The Best Metroidvania Games for Linux

Update : Steel Soul added at rank #20.
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

Xbox One Linux Mac OS PC Windows

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.


What we like:
  • 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
What could be improved:
  • Difficulty, not for everyone

  • metroidvania
  • boss
  • boss-fight
  • platform
  • exploration
  • hand-drawn
  • difficult
  • cute
  • bug
  • action-adventure
  • 2d
  • frame-by-frame
  • souls
  • fight
  • 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!


What we like:
  • 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
What could be improved:
  • 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

La-Mulana 2 (2018)

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82
Review score
Logo of La-Mulana 2 Screenshot of La-Mulana 2 Screenshot of La-Mulana 2 Screenshot of La-Mulana 2

vita wii Linux Nintendo Switch Playstation 4 Xbox One PC Windows Mac OS

Explore sprawling ancient ruins filled with mind-boggling mysteries, items, and monsters in La-Mulana 2. With no tutorial or sidekick to hold your hand, it's up to you to uncover the truth of the ruins' ancient civilization while fighting off challenging guardians. This indie game offers tremendous replayability, new weapons, widescreen support, and a beautifully rendered world. Will you be the one to uncover the secrets of Eg-Lana?


What we like:
  • Fair puzzles
  • Great pacing and challenge
  • Fantastic pixel art
  • Beginner friendly
  • Packed with puzzles and obstacles
What could be improved:
  • Encourages note-taking outside of the game
  • Starting maps offer almost no information

  • platform
  • metroidvania
  • puzzle
  • 2d
  • exploration
  • souls
  • remake
  • precision
  • retro
  • difficult
  • action-adventure
  • pixel
  • platform-adventure
  • controller-support
  • mythology

4

Astalon: Tears Of The Earth (2021)

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86
Review score
Logo of Astalon: Tears Of The Earth Screenshot of Astalon: Tears Of The Earth Screenshot of Astalon: Tears Of The Earth Screenshot of Astalon: Tears Of The Earth

Xbox One Linux Mac OS PC Windows

Astalon: Tears of the Earth is a post-apocalyptic action-adventure game full of challenging platforming, epic bosses, and captivating storytelling. Control a party of three heroes with unique skills and abilities, explore a tower full of secrets and hidden artifacts, and embrace death as an opportunity to upgrade your characters and progress further. With retro graphics and music that nail the 8-bit vibe, Astalon delivers an unforgettable journey that will appeal to fans of classic NES-era games and modern side-scrollers alike.


What we like:
  • Smooth gameplay
  • Retro graphic style and music
  • Interesting map full of shortcuts and secrets
  • Fun to switch between different characters
  • Captivating story
What could be improved:
  • Forced backtracking every time you die
  • QOL upgrades earned too late in the game
  • Items in shop have no description
  • Dungeons feel repetitive
  • Bosses are mostly easy

  • platform
  • retro
  • metroidvania
  • fantasy
  • exploration
  • 2d
  • pixel
  • boss
  • post-apocalyptic
  • chiptune
  • action-adventure
  • old-school
  • anime
  • magic
  • demons

5

Blasphemous (2019)

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88
Review score
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PC Windows Playstation 4 Linux Mac OS Xbox One Nintendo Switch

"Blasphemous" is a gripping game that transports you to a twisted world of religion and horror. You play as The Penitent One, the last survivor of the massacre of the 'Silent Sorrow', and must use devastating combos and brutal executions to smite grotesque monsters and titanic bosses. With non-linear gameplay and a variety of different landscapes to explore, you must uncover the many secrets hidden deep inside this nightmarish world to find redemption and break your eternal damnation.


What we like:
  • Great graphics and artistic design
  • Challenging and rewarding combat
  • Immersive and gruesome enemy character design
What could be improved:
  • Obscure and difficult progression
  • Hieroglyphic map design
  • Unpractical fast travel system
  • Alleviating penalty for dying required to hunt out each individual location at which you died and recover all of your corpses

  • metroidvania
  • souls
  • gore
  • pixel
  • platform
  • gothic
  • non-linear
  • dark
  • fantasy
  • violent
  • fast-paced
  • blood
  • 2d
  • boss

6

Kharon's Crypt - Even Death May Die (2020)

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96
Review score
Logo of Kharon's Crypt - Even Death May Die Screenshot of Kharon's Crypt - Even Death May Die Screenshot of Kharon's Crypt - Even Death May Die Screenshot of Kharon's Crypt - Even Death May Die

Nintendo Switch PC Windows Linux

Escape the eerie and deadly crypt as Kharon, a being thought to be death itself, in this metroidvania dungeon crawler game full of puzzles and riddles. Possess the bodies of your enemies to use their unique properties - fly as a bat, open locks as a skeleton, and more. With over 11 challenging boss fights and collectable Necronomicon pages full of lore, Kharon's Crypt is sure to keep you hooked. Plus, its colorblind-friendly design ensures accessibility for all players.

Buy

What we like:
  • Fun gameplay mechanics with controlling enemies
  • Good balance between simple gameplay and adding new abilities
  • Many creative puzzles with intuitive design
  • Charming look and animation
  • Good achievement support
What could be improved:
  • Excruciatingly janky combat
  • Some difficult-to-see visuals
  • Limited amount of saves
  • Needs a colorblind mode
  • Story only expands toward the game's end

  • protagonist
  • dungeon-crawler
  • souls
  • metroidvania
  • villain
  • logic
  • dark
  • post-apocalyptic
  • medieval
  • action-adventure
  • old-school
  • retro
  • anime
  • mystery
  • story

7

Lost Ruins (2021)

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71
Review score
Logo of Lost Ruins Screenshot of Lost Ruins Screenshot of Lost Ruins Screenshot of Lost Ruins

PC Windows Linux Mac OS Playstation 4 Nintendo Switch Xbox One

Lost Ruins is a challenging and engaging Metroidvania game that offers a unique experience by focusing on inventory management rather than leveling up. With stunning graphics and sound effects, players navigate through the monster-filled dungeon as they retrieve their memories. The game offers different weapons, spells, and unique accessories that encourage experimentation and strategic tactics. With multiple endings and unlockables, Lost Ruins offers high replayability to players.


What we like:
  • Unique formula utilizing inventory
  • well-designed and rewarding exploration system
  • balanced equipment system
  • offers different game modes and endings
  • stunning graphics and sound effects
What could be improved:
  • Small map
  • checkpoint system can be frustrating
  • missable side-quests
  • jumping mechanics and aerial attacks can be imprecise
  • limited storyline compared to other metroidvanias

  • survival
  • boss
  • metroidvania
  • dungeon
  • anime
  • pixel
  • retro
  • platform
  • combat
  • inventory
  • exploration
  • 2d
  • dark
  • hack-and-slash
  • cute

8

Timespinner (2018)

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78
Review score
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Nintendo Switch Xbox One Playstation 4 Linux PC Windows vita Mac OS

Enter a time-traveling Metroidvania adventure as Lunais, a young Timespinner on a mission to save the future and unravel the mysteries of the Lachiem Empire. With great combat, pixel-perfect art, and a killer soundtrack, Timespinner is a must-play for fans of the genre. Bring a friend for local co-op and dive into the world of Familiars and time manipulation. Are you ready to control time and take on epic boss battles? Play Timespinner and find out!


What we like:
  • Engaging story and character development
  • Impressive 16-bit aesthetic design
  • Unique time travel mechanics
  • Challenging but adjustable difficulty
  • Great soundtrack, story, and gameplay
What could be improved:
  • Relatively short
  • Redundant weapon options
  • Limited movement abilities
  • Unhelpful pets

  • platform
  • metroidvania
  • pixel
  • 2d
  • time
  • manipulation
  • empire
  • lgbtq
  • travel
  • exploration
  • boss
  • boss-fight
  • combat
  • rpg
  • scroller

9

A Robot Named Fight! (2018)

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90
Review score
Logo of A Robot Named Fight! Screenshot of A Robot Named Fight! Screenshot of A Robot Named Fight! Screenshot of A Robot Named Fight!

Linux Mac OS PC Windows

A Robot Named Fight is a Metroidvania roguelike focused on exploration and item collection. Explore a different, procedurally-generated labyrinth each time you play and discover randomized power-ups to traverse obstacles, find secrets and explode meat beasts.

Buy

  • metroidvania
  • rogue-like
  • roguevania
  • gore
  • violent

10

Chasm (2018)

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74
Review score
Logo of Chasm Screenshot of Chasm Screenshot of Chasm Screenshot of Chasm

vita Linux Mac OS PC Windows Xbox One Nintendo Switch Playstation 4

Embark on an epic adventure in Chasm, the action-adventure game that puts you in the shoes of a new knight recruit. With hand-designed rooms and procedurally-assembled areas, each playthrough is unique. Enjoy challenging retro gameplay with authentic pixel art and customize your character with armor, weapons, and spells. Are you ready to restore peace to the kingdom?


What we like:
  • Well-realized Metroidvania gameplay
  • Good controls and combat
  • Beautiful pixel art
  • Good music
  • Decent story
What could be improved:
  • Lacks originality and mystique
  • Procedural generation leads to repetitive environments
  • Limited shop selection

  • metroidvania
  • platform
  • pixel
  • exploration
  • boss
  • rogue-like
  • procedural
  • retro
  • combat
  • rpg
  • action-adventure
  • adventure
  • mystery
  • dungeon
  • boss-fight

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