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[Labbed]

I'm currently making a 2D platformer, and I feel like it could be nice to have some sort of coin-like collectible, to guide the player through the level and give them incentive to go certain places. Could also be something enemies drop when killed.

In Mario, and many other games, when you've collected 100 coins/bananas/whatever, you get an extra life. This is a good enough reason to collect them, and it's not the end of the world if you miss a few. However, in my game, I'm probably not gonna have extra lives. You can't get "game over".
I also don't want them to be currency for a shop, or just score.

But what could be the point of collecting them, then? Do you guys have any interesting ideas?

[ThemsAllTook]

There'd be nothing wrong with having their sole purpose be for guidance. If you want them to be a primary incentive for going certain places, my first thought is to track them and show collection stats somewhere. Being able to see "20/20 coins collected" on a level select screen somewhere can be incentive enough for players who like collecting to go after them.

MoneySeize might be a useful source of inspiration: https://www.kongregate.com/games/YMM315/moneyseize

[Thaumaturge]

If you want them to have some additional purpose, you could perhaps have their collection unlock extras (such as concept art, or lore). Alternatively, you could have their collection unlock short-term powerups--revealing secret paths, or extra firepower, or something else appropriate to your game.

[andyfromiowa]

Maybe collecting enough coins opens a gate or changes something within the level? Then you would have more incentive to explore within the level - and a potential reward for finding everything.

[Labbed]

Yes, I might do something like that. Collect all the things to unlock something later on in the game. Though it would be nice if they could be useful more directly somehow, so the player is rewarded for collecting them, but shouldn't need to, to 100 % the game.

I haven't really figured out what kinds of special powers, if any, the player character could gain. Maybe I should worry about that first But yeah, these collectibles could increase the attack power, or something else like that.

[EmeraldPawn]

Does your player character have lives, or deal damage? If so, then you could heal after picking up a set amount, or gain a temporary damage boost.
Cheers! 

[Labbed]

Getting a heal when your life is already full is a little disappointing, so that could lead to players avoiding these pickups until they need the heal.
Temporary damage boost or special attack power could be a bit more useful, and encourage players to go find some enemies once it's activated. Might be too chaotic though.