If there’s one genre that has seen a real surge in popularity in recent years, it’s the humble Metroidvania. It seems you can’t go a single day without some Plucky developer popping up out of the blue with an outstanding Metroidvania worth checking out.
10 Hardest Metroidvania Games
Metroidvanias are a notably difficult genre, with the originaters being known for their difficulties, and everything on this list being challenging.
Which, to be clear, we aren’t complaining about one bit. Every new Metroidvania is a blessing, but it seems that due to this mass of new titles, some slip under the radar.
It’s a shame, especially because a lot of these excellent titles are more than worthy of your time and attention.
So, in the hope of shining a spotlight on these unearthed gems, we have a list of modern Metroidvania hits that are deeply underappreciated, and are crying out for you to play them at your earliest convenience.
10Afterimage
No Gods, No Masters
Afterimage
We kick things off withAfterimage, a game that sees you inhabit a world devoid of the God that once ruled the land, and naturally, when the gods are away, the demons are going to play.
In terms of gameplay, this one feels quite a lot likeEnder Lilliesin terms of its style, traversal, and combat mechanics. However, it also presentsa lot of traditional Action RPG systemsand skill trees that will make hack-and-slash fans feel right at home.
It’s a staggeringly pretty game, and even though you’ll probably fail to grasp what’s going on from one plot point to the next like most players, the gameplay and Metroidvania world design more than make up for this confusing narrative.
Sowing Seeds For Change
Ultrosis an incredibly hard sell for several reasons. It’s not a taxing Metroidvania, as the combat, bosses, and challenges within this world are pretty tame by all accounts.
Plus, it’s a Roguelike Metroidvania, so you can expect to be re-treading covered ground a lot in this game. Yet, despite the peculiar format and lesser difficulty,Ultrosis still a game I highly recommend.
This is because the game’s zany art style is like a wonderful acid trip; the plant-based mechanics are complex but rewarding to understand and master, and the surreal story surrounding the birth of the great alien, Ultros, is fascinating.
It’s a game that shoots for a more eclectic and artistic take on the medium to stand out, and you have to say, if that was the goal, this game succeeds and then some.
Yet, many gamers still don’t know whatUltrosis, so do yourself a favor and get acquainted with this psychedelic hit.
8Death’s Gambit
Dark Souls Eat Your Heart Out
Death’s Gambit
If you’ve always wanted a Symphony of the Night-inspired Metroidvania thatleans heavily into Souls-like mechanics, I am happy to report that it already exists, and it’s well worth checking out.
Death’s Gambit is a game that tries its best to offer a 2D souls Metroidvania to rival the 2D stylings of games like Salt and Sanctuary, aiming to offer the most authentic nod to FromSoftware’s Dark Souls series in 2D form.
It does a pretty good job of this, providing an ominous and dreary setting, a slew of tough bosses to push you to your limits, and a series of build options to cater to varied playstyles.
The only criticism here is that the inherent freedom of a Metroidvania is lacking somewhat here, as the game is rather linear, but if you’re into games with the harsh but fair combat the Souls series has popularised, then Death’s Gambit is a must-play.
7Astalon: Tears of the Earth
Retro Meets Modern
At a glance, you would be forgiven for thinking thatAstalon: Tears of the Earthissome old SNES gamethat didn’t quite catch the wind to become a breakout hit.
However, this is a modern hit that leans into the retro aesthetic and mechanics of old, while equally offering up plenty of new ideas of its own.
This is yet another example of a Roguelike Metroidvania as you and your party will make a deal with death allowing you to infinitely revive yourself in a bid to climb the tower and safe the world.
You get base upgrades as you would in Roguelikes to make each run easier, but you also have the ability to use the core abilities of your party members to get through otherwise inaccessible paths in true Metroidvania fashion.
It feels like a classic arcade hit, with all the polish of a modern great, making it a must-play for any Metroidvania fanatic.
Rabi Ribi’s Spiritual SuccessorI should first say that I was very on the fence as to whether I includedRabi Ribior its spiritual successor,Tevi, here, but due to the clear leap forward in quality, you have to say thatTeviis the better option today.
Both games are cute,side-scrolling bullet hellmetroidvanias, complete with pixel visuals, tough bosses, and a surprisingly fun and engaging storyline to enjoy as you go.
This one isn’t quite as comical as Rabi Ribi, but this more mature and structured narrative gives the runtime more layers and room to grow, meanwhile the gameplay remains very reminiscent ofRabi Ribi, albeit with some much-needed tweaks and improvements.
Not to mention,Teviis much longer than its spiritual predecessor, meaning more bang for your buck. There are loads of Astral Gears to gather, so hop into this one and get going!
Underwater Gameplay That Doesn’t Suck
I immediately know what you’re thinking. It’s an entire game that feels like that token underwater level in one of your favorite games; who could possibly want that?
Well, when an underwater epic plays as smoothly as Aquaria, you’re forced to abandon all preconceived notions about underwater gameplay.
Through the power of the Mermaid’s Siren call, the player will be able to unlock new paths, morph into new, more powerful versions of themselves, and defeat powerful creatures that lurk below the water’s surface.
It does bear mentioning that this game was released in 2007, and as a result, it will feel rather primitive by today’s lofty standards.
However, due to the interesting traversal mechanics, the rewarding exploration, and the gameplay that doesn’t push you to be a skilled combatant to progress, there are still a lot of reasons to dive into this one.
4Cookie Cutter
Non-Stop Violence
Cookie Cutter
While, in most cases, the worlds that we inhabit in modern Metroidvanias are beautifully bleak and deadly serious,Cookie Cutteris a bombastic game that proves it doesn’t have to be that way.
Playing as Cherry, you’ll progress through a vibrant world where, through the medium of relentless hand-to-hand combat, you’ll seek revenge against the INFONET and the Denzel enemies that represent this dystopian big bad.
It’s a game that has a bit of the Scott Pilgrims about it, with comic book action, an edgy charm, and relentless, rock-opera-adjacent violence.
It’s a game where anger is your biggest ally, so if you want to let off some steam, considerCookie Cutteryour outlet.
3Aeterna Noctis
An Eternal War
Aeterna Noctis
is a classic tale of light versus darkness, but it doesn’t quite play out in the traditional good triumphs over evil way that you might expect.
In this quality Metroidvania, you play as one-half of the faction leaders cursed to eternal war, and having just started anew, you must regain your powers and strive to conquer the world once again.
It’s a title that slowly envelops you in the lore of the world and the tragic tale of these doomed characters, but alongside that, it offers an incredible stylized world and gameplay that is more platforming-focused than combat-focused.
It offers constant eye-candy, audacious gameplay that delivers time and time again, and for these reasons and many more you can discover for yourself, this is one you have to try.
A Little Help From My Friends
In most Metroidvania titles, the progression process relies on the player slowly but surely building up enough powers to become a one-man army capable of heroic feats. However, inOwlboy, it’s only through a little help from your friend that you will be able to succeed.
In this gorgeous Metroidvania epic, you’ll become adept at guiding Otus through the air with his rudimentary flight mechanics, but it’s through picking up pals and making use of their skill sets that you’ll be able to kill enemies, unlock new areas, and defeat hulking bosses that stand in your way.
The game offers a sublime score and art style to drink in as you go, and sitting at only a ten-hour runtime, it’s not a game that overstays its welcome either.
Every encounter feels like a puzzle to be solved, and there is a well-paced story to enjoy here, too. Making this a must-play Metroidvania gem.
Casual Metroidvania Bliss
Then lastly, we have a casual Metroidvania hit that doesn’t get nearly enough credit, as it offers one of the most fun, fluid and satisfying pocket-sized Metroidvania experiences on the market today.
Through great pacing, a variety of unique and interesting powers to master, and the freedom to engage with each section of the game as you choose.
Granted, the game is pretty light on story, with the narrative setup seemingly just a convenient vehicle for the outstanding gameplay, but when the gameplay is this good, you really don’t miss those moments filled with narrative exposition.
So, if you’re looking for a game with tight platforming, fun transformation-based power-ups, and stylish yet minimalistic visuals, then look no further thanSheepo.
