Metroidvania is a genre that combines exploration of intricate worlds, character progression, and nonlinear gameplay. From cult classics to modern masterpieces, these games have won the hearts of millions of players. In this article, we’ll take a look at the best representatives of the genre.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
ArtPlay is working on a sequel to Bloodstained, but there are still no details available.
A Metroidvania by Koji Igarashi, co-creator of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Players control a girl named Miriam, who suffers from a curse. The curse can be lifted if she collects enough crystal shards from demons.
Gameplay revolves around exploring a castle, battling enemies and bosses, and collecting and upgrading abilities that unlock new areas.
Miriam gains a variety of powers through the crystals embedded in her body. The game also includes a crafting system for creating new weapons and armor.
Axiom Verge
The sequel to Axiom Verge was released in 2021.
Axiom Verge was developed solo by Tom Happ over five years. Originally a hobby project inspired by NES-era classics like Metroid, Happ did everything himself — from gameplay to visuals to music.
You play as a scientist named Trace, who ends up on a mysterious planet called Sudra after an accident. The world is overrun by mechanical beings, and Trace must explore it, fight enemies, and upgrade his arsenal to survive.
A key feature of the game is the Glitch Gun — it simulates system errors, allowing you to alter level structure and enemy behavior, opening up creative ways to progress.
Blasphemous 2
In July, the creators of Blasphemous will release the action game Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound.
This sequel from The Game Kitchen continues the story of the Penitent One, awakened in a strange land after the Wounds of Eventide DLC. The world is once again gripped by the Miracle, and the hero is trapped in an endless cycle of life, death, and redemption. His path leads through gloomy gothic landscapes filled with secrets, traps, and terrifying enemies.
Players must fight hordes of nightmarish creatures and gigantic bosses using new weapons and unique abilities. The progression system allows players to tailor combat to their playstyle by combining attacks and improving skills.
Hollow Knight
Team Cherry promises to release Hollow Knight: Silksong in 2025.
The cult Metroidvania by Team Cherry launched in 2017. The game is set in the ruined underground kingdom of Hallownest. Players take on the role of a mysterious silent knight exploring a bleak, desolate world filled with insects, ghosts, and ancient creatures.
Gameplay focuses on exploring interconnected areas, battling a variety of enemies and bosses, and unlocking new abilities to access previously unreachable locations. The game is known for its high difficulty, tight combat mechanics, and rich lore revealed through the environment and rare dialogue.
Dead Cells
Dead Cells ended its content support in 2024.
A fast-paced action-platformer and Metroidvania with roguelike elements. You control a nameless creature inhabiting the body of a fallen warrior, journeying through a deadly, ever-changing island full of enemies, traps, and secrets.
Each run is unique: levels are procedurally generated, and the weapons and skills you collect alter your playstyle. Combat emphasizes dodging, rolling, and precise strikes. Death is permanent, but some progress is retained, gradually unlocking new opportunities.
Metroid Dread
After many years in development, Metroid Prime 4 is set to release in 2025.
A classic Metroidvania from Nintendo about Samus Aran, a bounty hunter. She is trapped on planet ZDR, which is filled with enemies — including the invincible E.M.M.I. robots that patrol certain zones, forcing players to act stealthily or find ways to eliminate them.
Gameplay combines exploration, platforming, and intense combat. Samus gradually gains new powers and upgrades that help her delve deeper into the planet and uncover the origins of the X parasite.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown had poor sales, and the developers were reassigned to other Ubisoft projects.
A 2.5D Metroidvania platformer by Ubisoft Montpellier (creators of Rayman). This time, you don’t play as the Prince, but as a warrior named Sargon, who sets off for a cursed place called Mount Qaf to rescue a kidnapped heir.
The game blends fast-paced combat with acrobatic platforming and world exploration. Sargon’s arsenal includes melee weapons, ranged attacks, parries, and unique time-based abilities to slow or distort time for solving puzzles and defeating enemies.
Nine Sols
The developers describe Nine Sols’ setting as “taopunk.”
A 2D Metroidvania-platformer heavily inspired by Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Perfect for fans of Souls-like games and titles like Hollow Knight.
Players explore the lands of an ancient alien race and are tasked with destroying the Nine Sols — tyrant rulers who oppress the local population. Expect hardcore combat and intense platforming sequences.
Animal Well
Animal Well holds scores between 80 and 90 on Metacritic, depending on the platform.
A puzzle-platformer with Metroidvania elements that received high critical acclaim in 2024. The game was developed by Billy Basso and published by Bigmode — the label founded by popular YouTuber Jason Gastrow, a.k.a. videogamedunkey.
You play as a quirky creature resembling a small blob, exploring a mysterious labyrinth full of secrets. The sheer number of hidden elements and mysteries is stunning, reminiscent of Nintendo’s best. Launch Animal Well once — and you’ll find yourself captivated by its atmospheric world that you’ll want to revisit over and over.
SteamWorld Dig 2
In 2021, the creators of SteamWorld Dig released The Gunk.
A sequel to the popular Metroidvania where you play as a robot named Dorothy. Her goal is to find a missing friend and uncover the secrets of an underground world. Gameplay centers on digging, platforming, puzzle-solving, and combat. The world is divided into zones, each with new upgrades and dangers.