For many of us, Metroidvanias hold a special place in our hearts. Deep, engaging, and oftentimes remarkably replayable, a good Metroidvania is one of those games you keep coming back to, and this article aims to give youtenphenomenal Metroidvania games you can play today.
Metroidvanias are,as defined by our very own Zoey Handley, “nonlinear [games] with gated exploration.” It’s an inelegant term – almost to the same extent as “immersive sim” – but most gamers do get a solid idea of what to expect from a game described as such. Indeed, if you clicked on this, then you’re positivelyyearningfor some solid Metroidvania’ing, and that’s what I’m here to set you up with.
What are the best Metroidvania games?
Here’s the thing about Metroidvanias, though: depending on how far you want to expand your definition of the genre, you may end up in a situation where the likes ofDark SoulsandControlare Metroidvanias, too. That’s fair in my book, as these games both are, very obviously “nonlinear” and feature “gated exploration,”butfor this article, I’m going to take the more traditionalist route: we’re sticking toplatformers, specifically.
Top 10 Best Metroidvania Games
#10: La-Mulana
Billing itself as an “Archaeological Ruin Exploration Game,”La-Mulanais a bit of a weird egg through and through. It’sIndiana Jonesthrough the lens of a Japanese game developer, and despite its genius, it’s not an easy game to recommend to everyone. That’s becauseLa-Mulanais a few notches more hardcore than anything else on this list, and it’s almost as if it revels in getting you lost and confused. This is a fairly difficult Metroidvania that requires alotfrom the player (especially in the puzzle-solving department), but it’s extremely well put together regardless.
If you’re a veteran of the niche and want something that’ll put you through your paces,La-Mulanais the way to go. For many of us, though, it may well remain the sort of beast you admire from afar.
#9: Axiom Verge
Axiom Vergeis about as close to being a full-bloodedMetroidclone as it could get without stepping on Nintendo’s toes. This is no critique, mind:Axiom Vergewears its inspiration on the sleeve, and it’s all the better for it.
What you’re getting here is a thoroughly impeccable Giger-esque bio-mech horror vibe bolstered by a rock-solid gameplay and exploration loop.Axiom Vergeisn’t nearly as tough asLa-Mulana, but it is challenging in all the right ways. The combat, too, remains satisfying throughout the campaign thanks to the remarkable variety of weapons and tools found inAxiom Verge. What’s more is that the story, which is inspired in small parts by Akkadian and old Slavic mythology, is way better than you’d expect, lending itself to theory-crafting even after the sequel came out.
#8: Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Penned by Koji Igarashi ofCastlevania: Symphony of the Night, the originalBloodstainedgame is one of the biggest gaming successes off of Kickstarter, having beenfunded with gustoback in 2015. Make no mistake,Bloodstained: Ritual of the Nightis unlikely to top any of the true classics on most Metroidvania lists, but it sure as heck gets close in the gameplay department.
Really, though,Bloodstained: Ritual of the Nightis about as close to being a legally differentCastlevaniaas it could possibly get. For some, that’ll be a huge boon, while others won’t be thrilled about having to deal with archaic-feeling controls and combat systems.
#7: Ori and the Blind Forest
Of course, bothOri and the Blind Forestand the sequel,Will of the Wisps, are phenomenal titles. Visually stunning, with a touching narrative and stellar gameplay,Origames made a name for themselves for good reason, but I’m hard-pressed to rate the sequel higher than the original for the purposes of this list.
That’s becauseBlind Forestis a fair bit more streamlined and focused than its successor: simple, direct, and straightforward, the originalOrihas a briskness to it that the sequel cannot keep up with.Will of the Wispsis, technically, the superior product. It’s more complex and layered, with more content and abilities to show for your efforts. In taking up all of its upgrades, however,Will of the Wispslost the original game’s focus along the way, and having more to offer doesn’t always equate to being better, in my book.
#6: Blasphemous
It’s not even a point of contention thatBlasphemousdeserves a spot on this list, but much discussion has been had on whether the original or the sequel is better. Once again, then, I lean towards the original in lieu of what comes after it. And once again, it’s not thatBlasphemous 2is bad: it just lacks the purity of vision that came integrated into the original.
Indeed, the firstBlasphemousis just one step removed from being a piece of art. Its narrative is strong and deeply disturbing, with appropriately horrific artwork to back it all up. Gameplay-wise, it’s a Metroidvania through-and-through: simple in concept and complex in execution, with virtually no fat to trim up on.Blasphemous 2just wasn’t quite as big of a deal as the original.
#5: Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
With two decades having whisked past us sinceAria of Sorrowfirst came out, thisCastlevaniastill stands a notch above almost every other Metroidvania on the market. Virtually every element of this game came together impeccably well, with the meticulous escalation of difficulty and player progression making every new encounter a joy to tackle.
One particularly praiseworthy feature ofCastlevania: Aria of Sorrowis its level design. It’ssoeasy for a Metroidvania to end up with an overcomplicated and hard-to-parse overworld, but this never happens toAria of Sorrow. The game, instead, remains polished and satisfying whether you’re only just getting started or hours into its story, which massively helps elevate it above the competition.
#4: Super Metroid
Super Metroidis one of those games that were monumental in their heyday, only to age like fine wine even though the newer genre examplesobviouslyimprove upon the core concept of a Metroidvania in every meaningful way. But, as I’ve said before, adding morestuffto something doesn’t necessarily make it better, and in some ways,Super Metroidis about as pure of a Metroidvania as you can get.
Super Metroid‘s sense of exploration and atmosphere is virtually unmatched by almost anything else. Sure, Samus is a bit floaty in this game, and yes, some unintuitive UI does come in the way every so often, but this release sets the bar for the whole subgenre.Super Metroid‘s controls haven’t aged well, admittedly, but the meticulous design and stellar progression more than make up for these problems.
#3: Hollow Knight
The most beloved of all indie darlings,Hollow Knightis a phenomenal Metroidvania no matter how you look at it. The game simply checksallthe boxes: excellent world design and lore, pinpoint-precise movement, simple but challenging combat… you name it, the odds are good thatHollow Knight‘s done it remarkably well.
Some games are made in such a way that care oozes out of their every feature, andHollow Knightis one of them. Considering my track record with judging sequels versus what came before, it’ll be interesting to see how the upcomingHollow Knight: Silksongstacks up to this entry. Until it comes out, though, there’s nothing to argue about:Hollow Knightis a must-play for any Metroidvania fan.
#2: Metroid Dread
It’s almost unbelievable how slick and satisfyingMetroid Dreadis. This game takes everything theMetroidfranchise is known for, bumps it up to eleven with impeccable polish, and then throws in a curveball or two to keep things interesting.
I am, of course, talking about the EMMI encounters: they drive home the sheerdreadof Samus’ situation in this game, and keep the player on their toes whenever they come up. All the usualMetroidtropes are present and accounted for, too, so you’re essentially getting the franchise’s best in a delightfully modern package.
#1: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
No two ways about it –Castlevania: Symphony of the Nightisn’t just one of the best Metroidvanias, but also one of the best games of all time. I could sing praise to its gameplay, difficulty, features, and progression all day long, but instead of doing that, I’ll just point out how curious it is thatMetroidhas progressed so much fromSuper MetroidtoDread, whileSymphony of the Nightremains the ultimate blueprint for its niche.
There’s a timelessness present inSymphony of the Nightthat you won’t easily find in a video game. In some ways, it’s not outright better thanAria of Sorrow(which I feel has a superior difficulty curve), but the package as a whole is simply incredible. Dare I say unbeatable? Perhaps.
