The Best Metroidvania Games

Update, : Kalinur added at rank #12.
1

Hollow Knight (2017)

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96
Review score
Logo of Hollow Knight Screenshot of Hollow Knight Screenshot of Hollow Knight Screenshot of Hollow Knight

PC Windows Mac OS Nintendo Switch Linux Xbox One Playstation 4

Explore the depths of a forgotten kingdom teeming with cute but creepy creatures and epic adventure in the classic side-scrolling action game, Hollow Knight. Tightly tuned controls allow you to dash, dodge and slash your way through ferocious beasts and ancient knights. With over 130 enemies, 30 epic bosses and a vast interconnected world to explore, every playthrough is unique. Top it off with hauntingly beautiful visuals and an evocative soundtrack, and you've found your new go-to game.


Pros:
  • Beautiful and breathtaking visuals and soundtrack
  • Non-linear gameplay with exploration and challenging platforming
  • Rich lore and vast world with secrets
  • Difficulty offers a satisfying challenge
  • Remarkable amount of content for the price
Cons:
  • Difficulty, not for everyone

  • metroidvania
  • boss
  • platform
  • boss-fight
  • exploration
  • hand-drawn
  • 2d
  • difficult
  • frame-by-frame
  • souls
  • cute
  • orchestral
  • fight
  • combat
  • difficult-to-pull-off

2

Monster Sanctuary (2020)

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84
Review score
Logo of Monster Sanctuary Screenshot of Monster Sanctuary Screenshot of Monster Sanctuary Screenshot of Monster Sanctuary

PC Windows Nintendo Switch Playstation 4 Xbox One Mac OS Linux

Monster Sanctuary is a retro-inspired RPG where you collect over 100 unique monsters to fight alongside you in strategic turn-based combat. The game offers a huge world to explore and highly customizable equipment for each monster. With free DLCs and alternate music tracks, there's always something new to experience. Jump in and start your journey as a Monster Keeper now!


Pros:
  • Intricate teambuilding and turn-based gameplay
  • Huge map with many secret locations and over 100 monsters
  • No required grind, relies mostly on monster synergy and tactics
  • Highly customizable equipment and skill trees for each monster
  • Generous amount of content, including free DLCs and alternate music tracks
Cons:
  • Game may be too difficult for players expecting a Pokemon-like experience
  • Story and general progression may not do a great job of directing players towards building monster synergies
  • Sudden difficulty spike relative to the rest of the story may turn some players off
  • Plot is basic and nothing breathtaking

  • turn-based
  • metroidvania
  • rpg
  • battle
  • japanese
  • pixel
  • exploration
  • collector
  • creature
  • jrpg
  • combat
  • platform
  • fight
  • tactical
  • 2d

3

Unsighted (2021)

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86
Review score
Logo of Unsighted Screenshot of Unsighted Screenshot of Unsighted Screenshot of Unsighted

PC Windows Nintendo Switch Xbox One Playstation 4 Android

UNSIGHTED invites you into a post-apocalyptic world where you have a ticking clock before your own expiration. With Metroidvania-like gameplay, fully interconnected world, and an interesting story that allows for tough choices, the game provides a balanced mix of exploration, combat, and character progression. With additional modes like co-op and rogue-lite, UNSIGHTED guarantees a high replay value. A game that creatively brings several game designs together to make a fun and polished game.


Pros:
  • Balanced mix of gameplay elements
  • Interesting story with tough choices
  • High replayability with additional modes
  • Polished sound and graphics
  • Responsive controls
Cons:
  • Writing could be better
  • Characters feel one-dimensional
  • Dialogue interrupts gameplay

  • pixel
  • exploration
  • boss
  • top-down
  • robots
  • metroidvania
  • dungeon
  • combat
  • puzzle
  • war
  • post-apocalyptic
  • souls
  • platform
  • rpg
  • crafting

4

Record of Lodoss War-Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth- (2021)

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86
Review score
Logo of Record of Lodoss War-Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth- Screenshot of Record of Lodoss War-Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth- Screenshot of Record of Lodoss War-Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth- Screenshot of Record of Lodoss War-Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth-

Playstation 4 Playstation 5 Xbox One Xbox Series X Nintendo Switch PC Windows

Play as Deedlit in Record of Lodoss War ~Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth~, a thrilling 2D action-exploration game. Using your sword and bow, fight against enemies and level up your elemental spirits to gain new abilities. With beautiful graphics and an engaging story by the original creator, both longtime fans and new players will enjoy this Metroidvania-style adventure.


Pros:
  • Fantastic gameplay and puzzles
  • Beautiful 2D sprites with great animations
  • Good music
  • Backtracking is not a chore
  • Smooth and responsive controls with continuous influx of new weapons and spells
Cons:
  • Extremely short gameplay for completionists
  • Grating music at times
  • Potentially difficult fights

  • "
  • action-exploration
  • novel
  • pixel
  • metroidvania
  • anime
  • exploration
  • boss
  • 2d
  • fantasy
  • beat-em-up
  • ikaruga
  • rpg
  • boss-fight
  • platform

5

Ghost Song (2022)

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78
Review score
Logo of Ghost Song Screenshot of Ghost Song Screenshot of Ghost Song Screenshot of Ghost Song

PC Windows Xbox Series X Playstation 5 Nintendo Switch Playstation 4 Xbox One

In Ghost Song, discover the secrets of the mysterious moon of Lorian while battling strange creatures and customizing your battlesuit. With stunning 2D graphics and a haunting story, Ghost Song is an adventure game you can't miss.


Pros:
  • Beautifully crafted game with eerie atmosphere
  • Unique paths to explore and interesting boss fights
  • Good dialogue and compelling story
  • Fluid and fun combat with unique modification combos and weapons
  • Moving main character with personal stories
Cons:
  • Excessive backtracking and frustration without enough fast travel locations
  • Limited replayability and short-lived experience
  • Some creative decisions fall flat
  • Nearly non-existent story that lacks item description
  • Lack of depth and tactics in combat, and poor damage output

  • metroidvania
  • 2d
  • platform
  • boss
  • hand-drawn
  • sci-fi
  • atmospheric
  • scroller
  • exploration
  • boss-fight
  • metroid
  • horror
  • dark
  • robots
  • controller-support

6

F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch (2021)

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78
Review score
Logo of F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch Screenshot of F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch Screenshot of F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch Screenshot of F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch

Playstation 5 Xbox Series X Nintendo Switch PC Windows Playstation 4

F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch is an incredible adventure game set in a gorgeous, vast dieselpunk world. You take on the role of Rayton, a disgruntled former resistance soldier, to reclaim your mechanical fist and fight your way through the hierarchy of the city. Explore rich, interconnected environments packed with secrets and traverse through snowy mountain tops to bustling neon cities. Unlock weapons and abilities to progress further, use precision-based platforming segments and master combo-based combat system with three different weapons to be successful.


Pros:
  • Interconnected World
  • Diverse Gameplay
  • Deep Combat System
  • Rich Visuals & Soundscape
  • Challenging yet Rewarding
Cons:
  • Some May Find Bosses Difficult
  • There's a Lot of Travelling

  • metroidvania
  • platform
  • exploration
  • boss
  • combat
  • combo
  • fight
  • boss-fight
  • mech
  • war
  • narrative
  • steampunk
  • side-scrolling
  • challenging
  • robots

7

Afterimage (2023)

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75
Review score
Logo of Afterimage Screenshot of Afterimage Screenshot of Afterimage Screenshot of Afterimage

PC Windows Nintendo Switch Xbox Series X Xbox One Playstation 5 Playstation 4 Xbox Series X/s

Afterimage is a Metroidvania game where you play as Renee, a young girl who survived an attack and sets out on a journey to regain her memory. Battle fierce enemies and explore the ruins of Engardin with over 200 different equipment options and deep RPG mechanics, crafting a unique gameplay experience. The stunning hand-drawn art style and original orchestral soundtrack add to the immersive experience.


Pros:
  • Smooth and responsive combat
  • Excellent exploration and enormous map
  • Exciting weapon and skill progression
  • Varied enemy design
  • Nice visuals and relaxing soundtrack
Cons:
  • Difficulty ramp-up can feel abrupt and inaccessible areas can be frustrating
  • Lack of minimap can be inconvenient
  • Poorly made quests and bad progression system
  • Poorly designed boss fights except for a few

  • metroidvania
  • platform
  • souls
  • boss
  • hand-drawn
  • 2d
  • exploration
  • rpg
  • anime
  • multiple-endings
  • scroller
  • lore
  • action-adventure
  • hack-and-slash
  • combat

8

Souldiers (2022)

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76
Review score
Logo of Souldiers Screenshot of Souldiers Screenshot of Souldiers Screenshot of Souldiers

Xbox One Xbox Series X Nintendo Switch Playstation 5 Playstation 4 PC Windows

Souldiers is a beautifully handcrafted action-adventure game set in a mystical land on the edge of the afterlife. Battle your way through stunning 16-bit graphics, solve puzzles, and upgrade your character's skills and equipment. With engaging melee combat, a connected world, and clever environmental puzzles, Souldiers is a retro epic that you won't want to miss.


Pros:
  • Challenging and replayable with different classes
  • Gorgeous pixel art and music
  • Well-designed maps and huge locations
  • Solid combat and platforming mechanics with challenging boss fights
  • Compelling story and multiple unique class playthroughs
Cons:
  • Not a lot of interconnectivity in the world map
  • Story is all over the place with many unresolved questions
  • Some exploration secrets can be tedious
  • Music can get repetitive

  • metroidvania
  • pixel
  • dungeon
  • platform
  • boss
  • retro
  • combat
  • fight
  • action-adventure
  • exploration
  • difficult
  • 2d
  • skill
  • side-scrolling
  • lore

9

GRIME (2022)

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81
Review score
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PC Windows Xbox Series X Nintendo Switch stadia Playstation 5 Playstation 4 Mac OS

Destroy... Absorb... Grow... GRIME is a fast and unforgiving Action-Adventure RPG in which you crush your foes with living weapons that mutate form and function, and then consume their remains with a black hole to strengthen your vessel as you break apart a world of anatomical horror and intrigue.


  • souls
  • surreal
  • metroidvania
  • dark
  • boss
  • platform
  • action-adventure
  • 2.5d
  • combat
  • boss-fight
  • exploration
  • rpg
  • scroller
  • cinematic
  • atmospheric

10

Islets (2022)

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82
Review score
Logo of Islets Screenshot of Islets Screenshot of Islets Screenshot of Islets

PC Windows Nintendo Switch Xbox One Xbox Series X

Journey with Iko, a young mouse warrior, as they explore the five floating islands of Islets and attempt to reconnect them with powerful magnets! Enjoy snappy movement and combat, cute character design, and competent map design.


Pros:
  • Fun combat and movement
  • Cute character design
  • Competent map design
  • Challenging boss fights
  • Bullet hell-style airship battles
Cons:
  • Random upgrade rewards can limit options

  • platform
  • boss
  • metroidvania
  • cute
  • boss-fight
  • exploration
  • colourful
  • pirates
  • fight
  • atmospheric
  • story
  • combat
  • 2d
  • nature
  • adventure

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