variety more clearly than a comparably deep story. Super Mario Odyssey, It Takes Two and Astro Bot are also 3D platformer options, but genre alone does not establish that they offer the same narrative focus.

What should you look for in a game after Psychonauts 2?

The best follow-up depends on which part of Psychonauts 2 you want to keep. It is not just a platformer: Double Fine presents it as a psychic-espionage adventure, and its Steam description emphasizes a cinematic platform-adventure with humor, mystery, surreal environments, psychic powers and acrobatic movement. Steam lists its release date as August 24, 2021.

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That combination sets a higher bar than “another game with jumping and collectibles.” A useful successor should ideally bring together expressive worlds, a distinctive tone, a reason to care about the characters or events, and movement that feels central to play. The available evidence is uneven across the alternatives below, so the recommendations distinguish a supported tonal and gameplay match from games identified only as members of the 3D platformer genre.

  • For whimsy and varied collectathon-style play: A Hat in Time is the strongest-supported first choice.
  • For more 3D platforming to explore: Super Mario Odyssey and Astro Bot are genre alternatives, but their narrative fit is not established by the cited genre listing.
  • For a possible two-player direction: It Takes Two appears among the genre alternatives, but the sources used here do not verify its co-op details or story similarity.

These are leads to investigate, not claims that every game recreates the same balance of story, humor and platforming. The comparison below makes that distinction explicit.

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Which game is the closest match?

A Hat in Time is the best-supported next pick if the appeal of Psychonauts 2 was its playful weirdness, changing scenarios and 3D collectathon structure. PC Gamer’s coverage highlights its varied levels and playful tone; that evidence supports a close feel in how the adventure presents its worlds, not a claim that its narrative is equally dense.

A Hat in Time: the tonal and gameplay fit

Choose this first if you want to move from one imaginative setting to another and enjoy the act of exploring and collecting as much as following a central adventure. Its variety and light-hearted character make it the clearest fit among the options identified here for someone seeking a whimsical 3D platformer after Raz’s psychic journey.

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Keep expectations focused on what is actually established: the cited editorial coverage points to playful tone and varied levels. It does not establish the same kind of cinematic story, character development or mystery structure described for Psychonauts 2. If narrative depth is your deciding factor, look for a current official description or gameplay overview before buying rather than treating “similar vibe” as proof of an equivalent story.

Why not call it a narrative equivalent?

The comparison is about the qualities the available coverage supports. Psychonauts 2 is explicitly described as a cinematic platform-adventure with humor and mystery, while the cited account of A Hat in Time substantiates tone and level variety. Those are meaningful overlaps, but they are not evidence of matching plot complexity or storytelling emphasis.

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How do the other 3D platformer options compare?

Super Mario Odyssey, It Takes Two and Astro Bot are listed as 3D platformer alternatives by CheckpointDB. That is enough to make them candidates for a genre-focused shortlist, but not enough to rank them as story-driven matches: the listing does not establish their narrative emphasis, tone, play mode or current platform availability.

Game Story emphasis established by cited sources Tone established by cited sources Platforming information established Solo or co-op information established Current platform availability established
Psychonauts 2 (comparison point) Cinematic platform-adventure; psychic-espionage story, humor and mystery (Steam; Double Fine) Humorous and surreal (Steam) Acrobatic movement and psychic powers (Steam) Not stated in the cited descriptions (Steam; Double Fine) Not stated in the cited material summarized here (Steam; Double Fine)
A Hat in Time Not stated in the cited coverage (PC Gamer) Playful (PC Gamer) Varied levels; collectathon fit identified by the editorial coverage (PC Gamer) Not stated in the cited coverage (PC Gamer) Not stated in the cited material summarized here (PC Gamer)
Super Mario Odyssey Not stated in the genre listing (CheckpointDB) Not stated in the genre listing (CheckpointDB) Listed as a 3D platformer (CheckpointDB) Not stated in the genre listing (CheckpointDB) Not stated in the genre listing (CheckpointDB)
It Takes Two Not stated in the genre listing (CheckpointDB) Not stated in the genre listing (CheckpointDB) Listed as a 3D platformer (CheckpointDB) Not stated in the genre listing (CheckpointDB) Not stated in the genre listing (CheckpointDB)
Astro Bot Not stated in the genre listing (CheckpointDB) Not stated in the genre listing (CheckpointDB) Listed as a 3D platformer (CheckpointDB) Not stated in the genre listing (CheckpointDB) Not stated in the genre listing (CheckpointDB)

“Not stated” means the cited source does not establish that detail; it does not mean the game lacks the feature. Check the game’s official page and the store for the platform and edition you intend to play. This matters especially when the deciding question is whether a game is solo-friendly, story-led, or available on your device.

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Super Mario Odyssey: a genre option, not a verified story match

CheckpointDB’s classification makes it a reasonable candidate if you primarily want another 3D platformer. The cited listing does not describe its plot, humor or narrative structure, however, so it cannot support a claim that it matches Psychonauts 2 as a story-first adventure. Check an official description if the narrative is as important to you as the platforming.

It Takes Two: investigate the format before choosing it

It appears in the same genre discovery listing, but that classification alone does not tell you whether its mode of play suits your situation. If you are choosing it because you want to play with someone else, confirm the current official player and access requirements first; the cited material here does not provide them. The listing also does not substantiate a comparison between its story and Psychonauts 2’s.

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Astro Bot: another platforming lead

CheckpointDB identifies Astro Bot as a 3D platformer, which makes it a possible next stop for readers who want the genre rather than a proven narrative parallel. The source does not establish its story emphasis, tone, difficulty or current platform support, so those details should be checked against an official game listing before making a decision around them.

How should you choose based on what you liked about Psychonauts 2?

Use your favorite part of the game as the filter. The strongest recommendation changes depending on whether you remember the story, the comic-surreal atmosphere, or the movement and exploration most vividly.

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If you want whimsy and imaginative scenarios

Start with A Hat in Time. Its playful tone and varied levels are the specific qualities supported by PC Gamer’s coverage, making it the clearest tonal handoff. Treat it as a fit for light-hearted exploration, not as a promise of equally elaborate characters or plot.

If you want a story with the same kind of emphasis

The available sources do not establish another candidate here as an equal narrative match. Psychonauts 2 has explicit support for a cinematic adventure built around psychic espionage, humor and mystery; for the alternatives, the evidence is either limited to tonal and level-variety observations or a genre label. Before choosing, read an official synopsis and check whether it describes a central story, characters and narrative progression in the way you want.

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If you mainly want 3D traversal

Consider all four alternatives as a shortlist, then compare official gameplay descriptions or footage for the movement and challenge you prefer. The genre label confirms a broad category for three of them, while the available coverage gives A Hat in Time the clearest platforming and level-variety context. It does not provide enough detail to rank the games by difficulty or mechanical complexity.

If you need a specific platform or play arrangement

Verify the exact platform and edition at the game’s official page or the store where you plan to play. The cited information does not establish current platform availability for the alternatives, nor does it settle their solo or co-op requirements. Do not infer either from a genre listing or a game’s reputation.

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What makes Psychonauts 2 a useful benchmark?

It is a specific blend rather than a generic example of the genre. Steam describes a cinematic platform-adventure featuring psychic powers, acrobatic movement, surreal environments, humor and mystery; Double Fine frames the premise as psychic espionage. Those elements explain why readers may want more than a game that simply qualifies as a 3D platformer.

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences’ 2022 awards archive lists Psychonauts 2 as a nominee for Adventure Game of the Year and Outstanding Achievement in Story. A nomination is recognition, not a statement that it won either category, and it does not establish that another game on this list has comparable storytelling. It does help clarify why narrative quality is central to this particular search.

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In practice, separate the comparison into two questions: “Will I enjoy how this game feels to play?” and “Does it tell the kind of story I want?” A Hat in Time has the clearest evidence for the first question’s whimsical, varied-world side. The genre discovery entries for the other options establish a broad platforming category, not the answer to the second question.

What should you check before buying?

Because the available descriptions do not settle all practical details, verify the points that can turn a promising recommendation into the wrong purchase.

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  1. Confirm the platform and edition. Look at the official game page and the current store listing for your device. Do not rely on a genre directory for availability or edition information.
  2. Read the official story description. Look for evidence of a central narrative, characters, mystery or cinematic progression if those were important in Psychonauts 2.
  3. Check the play mode. If you need solo play or want to play with another person, verify the player setup and any access requirements from current official information.
  4. Preview the movement and level structure. Gameplay footage or a detailed official overview can help you judge whether you want exploratory collectathon play, challenge-focused platforming or another approach. The cited material does not provide a reliable difficulty ranking.
  5. Match the expectation to the evidence. Treat A Hat in Time as a supported tonal and level-variety fit; treat the other three as genre leads until their official descriptions confirm the qualities you care about.

This process is particularly useful when a recommendation list groups games by genre. “3D platformer” is a helpful starting filter, but it does not tell you how much story a game has, whether it is suited to solo play, or whether it runs on your preferred platform today.

Which games should you try first?

For the closest supported mix of whimsy, varied scenarios and collectathon-style platforming, try A Hat in Time first. If you are open to a broader genre search, investigate Super Mario Odyssey, It Takes Two and Astro Bot by checking their official descriptions for narrative focus, play mode and platform details. None should be presented as an established story equivalent to Psychonauts 2 on the evidence available here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Psychonauts 2 win a D.I.C.E. Award for its story?

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences archive identifies it as a nominee for Outstanding Achievement in Story in the 2022 awards. The nomination record alone does not establish the outcome.

Are these recommendations suitable for children?

The cited descriptions do not establish age ratings or content guidance for the alternatives. Check the rating board information for the specific country and edition before buying for a child.

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How long does it take to finish A Hat in Time or the other games?

The sources cited here do not provide completion-time estimates, and playtime can vary with exploration and optional content. Consult current game-specific completion estimates if play length is important to your choice.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

3D platformersA Hat in TimePsychonauts 2story-driven gamesVideo Games

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