Summary
Although metroidvanias were around long before games likeHollow Knight, and some indie titles indeed had a crack at the genre before Team Cherry got their hands on it.Hollow Knightbrought the genre to the forefront of indie games, and could arguably be blamed for the abundance of indie metroidvanias that were released over the following years. Now, indie metroidvanias are a dime a dozen, and it can be hard to find the diamonds among the rough.
Exploring the interconnected worlds of games built on the template laid out for them back in the 90s byMetroidandCastlevaniais one of the most notable joys of the metroidvania genre and one of its most iconic hallmarks. Great metroidvanias have unique and interesting worlds that are fun to explore, often littered with memorable NPCs, boss fights, enemies, and locations, and held together by solid movement controls and combat.
As its title suggests,Lone Fungusis a mushroom-themed platforming game with precise movement controls that make its tougher platforming sections much less frustrating than a certain bug-themed metroidvania. AlthoughLone Fungusdoes include some difficult platforming sections that require mastery of the game’s movement controls, these sections are largely optional, freeing up players to explore and progress through the game without frustration.
The combat ofLone Fungusis simple but robust, featuringa parry systemand an in-depth, expansive badge system that lets players collect and equip various “emblems” to create powerful builds. This adds a great deal of depth and strategy to the game’s combat, despite its simplistic nature.
At first glance,Haiku, The Robotis arguably most impressive for its standout pixel art and color work, with simple yet highly readable environments detailed in broad strokes, and some truly charming character design. However, under the hood,Haiku, The Robotis also an extremely competent metroidvania.
Surrounded by corrupt, robotic enemies, and plopped down in a mechanical world, players must hack and slash their way through the game’s various distinct locations, fighting bosses and overcoming platforming challenges along the way. Its gameplay loop is nothing innovative, butHaiku, The Robotshines with its retro Game Boy-style pixel art and unique world.
This unique metroidvania features a top-down perspective,a pixel art aesthetic, and a timer that’s constantly ticking. It’s the latter that makesUnsightedso unique, and although players may be initially put off by the mention of something so limited as a timer,Unsighteddoes allow players to disable it. However, players should consider soldiering throughthe initial weirdnessand embracingUnsighted’stime limit, as it’s arguably its most ingenious design choice.
InUnsighted, NPCs and the player alike have a thematic lifespan that can run out. This means that as the player progresses through the game, NPCs will eventually begin to die off, and if the player takes too long, their timer will run out. Thankfully, there are ways of extending timers throughout the game, and although this time limit may sound appropriately limiting, the tension that it provides is astronomical, and it does a great job of making players care. Outside this unique mechanic,Unsightedis a solid and combat-focused metroidvania with a strong focus on parrying, and its world is varied in its environments and fun to explore.
AlthoughThe Messengermay deceive with its opening sections that allude to an action-adventure game in the style ofold-school platformers, it quickly reveals itself to be an innovative and visually stunning metroidvania.
The Messengeris perhaps most notable for its dual-style pixel art, featuring both 8-bit and 16-bit styles that represent the game’s alternate time periods. These two time periods give areas dual purposes and a great deal of visual variety. Besides this neat gimmick, however,The Messengeris a solid action platformer witha focus on precision platformingthrough its intricate and surprisingly innovative movement controls.
Set in a fantastical world that takes inspiration from stereotypical Mexican culture, primarily in its visuals,Guacameleeis a bright, colorful, and vibrant game that remains a visual treat throughout the entire experience.
Guacameleeis a brawler at heart, with fast and punchy combat that has a real weight to it, but the game’s world is also fun to explore, with a dimension-swapping twist that allows players to uncover new zones and secrets alike.Guacamelee’smetroidvania elements may be simplistic, especially when compared to other games here, but its streamlined experience, visual flair, and the addition of local co-op make it a fun and rewarding experience throughout.
This wonderfully nostalgic pixel-art platformer features an old-school aesthetic,an abundance of great bosses, and plenty of weapons and abilities that allow for some classic metroidvania progression.
DespiteAxiom Verge’s competent combat systems and crunchy pixel art, the game’s world is tremendously alien. The science fiction environments, while varied, are labyrinthine by design, actively working to make the player feel lost. While the environments ofAxiom Vergearen’t as memorable or distinct as some other games, the exotic and alien atmosphere that they provide suits the game’s narrative and aesthetic brilliantly.
This iconic, bug-themed metroidvania game may be the obvious choice, but it’s obvious for a reason.Hollow Knightis a highly polished metroidvania with a beautifully visualized, well-crafted world that’s brimming with charm. Exploring the nooks and crannies of Hallownest is made a joy through the game’s various, incredibly distinct environments, solid combat system, and memorable NPC encounters.
Hollow Knightisn’t justa visually stunning gamewith great exploration but also features competent world-building and well-written characters that help to drive the game, and its vague narrative, forward. The variety of upgrades and new abilities that players acquire throughout the game are both fun and varied, and the game’s bosses are mostly challenging and memorable. Overall, while many metroidvania fans may have already playedHollow Knight, it serves as an iconic and masterfully crafted example of the genre.
