Best metroidvania games: 10 worlds worth exploring

The best metroidvania games to start with are Hollow Knight, Ori and the Will of the Wisps and Metroid Dread. They are three perfect doors into a genre where you explore a big interconnected map and every new ability opens paths that were locked before. This list runs from a 6-hour game you finish in a weekend to a huge world you comb through for weeks.

Why this list

A metroidvania is a 2D action game where the map is one big maze. You hit a wall that is too high, a locked door, a gap you cannot cross, and you come back hours later with the double jump, grappling hook or dash that opens it all up. The joy comes from the moment the map clicks together in your head.

We picked very different games: classics, recent hits, hard ones, gentle ones, a roguelike and even one with almost no combat. For each, we give the story length according to players on IGDB, so you can choose based on your evenings. If one stands out, you will also find games like Hollow Knight and how long Hollow Knight takes.

1. 

   1. Hollow Knight

   2017 · Main story 15.5 h

   The modern benchmark. Team Cherry sends you into Hallownest, a ruined bug kingdom that is huge and melancholic. Fights are demanding, bosses are memorable and secrets are everywhere. Expect about 15.5 hours for the story, but there is much more if you want to explore it all. Play this one first.

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2. 

   2. Ori and the Will of the Wisps

   2020 · Main story 15 h

   The most beautiful metroidvania on the list, with animation and music that stay with you. Moon Studios focuses on fluid movement and spectacular chase sequences. Combat is friendlier than Hollow Knight. Expect about 15 hours for the story and a little under 20 to do everything.

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3. 

   3. Metroid Dread

   2021 · Main story 10 h

   Samus's return to 2D, made with MercurySteam. It is fast and precise, and adds the E.M.M.I., robots that hunt you in certain zones and create real tension. Expect about 10 hours. The perfect pick if you want to understand where half of the word metroidvania comes from.

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4. 

   4. Dead Cells

   2018 · Main story 5 h

   A blend of metroidvania and roguelike: you die and start over, but the runes you unlock open new paths for good. Combat is fast and the weapon pool is huge. A first ending comes at around 5 hours, but players often sink dozens more hours into it. Great for short sessions.

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5. 

   5. Blasphemous

   2019 · Main story 13 h

   A dark, violent metroidvania steeped in religious imagery, from The Game Kitchen. You play the Penitent One in a cursed land, with melee combat that punishes impatience and brutal executions. Expect about 13 hours for the story. For players who love heavy atmosphere and tough challenges.

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6. 

   6. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

   2024 · Main story 10 h

   Ubisoft Montpellier reinvents Prince of Persia as a metroidvania, and it works. You play Sargon, a warrior with time powers, in very fluid acrobatic combat. A handy feature lets you pin a screenshot on the map to remember a spot. Expect about 10 hours for the story.

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7. 

   7. Axiom Verge

   2015 · Main story 6 h

   A direct tribute to Super Metroid, made by a single person. You play a scientist who wakes up in a strange alien world, with an arsenal of weapons and a tool that glitches enemies and the environment. Expect about 6 hours. Short, intriguing and perfect for a weekend.

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8. 

   8. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

   2019 · Main story 8 h

   The spiritual heir to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, led by Koji Igarashi. You play Miriam in a demon-filled gothic castle, collecting shards that grant enemy powers. Lots of loot, gear and secrets. Expect about 8 hours for the story, far more to unlock everything.

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9. 

   9. Animal Well

   2024 · Main story 6 h

   The strangest metroidvania here, with almost no combat. You explore a dense maze using items that change how you interact with the world, like a yo-yo or a bubble wand. Expect about 6 hours for the first layer, but the game hides very deep puzzles for the truly curious.

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10. 

    10. Nine Sols

    2024 · Main story 19 h

    Red Candle Games blends metroidvania with parry-based combat, a bit like a 2D Sekiro. You play Yi, out for revenge against nine rulers, in a sci-fi world inspired by Taoism. Its bosses are among the genre's best. Expect about 19 hours for the story, with very careful storytelling.

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Tips to get the most out of a metroidvania

Be okay with getting lost. That is what the genre is built for: when you are stuck, you are usually missing an ability, not a clue. Make a mental note of suspicious walls and ledges that are too high, you will be back.

Play in sessions of at least an hour. These games ask you to keep the map in your head, and a two-week break often makes you lose the thread. If you return after a long gap, spend five minutes on the map before heading out.

Finally, do not bang your head against a boss for hours. Explore somewhere else, grab an upgrade and come back. If you love a challenge, our roguelikes guide and soulslike guide pick up where this list leaves off.

FAQ

What is the best metroidvania for beginners?

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is the most welcoming: friendly combat, fluid movement and about 15 hours of adventure. Metroid Dread is another great, shorter start. Hollow Knight is the best of the lot, but it asks for more patience with its bosses.

What short metroidvania can I finish in a weekend?

Axiom Verge and Animal Well take about 6 hours according to players on IGDB. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is around 8 hours for the story, and Metroid Dread or Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown around 10.

What is the difference between a metroidvania and a soulslike?

A metroidvania is defined by its interconnected map and abilities that open new paths. A soulslike is defined by demanding combat and how it handles death. Some games, like Hollow Knight, Blasphemous or Nine Sols, mix both.