Look, let’s be real. If you’re hunting for games like Spyro PS5, you aren't just looking for any old platformer. You're chasing a very specific vibe. It’s that hit of dopamine you get when you glide perfectly from a high peak, the satisfying "clink" of picking up gems, and that weirdly relaxing loop of headbutting everything in sight.
The Spyro Reignited Trilogy set a high bar. Toys for Bob did a ridiculous job making those 90s polygons look like a living DreamWorks movie. But once you’ve 100%ed all three games and seen every dragon elder, there’s a massive, dragon-shaped hole in your library.
The PS5 doesn't have a "Spyro 4" yet—despite the constant rumors swirling around Activision and Microsoft—but the hardware is actually a goldmine for 3D platformers if you know where to dig.
The Collectathon Renaissance on Modern Hardware
For a long time, the "collectathon" was basically dead. Industry execs thought we all wanted gritty shooters. They were wrong.
The success of the Reignited Trilogy proved there’s a massive audience for bright, colorful worlds where the main goal is just poking around. Astro’s Playroom, which comes pre-installed on every PS5, is actually the best starting point. It’s short. It’s free. But man, the haptic feedback on the DualSense controller makes every surface feel different. When Astro walks on sand, it feels crunchy in your hands. It captures that tactile joy Spyro fans crave.
If you want something beefier, Astro Bot (2024) is the full-course meal. It is arguably the best platformer since Super Mario Odyssey. It’s packed with cameos, but more importantly, the level design is dense. You aren't just running through a corridor; you're exploring vignettes. It feels like the natural evolution of what Insomniac Games started in 1998.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is the Technical Cousin
You can't talk about games like Spyro PS5 without mentioning Ratchet. Insomniac Games made both franchises, and their DNA is identical. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is basically a tech demo for what the PS5 can do, but it’s also a deeply satisfying platformer.
The movement is faster than Spyro’s. You have boots that let you hover and dash. However, the core loop of "enter a beautiful planet, smash crates, collect bolts, and find hidden areas" is exactly the same. The graphics are so good it’s actually distracting. You can see individual hairs on Ratchet’s fur. It lacks the "gliding" focus of Spyro, but the sense of wonder is there.
The Indie Gems That "Get It"
Sometimes big studios try too hard. They add skill trees and crafting systems that nobody asked for. Indie developers usually stick to the script.
New Super Lucky’s Tale is probably the closest "vibe" match to Spyro. You play as a fox. You jump, you burrow, you collect pages. It’s unapologetically cute. It’s not a hard game, which is perfect if you just want to decompress after work. The fixed camera angles in some sections might annoy people used to Spyro’s total freedom, but the charm is undeniable.
Then there’s Tchia.
Tchia is weird, but in a great way. Set in a world inspired by New Caledonia, it lets you "soul jump" into animals. If you want to fly like Spyro, you jump into a bird. If you want to swim, you become a dolphin. It’s a tropical open world that focuses on the joy of movement. It’s a bit more "artsy" than the dragon’s adventures, but the exploration feels remarkably similar. You’re exploring a beautiful archipelago, finding trinkets, and just existing in a vibrant space.
The "B-Tier" Nostalgia Trip
Don’t sleep on Kao the Kangaroo.
This is a revival of a series that was honestly a bit mediocre back in the day. But the 2022 reboot on PS5 is surprisingly solid. It feels like a mid-budget PS2 game with a 4K coat of paint. It’s got the hub worlds, the themed levels (ice, jungle, etc.), and the simple combat. It’s not going to win Game of the Year, but if you’ve exhausted everything else, it hits the spot. It's comfort food.
Why We Still Can't Move On From the Dragon
There is a specific mechanic in Spyro that most games miss: the glide.
In most platformers, jumping is a means to an end. In Spyro, being in the air is the point. You’re constantly looking at the horizon, wondering, "Can I reach that ledge?" Most games like Spyro PS5 focus on the jumping or the combat, but rarely the traversal.
Psychonauts 2 is a masterpiece that gets close. It’s much more narrative-heavy. It’s darker, weirder, and focuses on mental health. But the platforming? It’s inventive. Raz has a levitation ball that makes moving around feel fluid. Double Fine (the developers) are masters of world-building. Every level is inside someone’s mind, so the rules of physics change constantly. It satisfies that "collecting" itch better than almost anything else on the market. You're collecting "figments," which are basically 2D doodles scattered everywhere. There are thousands of them. It’s a completionist’s nightmare and dream combined.
The Problem With "Modern" Reboots
We have to talk about SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated.
It’s a cult classic. It’s very much a collectathon. But honestly? It feels clunky. If you’re used to the buttery smooth controls of the PS5 Ratchet or Astro games, going back to the SpongeBob physics can feel like walking through mud. It’s worth a play if you have nostalgia for the show, but as a pure platformer, it’s a tier below the purple dragon.
What To Play Next: A Practical Strategy
If you're staring at the PlayStation Store feeling overwhelmed, don't just buy the first thing you see. You need to categorize what you actually liked about Spyro.
If you loved the exploration and secrets, go with Astro Bot. It’s the gold standard.
If you loved the personality and humor, get Psychonauts 2.
If you just want to relax in a pretty world, New Super Lucky’s Tale or Tchia are your best bets.
There’s also Yooka-Laylee. It was made by the folks who did Banjo-Kazooie. Truthfully, it’s a bit divisive. Some people find the worlds too big and empty. But it is the most "90s" game on this list. It refuses to hold your hand. It’s colorful, it’s pun-heavy, and it’s built entirely around collecting "Pagies." It’s basically a love letter to the N64 era, which overlaps heavily with the Spyro fanbase.
Technical Performance on PS5
The beauty of playing these games on PS5 is the 60fps standard.
Going back to play the original Spyro on a PS1 or even a PS2 feels... crunchy. The frame rate drops are real. On PS5, games like Rift Apart or Astro Bot run at a rock-solid 60 frames per second (or even 120 if you have the right TV). This isn't just about "pretty graphics." It’s about input lag. When you jump, it happens instantly. That precision makes the "feel" of a platformer. Even the Spyro Reignited Trilogy runs better on PS5 via backwards compatibility, though it’s still capped at 30fps—a major bummer that fans are still complaining about in 2026.
The Verdict on the Spyro-Like Genre
We are in a weird spot. We have the technology to make the best platformers ever, but we get so few of them compared to open-world RPGs.
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The "Spyro-like" isn't really a genre; it's a feeling of discovery. It’s the sound of a gem hitting a counter. It’s the satisfaction of flame-breathing a sheep just to see it turn into a butterfly.
While we wait for Activision to finally announce a proper sequel, the PS5 library is the strongest it has been for fans of the genre. You just have to look past the "M" rated shooters and the "Cinematic Experiences" to find the games that actually want you to have fun.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your library for Astro's Playroom: If you haven't played it because it was "pre-installed," change that tonight. It's a 3-hour masterclass in PS5 tech.
- Look for Sales on "The Plucky Squire": This is a newer title that flips between 2D and 3D. It captures that whimsical magic and creativity that the original Spyro games were known for.
- Adjust your PS5 settings: For games like Ratchet & Clank, make sure you're in "Performance RT" mode. You want the high frame rate for platforming, but the ray-tracing makes the worlds look as vibrant as a Spyro level.
- Follow Toys for Bob on social media: They recently went independent. If a new Spyro-style game is coming, it’s likely starting with them, and they’ve been dropping hints for months.