The Top Metroidvania Games Not Named Metroid or Castlevania

Hit Points

Metroid and Castlevania: games that were so definitive they set off an entire genre. Modern titles like Hollow Knight, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night may be considered the cream of the crop, but there are a few other gems you may have overlooked.

Transcript

00:00Metroid and Castlevania came onto the scene in 1986, setting off a genre that's become one of the most popular in gaming.

00:09Modern titles like Hollow Knight, Ori and the Will of the Wisp, and Bloodstained Ritual of the Night may steal all the limelight,

00:15but here are a few others you might have missed.

00:19Gorgeous retro pixel art is the highlight of 2016's Owlboy from D-Pad Studio,

00:24a bit of a gentler game for the genre in which the titular protagonist airlifts his friends around to fight for him.

00:29Famously in development for nine years, this is one charming adventure that was well worth the wait.

00:40Few games come as close to recapturing the magic of Super Metroid as faithfully as 2015's Axiom Verge.

00:46A surprisingly rich story awaits players as they explore its mysterious sci-fi setting.

00:51That this clear love letter to the Nintendo classic was developed by one person alone is a stellar achievement.

00:58Juan, the door!

01:06Its predecessor was already one of the best-looking and funniest Metroidvanias around,

01:10but Guacamelee 2 improves on nearly every aspect,

01:13making this luchador-themed platformer inspired by Mexican culture a must-play for fans of the genre.

01:18Another sequel that expands on the original, SteamWorld Dig 2, has you uncovering the map by digging it yourself.

01:32A mining-themed platformer set in the Wild West, its simple yet rewarding progression loop never gets old.

01:37The Joker has been apprehended. Batman is now en route to Arkham Island.

01:45While popular in its own right, Arkham Asylum is often overlooked as one of the best Metroidvanias ever made.

01:51It may not be as sprawling as its sequels, but the first in Rocksteady's Batman series is a self-contained, exploration-focused experience,

01:59with 3D level design hearkening back to Metroid Prime.

02:03Rhyme

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended