Gaming The Metroidvania Thread

esmufc07

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I love a Metroidvania game, and need some recommendations for a new one.

Recently played;

Metroid Zero Mission
Metroid Fusion
Super Metroid
Ori and the Blind Forest
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Dead Cells
Ender Lillies
Grime
Prince of Persia

Hit me with your best recommendations.
 
Nine Sols just released for ps5 and is a Sekiro inspired Metroidvania that's gotten a lot of praise. I just got it on Gamepass PC and it seems cool so far.
 
Trine. I only ever played the first one though, which I really enjoyed.
 
esmufc07 said:
I love a Metroidvania game, and need some recommendations for a new one.

Recently played;

Metroid Zero Mission
Metroid Fusion
Super Metroid
Ori and the Blind Forest
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Dead Cells
Ender Lillies
Grime
Prince of Persia

Hit me with your best recommendations.
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Blasphemous 1 & 2
Ender Lillies
The Last Faith
Momodoria: moonlit farewell
Minoria
Nine Sols
Record of Lodoss War - Deedlit in wonder labyrinth
Souldiers
The Tarnishing of Juxtia
Timespinner
Ghost song
Vigil: The longest night
The Knight witch
Hollow Knight
Gestalt: steam & cinder
Death's Gambit: afterlife
Guacamelee
The Messenger
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Axiom Verge
Astlibra
Afterimage
Chasm
Aeterna Noctis
3000th Duel


Out of these I'd argue Hollow knight is #1 by far, with Astlibra coming after, but not being a traditional metroidvania at all.
Afterimage is an exceptional game, but on the larger side.
Bloodstained is great for the igavania style of gameplay.
Ghost Song & Axiom Verge leaning more into metroidsouls & metroid respectively.
Nine sols if you enjoy Sekiro.
Gestalt: Steam & Cinder is fairly new and good.
Aeterna Noctis is beautiful and fairly decent, but is a bit overhyped by those who love it.
The Last Faith is great if you enjoy bloodborne and metroidvanias.
Death's Gambit was genuinely fun. Weapons genuinely felt different.
Think I got through the knight witch in around 13-14 hours, and enjoyed it a fair bit. Do check out the movement in the game before buying, it's not like most.
The Messenger opens up midway through and turns into a metroidvania.


There are so many out there, but you shuld try to find the mixes into the genre that you enjoy. Personally, I am a fan of vania & souls focus, and normally stay clear of metroid-focused games.
 
Salt and Sanctuary is a great one with a heavy focus on combat, definitely worth checking out.
 
I really didn’t like Grime. I don’t know if the genre is getting oversaturated but just mixing metroidvania with a dark brooding atmosphere doesn’t make for a good game.
 
Hollow Knight and it's not even close. Great metroidvania and my favourite game of all time.
 
Twins said:
Salt and Sanctuary is a great one with a heavy focus on combat, definitely worth checking out.
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I want to play this but apparently there's no map? Or something like that, which scared me off as I get lost easily.

I enjoyed Blasphemous and recently purchased Axiom Verge so look forward to that.
 
amolbhatia50k said:
I really didn’t like Grime. I don’t know if the genre is getting oversaturated but just mixing metroidvania with a dark brooding atmosphere doesn’t make for a good game.
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Grime took me a few hours to appreciate and get into but once I did thought it was excellent. Great atmosphere and some excellent boss fights.
 
Dirty Schwein said:
I want to play this but apparently there's no map? Or something like that, which scared me off as I get lost easily.

I enjoyed Blasphemous and recently purchased Axiom Verge so look forward to that.
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You can get by without a map, it’s not too bad especially if you compare it to something like Hollow Knight.
 
Dirty Schwein said:
In games and in life. It took me 1 whole year to get around my uni campus. I can't drive without satnav, even to the local shopping mall etc.
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:lol: There's a reality show in there for you! I shouldn't be laughing as I'm the type to lose the car or forget where it's parked unless I really concentrate before decamping. :lol:
 
I've been keeping a ranking of all the 2D metroidvanias I've played so far. Some are more metroidvania-adjacent, but they often get included in these lists as well. In hindsight I've probably changed my mind about some of them, but can't be bothered to switch them around.

Disclaimer: I only played Super Metroid and Symphony of the Night fairly late, after already having played so many other metroidvanias, so they're not as high as they probably should be.

1 Hollow Knight
2 Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom
3 The Messenger
4 Guacamelee
5 Salt and Sanctuary
6 Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
7 Aeterna Noctis
8 Ori and the Will of the Wisps
9 Blasphemous
10 Guacamelee 2
11 Momodora: Reverie under the Moonlight
12 Axiom Verge
13 Shantae and the Pirate's Curse
14 Super Metroid
15 Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
16 Yoku's Island Express
17 Ori and the Blind Forest
18 Steamworld Dig 2
19 Catmaze
20 Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knight
21 Tales of Kenzera: Zau
22 Dust: An Elysian Tail
23 Sundered: Eldritch Edition
24 Chasm
25 Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition
26 Minoria
27 Iconoclasts
28 Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth
29 Narita Boy
30 Dead Cells
31 Owlboy
32 Axiom Verge 2
33 Steamworld Dig
 
Yeah Hollow Knight is a cut above. While I’ve enjoyed metroidvanis over the past decade during this modern resurgence, I also think there’s more consistently good titles rather than many that are genuinely special. I think that’s because a lot of all timers incorporate metroidvania aspects in them but don’t build the game around it. Hollow Knight is the one that stands out as really top class. Then Ori for the spectacle but light gameplay and Messenger for the soundtrack and self aware writing.
 
Ainu said:
I've been keeping a ranking of all the 2D metroidvanias I've played so far. Some are more metroidvania-adjacent, but they often get included in these lists as well. In hindsight I've probably changed my mind about some of them, but can't be bothered to switch them around.

Disclaimer: I only played Super Metroid and Symphony of the Night fairly late, after already having played so many other metroidvanias, so they're not as high as they probably should be.

1 Hollow Knight
2 Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom
3 The Messenger
4 Guacamelee
5 Salt and Sanctuary
6 Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
7 Aeterna Noctis
8 Ori and the Will of the Wisps
9 Blasphemous
10 Guacamelee 2
11 Momodora: Reverie under the Moonlight
12 Axiom Verge
13 Shantae and the Pirate's Curse
14 Super Metroid
15 Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
16 Yoku's Island Express
17 Ori and the Blind Forest
18 Steamworld Dig 2
19 Catmaze
20 Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knight
21 Tales of Kenzera: Zau
22 Dust: An Elysian Tail
23 Sundered: Eldritch Edition
24 Chasm
25 Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition
26 Minoria
27 Iconoclasts
28 Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth
29 Narita Boy
30 Dead Cells
31 Owlboy
32 Axiom Verge 2
33 Steamworld Dig
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I didn’t know Monster Boy was that good! And that Guacamelee 1 was better than 2. I’ve got 2 but thought 1 might not hold up.
 
Ive played most of the ones mentioned. You dont have Bloodstained on your list. Thats a great one, if you have a 3DS you could go for Samus Returns. Also Animal Well is terrific, Strider (2014) has metroidvania elements

Just platinumed Ender Lillies last week. It was feckin great
 
Dirty Schwein said:
@Ainu how did you find Salt & Sanctuary? Also, Axiom Verge...
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not directed towards me but ive played both.

Really good games, Salt & Sanctuary is also a souls game. I started playing it many years ago but only picked it up again this year and 100% it

Axiom Verge a lot of fun with great soundtrack. The sequel is not great at all though
 
Reditus said:
not directed towards me but ive played both.

Really good games, Salt & Sanctuary is also a souls game. I started playing it many years ago but only picked it up again this year and 100% it

Axiom Verge a lot of fun with great soundtrack. The sequel is not great at all though
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Thanks. I have Axiom Verge so will play that soon.

Sal and Sanctuary looks great, I may look into getting that.
 
I love a Metroidvania...Symphony of the Night is one of my favourite games ever.

Hollow Knight is the obvious choice next. I've been playing Afterimage recently and it's been a pleasant surprise as I don't think it got great/many reviews.
 
amolbhatia50k said:
I didn’t know Monster Boy was that good! And that Guacamelee 1 was better than 2. I’ve got 2 but thought 1 might not hold up.
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Monster Boy takes a while to get going, but once you get access to multiple monster forms, it really opens up. It's a bit like an old school Zelda game in 2D metroidvania format. Very imaginative stuff. As for Guacamelee, I think 2 might technically be better than 1, but the impact was lessened because it just more of the same. Not a bad thing though.

Dirty Schwein said:
@Ainu how did you find Salt & Sanctuary? Also, Axiom Verge...
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I loved Salt & Sanctuary. It's probably the closest thing to a 2D Dark Souls out there. Great combat, some cool locations and well designed bosses. Only thing I didn't like is the design of human characters. Axiom Verge is pure Metroid worship, with some really clever abilities and weapons. The soundtrack is god-tier. Don't bother with the sequel though.
 
Ainu said:
I loved Salt & Sanctuary. It's probably the closest thing to a 2D Dark Souls out there. Great combat, some cool locations and well designed bosses. Only thing I didn't like is the design of human characters. Axiom Verge is pure Metroid worship, with some really clever abilities and weapons. The soundtrack is god-tier. Don't bother with the sequel though.
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Thanks I'll add S&S back to my watchlist. I heard there's a part two as well.
 
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