The best metroidvanias of all time

Hollow Knight is frequently cited as one of the best Metroidvanias due to its vast, interconnected world, challenging combat, and melancholic atmosphere. Its exploration is rewarding, and the lore is deep and engaging, making it a standout title in the genre.

• Classic 2D Action-Adventure

• Best Indie Game Debut (2017)

• Best Platformer Game (2017)

• Good Sound Design

Metroid Dread is praised for its high production values, smooth gameplay, and intense E.M.M.I. encounters. It successfully blends classic Metroid exploration with modern action elements, offering a thrilling experience.

• Intricate level design

• Challenging and satisfying combat

• Immersive and tense atmosphere

• Rewarding exploration with secrets

Metroid: Zero Mission revitalizes Samus's original adventure with enhanced graphics, polished gameplay, and additional content that deepens the narrative. Its intricate level design and progression based on exploration and ability acquisition make it a cornerstone of the metroidvania genre.

• Reintroduces items and abilities from later titles

• Dives deeper into narrative terms

• Opportunity to save the game frequently

• Easy and simple gameplay system

Gato Roboto stands out in this ranking for its innovative level design that encourages exploration and secret discovery. Its fluid gameplay and unique ability progression offer a deeply rewarding metroidvania experience.

• Adorable

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night stands out in this ranking for its deep and expansive gameplay, which faithfully honors the roots of classic Metroidvanias. It offers a vast, interconnected castle filled with secrets, abilities that unlock new areas, and satisfying combat that rewards exploration and experimentation.

• Action-adventure with exploration and RPG elements

• Spiritual successor to Castlevania

• Masterful castle design and backtracking

• Huge options for character customization

Owlboy stands out in this ranking for its stunning art direction and soundtrack, creating a vibrant and emotional world. Its fluid gameplay, centered on flight and aerial combat, offers a unique experience within the metroidvania genre.

• Magnificent and varied gameplay

• Spectacular graphics and animations

• Original puzzles

• Compelling universe with characters that exude

Axiom Verge stands out in this ranking for its masterful recreation of classic Metroid gameplay, combined with an oppressive sci-fi atmosphere and an intricate world to explore. Its unique arsenal and 'glitch' mechanic add layers of depth and discovery that elevate it above many others in the genre.

• Weapon-based combat

• Colossal art and music

• Brought current tastes closer to the metroidvania genre

• Classic 2D side-scrolling action

Nine Sols stands out in the metroidvania genre with its innovative kung-fu inspired combat and deep parry system, offering a challenging and rewarding experience. Its intricate level design and rich narrative, set in a dark fantasy world inspired by Asian mythology, solidify it as a strong contender among the best metroidvanias.

• Deep narrative

• Outstanding art direction

• Impressive bosses

• Well-implemented combat mechanics

Ori and the Blind Forest stands out for its exquisite art direction and emotional soundtrack, creating a vibrant and captivating world. Its fluid and challenging gameplay, combined with a moving narrative, positions it as a fundamental title within the metroidvania genre.

• Beautiful action and platformer game

• Rewarding after you put in the effort

• Acclaimed 2D metroidvania of platforming, exploration, and action with beautiful graphics

Guacamelee! stands out in the metroidvania genre for its agile and fluid gameplay, blending melee combat with unique platforming abilities. Its dimension-swapping mechanic adds a strategic layer to exploration and puzzle-solving, key elements for an exceptional metroidvania.

• Superb setting

• Touches of humor

• Interesting plot

• Revised and expanded adventure

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is a classic that redefined the Metroidvania genre with its non-linear exploration, RPG elements, and memorable soundtrack. Its influence is still felt in modern Metroidvanias, solidifying its place as a genre-defining title.

• Incredible melodies that set the game's atmosphere

• Striking visual effects

• Wide variety of enemies

• Brings Castlevania closer to an RPG

The Messenger stands out in this ranking for its innovative use of the cloud-hopping mechanic, which redefines exploration and combat within the metroidvania genre. Its ingenious level design and the seamless transition between past and future offer a unique and memorable gameplay experience.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is celebrated for its stunning visuals, emotional narrative, and fluid platforming. The game expands upon its predecessor with refined combat and exploration mechanics, making it a visually and mechanically impressive Metroidvania.

• Fluid and responsive gameplay

• Emotional and captivating story

• Intricate and rewarding level design

• Improved combat system over the previous installment

Hollow Knight: Silksong is the epic sequel to the award-winning action-adventure video game Hollow Knight, making it a strong contender for the best Metroidvania of all time. The game promises new lands, enemies, and mysteries, expanding the universe of the original.

• Venture into a new kingdom led by Silk and Song

• Big launch of 2025

• 150 new enemies

Metroid Fusion stands out in this ranking for its immersive narrative and tense atmosphere, which elevate the exploration and combat experience. The constant threat of the SA-X and the evolution of the story through cutscenes add a layer of urgency and depth rarely seen in the genre.

• Enjoyable gameplay

• Technically brilliant

• Visually groundbreaking

• Graphics similar to Super Metroid but improved

Tunic stands out in the metroidvania genre with its intricate interconnected world design and its emphasis on exploration and discovery. The game rewards player curiosity with well-hidden secrets and a progression system that feels organic and rewarding, key elements that define the best titles in the genre.

• World dense with secrets

• Audiovisual aspect is a delight

• Quirky art style similar to Zelda Link's Awakening

• Wonderful music

Super Metroid is a cornerstone of the genre, setting a standard for non-linear exploration, intricate level design, and immersive atmosphere. Its fluid gameplay, iconic power-ups, and sense of isolation and discovery solidify it as a timeless masterpiece.

• Spooky sound

• Immersive atmosphere

• Groundbreaking graphics

• Fluid character sprites and animations

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow stands out in the metroidvania genre for its intricate level design, which rewards exploration and discovery. Its innovative soul system, allowing Soma Cruz to absorb enemy abilities, provides exceptional strategic depth and a variety of playstyles.

• One of the best plots in the entire series

• Interesting characters

• Extensive castle

• Great replay value

Dead Cells stands out in the metroidvania genre for its fluid and satisfying combat, combined with a procedurally generated level structure that offers exceptional replayability. Its rapid progression and the constant acquisition of new abilities that unlock previously inaccessible areas are fundamental pillars of the metroidvania experience.

• Intricate level design

• Challenging and rewarding combat

• Unique and memorable art style

• Deep exploration and hidden secrets

Blasphemous stands out for its dark, gothic setting inspired by Spanish folklore, combined with brutal combat and intricate level design. Its grim atmosphere and challenging gameplay provide a unique and memorable Metroidvania experience.

• Intricate and labyrinthine level design

• Deep and rewarding combat

• Rewarding exploration with hidden secrets

• Unique and evocative art style

Castlevania: Circle of the Moon stands out in this ranking for its innovative "DSS" (Dual Set-up System), which allows for extensive experimentation with attribute and ability combinations. Its intricate map design, filled with secrets and interconnected paths, rewards exploration and replayability, fundamental pillars of the metroidvania genre.

• Protagonist and enemies well-crafted and detailed

• Stage design and quality similar to Symphony of the Night

Iconoclasts stands out in the metroidvania genre for its intricate level design, which encourages rewarding exploration and puzzle-solving. Its deep narrative and memorable characters, combined with agile combat and a satisfying progression system, elevate it to the top tier of the genre.

• Ingenious puzzle design

• Epic in important battles

• Complex puzzles

• Good story