Metroidvania is a genre that was born at the intersection of two game series: Metroid and Castlevania. Both of them in the 1980s and 1990s formed the basic formula - a large non-linear world, where access to new areas is opened only after acquiring key skills or items. Over time, this structure became synonymous with the genre - "Metroidvania".
Despite their classic status, metroidvanias have long been considered niche. They are almost never seen in large AAA projects, instead their ideas are increasingly integrated as separate mechanics into other games. In Control (2019) from Remedy, the world is explored according to the principles of metroidvania, but this is only one of the mechanics. A similar approach can be seen in Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009), which gave players the opportunity to freely explore the closed space of the asylum, or in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (2019), where metroidvania elements are intertwined with soulslike action. Even in God of War Ragnarok (2022) you can find echoes of this genre: the world opens up gradually, and returning to old areas is rewarded with new discoveries.
The real renaissance of metroidvanias came thanks to indie and AA games. Here, the genre became a platform for experiments: small studios created huge worlds full of secrets, new mechanics and bold art styles. It is symbolic that today we received the long-awaited release of Hollow Knight: Silksong - a game that consolidates the status of metroidvanias as one of the main trends of the modern industry outside of AAA.
Shadow Complex
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360/One
Year 2009
In 2009, Epic Games unexpectedly released an experimental metroidvania on the Unreal Engine, and it was a big surprise for players. The game combined modern 2.5D graphics with a classic structure: a large complex to explore, secrets behind the walls and the gradual discovery of new areas. Shadow Complex showed that the genre could be not only a tribute to the past, but also a completely modern adventure that looks fresh and exciting.
The game was well received by critics and audiences, and was one of the reasons why Metroidvanias were once again talked about. In 2015, Shadow Complex Remastered was released for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, with updated graphics and minor improvements, allowing the game to find a new audience. Although a sequel never came, Shadow Complex is often cited as the first signal of the genre's revival in the modern era.
SteamWorld Dig and SteamWorld Dig 2
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4/Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch/Wii U/3DS
Year 2013, 2017
The SteamWorld Dig series combined metroidvania with a "digging" mechanic. In the first installment, the player explored mines, discovering new abilities and gradually expanding their capabilities. It was a simple but addictive experience, and the game became an unexpected hit.
SteamWorld Dig 2 (2017) significantly increased the scale - more zones, more difficult enemies, new mechanics. Together, these two games became the foundation of the entire SteamWorld universe, but it was in the Metroidvanias that the series found its most recognizable style.
Guacamelee! and Guacamelee! 2
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 3/4/Vita, Xbox 360/One, Nintendo Switch/Wii U
Year 2013, 2018
DrinkBox Studios gave the metroidvania a Mexican flavor: humor, folklore images and a wrestling-based combat system. The first part in 2013 surprised players with dynamic battles and a bright world, where platforms were combined with lightning-fast combos. Stylish costumes, humor, constant breaking of the fourth wall and references to pop culture made the game popular among indie fans. The game, along with re-releases, was released, it seems, on all available platforms, where it gathered a bunch of fans.
Guacamelee! 2 (2018) expanded on all aspects: more complex combat, new dimension-switching mechanics, and even more pop culture references. The series became an example of how indie can be simultaneously humorous and technically skilled, and metroidvania can be accessible and entertaining.
Axiom Verge and Axiom Verge 2
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4/5/Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch/Wii U
Year 2015, 2021
Thomas Happ's solo project became a real phenomenon. Axiom Verge (2015) not only recreated the atmosphere of classic Metroid, but also introduced its own ideas: "glitches" of the world that could be used as mechanics, strange biomechanical creatures and an atmosphere of loneliness. It was a game created by one person, but in terms of scale it rivaled projects from large teams.
Axiom Verge 2 (2021) offered a different approach: a new setting, different characters, more exploration, and less emphasis on combat. The series proved that metroidvanias can have their own variations even within the same universe, and fans appreciate their inventiveness and unique atmosphere.
Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Platforms Windows, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Year 2015, 2020
Moon Studios took the genre to a new level, creating one of the most beautiful and emotional Metroidvanias. Ori and the Blind Forest (2015) impressed with its smooth animation, bright locations and sad story of a small forest spirit. It was not just an adventure, but a work of art, where every detail worked on emotions.
The sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps (2020), expanded the world, introduced new movement mechanics, and deepened the combat. The duo of these games showed that the Metroidvania could compete with any AAA project in terms of visual presentation and drama, while remaining a deep game.
Unfortunately, the head of Moon Studios, Thomas Mahler, turned out to be a fan of all things Russian and not a very intelligent person, so keep that in mind when getting to know the studio's games.
Hollow Knight + Hollow Knight: Silksong
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Year 2017, 2025
Hollow Knight became a symbol of the indie renaissance. The vast world of Hallownest with its gloomy atmosphere, mysterious characters and complex battles captivated players. Hundreds of rooms, bosses, secret passages and a story told through details created a unique experience. The game was large-scale even for large studios, but it was made by a small team, Team Cherry.
Hollow Knight: Silksong (2025) is a long-awaited sequel that tells the story of Hornet and expands the lore of the world. This release became so loud that on the day of release, the digital stores Steam, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store and Nintendo eShop could not withstand the load for some time and collapsed under the pressure of players. This is one of the few indie games that managed to generate the level of excitement of large AAA releases. Silksong consolidated the status of Hollow Knight not just as a cult project, but as a phenomenon that shapes a new generation of metroidvania.
Dead Cells
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Year 2018
Another pillar of the indie scene is Dead Cells. The game was also released on many platforms and received a bunch of add-ons. Motion Twin combined metroidvania with roguelike, and the result exceeded all expectations. Dead Cells offered fast-paced combat, hundreds of weapon and skill options, procedural levels, and the constant risk of death, which made each run unique. Thanks to the perfect balance between platforming and hardcore combat, the game immediately stood out among the competition.
Dead Cells was ranked by critics as one of the year's best games, and sales exceeded several million copies. Its success was fueled by constant updates and collaborations with other series: from Hollow Knight and Katana ZERO to Castlevania. The latter was released in 2023 and was a symbolic return to the origins of the genre. The game became a long-time indie scene, proving that metroidvania can develop on the "live" support model inherent in online projects.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Year 2019
Koji Igarashi, the creator of the cult Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, returned to the genre after parting ways with Konami. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night became a true "new Castlevania": gothic castles, dozens of bosses, hundreds of weapons and magic. For fans, it was a long-awaited revival of the genre at a high level.
The game was backed by over 60,000 fans on Kickstarter, making it one of the most successful crowdfunding projects in the genre. Despite technical problems at the start (especially on Switch), the developers gradually brought the game to an excellent state and released many free updates. The sequel Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, announced for 2026, only confirms that the Castlevania legacy still lives on, and fans are eager for new adventures.
Blasphemous + Blasphemous 2
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
Year 2019, 2023
The Game Kitchen from Spain created Blasphemous (2019), and it immediately caught the attention of players with its unique style. It is a dark world inspired by Catholic symbolism, medieval art and religious processions. The atmosphere of guilt, suffering and punishment was combined with brutal combat and challenging platforming.
The sequel Blasphemous II (2023) expanded the plot, gave new weapons and more diverse combat. Together, these games formed a series that stands out from all other metroidvanias thanks to its own recognizable style and bold themes. Images of repentance, religious processions and crucifixions were combined with brutal battles and an atmosphere of suffering. This is a unique cultural image that made the game recognizable even among people far from the genre.
Metroid Dread
Platforms Nintendo Switch
Year 2021
After years of anticipation, Nintendo finally returned to the classic 2.5D format with Metroidvania Metroid Dread. The game retained the spirit of the classic, but at the same time added modern elements: smooth controls, dynamic combat, and new enemies - EMMI robots that chase the player, creating tension. It was confirmation that Metroid remains a living series, even if games in it are released infrequently. Metroid Dread was a kind of answer to Nintendo's Metroidvania renaissance on the indie scene.
Metroid Prime Remastered
Platforms Nintendo Switch
Year 2023
The Switch remaster of the 2002 classic reminded us that Metroidvanias can work beautifully in 3D. Metroid Prime Remastered updated the graphics, controls, and made the game accessible to a new generation. It remained the same in structure - gradually discovering the planet and acquiring new abilities.
But the main thing is the preparation for Metroid Prime 4 Beyond, the quadriquel that fans have been waiting for for over a decade. Its release on Switch and Switch 2 could be the most important event for the series and further proof that Metroid is the original source of the genre.
Animal Well
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
Year 2024
Animal Well became a sensation among indie games in 2024. It is a mysterious minimalist metroidvania created almost entirely by one person, Billy Basso. The game world is filled with secrets, hidden mechanics, and strange creatures.
Unlike most metroidvanias, there are no familiar battles here. The player does not receive weapons or the opportunity to defeat monsters in direct confrontation. Instead, he discovers a set of tools (yo-yo, soap bubbles, disc) that are used to move, solve puzzles and interact with the environment. Dangers have to be bypassed or cheated, and the main reward is the discovery of another secret. This makes Animal Well unique and closer to a mysterious ecological tale than to action.
Nine Sols
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
Year 2024
Taiwanese studio Red Candle Games, known for the games Detention and Devotion, has tried its hand at the metroidvania genre. Nine Sols combines Eastern mythology with science fiction, creating a world where spiritual beliefs are intertwined with technology. The most interesting thing here is the combat system, built on parrying. The player does not just dodge blows, but learns to repel enemy attacks in time to get the opportunity to counterattack. This makes the battles tense and rhythmic. The game stands out with a visual style reminiscent of animation. This is a fresh example of how you can introduce cultural features into the genre, making the game unique.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown + The Rogue Prince of Persia
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
Year 2024
In 2024, Ubisoft unexpectedly revived the cult series in a Metroidvania format. The Lost Crown combined stylish open-world platforming with complex level design and a combat system based on dodging and special attacks. It was a bold move: turning Prince of Persia into a Metroidvania, and it found fans, although it did not bring the studio the financial success it had hoped for. So a sequel is not to be expected.
In parallel, Dead Cells creators Evil Empire released The Rogue Prince of Persia in early access, which recently received a full release and is available with Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus Extra subscriptions. It is a roguelike with metroidvania elements and a continuous progression system, which largely repeats the Dead Cells formula. Together, these two games showed that Prince of Persia can exist in multiple formats at once, and the metroidvania genre is flexible enough for experimentation.
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The history of Metroidvania in recent years is a story of rebirth. From the first experiments on the Xbox 360 to modern indie hits, from the return of the classic Metroid to unexpected reinterpretations in new series. In this selection, we have collected key games that shaped the face of the genre in the modern era. But we may have missed something important in your opinion, so write what interesting Matroidvanias of recent years you personally liked.