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Platform Adventure Games By Year

Note that the games in parenthesis include notable games from each year related to Action Adventure and RPG games for some context on the medium as a whole, not just games in the Platform Adventure/Metroidvania genre. 

If you just want a quick overview of the key Platform Adventure-related features of each game (such as non-linearity, environmental storytelling, world interconnectivity and persistence or dimensions & perspective), check out this spreadsheet. ​

List Format

Forerunners
1979 (Superman, Temple of Apshai, Akalabeth and Lunar Lander are released)
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1982 (Aztec, Pitfall! and AD&D: Cloudy Mountain are released)

1983 (Ultima III, Pharaoh's Curse, Encounter and Spelunker are released)

1984 (Pitfall II, Below the Root, Impossible Mission, Montezuma's Revenge, Knight Lore, Hydlide, Dragon Slayer, Elite and King's Quest are released)

1985 (Brain Breaker, Ultima IV, Starquake, Xanadu, Mercenary, Tau Ceti and Dragon Buster are released) 

 


First Generation
1986 (Metroid, The Legend of Zelda, Dragon Quest, King's Quest III, Cholo and Starflight are released)

1987 (Maze of Galious, Zelda II, Zeliard, Sorcerian, Ys I, Wonder Boy in Monster Land, Metal Gear, Maniac Mansion and Pirates! are released)
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1988 (Blaster Master, Exile, Castlevania II, Bionic Commando, Star Cruiser, Guardian Legend, Rocket Ranger and Super Mario Bros. 3 are released)

1989 (Wonder Boy III, Ys III, Prince of Persia, Midwinter, Shadow of the Beast, A Boy and his Blob, River City Ransom, Castlevania III and Quest for Glory are released)
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1990 (Gargoyle's Quest, Cadash, Super Mario World, Crystalis, Metal Gear 2, StarTropics, Wing Commander and Secret of Monkey Island are released)

1991 (Metroid II, Hunter, Wonder Boy in Monster World, Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Another World, ToeJam & Earl, Final Fantasy Adventure and Legend of the Mystical Ninja are released)
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1992 (Flashback, Gargoyle's Quest II, Landstalker, Ultima Underworld, Ultima VII, Super Mario Land 2, Ecco the Dolphin and Alone in the Dark are released)
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1993 (TMNT III: Radical Rescue, Mega Man X, Ys IV, Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, Doom, LoZ: Link's Awakening, Ultima Underworld II, Illusion of Gaia and Secret of Mana are released)

 


Second Generation
1994 (Super Metroid, Demon's Crest, Monster World IV, System Shock, Elder Scrolls: Arena, Little Big Adventure, Beyond Oasis, King's Field and Shadowrun (MD) are released)

1995 (Tails Adventures, Phantom 2040, Hexen, Tales of Phantasia, Terranigma, Rayman, Seiken Densetsu 3, Secret of Evermore, Clock Tower, King's Field II, Light Crusader and The Dig are released)

1996 (Front Mission: Gun Hazard, Strife, Kirby Super Star, Exhumed, Mario 64, Mario RPG, Tomb Raider, ESII: Daggerfall, Diablo, Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, King's Field III, Dark Savior and Realms of the Haunting are released)

1997 (Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Mystical Ninja (N64), Mega Man Legends, Tomba!, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II, Turok, Alundra, Fallout, Tales of Destiny and Final Fantasy VII are released)

1998 (Brave Fencer Musashi, Goemon's Great Adventure, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Medievil, Banjo-Kazooie, Half-Life, Spyro the Dragon, Sonic Adventure, Baldur's Gate, Thief and Metal Gear Solid are released)

1999 (System Shock 2, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, Valkyrie Profile, Outcast, Silver, Spyro 2, Misadventures of Tron Bonne, Shenmue, Everquest, Planescape: Torment, Rayman 2 and Silent Hill are released)

2000 (Wario Land 3, Banjo-Tooie, Paper Mario, Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Deus Ex, Diablo II, Thief II, Dark Cloud, Nox and Tales of Eternia are released)

2001 (Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, Gothic, Soul Reaver 2, Ico, GTA III, Shenmue II, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid 2, Wizardry 8 and Arcanum are released)

 


​Third Generation
2002 (Metroid Prime, Metroid Fusion, Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance, Shantae, Eternal Daughter, Resident Evil (GC), Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Kingdom Hearts, Eternal Darkness, GTA: Vice City and Mafia are released) 

2003 (CV: Aria of Sorrow, Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando, SW: Knights of the Old Republic, Tales of Symphonia, SMT: Nocturne, Fatal Frame II, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time are released)

2004 (Cave Story, Metroid Prime 2, Metroid: Zero Mission, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines, MGS 3: Snake Eater, Half-Life 2, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, GTA: San Andreas and Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap are released)

2005 (CV: Dawn of Sorrow, La-Mulana, Psychonauts, RE4, Shadow of the Colossus, Ninja Gaiden Black, Tales of the Abyss, Fable: The Lost Chapters, DMC3, God of War, Ys: The Oath in Felghana and Jade Empire are released)

2006 (CV: Portrait of Ruin, Mega Man ZX, Lyle in Cube Sector, Okami, Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Hitman: Blood Money, Bully, Final Fantasy XII, LEGO Star Wars II, Yakuza 2, Ys Origin, Mother 3 and Persona 3 are released)

2007 (Aquaria, Metroid Prime 3, Mega Man ZX Advent, BioShock, Mass Effect, SMG, The Witcher, Assassin's Creed and HL 2: Episode Two are released)

2008 (CV: Order of Ecclesia, Dead Space, Fallout 3, GTA IV, Fable II, MGS 4, Far Cry 2 and LittleBigPlanet are released)

2009 (Shadow Complex, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Muramasa: The Demon Blade, ACII, Uncharted 2, GTA: Chinatown Wars, Dragon Age: Origins and RE5 are released)

 


Fourth Generation (WIP)
2010 (Hero Core, Shantae: Risky's Revenge, Metroid: Other M, Fluidity/Hydroventure, Darksiders, Dark Void Zero, VVVVVV and Battle Kid: Fortress of Peril are released)

2011 (Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, Outland, Rochard, Batman: Arkham City and Terraria)
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2012 (Dust: An Elysian Tail, Knytt Underground, Darksiders II, Fez, Soulless, Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why'd You Steal Our Garbage?!, You Have to Win the Game, Gateways)

2013 (Guacamelee!, Valdis Story, Toki Tori 2+, SteamWorld Dig, Teslagrad, The Swapper, Rogue Legacy)

2014 (Strider, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse, Xeodrifter, Elliot Quest)

2015 (Ori and the Blind Forest, Axiom Verge, Environmental Station Alpha, Odallus: The Dark Call, Pharaoh Rebirth)
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​2016 (Momodora: Reverie Under The Moonlight, Rabi-Ribi, AM2R, Salt and Sanctuary, Salt and Sanctuary, Ghost 1.0, Owlboy)

2017 (Hollow Knight, Metroid: Samus Returns, SteamWorld Dig 2, After Death, Alwa's Awakening, Sundered)

2018 (Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom, Aggelos, The Messenger, Guacamelee! 2, La-Mulana 2, Yoku's Island Express, Unworthy, Iconoclasts)

2019 (Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, Blasphemous, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Vision Soft Reset, Supraland)

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