If you’re someone like me who grew up in an era where mascot platformers were all the rage, then you’ll probably have a deep love for games that ask you to collect an arbitrary amount of collectibles.
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We might not care to admit it, but we have a soft spot for these kinds of games.
It may seem tedious to come, and believe me when I say, some games can really make this process tedious. But, if done right, each collectible gained can be more satisfying than the last.
But the question is, what games go above and beyond to make their collectibles that little bit more rewarding, and make it damn near impossible to walk away without snagging each and every one?
Practically every game has collectibles of some kind, but for our money, these are the games that do collect-a-thons better than most!
10 Sly Cooper & The Thievius Raccoonus
Safe Codes
Cracking a safe isn’t exactly a unique idea in video games. In fact, most people will be able to guess the code for any initial hacking puzzle, as almost every developer will make the solution 0451.
However, regarding safe-cracking, I don’t think it has ever felt quite as satisfying as when playing the original Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
Players would need to find a certain number of clues in glass bottles throughout the level. With enough Intel, the player would be able to crack the safe and reveal a secret page of the Thievius Raccoonus
This usually offers players a fun new power such as Slow-motion, or an electrified rolling ability. Which, while not game-changing, felt like fun cheat codes to call upon when the need arose. Making each sneaky endeavor very satisfying indeed.
9 Celeste
Strawberries
We will begin with a set of platforming collectibles that are harder to hunt than just about any other on this list.
However, the difficulty of nabbing each of these elusive little berries makes this process so rewarding. Strawberries are scattered throughout the various chapters throughout your ascent to the summit of Celeste Mountain, and while some are easy to obtain, most will require real platforming prowess.
Each Strawberry is placed just slightly off the path of progression, and requires players to have a firm mastery of all of Celeste’s movement mechanics.
Celeste is already a pretty tough game just to finish, but we assure you, going the extra mile to grab every strawberry feels super satisfying, and you might even unlock some secrets for your efforts.
8 Spyro 3: Year of the Dragon
Dragon Eggs
It was a toss-up between the abundance of gems, the Dragon Statues from the original Spyro outing, and the Dragon Eggs from the third title, but in the end, we feel the latter just edges it.
Within Spyro’s last PS1 adventure, you’ll have to hunt down all the dragon eggs scattered around the land to progress the story and eventually defeat the evil Sorceress.
Whether you complete a level, solve a puzzle, complete a fun mini-game, or come across one by exploring thoroughly, getting your hands on each of these eggs is rewarding.
However, what really makes these eggs stand out from the crowd is the unique names and animations of the dragons that hatch from the eggs as you collect them. They are cute as a button, making every egg reclaimed a blessing.
7 Fallout
Bobbleheads
Collectibles within most games tend to be arbitrary items to grab for the sake of it, or tend to be used as progression gates where you’ll need a certain amount of each item to proceed.
However, some games include collectibles that are not only completely optional but also provide a gameplay benefit that serves as a natural motivator for players to seek them out. One great example of this is Fallout’s bobbleheads.
These Bobbleheads are cute little collectible figurines serving as a source of joy in an otherwise hostile wasteland. But what makes them worth seeking out is that they offer huge stat buffs to your core Special and skill stats.
Not to mention, they tend to be hidden in the most worthwhile locations to visit in each Fallout title. So, going on a Bobblehead hunt will make you stronger, and more worldly. What’s not to love about that?
6 Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater
S.T.A.T.E. Letters
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater was a revelation when it came to arcade gaming. The skating epic offered a new format that was fresh and exciting yet easy to pick up and play.
It was an earth-shatteringly good game, as the sales numbers reflect, but when you boil it down, all you’re doing is skating around collecting things and racking up a high score.
This could be doing an Ollie over five trash cans, or wall-riding five school bells. However, the most consistent and common task was to collect the five letters that spelled out ‘Skate.’
Alongside collecting the letters for ‘Combo’ in later iterations, this was a very satisfying mini-collect-a-thon, and it will be deeply nostalgic for anyone who lived through Birdman’s rise to superstardom.
5 Ape Escape
Monkeys
Collectibles, for the most part, tend to be objects that float in mid-air, just waiting for you to pick them up as you explore a level.
But what if those collectibles could fight back and make your life a little more difficult? Well, then you would have something that looks a little like the Monkeys within Ape Escape.
These cheeky monkeys need to be caught using a huge net, but as you might have gathered, they aren’t all that willing to go quietly.
Sometimes you’ll need to use your trusty radar to flush them out, or perhaps you’ll use a Super Hoop or a Propeller to reach monkeys in hard-to-reach areas.
Catching them is a real battle, but that’s what makes this collectible hunt so phenomenally fun.
Daedric Artifacts
This is perhaps cheating ever slightly, as these items aren’t collectibles in the traditional sense, but seeing as they are part of a unique set of items within The Elder Scrolls that tend to pop up in each iteration of the franchise, I think you’ll perhaps allow us this one.
Daedric Artifacts are special weapons, items, and accessories that players will earn by winning the favor of various Daedric Gods of the realm. These items not only offer some of the best stats and effects in the game but they are usually tied to some of the finest quests each game has to offer.
Whether it be enduring the madness of Sheogorath or capturing souls on behalf of the vile Molag Bal, there is a lot to love about this collect-a-thon.
These do tend to be pretty tricky quests, though, so be sure to get your bearings in Cyrodill, Skyrim, or wherever you find yourself before you tussle with a Daedric God. They tend to be more slippery than most.
3 Kingdom Hearts 3
Mickey Emblems
I’ll be the first to say that Kingdom Hearts 3 was a massive letdown after waiting over a decade for the next mainline entry in the series.
However, while not being the world-beater we all wanted it to be, there were some very cool mechanics included in this Disney-fueled epic, and one of those was the Mickey Emblems.
Via the game’s photo mode, the player would be tasked with analyzing the world around them and using the camera’s perspective to snap pictures of things within the environment that looked like King Mickey’s ears.
As far as hidden-in-plain-sight puzzles go, these were some of the most clever and rewarding ones I’ve witnessed in gaming. And above all, it sure beats the hell out of hunting for all 101 Dalmatians.
2 Hollow Knight
Grubs
Our penultimate entry goes to one of the best Metroidvania games of all time, Hollow Knight. It’s a game arguably best known for its Souls-like mechanics and deadly bosses, but those willing to dig into the side content will learn that a bunch of cute little grubs need to be saved.
The Grub father found in the Forgotten Crossroads will task you with finding them and shower you in Geo and gifts when you do.
That being said, finding them isn’t easy, and will take you right into the pits of Deepnest, the most perilous districts of the City of Tears, and beyond. Inevitably leading to a fight with The Collector, the other bug in Hallownest hellbent on finding all these adorable jarred insects.
Fair warning, though. Nothing will prepare you for what happens when you collect them all; you have been warned.
1 Astro Bot
Mascot Bots
- Released
- September 6, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Team Asobi
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Then, just in case you hadn’t predicted it already, our winner comes courtesy of Sony’s mascot platforming return to form, Astro Bot. Within this game, the primary collectibles are Bots, which serve several purposes.
They unlock new worlds, allow you to access new areas of the Crash Site, and more. But above all, the reason why collecting these bots is so rewarding and entertaining is that most of these bots are love letters to all successful modern and retro Playstation IPs we know and love.
Whether it’s having all your Bots link up to form a huge rope for your to swing on, or just the fun that comes from guessing which PlayStation classic each bot represents, one thing remains consistent throughout.
With every new bot rescued, you will have a huge smile as you add them to your collection. It’s a game that offers pure mascot platforming bliss that we had assumed was gone forever. So, if you want to enjoy a retro collect-a-thon, this is just the ticket.
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