Not to shatter the fourth wall right from the outset, but I understand what a silly concept this might seem. After all, just about every single Metroidvania should get better as it goes.
10 Best Metroidvanias That Feel Linear
Sometimes, linearity can be a bad thing. But in this assortment of Metroidvanias, short and sweet is very much the vibe!
After all, you get more understanding of an enigmatic world, open up more shortcuts, and gain a wealth of satisfying powers. However, while that might be true in theory, it doesn’t always work out that way.
Some Metroidvanias are brilliant from the beginning, and with no need to embrace a slow burn. Whereas others start strong but tail off dramatically at the end. Looking at you, Owlboy. In short, some Metroidvanias take a little bit of time to hit their stride.
However, if you’re willing to give these Metroidvania masterpieces time to showcase their excellence, you’ll be rewarded with a series of Metroidvania adventures that are about as good as any other contemporary in the genre.
9The Last Faith
It Gets Good, Have Faith
The Last Faith
The Last Faith has a lot of things going for it. It has a gorgeous, gritty, and gothic art style that suits the ominous tone and atmosphere. Plus, it has tight platforming mechanics akin to Castlevania while managing to marry that together with dynamic, fast-paced Soulslike combat reminiscent of Bloodborne.
But, the one downside is that the best of The Last Faith is reserved for the second half of your adventure.
Up until the Edwyn, The Starscourge Horror fight, the game is pretty easy and lifeless. But from then on, the game bursts into life with much more challenging and diverse bosses and biomes.
Plus, a wealth of satisfying power-ups that make exploring and fighting much more fun. It’s initially a bit of a slog, but stick with it, because it pays off big time.
8Animal Well
Big Brain Time
Animal Well
Animal Well is a truly magnificent game, mainly because it manages to serve asjust about the only Metroidbrainiathat doesn’t make a mockery of that moniker, as it’s actually a Metroidvania by design.
However, because knowledge is power in this pixel-perfect indie, it means that initially, you’ll be lost, confused, and overwhelmed. All feelings that I wouldn’t say are ones we seek out as video game fans.
However, this is all by design, as the game forces you to explore, experiment, and eventually solve puzzles that will give you that coveted ‘A-ha’ moment. With each new discovery, new possibilities open up, and that is the beauty of Animal Well.
Plus, there are amazing power-ups to uncover that reinvent established classics. Not to mention a dark and seedy underbelly to this world that is worth uncovering. Balatro may have pipped it for indie game of the year in 2024, but this game would also have been a worthy winner.
7Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights
When It Rains, It Pours
Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights
If you’re someone who knows your Metroidvanias, you’ll likely get the question ‘what games are like Hollow Knight’ quite a lot. A fair question, as it tends to be the gateway into the modern Metroidvania world.
There may be some better candidates now, but for the longest time, I always used to answer this question with Ender Lilies.
This is partly because the game possesses Souls-like qualities, including tough combat and a gritty, depressing world. But, it’s also because the game has tough navigation, a slow burn progression system, and doesn’t pull any punches.
In short, this epic Metroidvania is a stellar game, but one that only showcases what it’s all about if you give it a little time to breathe.
6Ori and the Blind Forest
Ori’s Big Break
It’s perhaps a little weird to list Ori as a slow burn, mainly because the first game of the two in particular is one of the shorter Metroidvanias out there. However, the statement holds true mainly for two reasons.
Firstly, when you start your adventure, you have nothingunlocked on your skill tree,you are incredibly underpowered and very vulnerable, which leads to some potential frustration early on.
Then second, the game relies on moments and emotional storytelling. It takes time to weave a thoughtful and emotionally charged narrative such as this. Which, again, can lead to players feeling things slow down to an irritating level until the next moment of tension arises.
That said, anyone who bounces off either of the Ori games will have done themselves a disservice, as it’s easily one of the most heartfelt, masterfully designed, and visually striking Metroidvania franchises ever. So, do yourself a favor and hop into Ori’s first adventure soon.
For The Greenthumbs in the Chat
I’m a big fan of an experimental Metroidvania. One that takesa big swing with a mechanical gimmick, or maybe even a genre blend. However, there are few games that have even come close to matching the psychedelic weirdness found in Ultros.
It’s a game that takes a minute to truly engross the player, as the opening hours are surreal, extremely cryptic, and have you playing the same sequence of events over and over. However, as you come to understand the game’s fauna-based system, everything clicks into place.
It’s a Roguevania that takes a while to strike that perfect balance. But when it does, you’ll see firsthand why so many indie fans were impressed by this trippy tale.
4Salt and Sanctuary
Slow Burn Souls
Salt and Sanctuary
Fextralife Wiki
When it comes to slow burn games, few genres offer quite as many without exception as the Soulslike genre. Due to the extreme demands on the player and the enigmatic nature of these worlds, you are all but set up to fail and will need to effectively hit your head against the wall until you break through.
So, it should be no surprise that Salt and Sanctuary, a game designed to be as close to 2D Dark Souls as possible, takes a minute to hook the player.
But, as you find a build that works for you and get your bearings in the hostile world, you soon come to find that it’s every bit as exciting and worth playing as Miyazaki’s finest outings.
3Pseudoregalia
Parkour Perfection
Pseudoregalia
If you’re a fan of Metroidvanias, you probably just so happen to be a platforming fan, too. After all, most Metroidvanias simply can’t gain mass appeal without tight platforming being baked right into the bread.
However, in most cases, the platforming is satisfying right from the outset, with perhaps a dash or a double jump being added in for good measure to keep things feeling fresh.
However, in Pseudoregalia, things start slow as you build up your parkour acumen with each new discovery. Allowing players to wall jump, backflip gainer, and use the new skills to chain combos and reach new heights. It takes some practice, but nailing these complex platforming feats will give you a sense of accomplishment like no other.
Then, add in someDark Souls adjacent combat, not to mention that the game is a 3D Metroidvania of all things, and you have a recipe for something quite novel indeed. It’s an underrated gem and a must-try for any platforming fanatic with a penchant for metroidvanias.
2Nine Sols
A Steep Learning Curve
If you’re someone who jumped into Sekiro thinking you were getting another traditional Souls game courtesy of FromSoft, only to find that the game was a whole different kettle of fish, then playing Nine Sols may feel largely the same.
Many may be drawn to the game as it looks like a cozy, hand-drawn Metroidvania hit, but in reality, it’s one of the hardest games that the genre has to offer.
The game forces you to get to grips with its intense partying mechanics, and for that reason, the opening hourscan be a punishing and frustrating slog, where you really have to make the most of what little wins you may muster.
However, as you become adept at the art of parrying and gather some resources to power up your protagonist, this game shows its quality. It’s one of the finest 2D Soulslikes in recent memory, and one you should try at your earliest convenience. Just don’t expect an easy ride.
1Hollow Knight
Don’t Let The Early-GameBugYou
Hollow Knight
The phrase ‘It gets good, I promise’ and Hollow Knight. Truly a match made in heaven.
Credit where it’s due, the game creates a palpable atmosphere right from the outset. In terms of presentation, the hand-drawn visuals, the detailed backdrops, or Christopher Larkin’s outstanding score all work cohesively to signal the start of something special. But, in truth, it takes a little while for the magic to truly happen.
The Forgotten Crossroads is bland and uninviting; the game doesn’t hold players' hands in the slightest, which can make early navigation a pain, and the opening bosses are a little lackluster.
However, from Greenpath onwards, the game is all killer, no filler, with a wealth of memorable battles, awesome areas to explore, and Soulslike challenges aplenty. It’s one that is so easy to bounce off, but if you did, do go back and try it again. It just might click the second time around.
11 Best Metroidvanias If You Usually Hate Metroidvanias
It’s a genre that can be hard to get into. But these games make it a little easier than most.
