Crash Bandicoot has solidified his status as an iconic PlayStation mascot, particularly during the PS1 era, where he starred in three exceptional 3D platformer titles. These games set an impressively high standard for quality and gameplay. While the series continued on the PS2, the absence of Naughty Dog’s creative direction was felt. Thankfully, the release of Crash Bandicoot 4 heralded a remarkable return to form, featuring a challenging platforming experience that captivated fans.
One of the hallmarks of the Crash games is their colorful character roster, but the series owes much of its iconic status to its exceptional level design. To illustrate this, we’ve compiled a list of some of the very best stages in the franchise. If you don’t feel compelled to dive into the originals or the N-Sane Trilogy after this, then it’s hard to imagine what will inspire you. Notably, the trilogy is currently available on Game Pass, removing any barriers to entry.
While this list is ranked, the subjective nature of the choices reflects the overall excellence of the stages; there are few poorly crafted levels in such a beloved series.
10 Slippery Climb
The Ass Kicker
Among the most challenging levels in the original Crash Bandicoot, Slippery Climb stands out as a formidable trial for players, rivaled only by Sunset Vista or High Road. Unique in theme, this stage takes place outside a foreboding castle, where players must navigate precarious ledges amid thunder and rain, all while aiming to avoid catastrophic falls. The checkpoint placements add to the punishing nature of this stage, contributing to the suspenseful gameplay.
As players progress, the jumps become increasingly tricky, making the challenge of collecting the Relic at speed all the more daunting. Interestingly, the lore behind this level reveals that Stormy Ascent, which shares a similar theme, was originally excluded from the game due to its high difficulty. Fortunately, Vicarious Visions included it in the N-Sane Trilogy, allowing players to experience the challenge.
9 Toxic Waste
It’s OK To Bob Your Head
Considered an unforgiving gauntlet, Toxic Waste features perilous narrow paths where a single misstep can result in being crushed by incoming barrels. What makes this level particularly memorable is its soundtrack, which is notably heavier than much of the game’s score. The rendition in the N-Sane Trilogy does a fantastic job of honoring the original composition.
The unique gameplay demands that players consistently move forward while dodging relentless rolling and jumping barrels, resulting in some intensely tense moments against toxic sludge flanking the edges of the pathways.
8 Ruination
The Aztec Refined
The Aztec theme plays a crucial role in the Crash Bandicoot franchise, especially in the first two games, though not without some lackluster stages. With Ruination, featured in Crash Bandicoot 2, players experience an enhanced version that improves upon its predecessors with its creative layout and nighttime setting that amplifies the fiery dangers present throughout the level.
Memorable foes like frilled lizards and bush babies enrich the level design, contributing to an ambiance that is both charming and menacing. When combined with a dynamic, bouncy soundtrack, Ruination emerges as one of the standout levels in Crash 2.
7 Orient Express
Running Levels Perfected
Each installment of the Crash Bandicoot trilogy features its own variation of auto-runner levels. While the hog levels from the first game and the polar bear levels from the second are excellent, Orient Express showcases the culmination of lessons learned from earlier titles.
In this level, players take control of Coco as she rides a cute baby tiger across the Chinese Great Wall. The premise is absurd yet thrilling, especially for those attempting to collect the elusive Time Trial Relic. The level is richly detailed and allows for multiple routes, rewarding precise timing with a stunning visual presentation.
6 Heavy Machinery
Feel The Burn
Heavy Machinery is a fan-favorite level, largely due to its factory setting and the 2D perspective used throughout. Players encounter various hazards, including scorching pipes and conveyor belts, strategically introduced to maintain engagement.
The expansive layout features floating platforms that delve deeper into the factory, presenting new challenges that test every aspect of Crash’s abilities. Players can also tackle an N. Brio Bonus Stage for additional challenges.
5 Unbearable
The Perfect Combination
Every list of Crash Bandicoot levels should include one of his signature chase sequences, where players must sprint towards the screen while honing their reflexes. In Unbearable, instead of a rolling boulder, players are pursued by an angry polar bear, making for an exhilarating experience that outshines the typical chase mechanics.
As players escape, they get to ride the bear cub in a final showdown, adding a unique twist to the gameplay. This memorable stage in Crash Bandicoot 2 undoubtedly ranks highly within the third warp room.
4 Off Beat
The Modern Choice
In creating Crash Bandicoot 4, Toys for Bob faced the daunting task of exceeding the legacy of the original games and the subsequent N-Sane Trilogy. Thankfully, they rose to the occasion, bringing forth a level like Off Beat, which exemplifies creativity against a stunning carnival backdrop filled with musical ghosts and juggling unicyclists.
Notable for its rhythmic gameplay elements that sync with the level’s music, Off Beat stands out as one of the most visually striking stages within the series. Players can find themselves challenged, especially when striving to break every box hidden within.
3 The Eel Deal
Worse Than Drowning
The Eel Deal immerses players in a claustrophobic network of pipes inhabited by deadly electric eels, transforming every body of water into a potential trap. Although ‘maze’ may seem like an exaggeration, the level does feature branching paths that require backtracking to attain the coveted Gem.
Players will also experience a shift in gameplay as they must navigate areas where Crash hangs from railings, avoiding the gaze of menacing metal sentinels. The soundtrack in the sewer levels is a personal favorite and elevates the overall experience, making this level one I can replay endlessly—for both the challenge and the diverse playstyle it requires.
2 Future Tense
Let Vicarious Visions Cook
The N-Sane Trilogy not only remastered beloved levels but also birthed Future Tense, the sole original addition to the collection. Set in a familiar environment from the original game but during the day, this stage offers length and complexity without overextending its welcome.
Players must utilize Crash’s full range of abilities, including cleverly hidden secrets. The use of mirrors as game mechanics adds a layer of sophistication reminiscent of the Ice levels in Crash 2, showcasing the developers’ creativity. I would enthusiastically support further stages crafted in this spirit.
1 Dino Might!
No Animal Is Safe From Bandicoot Rides
The prehistoric setting of Dino Might! in Crash Bandicoot 3 offers a vibrant backdrop, even if some enemy designs feel a tad quirky. This level encapsulates the charm of Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped perfectly, blending together 3D platforming and traditional 2D scrolling sections.
Featuring an exhilarating chase scene against a Triceratops, the level uniquely allows players to ride a baby dinosaur. This ride offers a relaxed pace compared to standard gameplay, unaffected by typical obstacles, which adds an engaging dynamic.
While not immensely difficult, Dino Might! encompasses a variety of gameplay elements, making it a delightful experience as players seek out the Platinum Relic.
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