8 Best Metroidvania Games

Ever since the original Metroid on the NES, the Metroidvania genre has been thriving like arguably the most popular video game genre in recent memory. It took until the two-hit knockout of Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, released back-to-back on their respective consoles, for this subgenre to really get going, but since then, it seems like every indie dev is taking a stab at it, and the refinements continue to this day. We just love getting lost, I guess. So, let’s rank a bunch of these confusing titles! Here are the eight best Metroidvania games, according to me and no one else. Locks, keys, and even some pixels might appear.

8. Metroid Dread

Super Metroid, this is not. Metroid Dread has the most satisfying movement system of any 2D action game I have played in some time. It’s beautiful, has some awesome power-ups, and Samus actually talks to a Chozo! Metroid fans have been living very large; I just wish the EMMI encounters weren’t so gosh darn annoying in this one.

7. Blade Chimaera

Yeah, but you didn’t expect Blade Chimaera in here? While it obviously doesn’t have the pedigree of a Hollow Knight or a Nine Sols, this title does something very unique: you can fast-travel almost anywhere on the map. Have you ever been in the Ancient Basin and said, “Man, I really don’t want to walk all the way to the other side of the map.” Well, Blade Chimaera fixes that. It’s not the most incredible Metroidvania, but I think it’s cool.

6. Demon’s Crest

I booted this one up on my Nintendo Switch 2 via the Nintendo Classics service and was immediately greeted with a boss fight featuring a dragon that’s the size of the screen. It was quite shocking. But then I stuck with it and started wondering why more people don’t talk about this game. While it’s not a traditional Metroidvania per se, it still features a level-based map, and did I mention the graphics??

5. Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is sadder than The Last of Us. Its artwork is dazzling, the movement is so fluid, and there’s a big frog. If you haven’t played this one yet, then just get out of here.

4. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Speaking of innovative ideas, you can take photos of your last checkpoint in this one. And annoyingly, the skill tree…

Still, Prince of Persia gets an a-okay from me due to its engaging combat, fun platforming, and two swords. We need more Metroidvanias with two swords, guys.

3. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

What is a man? A miserable pile of — no, we’re not doing that. Seriously, though, Symphony of the Night is a landmark title, and there is no way I wasn’t going to include it. The fact that the series basically peaked here, I’m almost ok with, solely because of that awesome end credits theme. Oh, and the game is amazing.

2. Super Metroid

It just doesn’t get better than this. Until it does. But Super Metroid deserve the respect despite its modern detractors. I’m not even going to explain why that is, just drop what you’re doing and go play it already.

1. Hollow Knight

Yup. Hollow Knight is the best game. It has an immaculate feel to its gameplay, is packed with secrets and lore that would launch several YouTube careers, and gives the player immense freedom. Sadly, I have yet to finish its sequel, but Hollow Knight is the gold standard of its genre and the one every game should be compared to. And it’s only 15 bucks.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this ranking. If your favourite isn’t here, I apologise. I need to play more of these games.