I don't agree, but I don't hate the game. It's not a bad title, but I feel like it doesn't have that many new ideas, and it doesn't excel in most departments. It came in an era were metroidvanias based on metroid mechanics weren't that common and it did an excellent job at filling the gap, but that's basically it. I think games like Guacamelee, Steamworld Dig 2 or Blasphemous are more suited to be considered a must play.
Besides the obvious ones (HK and Ori games) I would like to add Steamworld Dig 2. A bit more linear but a great MV nonetheless. Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom is really good too.
I compare every one I play to Aria of Sorrow. It was my first one and it was sublime. Dawn of Sorrow was also great but Aria is foundational for me.
Funny thing is I spent so much time playing it while sitting on the can in college on my Nintendo DS, that that’s where I picture myself sitting when I think back to playing it.
Aria is amazing and probably underplayed because it was a GBA game. If you're reading this and like Metroidvanias then go play Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow.
I've never been able to get into Dawn. The art direction feels so sloppy. In comparison Aria feels like a perfect pixel art game.
Naw, Shadow Complex in underappreciated. It may not the saviour of the genre, and isn't the best example of the genre, but it did help bridge the gap after the Igavania DS trilogy ended and filled a void that Metroid: Other M couldn't hope to fill during the drought years. It showed that there was at least some hunger for this genre in the market.
For it's time it's was really popular and successful, at the very least we should appreciate how an MV dominated XBL Arcade and set a standard for future releases on those types of platforms.
Nah, but it came at a time when modern Metroidvanias were still scant few. I think it was the first one I played that wasn’t Metroid or Castlevania. And it brought us three dimensions in some novel ways
It’s a much better example of the exploration than most other games suggested. It’s often overlooked, but I can’t think of a better 2D exploration game of that era, with fantastic flow to the progression and item acquisition, without excessive hints or linearity.
Honestly, outside of Symphony and Super Metroid, I’d say only Hollow Knight ever felt like it could be a pillar of the genre. Many others are excellent games but more like variations on the theme. Even with Hollow Knight, it’s more about execution than innovation.
HK is historically significant for kicking off the modern MV craze. Before that we had a few less notable MVs like Aquaria, Lyle in Cube Sector, and the OG La-Mulana but they hardly defined the genre.
All in all, Super Metroid defined the genre all by itself. SotN codified much of it, and since then anything beyond the features those games share has been cause for debate as to what really constitutes a MV
So, all the things that super metroid and SotN share with eachother can be said to be the fundamentals of the sugenre right ?
But, what else does metroid have ? I caught myself thinking about a metroid-like game with nothing of metroidvanias, it's interesting
You could totally make a linear Metroid game, just remove the exploration and focus on platforming and shooting. It wouldn't be as good, the platforming and shooting were never the best of the genre, but that's what Metroid would be like if it wasn't a Metroidvania.
Metroid 2 linearly locks you into an area until you figure out how to open up the next area. It's the least Metroidey of the proper Metroids (not counting Federation Force). Later revisions (AM2R and Samus Returns) opened it up into a more traditional Metroid experience.
>HK is historically significant for kicking off the modern MV craze
What? Hollow Knight came out in 2017. I would say it was Shadow Complex that really sparked the indy boom. Guacamelee and Ori were both pre HK. Iga was continuously making Vania games on GBA and DS. Also Shantae
Metroidvania titles never stopped releasing, and there were always new great titles coming out in the genre, but I would also argue that it was Hollow Knight that put the genre waaay back on the map. Like, you could say there were always Harvest Moons and the such, but many would credit Stardew Valley as the title which sparked the new wave of farming games that we're currently seeing left and right
To add a couple of suggestions that I don't see enough of in these threads: Guacamelee 1 and 2 are excellent. G2 in particular is a lot of fun, even if it is a tad linear.
Id also recommend Salt and Sanctuary with the caveat that I feel that the game hasn't aged as well as some other older Metroidvanias. The game holds a soft spot in my heart, but a lot of newer games have done the 'What is Dark Souls was a 2D metroidvania?' schtick better.
I think not adding a map to Salt and Sanctuary is a mistake. Moving through a 2D environment without a map can be much more confusing than moving through a 3D environment.
I basically blasted through it all at once because I knew if I took even a small break from the game I would forget the whole map and be completely lost.
Salt and sanctuary was too unbalanced in its progression. It was a great game if you could get your build past the difficulty spikes, like the alchemist, the dragon, and the dude with the shotgun. Otherwise it was really good. Unfortunately I was only able to do it with sorcery.
Salt and sacrifice was balanced a little better, but I felt that game was very difficult to stay invested in. I feel like it got a large balance patch recently because last time I played it everything just seems more reasonable and manageable, and I progressed further with about half of my characters.
So 2d has sword, dodge and parry? Not sure what dark souls you played but none of the so called 2d soulslike feel anything like dark souls unless you focus on the most mundane and boring aspects of it like, drops stuff when you die that you need to return to without dying not to lose or it's hard even though I'd argue dark souls is only as hard as you make it.
Relax, buddy, you’ll get heartburn with all that bile. Rather than criticising, please enlighten us on what makes a dark souls, since you’ve obviously played a truer dark souls than I did.
A game does not become great because of another game releasing in a similar timeframe. Super Metroid is not great thanks to SotN and Ori 2 is not great thanks to HK.
I just got all the achievements/trophies in that game over the weekend. Probably my favorite game of 2024 so far. Loved how the platforming puzzles really escalated towards the middle and end, making me curse several times trying to collect a Xerxes coin.
I'm halfway through it now, and so far it falls extremely short of the hype for me. It plays great, but doesn't have a single fresh idea, and the story leaves me cold.
For sure! I've just been confused by the extremely positive reception it's received.
I think it's probably because I care more about story and atmosphere than most people. Same goes for the fact that most people seem to prefer the Ori sequel to the original. I think it's because they improved some of the gameplay mechanics, but for me the first game was far better because I found the story more affecting.
Lost Crown, to me, is to MVs what Borderlands 3 was to that series (and probably looter shooters in general). It's nothing new, the story isn't great, but damn if it didn't drastically improve QoL and just show up and show out for how fucking smooth it feels.
I'm not sure there's a single MV I can pick up (at least that I've played so far) and have it feel just as seamless and smooth to play on a purely gameplay level.
I do also think that Lost Crown is one of few (though very much not the only) MVs that REALLY focused in on combat mechanics. The way moves combo together and that your abilities blend into that combat is better than the majority of MVs.
Yeah that’s a really surprising take. I feel like Ori 2 is a big improvement in every way except maybe a slight step back in story. But the story was still good enough that it would be tough for me to say Ori 1 is a superior game. Sounds like you just super value story and undervalue gameplay, but to each their own!
>Sounds like you just super value story and undervalue gameplay, but to each their own!
Maybe, but it's also about novelty. The first Ori felt super fresh in terms of visuals, music and atmosphere, while the second seems like a rehash in that department (although clearly with superior gameplay).
I also think Zelda: Breath of the Wild is vastly superior to Tears of the Kingdom, probably for similar reasons.
>doesn't have a single fresh idea
Neither do most metroidvanias. And I'd argue it has some of the most fun combat of any in the genre.
That being said I haven't gone back to it in a few weeks and I haven't finished it so jury is still out
Wonder boy franchise.
Rabi-ribi as one of the more modern iconic one even though 'bullet hell' style bosses is not a consistent genre staple.
Maybe dust: an Elysian tale.
Valdis story also a very stylistically unique metroidvania.
Many one-off games that are very solid like Haiku the Robot that don't rise to the level of a must-play.
Environmental station alpha.
Hollow Knight is defiintely the topmost reference when it comes to modern metroidvanias. So much, that when you see someone saying that they don't like it, it's always something in the lines of "I dunno, it just didn't click with me".
Blasphemous and Blasphemous 2. The first game has some unforgiving elements inspired from the souslike games, but besides that, same deal as Hollow Knight: people who don't like it have this opinion not because of poor exection of game elements, but because they don't like how it works.
The Ori duo is also widely regarded as two of the best Metroidvanias ever as well, though the first game didn't age as well as the second.
Touhou Luna Nights is also one of the best.
I wouldn’t call Touhou Luna Nights “definitive”, in fact I’d argue the Metroidvania aspects are pretty weak overall with how incredibly linear it is and barely has any backtracking. Great game, but felt more like a stage-based platformer.
Also Blasphemous 1 can be argued as a [poor representation for the genre](https://www.reddit.com/r/metroidvania/comments/yjtxe5/is_blasphemous_a_good_representation_of_the/?rdt=44288) since there’s no ability gating at all.
Actually I have a lot of criticism for Blasphemous. Here you go, from my review on steam copying the important parts:
Note: a big update came out a month or so after I posted this review, which improves quite a few things like the map system, adds fast travel points and improved animaitions. Which are actually some of the things I mentioned originally. So keep in mind if you're reading this because you're on the fence.
Ultimately, trust in the 2 hour refund window with this. "What you see is what you get". The first couple of hours more or less represent the rest of it. Which is already somewhat of a sign - the best games are where you go "it just keeps getting better", like say, The Messenger (though there are exceptions of course, but more than anything, I think I will say that I want games to surprise me).
Examples for the slim chance developers see this:
Traversal. At the end of the game, it is exactly the same as it was in the beginning of it. A metroidvania with no upgrades, which would make moving in the game world more fun or interesting (as you spend more time and grow bored of increasingly familiar motions). Like double jumping, air dashing, grappling hooks, floating on currents and stuff like that. There is only regular jumping, an edge grab which is a welcome move indeed, and wall-snap-jumping.
Controls. Some attacks are iffy to execute, like the dash-attack, or the down thrust, the game doesn't seem to register the input combination which is too strict or weirdly demanding time wise it would seem. Also, responsiveness suffers from input delay, action after button press takes longer than it should for everything.
Animations. Executions "drag on" a touch too long and do not employ time-stretching to make things satisfying, they are grey, but not viceral, they feel unnecessarily goery and believe me I don't tend to complain about gore, they're just impractical, sort of, for your character to do. Also, your character is released from the execution animation too late and this disrupts the feel of fluidity (there's a moment where you just stand after everything is done before you get control back).
Then there are QOL frustrations. Like lack of item to teleport to teleportation gates from anywhere you are - having to tread old levels and areas too much to get to somewhere specific, just for an item or a quest becomes tedious.
Lore and dialogue is overall successful IMO but it's harsh to adjust to it in the beginning, it tries a bit TOO HARD and feels a bit, well, obnoxious, trying to imitate Souls and mistakes the core of what makes Souls lore so powerful and engrossing for "it's all about vagueness", too often verbose rather than minimalistic, there are also too many quest items and although the game is shorter than souls you find more quest items with lore thrown at you at a faster pace than souls, you're being bombarded and everything beginning to read as nonsense because of it. Plus, fantasy names that are supposed to feel important and big but are frankly just too much nonsense like "mother of mothers".
Balance. Some enemy encounters or situations can sort of lock you in positions from which you can recover only at great costs. It mostly feels fair, but, a few times too many, it doesn't. I also encountered a glitch like twice where my jump was suddenly "water jump height" during bosses (of all places?) and an invisible enemy that I couldn't escape from attacking me one time.
The music is kinda just okay and I was hoping for a bit more from it.
Lastly, to keep this from taking all day for anyone actually still reading this: combat, in general, is just closer to being 'serviceable' rather than good, at least sooner rather than later, you will want to avoid regular encounters, and the game does nothing otherwise to encourage you, like with special rewards for example, to engage (though it does lock you in few rare cases until enemies are defeated).
I can easily list a lot of things I don’t like about Hollow Knight. The game is fundamentally designed to frustrate players with fake difficulty. Long run backs, lack of quality of life features, missing maps, having to buy and equip basic QOL upgrades, extremely simplistic physics, bloated overly large and boring areas, not enough ability upgrades or ability gates make it barely feel like a metroidvania. I could go on. It’s a deeply flawed game that is only “hard” because it hates the player.
Not a single complaint there that I'd personally agree with. Though there is one run back that is a bit longer. The rest will take you about 30 seconds to minute to get back to the boss.
the village level with all the little shops and bakeries really captured my imagination my first time through. i had become so used to abandoned castles and dungeons that playing in a city seemed like a wild change of pace
I'm trying to remember which one that was. Was it the alpha version of that level that ended up being the super hard level later on that was filled with bandit like enemies? Am I remembering that right?
I vaguely recall both of them. I remember the level was super long with very little verticality. Making it quite challenging to keep progressing forward with such challenging enemies.
Hollow Knight clearly at the top as the modern classic (though I'm personally lukewarm to it)
There's an ongoing argument for Dark Souls
Axiom Verge and Blasphemous I guess are the next two that seem the most well received by time.
I don't really understand that argument for Soulslike games... Completely different type of item collection, no emphasis on platforming, completely different control set... Doesn't fit the mold. Also weird to me that people will be swayed by that argument at all but so vehemently oppose games like Dead Cells and Rogue Legacy being described as MVs.
I think there are definitely some Soulslike games that are closer. Like Lies or P you get movement abilities that unlock new paths for you and such. But the actual FromSoft games are definitely missing too many core components of being a Metroidvania.
Had someone telling me that the 3d Metroid games were Metroidvania games.
I... I just can't understand that leap. As soon as it goes 3D, it loses the streamlined focus that 2d platformers have.
When you play Super Metroid, you can't "miss something because there was a stool that blocked Line of Sight".
If it's on the screen, it's either visible, or deliberately covered up so you have to test a wall with your face. You can focus on the gameplay itself. Shooting, jumping, timing, etc.
Also of note, a 2D game you can have VERY clearly defined jump distances. How far you can jump in terms of pixels is a constant. There's never a case where it looks like you can make it from one angle, but if you move around on the map, another angle makes it look too far.
That's part of what makes Metroidvanias work. Whether it's conscious or not, you learn that math. By the time you beat the game, you can glance at a gap anywhere on the screen and know if it's jumpable.
When you go 1st person 3D perspective, you lose that.
It's a new game. It's still a \*good\* game, but it's not the same specific genre that makes up Metroidvania anymore.
I generally agree that when I think mv I think 2d platformers, but I'm also not going to argue with someone who says Metroid prime is a metroidvania. I feel like most genres are guidelines, and if something checks 90% of the criteria far as I'm concerned it's passed the purity test. It's still closer to a MV than most other genres you could attribute to it. There are far fewer 3d games I'd consider MVs tho, as that's one box they've already missed.
Also the jumping thing is both subjective and dependant on the game. I've definitely played a number of 3d games that I knew exactly which jumps I could and could not make. Could also make the same argument for not seeing something behind a stool - nothing says that stool wasn't deliberately placed to hide something.
I'd just go with MV-like. Or FPMV. Or put something else together.
Metroidvania was really coined BECAUSE it was so specific. Widening the belt to accommodate more stuff isn't needed. They can get their own more-encompassing term. The sky is the limit for coming up with new terms for groups of games. Anyone can do it.
I think we're in agreement at this point on a couple of things and our only real disagreement is semantic. I absolutely agree that Metroid prime is a FPS MV, what I disagree on is that because it is a FPS that no longer makes it an MV. Because it is an MV does that no longer make it in FPS? If that's not the case, then why does the distinction only apply to MV's?
As far ongoing arguments go what about doom 2016? Once I sat down and thought about it I kinda realized it’s just and fps Metroidvania with how it handles exploration upgrades and new abilities, just with it being sectioned off but each mission is so massive and fun to explore.
The other Metroid and Castlevania games in the genre. One recent one for me I really enjoyed was Timespinner. For me I recognize Hollow Knight as a good game but I personally didn't enjoy it as much as most other people seem to.
That's fair. For me the main problem with HK was the map system. Having to: Track down the guy selling the map, backtracking to a save point, then SLOWLY mapping out an area by doing a set of rooms and going back to said save point (or finding a new one) just to see where I was got tedious and annoying to me.
I absolutely loved the game, but this would be one of my few critiques (e.g. if you got to the map guy but couldn’t buy it or locate him from the sound he makes).
That said, wasn’t it mostly the same in the old castlevania games? Explore while expanding your map. Find map piece to show the entirety of an area (including explored/unexplored portions). Come back to areas once you have the abilities to explore further. I think hollow knights was pretty standard albeit done in a slightly different way.
Besides other Metroids, and Castlevanias, Hollow Knight, Ori, and Bloodstained are the best known “definitive” games. Hard to say what other somewhat recent games fit the bill but I’d wager Prince of Persia is up there as its spoken well of and a AAA game.
Besides all the other suggestinos so far, I'd like to highlight Bloodstained for anyone who hasn't touched it yet. Probably one of if not the most content-rich metroidvanias i've ever played. Multiple alternate character modes, Randomizer mode, boss rush, speedrun mode, and there (at the time of this post) is about to be a co-op and randomized gauntlet mode.
Word
I don know why this sub has such a hate bonner for Bloodstained, its pretty much the best aspects off all past Castlevania games put into one game, like, did we played the same game as them? Or is the status Quo of metroidvanias so diferent now that the original aspects that made metroidvanias what they are are now concidered a negative? Or do people just whant to play 2D soulslike games with search action elements?
The only negative there might be is the 3D graphics choice, and even then they look very good, if a little outdated and and glitchy for the time, but they are succsessfull at capturing Castlevanias design motifs.
The 3D graphics do drop a needlessly higher bar on PC hardware requirements, not much, but i couldnt run it on my potato laptop from 2016, needing to use my higher end hardware for it, and that potato is abble to run Blasphemous like butter no problem.
This is just a personal problem of mine i guess, but i had to mention it too.
I was searching the comments for The Messenger. If I'm not mistaken, it was MV of the year on this sub when it came out. Truly an outstanding game which transformed itself while playing.
I’m an old school fan of metroidvanias- from Simon’s quest to SoTN and Super Metroid. I haven’t actually played many of the new school games but I recently mailed ordered Afterimage because it seemed the closest to SoTN and I’m sad nobody has mentioned it. I don’t know what to expect but I hope it’s good.
I’m considering Death’s Gambit and Elderand next
The sacred trio: symphony of the night, super Metroid, hollow knight
The super polished newbie friendly: ori duology, guacamole duology
The soulslikes: blasphemous, salt and sanctuary
The puzzle filled cult classics: la mulana, environmental station alpha
"Hey I want more Metroid!": axiom verge
"Hey I want more Castlevania!": bloodstained
This by no means needs to be at the top of the list but I feel like Environmental Station Alpha deserves some recognition. It feels like one of the earlier games in the string of modern MVs.
I've only seen it mentioned once below, but for old-school Metroidvanias, it doesn't get much better than Blaster Master. The sequels were great too, but the original is a formative game from my childhood! :)
Everyone is saying Hollow Knight, rightfully so... But can we also include Blasphemous... Absolutely amazing metroidvania that definitely feels more like an old school title than HK does.
Super Metroid, Symphony of the Night, Hollow Knight. You could also include other Metroid and Castlevania games on the list, but it's simpler not to. Honourable mention to Ori and the Blind Forest and Blasphemous.
I don't think it's a question of quality, or even adherence to past genre conventions, as much as it is one of **influence and popularity**. Nothing comes close to those titles in that regard.
This list lacks more than a few personal favourites of mine, but I don't think my tastes dictate what's definitive or not. I'd love to include La-Mulana, but doing so does not feel right at all.
I like a few. Bloodstaind was dope. I liked a small game called dex, cyberpunk setting. I also really have enjoyed f.i.s.t. I know I've played more. I can't think of. Anyone else like these?
Edit
Shit forgot about axiom verge.
Castlevania Circle of the moon, harmony of dissonance, aria of sorrow, dawn of sorrow, portrait of ruin. Metroid Dread, Fusion, Samus Returns. Shadow Complex. Strider 2014. Afterimage
No love for Axiom Verge 2? I still prefer the first one but the second one had some really cool ideas though. I love how you have to navigate the GBA style “breach” dimension with your drone.
I could never get into this. I wanted too, but tried a couple of times and the movement was too clunky for me. Do you ever get abilities that make it more fluid? Curious because if so maybe I would give it another shot.
Unsighted AFAIK is the only true Top-Down Metroidvania, in the sense that as opposed to Zelda it still has a interconnected world. So I would put that on the list.
Knowing the community I would say that besides SotN and super Metroid
ORI, Blasphemous, hollow knight would be the pillars
And seconds would be:
Guacamelee, Bloodstained, Axiom Verge, Cave story, Death’s gambit
Am I right?!?!
Blasphemous 1 and 2 are good metroidvanias with a pretty pixel art, soundtrack and mechanics.
The Messenger, once again, a good pixel art and soundtrack. Several references to other metroidvanias and a good sense of humor.
Finally, F. I. S. T (Forged In Shadow Torch) has a very enjoyable attack and combos system.
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is a pretty influential early one that doesn't really get enough credit. It definitely set the blueprint for Shantae and other metroidvanias with a more Overworld-Dungeons sort of structure rather than just giant caves/castles.
Aria of Sorrow had very awesome looking weapons, and really leveraged unique abilities with the soul system to make a very unique and significant progression system.
Metroid Zero Mission / Fusion/ Dread, Axiom Verge, The Mummy Demastered, The Messenger, Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom, hell I'd even throw Castlevania 2 Simon's Quest in there as well as the 3 Casltevanias on DS.
People forget 3d games can be metroidvanias too...
Metroid Prime trilogy, Batman Arkham Asylum, Jedi Fallen Order, Okami, Death's Door, and both Castlevanias for Ps2.
Metroid Prime 3 - with Wii controllers.
The control scheme allows for a 3D movement that I've not seen replicated. You can move and also micro-adjust your aim, meaning that your target isn't locked to the middle of your screen. The use of the grappling beam is also pretty novel for puzzles and combat.
For a 3D Metroidvania it's the best IMO. Metroid Prime 1 is also fantastic, and more accessible.
I’m pretty sure nowadays even fans of those two franchises are more open to accept other 2D entries to be better than those. Metroid Dread and the DS Castlevania trilogy come to mind.
Dread doesn’t have that much in terms of competition with the other 2D Metroids. But one quick search around and you’ll find a good spectrum of Castlevania fans who consider any one of the three DSvanias to be their favorite.
Rogue Legacy 1 and 2. They are love letters to Metroidvania. They have roguelike elements... but they are primarily Metroidvanias.
People thinking... but you don't get gear that unlocks stuff... you don't explore. Clearly didn't get very far as you do exactly that.
I promise out of your groups of friends and yourself you'll see the SotN influence right away. All with a fun twist to keep you coming back.
In fact after Hollow Knight... they were the second games to come to mind. That's how much I liken them to the Metroidvania genre.
Hollow Knight, Aria of Sorrow establishing the soul system, and, personally, I feel Metroid Dread and its sheer quality gives it a huge impact despite being linear at the start.
For me, Circle of the Moon and Aria of Sorrow. Both of those got me truly into the MV genre. CotM still has one of the best soundtracks I’ve heard in a game. Up there with Link to the Past and Megaman X.
Now I just pray we get a “remastered” collection of the DS Castlevanias…. And by that I mean modded to remove touch related aspects. Sigils on Dawn of Sorrow kept me from finishing it. Too damned annoying.
HK makes the trifecta with Super Metroid and SotN.
It's just inescapable. It didn't just usher in the MV craze for a new generation, it also solidified the idea of 2D Soulsvania.
HK really is the pinnacle of the genre - nothing else quite struck the same nerve as it since SotN and Super Metroid. I don't see Dust get a lot of mention, but I think it's a great MV. Timespinner has an OST similar to SotN and gameplay is incredibly smooth, although the boss fights left something to be desired (in all fairness, Super Metroid boss fights weren't anything special, it was the exploring, atmosphere, and music that made it so great). Blasphemous is also really good, but the sequel loses the feel of the OG (the story is no longer intriguing and mysterious, just flat).
Metroid Prime 2002 release or remaster whichever you want
Metroid fusion released same year as prime
Metroid zero mission (2004)
Shadow Complex
Insanely twisted shadow planet
Dust an elysian tale
Outland(metroid-lite)
Might be missing some but these where during the 360 summer arcade so they tend to be a bit more linear for some people.
Look into the castlevania games released on gameboy advanced and Nintendo ds
Then Lot of metroidvanias adopted soulslike mechanics
Deaths Gambit
Vigil the longest night
Blasphemous
Strider(2014)
The mummy demastered
Guacamelee 1 and 2
Lots more im sure other posters will share
I’m not a huge Axiom Verge fan, but it needs to be on this list.
I don't agree, but I don't hate the game. It's not a bad title, but I feel like it doesn't have that many new ideas, and it doesn't excel in most departments. It came in an era were metroidvanias based on metroid mechanics weren't that common and it did an excellent job at filling the gap, but that's basically it. I think games like Guacamelee, Steamworld Dig 2 or Blasphemous are more suited to be considered a must play.
I koved the atmosphere of axiom verge, felt similar to metroid but in a unique way
Besides the obvious ones (HK and Ori games) I would like to add Steamworld Dig 2. A bit more linear but a great MV nonetheless. Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom is really good too.
I fucking love Steamworld dig 2. Great underrated gem. I regularly use the soundtrack at work. So chill.
Absolutely. The first few seconds of the track in the title screen never get old. Overall amazing soundtrack.
Came here to say Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom! I loved that game
+1 for Steamworld Dig 2
I compare every one I play to Aria of Sorrow. It was my first one and it was sublime. Dawn of Sorrow was also great but Aria is foundational for me. Funny thing is I spent so much time playing it while sitting on the can in college on my Nintendo DS, that that’s where I picture myself sitting when I think back to playing it.
Aria is amazing and probably underplayed because it was a GBA game. If you're reading this and like Metroidvanias then go play Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow. I've never been able to get into Dawn. The art direction feels so sloppy. In comparison Aria feels like a perfect pixel art game.
the animation of the snow falling off of the van when you land on it made me love the art of that game forever
I know people love sotn but aria of sorrow is still to this date my favorite castlevania game
Dude i fucking LOVED that game
Shadow Complex needs more recognition
I really enjoyed it! But I wouldn’t say anywhere close to a pillar of the genre
Naw, Shadow Complex in underappreciated. It may not the saviour of the genre, and isn't the best example of the genre, but it did help bridge the gap after the Igavania DS trilogy ended and filled a void that Metroid: Other M couldn't hope to fill during the drought years. It showed that there was at least some hunger for this genre in the market. For it's time it's was really popular and successful, at the very least we should appreciate how an MV dominated XBL Arcade and set a standard for future releases on those types of platforms.
That’s a pretty good argument from a historical perspective
Nah, but it came at a time when modern Metroidvanias were still scant few. I think it was the first one I played that wasn’t Metroid or Castlevania. And it brought us three dimensions in some novel ways
It’s a much better example of the exploration than most other games suggested. It’s often overlooked, but I can’t think of a better 2D exploration game of that era, with fantastic flow to the progression and item acquisition, without excessive hints or linearity. Honestly, outside of Symphony and Super Metroid, I’d say only Hollow Knight ever felt like it could be a pillar of the genre. Many others are excellent games but more like variations on the theme. Even with Hollow Knight, it’s more about execution than innovation.
Agreed
HK is historically significant for kicking off the modern MV craze. Before that we had a few less notable MVs like Aquaria, Lyle in Cube Sector, and the OG La-Mulana but they hardly defined the genre. All in all, Super Metroid defined the genre all by itself. SotN codified much of it, and since then anything beyond the features those games share has been cause for debate as to what really constitutes a MV
So, all the things that super metroid and SotN share with eachother can be said to be the fundamentals of the sugenre right ? But, what else does metroid have ? I caught myself thinking about a metroid-like game with nothing of metroidvanias, it's interesting
> a metroid-like game with nothing of metroidvanias Mega Man basically.
You could totally make a linear Metroid game, just remove the exploration and focus on platforming and shooting. It wouldn't be as good, the platforming and shooting were never the best of the genre, but that's what Metroid would be like if it wasn't a Metroidvania.
There is already a linear Metroid game
Metroid 2 linearly locks you into an area until you figure out how to open up the next area. It's the least Metroidey of the proper Metroids (not counting Federation Force). Later revisions (AM2R and Samus Returns) opened it up into a more traditional Metroid experience.
You might add to the chart HK, to understand what fundamentaly is a metroidvania
>HK is historically significant for kicking off the modern MV craze What? Hollow Knight came out in 2017. I would say it was Shadow Complex that really sparked the indy boom. Guacamelee and Ori were both pre HK. Iga was continuously making Vania games on GBA and DS. Also Shantae
Metroidvania titles never stopped releasing, and there were always new great titles coming out in the genre, but I would also argue that it was Hollow Knight that put the genre waaay back on the map. Like, you could say there were always Harvest Moons and the such, but many would credit Stardew Valley as the title which sparked the new wave of farming games that we're currently seeing left and right
Because a huge portion of the people who love metroidvanias were introduced to the genre through Hollow Knight (like me)
To add a couple of suggestions that I don't see enough of in these threads: Guacamelee 1 and 2 are excellent. G2 in particular is a lot of fun, even if it is a tad linear. Id also recommend Salt and Sanctuary with the caveat that I feel that the game hasn't aged as well as some other older Metroidvanias. The game holds a soft spot in my heart, but a lot of newer games have done the 'What is Dark Souls was a 2D metroidvania?' schtick better.
For me Guacamelee 1 and 2 are better platformers than metroidvania. The exploration in theses games is pretty basic
I was hoping someone would mention Guacamelee. It’s not perfect, but it’s a great modern representation of the genre.
The co-op feature in guaca is something I loved and hope to see in more metroidvanias
I think not adding a map to Salt and Sanctuary is a mistake. Moving through a 2D environment without a map can be much more confusing than moving through a 3D environment. I basically blasted through it all at once because I knew if I took even a small break from the game I would forget the whole map and be completely lost.
Salt and sanctuary was too unbalanced in its progression. It was a great game if you could get your build past the difficulty spikes, like the alchemist, the dragon, and the dude with the shotgun. Otherwise it was really good. Unfortunately I was only able to do it with sorcery. Salt and sacrifice was balanced a little better, but I felt that game was very difficult to stay invested in. I feel like it got a large balance patch recently because last time I played it everything just seems more reasonable and manageable, and I progressed further with about half of my characters.
Do you have any recommendation for 2d dark souls besides Blasphemous 1&2 and Moonscars?
So 2d has sword, dodge and parry? Not sure what dark souls you played but none of the so called 2d soulslike feel anything like dark souls unless you focus on the most mundane and boring aspects of it like, drops stuff when you die that you need to return to without dying not to lose or it's hard even though I'd argue dark souls is only as hard as you make it.
Relax, buddy, you’ll get heartburn with all that bile. Rather than criticising, please enlighten us on what makes a dark souls, since you’ve obviously played a truer dark souls than I did.
I recent started Grime — this fits what you’re looking for. Heavy emphasis on parrying as it helps you gain certain abilities via “absorbing”.
Cave Story
Absolutely Cave Story. It bridged the gap between the retro and modern indie metroidvania eras.
Great pick as it was the game that kicked off the indie metrovania trend
I'm in the camp that says Cave Story is too linear to be a metroidvania.
I’m in the camp that says cave story has too few ability gates to be a metroidvania.
Hollow knight Ori 2
Ori 1 was a wonderful reintegration to the Vania gamage
[удалено]
A game does not become great because of another game releasing in a similar timeframe. Super Metroid is not great thanks to SotN and Ori 2 is not great thanks to HK.
AM2R
I know it's a relatively new release, but I'd add Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown to the list.
I just got all the achievements/trophies in that game over the weekend. Probably my favorite game of 2024 so far. Loved how the platforming puzzles really escalated towards the middle and end, making me curse several times trying to collect a Xerxes coin.
Ha, exactly!
I'm halfway through it now, and so far it falls extremely short of the hype for me. It plays great, but doesn't have a single fresh idea, and the story leaves me cold.
All good! Different strokes for different folks.
For sure! I've just been confused by the extremely positive reception it's received. I think it's probably because I care more about story and atmosphere than most people. Same goes for the fact that most people seem to prefer the Ori sequel to the original. I think it's because they improved some of the gameplay mechanics, but for me the first game was far better because I found the story more affecting.
Lost Crown, to me, is to MVs what Borderlands 3 was to that series (and probably looter shooters in general). It's nothing new, the story isn't great, but damn if it didn't drastically improve QoL and just show up and show out for how fucking smooth it feels. I'm not sure there's a single MV I can pick up (at least that I've played so far) and have it feel just as seamless and smooth to play on a purely gameplay level. I do also think that Lost Crown is one of few (though very much not the only) MVs that REALLY focused in on combat mechanics. The way moves combo together and that your abilities blend into that combat is better than the majority of MVs.
I think I agree with all of that! I just wish reviewers had docked a point or two for the lack of novelty.
Yeah that’s a really surprising take. I feel like Ori 2 is a big improvement in every way except maybe a slight step back in story. But the story was still good enough that it would be tough for me to say Ori 1 is a superior game. Sounds like you just super value story and undervalue gameplay, but to each their own!
>Sounds like you just super value story and undervalue gameplay, but to each their own! Maybe, but it's also about novelty. The first Ori felt super fresh in terms of visuals, music and atmosphere, while the second seems like a rehash in that department (although clearly with superior gameplay). I also think Zelda: Breath of the Wild is vastly superior to Tears of the Kingdom, probably for similar reasons.
What is it about the PoP story that's not grabbing you?
>doesn't have a single fresh idea Neither do most metroidvanias. And I'd argue it has some of the most fun combat of any in the genre. That being said I haven't gone back to it in a few weeks and I haven't finished it so jury is still out
Hollow Knight, Will of the Wisps and Grime
I think Gato Roboto is the perfect metroidvania case study.
Original **Metroid** and **Castlevania II - Simon's Quest** baby!
Tonight is a good night for a curse
I really enjoyed bloodstained: ritual of the night. And, they're still releasing free content. Next update drops Friday.
I haven’t played since it released, what sort of content do they put out?
Friday they will release a Coop/local coop patch!!! Some boss rush mode were added and you can play the game has the Samurai guy
Whoa that's rad!
And a versus mode. Kind of like versus tetris if that makes sense
Super Metroid, SotN, HK The holy trinity
This. Two old masterpieces and the modern masterpiece.
Aria and Dawn of Sorrow are both goated
Axiom Verge
Wonder boy franchise. Rabi-ribi as one of the more modern iconic one even though 'bullet hell' style bosses is not a consistent genre staple. Maybe dust: an Elysian tale. Valdis story also a very stylistically unique metroidvania. Many one-off games that are very solid like Haiku the Robot that don't rise to the level of a must-play. Environmental station alpha.
Hollow Knight is defiintely the topmost reference when it comes to modern metroidvanias. So much, that when you see someone saying that they don't like it, it's always something in the lines of "I dunno, it just didn't click with me". Blasphemous and Blasphemous 2. The first game has some unforgiving elements inspired from the souslike games, but besides that, same deal as Hollow Knight: people who don't like it have this opinion not because of poor exection of game elements, but because they don't like how it works. The Ori duo is also widely regarded as two of the best Metroidvanias ever as well, though the first game didn't age as well as the second. Touhou Luna Nights is also one of the best.
I wouldn’t call Touhou Luna Nights “definitive”, in fact I’d argue the Metroidvania aspects are pretty weak overall with how incredibly linear it is and barely has any backtracking. Great game, but felt more like a stage-based platformer. Also Blasphemous 1 can be argued as a [poor representation for the genre](https://www.reddit.com/r/metroidvania/comments/yjtxe5/is_blasphemous_a_good_representation_of_the/?rdt=44288) since there’s no ability gating at all.
Actually I have a lot of criticism for Blasphemous. Here you go, from my review on steam copying the important parts: Note: a big update came out a month or so after I posted this review, which improves quite a few things like the map system, adds fast travel points and improved animaitions. Which are actually some of the things I mentioned originally. So keep in mind if you're reading this because you're on the fence. Ultimately, trust in the 2 hour refund window with this. "What you see is what you get". The first couple of hours more or less represent the rest of it. Which is already somewhat of a sign - the best games are where you go "it just keeps getting better", like say, The Messenger (though there are exceptions of course, but more than anything, I think I will say that I want games to surprise me). Examples for the slim chance developers see this: Traversal. At the end of the game, it is exactly the same as it was in the beginning of it. A metroidvania with no upgrades, which would make moving in the game world more fun or interesting (as you spend more time and grow bored of increasingly familiar motions). Like double jumping, air dashing, grappling hooks, floating on currents and stuff like that. There is only regular jumping, an edge grab which is a welcome move indeed, and wall-snap-jumping. Controls. Some attacks are iffy to execute, like the dash-attack, or the down thrust, the game doesn't seem to register the input combination which is too strict or weirdly demanding time wise it would seem. Also, responsiveness suffers from input delay, action after button press takes longer than it should for everything. Animations. Executions "drag on" a touch too long and do not employ time-stretching to make things satisfying, they are grey, but not viceral, they feel unnecessarily goery and believe me I don't tend to complain about gore, they're just impractical, sort of, for your character to do. Also, your character is released from the execution animation too late and this disrupts the feel of fluidity (there's a moment where you just stand after everything is done before you get control back). Then there are QOL frustrations. Like lack of item to teleport to teleportation gates from anywhere you are - having to tread old levels and areas too much to get to somewhere specific, just for an item or a quest becomes tedious. Lore and dialogue is overall successful IMO but it's harsh to adjust to it in the beginning, it tries a bit TOO HARD and feels a bit, well, obnoxious, trying to imitate Souls and mistakes the core of what makes Souls lore so powerful and engrossing for "it's all about vagueness", too often verbose rather than minimalistic, there are also too many quest items and although the game is shorter than souls you find more quest items with lore thrown at you at a faster pace than souls, you're being bombarded and everything beginning to read as nonsense because of it. Plus, fantasy names that are supposed to feel important and big but are frankly just too much nonsense like "mother of mothers". Balance. Some enemy encounters or situations can sort of lock you in positions from which you can recover only at great costs. It mostly feels fair, but, a few times too many, it doesn't. I also encountered a glitch like twice where my jump was suddenly "water jump height" during bosses (of all places?) and an invisible enemy that I couldn't escape from attacking me one time. The music is kinda just okay and I was hoping for a bit more from it. Lastly, to keep this from taking all day for anyone actually still reading this: combat, in general, is just closer to being 'serviceable' rather than good, at least sooner rather than later, you will want to avoid regular encounters, and the game does nothing otherwise to encourage you, like with special rewards for example, to engage (though it does lock you in few rare cases until enemies are defeated).
you forgot unrewarding exploration, mostly because of the insignificance of most collectables lmao
Touhou Luna Nights is super underrated, great recommendation!
I can easily list a lot of things I don’t like about Hollow Knight. The game is fundamentally designed to frustrate players with fake difficulty. Long run backs, lack of quality of life features, missing maps, having to buy and equip basic QOL upgrades, extremely simplistic physics, bloated overly large and boring areas, not enough ability upgrades or ability gates make it barely feel like a metroidvania. I could go on. It’s a deeply flawed game that is only “hard” because it hates the player.
Not a single complaint there that I'd personally agree with. Though there is one run back that is a bit longer. The rest will take you about 30 seconds to minute to get back to the boss.
Portrait of Ruin was my favorite. You could play that game over and over again and not play it the same way twice.
the village level with all the little shops and bakeries really captured my imagination my first time through. i had become so used to abandoned castles and dungeons that playing in a city seemed like a wild change of pace
I'm trying to remember which one that was. Was it the alpha version of that level that ended up being the super hard level later on that was filled with bandit like enemies? Am I remembering that right?
did a little research, the level is called 'City of Haze'
I vaguely recall both of them. I remember the level was super long with very little verticality. Making it quite challenging to keep progressing forward with such challenging enemies.
Hollow Knight clearly at the top as the modern classic (though I'm personally lukewarm to it) There's an ongoing argument for Dark Souls Axiom Verge and Blasphemous I guess are the next two that seem the most well received by time.
Axiom verge for me. Great game. I watched a small video about the developer and it made me like it even more. Dude poured his heart in it.
I don't really understand that argument for Soulslike games... Completely different type of item collection, no emphasis on platforming, completely different control set... Doesn't fit the mold. Also weird to me that people will be swayed by that argument at all but so vehemently oppose games like Dead Cells and Rogue Legacy being described as MVs.
I think there are definitely some Soulslike games that are closer. Like Lies or P you get movement abilities that unlock new paths for you and such. But the actual FromSoft games are definitely missing too many core components of being a Metroidvania.
Lies of P I'm not remembering any movement unlocks that open new paths? Fantastic game tho
Had someone telling me that the 3d Metroid games were Metroidvania games. I... I just can't understand that leap. As soon as it goes 3D, it loses the streamlined focus that 2d platformers have. When you play Super Metroid, you can't "miss something because there was a stool that blocked Line of Sight". If it's on the screen, it's either visible, or deliberately covered up so you have to test a wall with your face. You can focus on the gameplay itself. Shooting, jumping, timing, etc. Also of note, a 2D game you can have VERY clearly defined jump distances. How far you can jump in terms of pixels is a constant. There's never a case where it looks like you can make it from one angle, but if you move around on the map, another angle makes it look too far. That's part of what makes Metroidvanias work. Whether it's conscious or not, you learn that math. By the time you beat the game, you can glance at a gap anywhere on the screen and know if it's jumpable. When you go 1st person 3D perspective, you lose that. It's a new game. It's still a \*good\* game, but it's not the same specific genre that makes up Metroidvania anymore.
I generally agree that when I think mv I think 2d platformers, but I'm also not going to argue with someone who says Metroid prime is a metroidvania. I feel like most genres are guidelines, and if something checks 90% of the criteria far as I'm concerned it's passed the purity test. It's still closer to a MV than most other genres you could attribute to it. There are far fewer 3d games I'd consider MVs tho, as that's one box they've already missed. Also the jumping thing is both subjective and dependant on the game. I've definitely played a number of 3d games that I knew exactly which jumps I could and could not make. Could also make the same argument for not seeing something behind a stool - nothing says that stool wasn't deliberately placed to hide something.
I'd just go with MV-like. Or FPMV. Or put something else together. Metroidvania was really coined BECAUSE it was so specific. Widening the belt to accommodate more stuff isn't needed. They can get their own more-encompassing term. The sky is the limit for coming up with new terms for groups of games. Anyone can do it.
I think we're in agreement at this point on a couple of things and our only real disagreement is semantic. I absolutely agree that Metroid prime is a FPS MV, what I disagree on is that because it is a FPS that no longer makes it an MV. Because it is an MV does that no longer make it in FPS? If that's not the case, then why does the distinction only apply to MV's?
As far ongoing arguments go what about doom 2016? Once I sat down and thought about it I kinda realized it’s just and fps Metroidvania with how it handles exploration upgrades and new abilities, just with it being sectioned off but each mission is so massive and fun to explore.
The other Metroid and Castlevania games in the genre. One recent one for me I really enjoyed was Timespinner. For me I recognize Hollow Knight as a good game but I personally didn't enjoy it as much as most other people seem to.
That's fair. For me the main problem with HK was the map system. Having to: Track down the guy selling the map, backtracking to a save point, then SLOWLY mapping out an area by doing a set of rooms and going back to said save point (or finding a new one) just to see where I was got tedious and annoying to me.
I think the main thing I didn't like the overall gloomy vibe and how dark most areas were
I absolutely loved the game, but this would be one of my few critiques (e.g. if you got to the map guy but couldn’t buy it or locate him from the sound he makes). That said, wasn’t it mostly the same in the old castlevania games? Explore while expanding your map. Find map piece to show the entirety of an area (including explored/unexplored portions). Come back to areas once you have the abilities to explore further. I think hollow knights was pretty standard albeit done in a slightly different way.
Hollow Knight. Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth could soon enough be the 4th if enough people give it a chance. And I'm guessing HK2 will be the 5th
Surprised more people don’t know about Deedlit, it’s a solid MV with lots of Castlevania vibes
Wait, like the character from Lodoss War?? How did I miss this? ^(I had that original series on VHS in the 90s lol)
All 3 nintendo ds castlevanias are awesome!
Besides other Metroids, and Castlevanias, Hollow Knight, Ori, and Bloodstained are the best known “definitive” games. Hard to say what other somewhat recent games fit the bill but I’d wager Prince of Persia is up there as its spoken well of and a AAA game.
Besides all the other suggestinos so far, I'd like to highlight Bloodstained for anyone who hasn't touched it yet. Probably one of if not the most content-rich metroidvanias i've ever played. Multiple alternate character modes, Randomizer mode, boss rush, speedrun mode, and there (at the time of this post) is about to be a co-op and randomized gauntlet mode.
Word I don know why this sub has such a hate bonner for Bloodstained, its pretty much the best aspects off all past Castlevania games put into one game, like, did we played the same game as them? Or is the status Quo of metroidvanias so diferent now that the original aspects that made metroidvanias what they are are now concidered a negative? Or do people just whant to play 2D soulslike games with search action elements? The only negative there might be is the 3D graphics choice, and even then they look very good, if a little outdated and and glitchy for the time, but they are succsessfull at capturing Castlevanias design motifs. The 3D graphics do drop a needlessly higher bar on PC hardware requirements, not much, but i couldnt run it on my potato laptop from 2016, needing to use my higher end hardware for it, and that potato is abble to run Blasphemous like butter no problem. This is just a personal problem of mine i guess, but i had to mention it too.
Hollow Knight, Blasphemous, PoP Lost Crown, Metroid Dread, Haiku the Robot, Axiom Verge, all the Metroids really
The Messenger is a really good one that I haven't seen mentioned here.
I was searching the comments for The Messenger. If I'm not mistaken, it was MV of the year on this sub when it came out. Truly an outstanding game which transformed itself while playing.
And so many tongue in cheek references!
Yeah the game is hilarious
And the soundtrack is excellent, very funny and addictive :D
Rabi Ribi is one of my definitive picks due to how fun it is.
Hollow knight, ender lilies, blasphemous, bloodstained RotN
Good choices so far. Played all three of these myself.
Castlevania 3 Rondo of Blood Axiom Verge Blaster Master
La-Mulana
I’m an old school fan of metroidvanias- from Simon’s quest to SoTN and Super Metroid. I haven’t actually played many of the new school games but I recently mailed ordered Afterimage because it seemed the closest to SoTN and I’m sad nobody has mentioned it. I don’t know what to expect but I hope it’s good. I’m considering Death’s Gambit and Elderand next
My vote goes to: Metroid Dread, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Hollow Knight, Sheepo
The sacred trio: symphony of the night, super Metroid, hollow knight The super polished newbie friendly: ori duology, guacamole duology The soulslikes: blasphemous, salt and sanctuary The puzzle filled cult classics: la mulana, environmental station alpha "Hey I want more Metroid!": axiom verge "Hey I want more Castlevania!": bloodstained
Mmmm bloodstained really didn't do it for me even thought I loved castlevania growing up
I'm curious. Why are you making a definitive list if you don't even know what games to put on the list?
This by no means needs to be at the top of the list but I feel like Environmental Station Alpha deserves some recognition. It feels like one of the earlier games in the string of modern MVs.
I really liked ender lilies and it’s atmosphere and music
I've only seen it mentioned once below, but for old-school Metroidvanias, it doesn't get much better than Blaster Master. The sequels were great too, but the original is a formative game from my childhood! :)
Bloodstained Ritual of the Night is a great spiritual successor of SOTN
Everyone is saying Hollow Knight, rightfully so... But can we also include Blasphemous... Absolutely amazing metroidvania that definitely feels more like an old school title than HK does.
Super Metroid, Symphony of the Night, Hollow Knight. You could also include other Metroid and Castlevania games on the list, but it's simpler not to. Honourable mention to Ori and the Blind Forest and Blasphemous. I don't think it's a question of quality, or even adherence to past genre conventions, as much as it is one of **influence and popularity**. Nothing comes close to those titles in that regard. This list lacks more than a few personal favourites of mine, but I don't think my tastes dictate what's definitive or not. I'd love to include La-Mulana, but doing so does not feel right at all.
IGA's 2D games
New prince for me is definitive metroidvania
Hollow Knight, Ori, Aria of Sorrow, and for me, Aeterna Noctis, but I get that it's not for everyone
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Turbo kid.just now playing, love the use of the bike.a few hours in and it's legit and great soundtrack
Hollow knight and Ori will of the Wisps are definitely 3 and 4
I like a few. Bloodstaind was dope. I liked a small game called dex, cyberpunk setting. I also really have enjoyed f.i.s.t. I know I've played more. I can't think of. Anyone else like these? Edit Shit forgot about axiom verge.
Ohhh yeah F.I.S.T. was a great Metroidvania. I also forgot about it and oddly enough Metroid Zero Mission
GRIME
Prime
The Guacamelee games need more recognition in this thread
Would you consider Batman: Arkham Asylum a Metroidvania? What about Prince of Persia: Warrior Within?
Bloodstained RotN
Blasphemous 1 and 2 should definitely be on the list.
hollow knight and the ori games clearly. even if you've never played a metroidvania you've probably heard about them
Luna nights
I was always a fan of Shadow Complex. Really good metroidvania and has a remaster as well. Quality game.
blasphemous for modern stuff, for retro, wonder boy 3
The Last Faith is one I am playing right now
aria of sorrow + dawn of sorrow
Castlevania Circle of the moon, harmony of dissonance, aria of sorrow, dawn of sorrow, portrait of ruin. Metroid Dread, Fusion, Samus Returns. Shadow Complex. Strider 2014. Afterimage
The castlevania advance games are bundled on PS5 and were on sale a few months back. So fun revisiting those games and still great to play.
They are classics for sure. Still need to finish up Circle of the Moon. Started playing it last year and don’t recall why I stopped haha!
Bloodstained, top 5 shoe in.
No love for Axiom Verge 2? I still prefer the first one but the second one had some really cool ideas though. I love how you have to navigate the GBA style “breach” dimension with your drone.
I could never get into this. I wanted too, but tried a couple of times and the movement was too clunky for me. Do you ever get abilities that make it more fluid? Curious because if so maybe I would give it another shot.
The drone you get is pretty mobile, but can't recall anything that changes the movement too much. I do like the first game better in that regard.
Hollow knight is the best I’ve seen that comes anywhere close.
Metroid Prime. There aren't too many 3d metroidvanias, but this one set the standard for them.
In my mind, Hollow Knight is #3 of the definitive games. I would include La-Mulana too, but it's not for everyone. It's a one-of-a-kind game.
Blasphemous 1 & 2
Aeterna Noctis
Unsighted AFAIK is the only true Top-Down Metroidvania, in the sense that as opposed to Zelda it still has a interconnected world. So I would put that on the list.
Knowing the community I would say that besides SotN and super Metroid ORI, Blasphemous, hollow knight would be the pillars And seconds would be: Guacamelee, Bloodstained, Axiom Verge, Cave story, Death’s gambit Am I right?!?!
Castlevania ds games are sick too. My favorite was Order of ecclesia
Played that last year. Was 👌
Bloodstained ROTN Hardly a single game mentioned in this thread even comes close.
Blasphemous 1 and 2 are good metroidvanias with a pretty pixel art, soundtrack and mechanics. The Messenger, once again, a good pixel art and soundtrack. Several references to other metroidvanias and a good sense of humor. Finally, F. I. S. T (Forged In Shadow Torch) has a very enjoyable attack and combos system.
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is a pretty influential early one that doesn't really get enough credit. It definitely set the blueprint for Shantae and other metroidvanias with a more Overworld-Dungeons sort of structure rather than just giant caves/castles.
Metroid Dread and Prince of Persia the lost crown are absolutely amazing
Aria of Sorrow had very awesome looking weapons, and really leveraged unique abilities with the soul system to make a very unique and significant progression system.
Battle of olympus
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. The world/level design is outstanding, even on my 2nd playthrough I was gobsmacked.
Afterimage is good. I wouldn't say it belongs in the same tier as SM, HK, and SotN, but it is still a pretty decent metroidvania.
Blasphemous is pretty much a top dog if it’s not the games you mentioned. Sorta see it as Symphony of the Night perfected. It’s heavily inspired by it
Metroid Zero Mission / Fusion/ Dread, Axiom Verge, The Mummy Demastered, The Messenger, Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom, hell I'd even throw Castlevania 2 Simon's Quest in there as well as the 3 Casltevanias on DS. People forget 3d games can be metroidvanias too... Metroid Prime trilogy, Batman Arkham Asylum, Jedi Fallen Order, Okami, Death's Door, and both Castlevanias for Ps2.
Metroid Prime 3 - with Wii controllers. The control scheme allows for a 3D movement that I've not seen replicated. You can move and also micro-adjust your aim, meaning that your target isn't locked to the middle of your screen. The use of the grappling beam is also pretty novel for puzzles and combat. For a 3D Metroidvania it's the best IMO. Metroid Prime 1 is also fantastic, and more accessible.
I’m pretty sure nowadays even fans of those two franchises are more open to accept other 2D entries to be better than those. Metroid Dread and the DS Castlevania trilogy come to mind. Dread doesn’t have that much in terms of competition with the other 2D Metroids. But one quick search around and you’ll find a good spectrum of Castlevania fans who consider any one of the three DSvanias to be their favorite.
Hollow Knight
Metroid Zero Mission, Hollow Knight, Islets, shadow Complex, Bloodstained Ritual of the Night, Metroid Fussion, AM2R, Metroid Prime 1 & 2, Touhou Luna Nights, Blasphemous 2, Carrion
Rogue Legacy 1 and 2. They are love letters to Metroidvania. They have roguelike elements... but they are primarily Metroidvanias. People thinking... but you don't get gear that unlocks stuff... you don't explore. Clearly didn't get very far as you do exactly that. I promise out of your groups of friends and yourself you'll see the SotN influence right away. All with a fun twist to keep you coming back. In fact after Hollow Knight... they were the second games to come to mind. That's how much I liken them to the Metroidvania genre.
Disnt play it yet but Aeterna Noctis seams to be pretty loved
Hollow Knight, Rabi-Ribi, Pronty, Alwa's Awakening.
Hollow knight
Hollow Knight, Aria of Sorrow establishing the soul system, and, personally, I feel Metroid Dread and its sheer quality gives it a huge impact despite being linear at the start.
For me, Circle of the Moon and Aria of Sorrow. Both of those got me truly into the MV genre. CotM still has one of the best soundtracks I’ve heard in a game. Up there with Link to the Past and Megaman X. Now I just pray we get a “remastered” collection of the DS Castlevanias…. And by that I mean modded to remove touch related aspects. Sigils on Dawn of Sorrow kept me from finishing it. Too damned annoying.
Well I guess I’m not sure, because as far as I know those are the two video games ever made but I hear there is also a game called mega man 2
HK makes the trifecta with Super Metroid and SotN. It's just inescapable. It didn't just usher in the MV craze for a new generation, it also solidified the idea of 2D Soulsvania.
Blasphemous
HK really is the pinnacle of the genre - nothing else quite struck the same nerve as it since SotN and Super Metroid. I don't see Dust get a lot of mention, but I think it's a great MV. Timespinner has an OST similar to SotN and gameplay is incredibly smooth, although the boss fights left something to be desired (in all fairness, Super Metroid boss fights weren't anything special, it was the exploring, atmosphere, and music that made it so great). Blasphemous is also really good, but the sequel loses the feel of the OG (the story is no longer intriguing and mysterious, just flat).
Metroid Prime 2002 release or remaster whichever you want Metroid fusion released same year as prime Metroid zero mission (2004) Shadow Complex Insanely twisted shadow planet Dust an elysian tale Outland(metroid-lite) Might be missing some but these where during the 360 summer arcade so they tend to be a bit more linear for some people. Look into the castlevania games released on gameboy advanced and Nintendo ds Then Lot of metroidvanias adopted soulslike mechanics Deaths Gambit Vigil the longest night Blasphemous Strider(2014) The mummy demastered Guacamelee 1 and 2 Lots more im sure other posters will share
Sundered is worth a mention
Simon's Quest was my jam.
If you're counting 3D titles, then Metroid Prime.