After this entry, I'm going to do things a bit different for the rest, and group games from the same franchise together, otherwise it will get a bit repetitive, both for my list, and for any discussion. It will also mean I'll finish the list faster. With that said,
prepare your anus for platformers.10. Rayman Legends (XBOX 360) - 2013I hadn't liked any previous Rayman games, but I took a gamble and bought both Rayman Origins and Raymen Legends together. I decided to play Origins first, since it was released first, and by the end of the first world, I gave up due to the unresponsive dough controls and the annoying enemies that even after death fucked you in the ass metaphorically and possibly even literally.
Let down by that experience, I decided I should probably check out Rayman Legends instead, even though I expected it would be mostly the same. Then the heavens opened up, and a bright light shone down, and I wept tears of joy as I played one of the best 2D platformers of all time.
Every single gripe I had about Rayman Origins was gone (except for the inclusion of the Rayman Origins levels as bonus levels needed to collect all of the teensies). The controls are excellent, and the level design is the best of any game I've played, with everything being well thought out and perfectly paced. The game is insanely difficult at times, but not frustrating or punishing. Mastering each section of a level is a fun challenge that requires split second timing and skill, and is very rewarding to complete.
The game also has a music level in each world, where the music is used as a cue for the precision timing needed to complete the level. They use their own covers of existing songs, including Eye of the Tiger.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtAXSpBM8XIIn time I think I'll rank this even higher, but having finished it only once, I don't want to be too quick to rank it over other games I've been playing for longer.