The Best Metroidvania Games To Get Lost In
The best Metroidvanias are the ones that reward exploration, constantly push you in combat, and offer an incredible story to lose yourself in. Of course, the worlds themselves are often just as easy to get lost in, but hopefully you’ve got some exepreicne with cartogrophy to help offset that.
It’s odd that most Metroidvanias are now indie games, because the genre itself spawned thanks to two decidedly AAA efforts. It doesn’t really matter where they came from though, it matters where they’re going, and the best Metroidvanias are pushing forwards gaming as a whole, and not just this genre.
Best Metroidvania Games
Whether you’re looking for colourful over-the-top action, deep thoughtful stories, or just a brutally hard game to bash your head against, there’s something on this list of the best Metroidvania games for everyone. So, rather than sitting here wondering when you’re going to get your next ability, why don’t you go ahead and actually get stuck into the list?
GRIME
GRIME is an incredible game. It has you playing as a creature made of rock in a world filled with such things. Each wall could hide new life, and each part of new life could slowly end up becoming part of the scenery. You’re different though, because you basically have a black hole for a head, and you have a purpose. GRIME is tough, but the world you get to explore during it is more than worth pushing through for.
Hollow Knight
Look, I know I said that they wouldn’t make you want to give up gaming, but this one might. Hollow Knight is an excellent game, with beautiful visuals, extraordinary sound design, and an unforgettable world. It’s also harder than the mess at the bottom of a pan the first time you tried to make a curry and burned it beyond anybody’s idea of what is edible. Just bring some stress toys, be prepared to nap, and push through this incredible game and you’ll see that it’s worth it.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is also quite hard. This isn’t going well, is it? It’s good though, and not quite as punishing as Hollow Knight. It also benefits from being the second game in a series, which means it is full of the lessons learned from the first one. It’s a rather exceptional game thanks to the wonderful movement systems, jaw-dropping visual flair, and the satisfying fights. Ori is also very cute, so that’s nice.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is definitely an indie game, but it also comes from one of the people who basically caused the term Metroidvania to exist, so this does feel a little cheap to include. Nevertheless, you’d struggle to find a more pure Metroidvania game anywhere. You get to explore a castle full of demons and take their powers to become stronger. Your new traversal abilities are fun and varied, and you eventually find all sorts of twists and turns, and you can even fight Igarashi, one of the developers, as a boss in the game.
Steamworld Dig 2
Image & Form released the original Steamworld Dig nearly seven years ago. They’ve tried their hand at a few different genres since then, and while they’re all good, none of them has been quite as much as the Dig series. Steamworld Dig 2 casts you as the daughter of the protagonist of the first one, and you have to try and rescue dear old dad. What follows is one of the best Metroidvania games around, and you should definitely give it a look.
Yoku’s Island Express
Yoku’s Island Express is a bit of an oddball when it comes to Metroidvania. Yes, that pun was intended, and no, I’m not sorry. You play as a little bug called Yoku who is a postman that has to use pinball to get around. It’s great, and if that single sentence alone doesn’t sell the game to you then I’m afraid you either lack heart or imagination. Either way, I’m very sorry but go and play it.