Best Metroidvania Games

Metroidvania is a genre that combines exploration of interconnected worlds, gradual acquisition of new abilities, and returning to previously inaccessible locations. This selection features the best metroidvanias on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch — from pixel indie masterpieces to modern 2.5D action games with stunning graphics. Hollow Knight, Ori, Blasphemous, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and dozens of other games have proven that the genre is alive and thriving.

We selected games based on the depth of exploration, world design, character progression feel, and overall atmosphere. The list includes both classics that laid the foundations of the genre and modern hits from recent years. This selection is suitable for both newcomers to the genre and experienced pixel explorers.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

Arcade, Action, Adventure, Platformer, Indie, Side view

September 4, 2025

VGTimes: 8.2/10

Players: 8.6/10

Metacritic: 91/100

A sequel to the hardcore action platformer Hollow Knight. The game takes you to a new world — the fallen kingdom of Pharlum, where silk and song rule. Here, Hornet...

Hollow Knight

Action, Adventure, Platformer, Indie, Side view

February 24, 2017

Players: 8.8/10

Metacritic: 89/100

An atmospheric action-platformer about a journey through the dying underground kingdom of Hallownest, inhabited by mysterious insects and strange creatures. A dark...

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Arcade, Platformer, Fantasy / Medieval, Side view

March 11, 2020

Players: 9.1/10

Metacritic: 90/100

Ori and the Will of the Wisps — the continuation of the colorful side-scrolling platformer Ori and the Blind Forest. The forest spirit Ori embarks on a journey once...

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

Arcade, Action, Platformer, Fantasy / Medieval, Indie

June 18, 2019

Players: 8.8/10

Metacritic: 81/100

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is a side-scrolling action-adventure platformer set in a fantasy setting. The game will tell the story of an 18-year-old girl...

BlazBlue Entropy Effect

Action, Roguelike, Side view, Platformer, Metroidvania, Procedural generation, Cyberpunk

August 16, 2023

Players: 9.5/10

Metacritic: 83/100

A dynamic action roguelike in the BlazBlue universe. Familiar characters from the series team up to overcome various challenges and fight hordes of enemies who want...

Blasphemous

Action, Platformer, Side view, Metroidvania, Fantasy

September 10, 2019

Players: 8.4/10

Metacritic: 79/100

A hardcore action platformer made in the spirit of the Castlevania series, but in a bloodier and more brutal form. The player explores the dark world of corrupt...

ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist

Side view, Metroidvania, Action, Platformer, Fantasy

March 25, 2024

Players: 9.8/10

Metacritic: 84/100

Continuation of Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights. The great kingdom of mages flourished, and the created beings known as "homunculi" were meant to aid in...

Grime

Role-playing game, Side view, Fantasy / Medieval, Action, Indie

August 2, 2021

Players: 8.1/10

Metacritic: 81/100

Grime is an action-adventure platformer with role-playing elements and a side view in a fantasy setting. Grime takes place in a crazy world with a surreal...

Prince of Persia The Lost Crown

Adventure, Action, Platformer, Side view

January 18, 2024

Players: 8.3/10

Metacritic: 87/100

A reimagining of the Prince of Persia series, the main character of which is the Persian soldier Sargon from the elite group of warriors “Immortals”, who is able to...

Constance

Action, Adventure, Platformer, Indie, Side view, Metroidvania

November 24, 2025

Players: 9.7/10

Metacritic: 81/100

A colorful metroidvania about a girl artist. The plot is based on the girl’s inner experiences about creativity, balance between life and work, personal motivation...

Momodora: Moonlit Farewell

Action, Side view, Adventure, Platformer, Metroidvania, Fantasy

January 11, 2024

Players: 5.5/10

Metacritic: 84/100

Five years after the events of Momodora 3 , demons invaded the village of Koho. The high priestess sets out on a journey to save her people from destruction. In...

Nine Sols

Action, Adventure, Platformer, Indie, Side view

May 28, 2024

Players: 9.4/10

Metacritic: 85/100

Adventure action-platformer from the creators of psychological horrors Detention and Devotion. The game tells the story of an awakened hero who must fight nine...

Ori and the Blind Forest

Arcade, Adventure, Platformer, Logic, Indie

March 11, 2015

Players: 8.7/10

Metacritic: 88/100

Ori and the Blind Forest is an arcade game with adventure, platformer and indie elements from the masters of Moon Studios. The game is published by Microsoft Game...

INAYAH - Life after Gods

Action, Platformer, Post-apocalyptic, Side view, Science fiction, Metroidvania

March 27, 2025

Players: 5.5/10

Metacritic: 68/100

The post -apocalyptic game about the brave orphan Inaya, who went on a dangerous journey to find her tribe. The heroine is accompanied by a drone, which helps to...

Blasphemous 2

Arcade, Platformer, Role-playing game, Side view, Action, Horror, Gothic

August 24, 2023

Players: 8.7/10

Metacritic: 84/100

The sequel to the hardcore action platformer that continues the story of the Penitent. The character will take part in epic battles with bosses, each of which has...

Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree

Adventure, Action, Platformer, Side view, Fantasy, Metroidvania, Role-playing game, Medieval era

April 17, 2025

Players: 8.9/10

Metacritic: 75/100

The game takes place in a world where humanity has fallen due to an attack by monsters. Now people have to hide behind brick walls and distraction fences that...

SteamWorld Dig 2

Arcade, Platformer, Steampunk, Side view

September 21, 2017

Players: 8.9/10

Metacritic: 87/100

SteamWorld Dig 2 is a continuation of the side-view arcade platformer in steampunk style. The main character of the game this time will not be Rusty, but a certain...

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero

Arcade, Action, Platformer, Anime / Manga, Fantasy / Medieval, Side view

December 20, 2016

Players: 10/10

Metacritic: 81/100

Supraland

Action, Shooter, Platformer, First-person view, Puzzle

April 5, 2019

Players: 8.2/10

Supraland is an exciting action platformer with a first-person view. In the game you have to solve fun puzzles, explore the environment, find secrets and fight...

Tales of Kenzera: ZAU

Adventure, Metroidvania, Indie, Fantasy, Side view

April 23, 2024

Metacritic: 75/100

The main character is Zau, a young warrior seeking adventure in the fantasy world of Kenzer. He has unusual abilities that allow him to change the shape of his...

Grime 2

Role-playing game, Action, Indie, Side view, Fantasy, Metroidvania

March 31, 2026

Metacritic: 81/100

Continuation of the metroidvania about a hero with a black hole instead of a head. The new part is dedicated to the Formless — a vile creature that can absorb...

MIO: Memories in Orbit

Platformer, Indie, Side view, Science fiction, Metroidvania

January 20, 2026

Players: 4.6/10

Metacritic: 82/100

An android named Mio awakens on a large spaceship that has fallen into disrepair. The main character explores overgrown locations filled with hostile machines to...

Salt and Sacrifice

Platformer, Adventure, Side view, Cooperative (co-op), Fantasy, Metroidvania, Action

May 10, 2022

Players: 8.4/10

Metacritic: 73/100

Continuation of Salt and Sanctuary, which tells the story of a condemned criminal who becomes an inquisitor hunting mages in a whimsical fantasy world. The events...

Axiom Verge

Arcade, Action, Platformer, Futurism (Future), Side view

March 30, 2015

Players: 6.8/10

Metacritic: 85/100

Axiom Verge is a side-scrolling pixel action platformer set in a sci-fi setting. You will play the role of a scientist who, due to an accident, finds himself in a...

SteamWorld Dig

Arcade, Action, Platformer, Indie, Side view

August 8, 2013

Players: 9.2/10

Metacritic: 80/100

SteamWorld Dig is a charming side-scrolling arcade action-platformer about a robotic miner named Rusty, who arrives in a small town with the goal of finding...

Guacamelee! 2

Arcade, Action, Platformer, Fantasy / Medieval, Side view, Cooperative (co-op)

August 21, 2018

Players: 7.4/10

Metacritic: 85/100

Guacamelee! 2 is a continuation of the dynamic action platformer with a side view. Seven years after defeating Carlos Calaca, Juan Aguacata is forced to once again...

Ori and The Blind Forest: Definitive Edition

Arcade, Adventure, Platformer, Puzzle, Indie

March 11, 2016

Players: 9.8/10

Metacritic: 89/100

Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition is an expanded edition of the indie adventure platformer. The game tells the story of a little guardian spirit named...

Cave Story+

Arcade, Action, Adventure, Platformer, Side view

September 8, 2011

Players: 10/10

Cave Story+ is a supplemented and improved version of the arcade action-platform with the side of the Cave Story. You have to go to a fascinating world where an...

Afterimage

Metroidvania, Side view, Action, Slasher, Adventure

April 25, 2023

Players: 9/10

Metacritic: 73/100

Side view game with non-linear levels. A girl named Renee survived an attack on her home village, but lost her memory. Now she is trying to regain her memories and...

Castlevania Dominus Collection

Action, Adventure, Old school, Platformer, Collection, Metroidvania, Fantasy

August 27, 2024

Players: 6/10

Metacritic: 91/100

A collection of classic Castlevania games, including Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin and Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, previously...

Axiom Verge 2

Arcade, Action, Platformer, Futurism (Future), Side view

August 11, 2021

Players: 9/10

Metacritic: 76/100

Axiom Verge 2 is a continuation of the side-scrolling pixel action platformer in a sci-fi setting. In the sequel you will find new characters, skills and game...

Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse

Online, Roguelike, Side view, Cooperative (co-op), Metroidvania

March 5, 2026

A game that supports co-op for up to 4 people. Characters explore dungeons, ruins, and gardens that are automatically generated each time. The game also has...

TEVI

Metroidvania, Anime / Manga, Adventure, Action, Platformer, Side view

November 30, 2023

Metacritic: 83/100

The main character Tevi is agile and agile, and has both her trusty dagger and a huge wrench in her arsenal, which she uses to strike in close combat with style. At...

ANIMAL WELL

Metroidvania, Action, Side view, Platformer, Old school, Puzzle

May 9, 2024

Players: 8.5/10

Metacritic: 89/100

An old school metroidvania with a focus on exploration and puzzle solving that will require the player to think outside the box to achieve results. In the game you...

Iconoclasts

Arcade, Action, Adventure, Platformer, Futurism (Future), Side view

January 23, 2018

Metacritic: 86/100

Iconoclasts is a side-scrolling arcade action-platformer adventure game. You have to get used to the role of the brave girl Robin, who is engaged in the destruction...

Ultros

Side view, Metroidvania, Platformer, Action, Science fiction, Exploration

February 13, 2024

Metacritic: 80/100

The main character comes to his senses in a certain sarcophagus floating in space. The character explores areas of the ship and fights alien creatures to uncover...

Yoku's Island Express

Arcade, Action, Adventure, Platformer, Pinball, Indie, Side view

May 29, 2018

Players: 8.5/10

Metacritic: 83/100

Yoku's Island Express is an arcade action-platformer adventure with side-scrolling pinball mechanics. You will try on the role of a beetle named Yoku, who landed on...

Crowsworn

Action, Adventure, Slasher, Puzzle, Indie, Exploration, Fantasy, Metroidvania

2026

Anticipation Rating: 9.9/10

The game takes place in the kingdom of Fearandal, which was once hit by a dark curse that destroyed most of the population and summoned terrible creatures into the...

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Role-playing game, Action, Horror, Platformer, Third-person view

October 2, 1997

Players: 7.8/10

Metacritic: 91/100

A direct sequel to Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, set four years later. Alucard appears as the main character who wakes up from his sleep and goes to explore...

Dust: An Elysian Tail

Arcade, Role-playing game, Action, Adventure, Fighting, Fantasy / Medieval, Side view

August 15, 2012

Players: 9.6/10

Metacritic: 84/100

Dust: An Elysian Tail is a 2D action-adventure platformer with role-playing elements and a side view in a fantasy setting. A colorful world awaits you, filled with...

The Eternal Life of Goldman

Action, Adventure, Platformer, Indie, Exploration, Fantasy, Metroidvania

2026

Anticipation Rating: 10/10

A hand-drawn adventure platformer with elements of exploration and battles, set on a mysterious Archipelago. Players will uncover the mysteries of the islands, seek...

Touhou Luna Nights

Metroidvania, Side view

February 25, 2019

A pixel game in which the main character finds herself in another world. It's full of strange places and demon youkai. You can use different weapons and learn...

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