The best Metroidvania games have redefined a genre named after the long-running giants of Metroid and Castlevania, grounded in progression through exploration. That same search-action game flow is still the genre's beating heart, but the best Metroidvanias of today have remarkable range, from classic 2D action games to more puzzle-and platforming-focused oddities, and even offbeat shooters. Spoilers: there's a motorbike in here, too.
We've rounded up the 25 best Metroidvanias to play right now with a focus on all-time greats while leaving space for little-known gems that everyone should try. Some Metroidvanias are massive adventures, others are deliberately bite-sized microvanias, and all the more refreshing for it. As a general rule, we also don't include more than one game from any series for the sake of variety. (You won't find any Metroid or Castlevania games on this list either, largely because these series are so big that they honestly deserve their own lists. My pick? Play Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Metroid Dread and go from there.) With all that in mind, here are the best Metroidvanias to explore today.
25. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Developer: ArtPlay
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
It’s simply a joy when one of the founding members of the Metroidvania genre sets out to make an indie game pretty much copying himself and everything just… works. Koji Igarashi, assistant director on Castlevania: Symphony of The Night, ran a successful Kickstarter that gave us Ritual of the Night and an 8-bit game taking place in the same universe, called Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon. It’s just as camp and gothic-chic as Castlevania, stuffed full with interesting monsters and tough bosses. A true Metroidvania must-have.
24. Pseudoregalia
Developer: Rittzler
Platform(s): PC
True 3D Metroidvanias are exceedingly rare nowadays, and it's even rarer to get one as well-built as Pseudoregalia, a $6 game about a bunny girl warrior platforming her way through a warped castle. Deliberately short but intensely replayable, Pseudoregalia combines Metroid Prime with Super Mario 64, marrying tight platforming in a non-linear world to an impeccable Nintendo 64 look. Protagonist Sybil is simply a joy to control, to the point that moment-to-moment jumps and wall runs and air dashes are enough to carry the experience all on their own. It's remarkably easy to pad the runtime just by flipping about for the sake of it, and post-launch updates have added even more reasons to keep playing. We spoke to its developer about how it all came together shockingly quickly.
23. Minishoot' Adventures
Developer: SoulGame Studio
Platform(s): PC
Without hyperbole, there is nothing else quite like Minishoot' Adventures anywhere on this list. It's a twin-stick, Zelda-infused shooter with the bones of a Metroidvania and the muscle of what would have been a powerhouse at arcades. Upgrades simultaneously unlock the sprawling world and turn your cute little ship into a boss-melting machine. It's search-action at its most literal, and the searching is just as compelling despite unorthodox movement. This is a fascinating collision of combat, exploration, and worldbuilding that can satisfy both of its audiences. It's intuitive enough for Metroidvania lovers who may be bullet hell newcomers, and it can easily be made challenging enough for shmup enthusiasts. And it's always easy on the eyes, with colorful environments and a strong visual language for projectiles. It grabbed us immediately and never let go.
22. Gato Roboto
Developer: Doinksoft
Platform(s): PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Gato Roboto isn’t just short and sweet; you also play as a cat. Are you sold on this yet? This game isn’t all about combat, although that works well thanks to its precise controls. Sometimes you quite literally have to be a nimble feline, finding ways around stuff rather than going through it by brute force. It’s also unashamedly Metroidvania in the way your pelt-clad protagonist usually gets around in armor, and needs to find different weapons to proceed through an environment mostly made of caves.
21. Laika: Aged Through Blood
Developer: Brainwashed Gang
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
Lots of games come up with cute little nicknames for their mix of genres, but where some can feel forced, "motorvania" really is the perfect description for Laika: Aged Through Blood. It is a rip-snorting, Western-inspired, motorbike-powered game about a mother coyote warrior riding roughshod over anything unlucky enough to be caught on her path of vengeance. If the heartrending animated intro doesn't grab you – and trust me, the soundtrack only gets better from there – the uniquely agile platforming and Mad Max-esque world probably will. The fact that the sheer, effortless brutality of the Max Payne-style slow-mo shooting barely even registers speaks to Laika's balance of arcade fun and emotional gut punches. Check out our Laika preview for more info.
20. Dust: An Elysian Tail
Developer: Humble Hearts
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
This is a great game for anyone who wants to play a Metroidvania that’s more about story than mastery. There are plenty of secrets to find and you will have to backtrack quite a bit at times to find everything, but you have the option of simply concentrating on the story. That said, you’re still better off exploring every nook and cranny of this Asia-inspired 2D world, because it's a constant delight.
Dust uses fun beat em’ up-style sidescrolling combat that’s never frustrating – think Japanese games such as Odin Sphere. It's a great game for those who are a bit tired of Metroidvanias set in caves or castles, and another good title for genre beginners. Our Dust: An Elysian Tail review gave it a strong 4.5 stars over a decade ago, and it still holds up.
19. Cave Story+
Developer: Pixel
Platform(s): PC, Nintendo Switch
If you’re looking for another Metroidvania with a touching story, try this one about an amnesiac robot soldier who sets out to rescue the creatures he was originally sent to kill. There isn’t a whole lot of backtracking in Cave Story, and that’s a good things, seeing as it’s absolutely massive.
A labour of love by sole developer Daisuke Amaya, it’s available completely for free on the Cave Story website or as Cave Story+ on Steam if you’d like to show your support. Not only is the size of Cave Story astounding, but the variety in rooms and puzzles really drives home the effort that went into this game, long before Metroidvanias became such a popular genre. Our Cave Story review handed out 4.5 stars, and this game has aged immaculately.
18. Record of Lodoss War - Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth
Developer: Team Ladybug, WSS playground
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch
This game may have flown under your radar, as the Record of Lodoss War franchise of games, anime, and light novels isn’t particularly well-known outside Japan. Record of Lodoss War - Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth is an absolute mouthful of a game that goes for that old-school Symphony of the Night feel. Officially released in 2021, the final version adds depth and polish to what was already a gorgeous 2D sidescroller built around elemental spirits.
17. Touhou Luna Nights
Developer: Team Ladybug, WSS playground
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch
You don’t have to know the massive Touhou series to enjoy Luna Nights, a relatively short Metroidvania with some cool skills, including the abilities to freeze and slow time, which are absolutely central to making it through in one piece. This is also a game that offers more in the puzzle department beyond “use skill to open the path," and to top it all off it doesn’t hurt that this game is gorgeous, boasting marvelously smooth pixel art throughout.
16. Shantae – Half Genie Hero
Developer: WayForward Technologies
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Animation quality often makes or breaks a Metroidvania, not only in terms of avoiding damage, but also when it comes to the overall enjoyment, seeing as you will spend a lot of time with your character being the main focus of the action. There is arguably no better character to spend a few hours with than Shantae, who is simply The Most Anime in the best way. She attacks enemies with her bright purple hair, is always on the move, and likes to bust out dance moves. It’s simply such a joy to control her.
The skills you gather in Half-Genie Hero are transformations into different animals, all of them not only cute but essential for traversal, not unlike hat transformations in Super Mario Odyssey. If you’re looking for a few hours of uncomplicated fun, this is a good bet, and if you want more of a challenge I dare you to try the hardcore mode. (As it happens, a lost GBA Shantae is finally coming back on modern platforms.)
15. The Messenger
Developer: Sabotage Studio
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch
The Messenger isn’t a Metroidvania, at least not at first – it’s an action platformer that turns into a Metroidvania halfway through. Meant as a modern take on Ninja Gaiden, it’s all about becoming the ultimate ninja, using your sword, grappling hook and, most important of all, the cloud step ability. With it you can not only double jump, but also gain height if you hit something with your sword in mid-jump. It’s difficult – because as a Ninja Gaiden homage – of course it is, but it’s also so much fun thanks to amazingly responsive controls.
Each dungeon comes in a present version that has 8-bit visuals and music, while the future is fittingly in 16 bits. It’s a cool gimmick, but one the game could perhaps have done without, as it leads to a bit of dungeon recycling. The story is far more than a gimmick though, and actually captures the feeling of being a hero fighting an ancient curse quite well. Yet before this Metroidvana became a hit, it was laughed off at its director's old workplace: "You aren't a designer, get back to coding."
14. Ultros
Developer: Hadoque
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5
One of the top contenders for the best art direction in the entire Metroidvania genre, Ultros chucks you into a "cosmic uterus holding an ancient, demonic being" rendered in see-it-to-believe-it detail and color. At once alien and supernatural, Ultros sears a neon palette into your retinas with cosmic horror, bio-organic delights, and prismatic dreamscapes cut up by a striking black foreground. Under the hood you'll find a whip-smart 2D action game with inventive, pacey combat that regularly spits out memorable, grotesque bosses worthy of the setting. Psychedelic, as a descriptor, undersells Ultros. It unfolds and envelops. It is artistically and narratively unhinged, and the core gameplay never lags behind. Check out our Ultros review for more.
13. Yoku's Island Express
Developer: Villa Gorilla
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
This platformer comes with several unique twists, starting with the fact that you play a cute dung beetle who is also a postmaster (!), not to mention its core pinball mechanic. To get around, Yoku often needs to build up speed and height, and since he can’t jump, he pushes a ball into flippers carefully set into the environment.
Developer Villa Gorilla got this to work on a traditional Metroidvania map with interconnected rooms, which in itself is a feat, but it’s also stunningly atmospheric, set on a sunny island inspired by no less than Studio Ghibli films and Tove Janson’s Moomins. Play Yoku’s Island Express for something different or whenever you’re in need of an island getaway.
12. Iconoclasts
Developer: Joakim Sandberg
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Inventive boss fights and multipurpose tools are the highlights of this gorgeous adventure. With a story darker than its looks might suggest, and gentle tweaks to the established formula, Iconoclasts stays continuously entertaining throughout. You don’t so much pick up new skills as you learn to use what you’ve got – the focus this time lies on using your inventory to solve puzzles, rather than rock-hard combat. Additionally, thanks to the effort that went into the story, you’re sure to love plucky protagonist Robin by the end.
11. Owlboy
Developer: D-Pad Studio
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Owlboy is another Metroidvania with beautiful pixel art that deviates from the standard formula. Instead of skills or weapons, Owlboy uses his friends to fight for him, carrying them around mid-flight. Don’t worry, there are still puzzles and different pieces of equipment, and a great variety of enemies.
Overall, this is a gentler game for this genre, more reminiscent of great SNES-era platformers like Donkey Kong with their lush presentation (and occasionally frustrating navigation). As such, this is a safer recommendation for a younger audience, maybe not so much for genre diehards looking for the next brutal thrill. And after releasing one of the best Metroidvania platformers of the past decade, the Owlboy studio remastered its debut game.
10. Supraland
Developer: Supra Games
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
There is an almost endless array of pixel art Metroidvania platformers. Not Supraland! Here you take control of a stick figure-like toy exploring a literal sandbox. You can even see a kid at play when you look up. The setting accommodates a game influenced by three popular titles: Zelda, Portal, and of course Metroid. The Portal influences are actually the most pronounced, as both blocks and your ray gun are frequently necessary to move ahead.
Combat is more of an afterthought, as Supraland is definitely focused on exploration. This is definitely not a Metroidvania you want to play with a map or guide open on your phone at all times. There’s no other first-person exploration game stuffed so full of puzzles and secrets set in a 3D sandbox, so Supraland is pretty much without competition.
9. Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights
Developer: Live Wire, Adglobe
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch
Frankly, the main reason this game is on here is that Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist, a direct sequel to Ender Lilies which may well be better in many ways, is still missing some important components over in early access. For now, Ender Lilies is the easier-to-recommend exemplar for this can't-miss series. A young girl named Lily guarded by cursed knights weathers the horrors of a kingdom undone by a dark catastrophe. Lily mostly handles dodging and 2D platforming, while your summon-like companions dish out the damage in combat and boss fights. It's a haunting work of dark fantasy that gets impressive mileage out of a familiar black-and-white motif, and makes good use of some profoundly Hollow Knight-like ideas. And if you like piano half as much as I do, the soundtrack is a real treat.
8. Momodora: Moonlit Farewell
Developer: Bombservice
Platform(s): PC
The current pinnacle of the successful but nevertheless criminally underrated Momodora series, Moonlit Farewell follows Koho priestess Momo on her divine journey through demonic badlands. Like its predecessors, it delivers stunning pixel art, exhilarating combat that leans into combos and dodge-rolls, and a layered world that begs to be explored. It's probably the best that Momodora's ever been, which is really saying something for a series that technically began in 2010, started off doing pretty well as freeware, and has only gotten better over time with increasingly premium releases. Moonlit Farewell stands out as a perfectly sized Metroidvania that packs oodles of depth into a reasonably short runtime which gives the core game loop exactly as much time as it needs and not a moment more.
7. Animal Well
Developer: Billy Basso
Platform(s): PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch
It's surprisingly difficult to talk about Animal Well. It's incredibly easy to recommend! It's a puzzle-focused smorgasbord of interaction and innovation. Every time you think you've finally reached its depths, diving past uncannily cute critters in darkly atmospheric 8-bit environments, you break through the bottom and find yourself suddenly falling into yet another yawning abyss of secrets. And it's those secrets that make this game so hard to explain. The very things that make Animal Well so easy to recommend are best experienced firsthand with as little knowledge as possible. Describing them in any greater detail risks severe psychic damage, or worse, a spoiler. Run! Flee! And play Animal Well. And read our Animal Well review, too, which is careful of spoilers.
6. Axiom Verge
Developer: Thomas Happ Games
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
It may not look particularly fancy, but with its theme of a human being stuck on an alien planet, Axiom Verge could hardly come any closer to the original Super Metroid. Not that this is just a carbon copy, as there are tons of interesting skills to unlock, such as transforming yourself into an alien mite or using a large array of different guns to solve all kinds of puzzles. A lot of thought went into how a classic that inspired a whole genre could be enhanced, and so you get a modernized experience with many cool surprises.
5. Guacamelee! 2
Developer: DrinkBox Studios
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch
The Guacamelee! games are some of the best-looking Metroidvanias around. The Mexiverse is simply a riot of color, lovingly designed with a warmth reminiscent of Rayman Legends. A good story can be hard to come by in Metroidvanias, but Guacamelee! not only manages one, but also brings the right dose of humor, too. While we recommend that you start with the first game, it is almost a decade old now – so it is fine to jump straight into its 2018 sequel, Guacamelee! 2. DrinkBox Studios introduced some fantastic quality of life improvements, gave the visuals a refresh, and added four-player co-op which is a surprisingly good time. You can't go wrong with the Guac games. Check out our Guacamelee 2 review for a deeper dive.
4. SteamWorld Dig 2
Developer: Image & Form
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
The trick with Steamworld Dig is that instead of uncovering the map traditionally, you basically dig it yourself. We’ve already mentioned on this list that many, many Metroidvanias are set in caves, and Steamworld Dig actually found the best reason for you to be there: in a Steampunk world, protagonist Dorothy the robot not only earns her way with what she finds underground, she’s also searching for Rusty, the protagonist from the first Dig. Like Iconoclasts, Steamworld Dig does well by giving you less equipment, instead letting you use both a large number of upgrades and a well thought out skill tree of sorts for additional perks, pushing you to mod your possessions further. Since the theme is pretty upbeat and the difficulty curve is comfy, Steamworld Dig is an almost cozy experience – until your lamp is about to run out of oil and you race to the surface to replenish it, that is. The unmissable SteamWorld series is still trucking, and breaking into new genres.
3. Blasphemous 2
Developer: The Game Kitchen
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch
With more weapons, tougher bosses, and a messed-up world conveyed through pixel art that's equal parts grotesque and beautiful, Blasphemous 2 is a princely sequel. Everything that made the original game great is here, dialed up through clever additions and careful refinement that makes Blasphemous 2 feel bigger and more inviting. Light RPG elements add tremendous replay value and make the game's greatest challenges feel more like puzzles to solve rather than punishments to endure. Enemies and levels are more vibrant and distinct, and there is plenty of penance awaiting in bosses. Everything just feels and flows better, sometimes in obvious ways and sometimes in quiet, back-of-your-mind, but nonetheless essential ways. Head over to our Blasphemous 2 review for more on this vaguely Soulslike sequel.
2. Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Developer: Moon Studios
Platform(s): PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch
Ori and the Blind Forest looked and felt fantastic, but Ori and the Will of the Wisps is positively sublime. This is arguably the best-feeling 2D game ever made, and the fact that the silky smooth platforming stands out so sharply is especially impressive given how gorgeous and emotive Will of the Wisps is on the whole. There is a lot to love here, including adorable characters and effective, largely wordless storytelling. Its lowest lows are barely a dip, and its highs are atmospheric. It will arrest your eyes and caress your ears for hours on end, pure audio-visual splendor pumped straight into your brain alongside electrifying kinetic satisfaction. With the odd difficulty spikes of the first game smoothed over, combat tuned up considerably, and the platforming somehow further distilled, this is the definitive Ori by leaps and bounds. Our Ori and the Will of the Wisps review is similarly filled with praise.
1. Hollow Knight
Developer: Team Cherry
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch
Hollow Knight is our top pick among today's Metroidvanias not just because it excels in every conceivable discipline and manages a staggering runtime without ever feeling padded, but also because it's the kind of game that makes you interrogate its very genre. If Metroid and Castlevania weren't such established and iconic franchises, there's a non-zero chance we'd now be calling a lot of these search-action games Hollow Knight-likes or something similar instead of Metroidvanias.
Hollow Knight is utterly quintessential and there's not an ounce of fat on it. Its world is as massive as it is lush, hiding an incredible collection of memorable bosses behind clever and intuitive means of progression, further expanded in huge free content packs. Combat and platforming feel perfect in your hands, and the charm system gives you a rare degree of control over your play style. Its hand-drawn art is charming and meticulous, and its soundtrack is downright transportive. There's a reason so many games – including many Metroidvanias on this list – have been borrowing mechanics and ideas from Hollow Knight ever since it came out. It's the same reason Hollow Knight: Silksong hopefuls are so famously rabid. Hollow Knight is just that good – an uncontested triumph of game design, and likely the best Kickstarter-funded game of all time.
