Metroidvania is a portmanteau of two beloved franchises: Metroid and Castlevania. This gaming subgenre often alludes to two of the franchises’ most popular games: Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. There are countless metroidvanias out there, but Hollow Knight, and its highly-awaited sequel Hollow Knight: Silksong, essentially changed the subgenre for the better. However, these games are just as deserving of the hype that Hollow Knight and Silksong receive.
Strider (2014)
Capcom’s 2014 reboot stars Strider Hiryu, last seen in the dumpster fire that was 2017’s Marvel Versus Capcom: Infinite. In Strider, Hiryu fights Chairman Meio’s empire. What makes this metroidvania better than the Hollow Knight games? Hiryu doesn’t take fall damage; you don’t have to purchase a map to know where you’re going; and the soundtrack and voice acting are excellent. Strider is available on Steam, PlayStation and Xbox.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance
This game is better than Hollow Knight, because the game isn’t frustratingly difficult by default. You also ride a missile in this game. The game is more colorful and had less delays, if any, than Silksong. Overall, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a wild ride, with more content coming in 2026 via the SEGA Villains DLC. This game is available on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and PC.
Shin Megami Tensei: Synchronicity Prologue
This short game was released for free in 2017 for PC by Team Ladybug and Atlus Japan. Team Ladybug is the developer known for games like Blade Chimera and Touhou: Luna Nights. SMT: Synchonicity Prologue was made to promote Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux. When this game came out, it was a welcome surprise.
The game features fan-favorite demon Jack Frost, who partners with Pyro Jack. The game is in Japanese, but there are fan translations out there. The gameplay is straightforward and has a soundtrack that doesn’t disappoint.
Blasphemous
If you’re into metroidvanias with gore, pixels and religious themes, then Blasphemous and Blasphemous 2 are for you. These games aren’t for the faint of heart. Dare I say that these games are the Dark Souls of metroidvanias? Not only are these games difficult, but the stories are very dark.
Skul: The Hero Slayer
This indie game has been on my radar since 2021. Skul: The Hero Slayer is a metroidvania that has colorful pixel graphics, fast-paced gameplay and a villain protagonist. This game is on mobile, PC/Mac/Linux, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and Xbox. Take down heroes and save the Demon King in this game!
Conclusion
It’s easy to assume that the metroidvania subgenre has games that are a dime-a-dozen. Sometimes, it’s best to slow down and enjoy the games that aren’t trying to take gaming by storm. It’s the games that don’t try too hard that stand the test of time.
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