The 15 Best Metroidvania Games of 2022
⌨️
The best Metroidvanias are games that offer massive maps to explore, obstacles to conquer, and a progression system that provides continuous “eureka” moments along your journey. Metroidvanias is one of the most popular genres, the gap between new Castlevania or Metroid games is often long, and seeing the best elements of these franchises combine into games find fascinating new ways to play on the formula Unique spin for some great entertainment.
But which Metroidvania is right for you? We’ve browsed the castle library for the genre and found 15 examples we’ve listed below in alphabetical order to help you get started diving into this trendy game in 2D. Although we left Metroid Dread off this list because we think it cheats, Switch owners should definitely play Samus’ latest adventure. Metroid Dread is featured in our roundup of the best Nintendo Switch games.
Axiom Edge Series
Axiom Edge
The Axiom Verge game pays homage to Super Metroid, blending a gripping story with incredible instant gunplay. What makes Axiom Verge’s approach so special is its wide variety of weapons, ranging from ordinary blasters to bizarre guns capable of ripping apart reality itself. Perhaps the biggest draw of Axiom Verge is the atmosphere it invites you to explore, as the alien nature of these levels combined with the isolation you have to endure is cold and unnerving.
These stages also hide secrets that can distort their designs, breaking their own reality, while putting heavy theological issues into the mix that are painted with the nostalgic charm of 8-bit graphics. If you’re not in the mood to start thinking about the nature of existence, the Axiom Verge game is easily the perfect fusion between Metroid and Contra that feels constantly rewarding when you dive headfirst into them.
Read our Axiom Verge review and Axiom Verge 2 review.
blasphemous
blasphemous
No one expected the Spanish Inquisition, especially In a video game! Drawing heavily from ancient European Catholic imagery, Blasphemous has created a world of exploration that is as terrifying as it is fascinating, while also offering a fantastic library of battles and lore for you to sit and read. The battle sequences are beautifully animated, the themes of death and rebirth are ubiquitous, and the game is a brutal challenge that shows no mercy to heretics. As a Metroidvania throwing some disturbing religious content your way, Blasphemous is an appealing prospect for anyone looking to venture out of their usual comfort zone in the genre.
Read our blasphemous review.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
When Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night first hit Kickstarter a few years ago, it was pitched with an appealing promotion: a new series led by Castlevania: Symphony of the Night director Koji Igarashi dedicated to creating the spirit of the legendary Konami game Heir. Next-generation platform. A few years later, Bloodstained is crowdfunded before you can even knock the whip, and offers a gothic castle with familiar content. Decades later, Bloodstained’s combat has always been satisfying, with a secret around every corner waiting to be discovered, and the hodgepodge of post-launch updates has turned the game into a must-have for the Metroidvania genre. play games.
Read our Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night review.
Dandara
Dandara
Metroidvania’s inability to run or jump sounds like a limitation for the genre, but Dandara’s limitations end up being one of its greatest strengths. Use the controls to flip gravity and explore your own way, this beautifully crafted game still hits the right note for Metroid and combines Brazilian folklore with impressively intuitive touchscreen controls on the Switch and mobile versions. combine. It’s an innovative attempt to make Metroidvania feel different, and while this direction occasionally forces you to deal with some annoying design elements, it’s still a refreshing approach.
Read our Dandara review.
dead cells
dead cells
Dead Cells may not be the first game to be influenced by Dark Souls and veer from Metroid-style into the realm of roguevania, but it’s easily one of the best games of its kind. Raise the bar and create progression templates that other indie games will be inspired by, Dead Cells offers action ranging from manageable to unrelenting, your further progress in the game, an extensive arsenal, numerous abilities and some of the encounters in the genre Advance among the most challenging bosses. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry – many times – but just for bragging rights, the journey behind enemy lines is worth it.
Read our Dead Cells review.
Cato Robot
Cato Robot
You control a cat in a robotic suit. That’s it, that’s the main attraction of the Gato Roboto. Are you not enough? Well, buckle up for a monochrome ride in unfamiliar territory as you guide Gigi the cat through various obstacles and hazards. Gato Roboto barely stands out from the Metroidvania pack in terms of innovation, but what makes this game stand out is how close it is to the format. It’s tightly controlled, and its minimalist art style is effortlessly charming, and it poses an appropriate challenge to even the most seasoned Metroid hunter.
Avocado series
Guacamole
The design elements of the Guacamelee game might be reminiscent of Super Metroid, but you’d never think this wrestling messy tag team is a clone of the Nintendo original. Digital DNA may exist as a foundation, but Guacamelee goes its own way with satisfying boxing moves, dazzling level design, and top rope platforming, and they all work together. The gameplay never feels less refined, with every element in harmony with the rest of the action-packed systems, and the energy on display is infectious.
Guacamelee 2 is the stronger game of the pair, with a more refined design, but even after its debut years ago, the original is still an absolute treat. Combine this pair for the best Metroidvanias for the wrestling fanatic in your home.
Read our Guacamelee review and our Guacamelee 2 review.
Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight
Challenging with its haunting beauty that looks hauntingly beautiful with its well-crafted animations, Hollow Knight’s tragic tale is one that hungers and devours the further you go into its world. The razor-sharp gameplay and Dark Souls-inspired danger are secondary to the game’s true charm, and these are compelling exploration elements. The world around you is the result of thoughtful design and tantalizing clues about the nature of what really happened, and the hunt to find the full picture makes an already great game even more engaging.
Read our Hollow Knight review.
Iconoclast
Iconoclast
Super Metroid builds on the foundation that many Metroidvanias will build on, but Iconoclasts takes inspiration from the underrated Metroid Fusion. A colorful game with great boss fights to try your skills, Iconoclasts also includes a surprisingly mature story on themes of free will, the theocracy that creates a fanatical dictatorship, and the dangers of weaponizing beliefs. If you’re looking for a Metroidvania that combines adult themes, creative action, and visual candy, Iconoclasts is one of the best of its kind.
Read our Iconoclasts review.
Ori series
Ori and the Will of the Elf
Both Ori games are jaw-dropping adventures that blend some of the best art and precision in the business, but Will of the Wisps is easily the standout here. Both games center around exploring, fighting, and using the ability to enter previously enclosed areas, but Will of the Wisps is the game where these mechanics shine the brightest and polishes them to create a silky-smooth finish Action-packed experience.
These kinds of games have you screaming in despair when a jump fails, cheering as you overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles, and curling into a ball of frustration after you. Once again be blown away by the tear-jerking stories that these two games have to offer Hay Maker. A great example of the Metroidvania genre, both games bring glamour and heartbreak to the table with delightful platforming, tough action, and beautiful visuals.
Read our Ori and the Blind Forest review and our Ori and the Will of the Wisps review.
salt and refuge
salt and refuge
Calling it that may be a cliché, but Salt and Sanctuary is Metroid’s Dark Souls. This is not only because of its challenging game curve for masters and monsters, which will sound regularly if you play around with them, but also because the game shares many themes with From Software’s classic series, such as class building, with gothic The artistic design of the base color, and the progress system that perfectly integrates with the idea of exploring the maze levels. The fusion of ideas is surprisingly good, and with a ton of fan support behind it, it’s no wonder that a sequel to this indie gem is currently in development. Salt and Sacrifice releases on May 10 for PlayStation and PC, so you have time to catch up.
Read our Salt and Refuge review.
Steam World Mining 1 + 2
Steam World Mining
SteamWorld Dig and its sequel are an excellent pair of Metroid, with an emphasis on exploration in a handcrafted world, a captivating and compact game that blends the deconstruction of the world around you with exciting combat. While the first SteamWorld Dig was a quirky adventure with some great scenes, the sequel is a very good follow-up, offering a more satisfying destructible environment, a better selection of tools to mine new Challenges, and a more refined game loop that rewards your progress. It’s more focused, shedding a ton of fat from the original game, and the journey to the center of a hostile planet is full of surprises along the way.
Read our Steamworld Dig review and SteamWorld Dig 2 review.
Time Machine
Time Machine
Timespinner is an incredibly engaging level of Metroidvania that complements Game Boy Advance games from the early 2000s. It sets itself apart through time travel mechanics, placing players on a map that is ambitiously anchored in the past and present, with each area featuring unique enemies, a plethora of obstacles, and a small selection of items to discover . While the idea of changing aspects of the past to make the present easier wouldn’t work without some hurdles, developer Lunar Ray Games still managed to deliver a game that warmly celebrates the Metroid genre and its short playtime. Come and stick to the landing and turn it into an enjoyable experience that respects your time.
invisible
invisible
Unsighted is built around the familiar Metroidvania philosophy, but it uses this tried and trusted foundation to add some of its own novelty to the formula. It’s easy to pick up, it makes you race against time to force you out of a conservative safety net, and the 16-bit aesthetic is the perfect combination of punchy sound and blocky world design. It’s Unsighted’s gameplay that really shines, and with no unused buttons, you’ll be throwing combos while learning how to dance across the screen with smooth attacks and the rhythm of a devastating finisher.
Read our disregard review.
Youku Island Express
Youku Island Express
Yoku’s Island Express is an odd combination of genres, and the concept on paper shouldn’t work, but it’s an extraordinary experience that successfully blends Metroidvania elements with pinball. All of Metroidvania’s usual exploration features are present, but getting around the levels and various dangers requires guidance…
Discover more articles in our categories Gaming & News & Anime.
Thanks for visiting we hope our article The 15 Best Metroidvania Games of 2022
, don’t forget to share the article on Facebook, pinterest and e-mail with the hashtags ☑️ #Metroidvania #Games ☑️!
