Summary
There may not be a more complicated genre in video games than theMetroidvania. This portmanteau ofMetroidandCastlevaniastarted to gain traction in the early 2000s - thanks to games likeCave Story- as a very particular style of game with a fully connected and explorable map, with rooms and areas that are gated either by missing abilities or weapons. It’s an altogether fascinating genre, one that has producedsome of the greatest gamesever made.
Though traditionally a 2D experience, the Metroidvania has also influenced 3D game design, something titles likeDark Soulsand theStar Wars Jediseries can attest to. Some of them have leaned into a horror atmosphere, prioritizing isolation and paranoia, while others have relied on more of a power fantasy that sees the player character grow in amazing ways. Whatever style of Metroidvania one decides to play, the best ones create a sense of wonder and satisfaction that is unmatched by other genres. The Metroidvania has become one of the most popular styles of video game in the industry, and these outstanding games are some of the best examples of why that is.
Updated June 30, 2025 by Maddie Fisher:The Metroidvania genre is wide-reaching, populating multiple home console and handheld generations. This list includes a fair number of Metroidvania games, but it barely scratches the surface of outstanding games in the genre out there. This list has been updated to include more games and some new info about the games already presented.
Castlevaniawas a dominant force on handhelds through the entirety of the 2000s, across multiple titles on the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS, and did its part to solidify the core aspects of the Metroidvania genre. One of the entries that did it the best wasPortrait of Ruin, which launched on the Nintendo DS in 2006, where it wasn’t just one of the bestCastlevaniagames, but one of the greatest Metroidvania titles ever created.
Portrait of Ruinfeatures some of the most satisfying combat in the series, as it throws all ofCastlevania’s classic baddies and bosses at the player. Dracula’s castle also features paintings that lead to other worlds, and gaining new abilities allows access to more of them. It alsohas two playable characters, Jonatha Morris and Charlotte Aulin, with a plot that ties heavily into the mythic Demon Castle War from deep within Castlevania lore.Portrait of Ruinwas recently remastered with other DSCastlevaniagames, making it available on all modern platforms.
After leaving Konami in 2014, Koji Igarashi founded ArtPlay and opted to return to the genre he helped pioneer withBloodstained: Ritual of the Night. With a Kickstarter campaign that pulled in 5.5 million dollars and a ravenous crowd ready for Igarashi’s return,Bloodstainedhad a lot to live up to, and it did so spectacularly.
Set during the Industrial Revolution,Bloodstainedsees a woman named Miram embark on a quest inside a twisting, unpredictable castle that is filled with demons, monsters, traps, and fierce bosses. Clearly drawing influence fromSymphony of the Night,Bloodstainedfocuses on exploring an expansive, interconnected labyrinth that is filled with secrets and hidden paths.
13Yoku’s Island Express
Charming Metroidvania Set On Tropical Island
While it beganas a simple pinball game,Yoku’s Island Expresstransformed from a simple concept meant to be completed in a single year to one of 2018’s most welcome surprises. Set on a bright, sunny tropical island, this charming indie title casts players as Yoku, a beetle who must save the island from certain destruction.
Although it evolved from its origins,Yoku’s Island Expressstill uses the themes and motifs of pinball to craft its systems. Bumpers and hard to reach ramps act as level and area gates, while gaining new abilities will open them up for further exploration. Yoku can’t jump and instead uses these rails and bumpers to make his way across the island. It’s a game that retains the familiar Metroidvania design philosophy while adding a new and fun way to traverse its wonderfully built map.
One ofthe most inventive games of 2020,Carrionis best described as a reverse-horror game, where players control the monster as opposed to a human protagonist. It is a remarkably unique game, made even better by virtue of also being one of the most overlooked Metroidvanias of the past decade.
Carrion’smap is a delight to explore, as this unnerving and multi-level laboratory is filled with some outstanding environmental storytelling. Upgrading the abilities of the monster leads to some fun and unique combat systems, as the more humans the creature eats, the bigger and stronger it becomes. It’s a tight, deftly-designed experience that is absolutely worth playing.
Made by a team of under twenty people,Blasphemouswas influenced by Spanish mythology and tells the tale of The Penitent One and his quest through the land of Cvstodia. The game features a gorgeous art style, brought to life with fabulous pixel art andsome amazingly detailed backgrounds.
The world of Cvstodia is occupied by disturbing enemies pulled straight from Catholic iconography, and defeating them will help the Pentinent One level up and increase their ability to find Relics. These allow the Pentinent One to reach areas they couldn’t previously, and open up the already complex map even further. It’s a spectacular game, one that was followed up with a sequel in 2023.
It’s safe to say that the Metroidvania genre has influenced independent developers in some pretty significant ways, as there are a huge number ofgames in this styleon the indie scene. One of the best examples of that isSalt and Sanctuary, a Metroidvania set in a dark and dreary world.
Taking control of the Saltborn, players explore a vast and evolving map, one that borrows elements from bothDark Soulsin its combat, and Metroidvanias of the past in its exploration. The combat feels excellent, and using new abilities to unlock new areas - a trademark of the genre - is present here in some fantastic ways.
Taking strong influence from games likeSuper MetroidandBionic Commando,Axiom Vergewas developed by a single person and is still one of the most impressive indie Metroidvania games one can find on the market. This incredible Metroidvania tells the tale of Trace, a scientist who wakes up in a strange alien world and must explore the expanding map to survive and escape.
Axion Vergefeatures some lovely pixel art visuals and a sense of open exploration that is wonderful. The world of Sudra is full of secrets, all of which are a joy to uncover.It is a marvelous experience, filled with unique weapons and fun abilities to chart player progression.
With the sequel toBlasphemous, developers at The Game Kitchen sought to bring the dark fantasy series even closer to its Metroidvania routes. Built entirely from scratch with no leftover code from the first game,Blasphemous 2takes everything from the prequeland improves on itin nearly every way.
Blasphemous 2takes place after theWounds of EventideDLC of the first game, seeing the Pentinent One on a new journey across Cvstodia. Revisiting areas with new abilities, as well as unlocking thos new abilities, is even further cemented into the game design here, putting it in the upper echelon of Metroidvania games on the market today.
After a long absence, with the last mainline game being released in 2009, Jordan Mechner’s iconic franchise returned withPrince of Persia: The Lost Crownin 2024. And while it doesn’t feature the Prince as a playable character, players do take control of acharismatic young warrior named Sargonas he attempts to rescue the titular character.
The Lost Crownis an amazingly-designed game, partially abandoning the action-platformer roots of the franchise and crafting a tight and highly entertaining Metroidvania in their place. Combat and exploration are deftly put together, featuring a huge map to explore, and the trademark Metroidvania ability-gating and backtracking are perfectly done in this modern classic. Beyond that,The Lost Crowninnovates on the Metroidvania in clever ways, such as map markers that feature screenshots of their in-game locations, making backtracking a smoother process.
Written by acclaimed comic book writer Peter David,Shadow Complexwas published as an Xbox Live Arcade exclusive in 2009. This ambitious game changed expectations for XBLA, as previous games on the service were rather simplistic. WithShadow Complex, developers Chair Entertainment produced an absolutely fantastic Metroidvania that was recently remastered and isavailable on most modern platforms.
Set in an underground facility,Shadow Complextells the story of Jason as he attempts to rescue his girlfriend Claire from the Restoration, a group bent on starting a civil war in the US. Taking its strongest influence fromSuper Metroid, the map ofShadow Complexis incredibly fun to reveal, as the new armor and abilities gained make doing so a blast.
