What do you like about them? What platform(s) did you play them on?
Hollow Knight is fkn good.
Metroid - Zero Mission, Super Metroid, Fusion, Dread
Dead Cells - Metroidvania/Roguelike
Ori series.
Nine Sols.
Dead Cells
Never really agreed with the Metroidvania label, same with Skul: The Hero Slayer. You unlock different biomes (and side rooms), but the items to do so are more like keys. Just my thoughts on that.
I find that the lack of ”coyote time” in Hollow Knight makes it completely unplayable for me. Shame since the controls otherwise feel snappy.
Animal Well.
No combat, big emphasis on (hard) puzzles and exploration. Great atmosphere. Played it on my Steam Deck.
A lot of recs for this one, it might have to be my next!
Absolute favorite is probably either Bloodstained or Castlevania Portrait of Ruin. Every Metroid and Castlevania is good though. Ender Lilies, Shantae, Momodora and Alwa are some other ones I’ve really liked off the top of my head.
Not Hollow Knight, which thinks it’s clever to not fill out the map as you go unless you happen to pick the path the map dude is on. Makes me feel like my time isn’t respected which is a pet peeve of mine. Also other than bosses the combat is boring and repetitive and you don’t get stronger fast enough for revisiting areas to not be a slog.
I mostly play on PC these days but historically it was Nintendo consoles. I like exploring maps.
Unconventional choice, as it is 3D, but Supraland. Fantastic world to explore, so satisfying getting new powers and reaching areas.
Does Rainworld count?
Rainworld is its own genre
I don’t know, tell us about it. What’s it like and why do you like it?
It it is sidescroller metroidovania with a beautiful nuanced artificial intelligence, creatures hunt, patrol and remember the player.
I didn’t finish it, but where I got to there were no real power ups you needed to progress the game, more find ways to sneak around the map.
It’s a beautiful game indeed and definitely touches the genre at least.
Adding some more people haven’t mentioned:
- Guacamelee! on Steam
- Sundered on Stadia, funny enough. It was a great couch co-op Metroidvania
Another vote for Hollow Knight.
Also Super Metroid, Castlevania SOTN and Aria of Sorrow, Dark Souls, and La Mulana 1 & 2
Good picks, but I don’t think Dark Souls qualifies as a metroidvania. Metroidvanias gate off parts of the map based on what abilities the player has/doesn’t have, whereas Dark Souls blocks off parts of the map simply because you’re missing a key. Also, Dark Souls doesn’t really have ability power-ups with the exception of acquiring the Lordvessel.
Do soulslikes count? They’re basically the same, except you don’t unlock new paths by gaining new abilities. You just beat up optional bosses and, maybe, need to find keys.
Does Xenoblade Chronicles X count?
I’ve been playing that almost non stop since they released Definitive Edition on the Switch last month.
Another vote for Hollow Knight. Amazing game.
It’s a beautiful game, but I really, really hate how you have to backtrack and kill your ghost after every death.
Hollow Knight for sure. Played it on Steam
Hollow Knight
Tunic
Ori
Animal Well
Axiom VergeAlwa’s Awakening
The Messenger
Ori and the Blind Forest
Pseudoregalia
I like the feeling of getting stronger and coming back to previously inaccessible places. Pretty much only play games on Steam.
I’m surprised I haven’t seen anyone mention Hollow Knight yet. I won’t claim it on my list since I haven’t finished it yet, but it seems to be popular.
I have to recommend Ascent DX - it is free, quite short, but it condenses everything I enjoy about the metroidvania genre I to a bite sized play session.
Tunic is one of the best games ever made, nevermind just in the metroidvania genre. It is good for reasons I can’t tell you without spoiling some of the magic. Trust me!
Phoenotopia Awakening was stupendous fun and way bigger than I thought it would be. Strongly recommended. Typical side scrolling platforming gameplay, with emphasis on exploration and puzzles as well as the combat and platforming.
Death’s Door was so damn fun, and it felt quite fresh in a way I can’t describe. Its an isometric hack n slash game with some puzzle elements. Tells a cool story, and is a sequel/successor to Titan Souls, from the same devs.
AAAAXY was a lot of fun, and free and open source. Sort of like antichamber meets metroidvania. Short and sweet but also challenging!
Otherwise, as others mentioned, I can’t recommend these enough!:
Hollow Knight
Ori And The Blind Forest/Will Of The Wisps
I like Gato Roboto and Cave Story
