10 Best Metroidvania Video Games of All Time

6 hours ago 10

Samus looking up on cover of 'Metroid Prime Remastered'

Published Jul 10, 2026, 5:59 PM EDT

Diego Pineda has been a devout storyteller his whole life. He has self-published a fantasy novel and a book of short stories, and is actively working on publishing his second novel.

A lifelong fan of watching movies and talking about them endlessly, he writes reviews and analyses on his Instagram page dedicated to cinema, and occasionally on his blog. His favorite filmmakers are Andrei Tarkovsky and Charlie Chaplin. He loves modern Mexican cinema and thinks it's tragically underappreciated.

Other interests of Diego's include reading, gaming, roller coasters, writing reviews on his Letterboxd account (username: DPP_reviews), and going down rabbit holes of whatever topic he's interested in at any given point.

All thanks to the template set by Metroid and Castlevania, two of the greatest and most iconic video game franchises in history, the Metroidvania genre was born. These aren't just any kind of action-adventure games: They're all about nonlinear exploration where certain parts of the interconnected map are gated, and can only be reached by obtaining certain abilities through progression. Those who don't like backtracking aren't likely to enjoy Metroidvanias.

That's just about where the consensus ends, though, as the definition of Metroidvanias is such a hotly contended matter that no two fans of the genre will ever be in perfect agreement on what defines their favorite genre. Even still, some of the greatest video games of all time are Metroidvanias, and some of those games are arguably better than others.

10 'Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order' (2019)

Some Metroidvania fans argue that a game must be in 2D in order to qualify for the title, but dimension is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to debating on whether Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order qualifies as a Metroidvania. Some may deem it sacrilege to even include it on a list of this nature, but the elements are arguably all there: gated progression, an open but interconnected world, and more than enough backtracking to satisfy any fan of the genre.

But regardless of labels or categories, one thing is undeniable: This is one of the best Star Wars games of all time. Perfectly balancing an engrossing, wonderfully cinematic story with some of the most satisfying combat any Star Wars game had ever featured before, it's a Soulslike Metroidvania masterpiece full of riveting lore, incredibly entertaining abilities, and visually stunning exploration.

Collider Exclusive · Star Wars Quiz Which Force User
Are You? Light Side · Dark Side · Or Somewhere Between

The Force is not a binary. It is a spectrum — from the serene halls of the Jedi Temple to the shadowed corridors of Sith space. Ten questions will reveal where you truly fall. The Force has always known. Now you will too.

🔵Jedi Master

🟡Padawan

🔴Sith Lord

⚫Inquisitor

⚪Grey Jedi

IGNITE YOUR SABER →

What is the Force to you? Your relationship with the Force defines everything else.

AA living energy I must be worthy of — it is not mine to control. BSomething vast and mysterious I'm only beginning to understand. CNeither light nor dark — just a current I choose to ride. DPower. Pure and simple. The strong take it; the weak don't.

NEXT QUESTION →

When you feel strong emotions — anger, grief, love — what do you do? The Jedi suppress. The Sith feed. Others choose differently.

AAcknowledge them, then release them. Attachment leads to suffering. BFeel them fully, then decide what to do — they're not the enemy. CBury them. Emotion is a liability I can't afford to indulge. DUse them. Passion is the engine of the dark side for good reason.

NEXT QUESTION →

The Jedi Council gives you an order you disagree with. You: How you handle authority reveals your alignment.

AFollow it. The Council's wisdom surpasses my own perspective. BVoice my objection clearly, then defer to the decision. CComply outwardly while doing what I think is right. DIgnore it. The strong don't answer to committees.

NEXT QUESTION →

You are offered forbidden knowledge that could give you enormous power. The cost is crossing a moral line. You: The dark side's pull is never more than a choice away.

ARefuse without hesitation. There is no cost worth that price. BWeigh it carefully — sometimes darkness holds real answers. CFeel the pull but walk away — for now. DAccept it. Power justifies the method used to obtain it.

NEXT QUESTION →

Your approach to training and learning is: A student's habits become a master's character.

ADedicated but humble. There is always more to learn from my masters. BRigorous and patient. Mastery is earned through years of discipline. CEclectic — I draw from every tradition, not just one. DRelentless and brutal. Pain accelerates growth. Rest is weakness.

NEXT QUESTION →

In a duel, your lightsaber fighting style reflects: Combat is the purest expression of a Force user's philosophy.

ADefense and composure — I wait for my opponent to overcommit. BFast and instinctive — I trust the Force to guide my movements. CUnpredictable — I blend styles to keep enemies off-balance. DOverwhelming aggression — I end fights before they begin.

NEXT QUESTION →

A defeated enemy lies at your feet, powerless. You: Mercy — or its absence — is the truest test of alignment.

AStrike them down — compassion toward enemies is naïve and costly. BNeutralize them permanently. I can't afford loose ends. CSpare them if I can — but stay clear-eyed about the risks. DOffer them a chance to surrender. Every being deserves that.

NEXT QUESTION →

The Jedi Code forbids attachment. Your honest view on love and bonds: The source of the greatest falls in the galaxy.

AThe Code is right. Attachment clouds judgment and invites suffering. BLove is not a weakness — the Jedi Code got this one wrong. CI have no attachment — only loyalty to my master's mission. DI feel it deeply but struggle to reconcile it with my training.

NEXT QUESTION →

Why do you use the Force at all? What's the point? Purpose is the difference between a knight and a weapon.

ATo learn. I'm still figuring out what I'm capable of. BTo protect and serve. The Force is a responsibility, not a gift. CTo survive — and maybe carve out something worth having. DTo dominate. Strength demands to be expressed, not contained.

NEXT QUESTION →

At the final moment — light side or dark side pulling at you — what wins? In the end, every Force user faces this moment. What does yours look like?

AThe light. I choose peace, even when darkness would be easier. BNeither fully — I carve my own path through the middle. CWhoever I serve — my loyalty defines me more than my morality. DThe dark. Power is the only thing that's ever actually been real.

REVEAL MY ALIGNMENT →

Your Alignment Has Been Determined Your Place in the Force

The scores below reveal how the Force sees you. Your highest number is your true alignment. Read on to understand what that means — and what it will cost you.

🔵 Jedi Master

🟡 Padawan

🔴 Sith Lord

⚫ Inquisitor

⚪ Grey Jedi

Disciplined, compassionate, and deeply attuned to the living Force, you have walked the path long enough to understand its demands — and accept them. You lead not through authority alone, but through example. You have felt the pull of the dark side and chosen otherwise, every time. That is not certainty. That is courage.

You are earnest, powerful, and brimming with potential — and you know it, which is both your greatest asset and your most dangerous flaw. You act before you think, trust your gut over your training, and sometimes confuse impatience for bravery. The Masters see something in you, though. The question isn't whether you have what it takes — it's whether you'll be patient enough to find out.

You are not simply dangerous — you are certain, and that is worse. You have decided what the galaxy needs, and you have decided you are the one to deliver it. Your power is genuine and formidable, earned through sacrifice that would have broken lesser beings. But examine your victories carefully. Every Sith believed their cause was righteous. The dark side's cruelest trick is that it agrees with you.

You were forged in fire and reshaped by those who found you at your lowest. You serve, because service gave you structure when you had none. Your allegiance is not to an ideology — it is to survival and to the master who gave you purpose. But there is something buried beneath the conditioning. The Jedi you hunt? You recognize them. Because you remember what it felt like before the choice was taken from you.

You have looked at the Jedi Code and the Sith Code and found both of them incomplete. You walk the line not out of indecision but out of conviction — you genuinely believe both extremes miss something essential. The Jedi don't fully trust you. The Sith think you're wasting your potential. They're both partially right. But so are you.

↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ

9 'Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown' (2024)

Created by Jordan Mechner, the Prince of Persia game franchise has experimented with several genre elements since the first game's release all the way back in 1989, but The Lost Crown represents the first time the franchise has dipped its toes into the Metroidvania pool. After the franchise's 14-year hiatus and a controversial reveal that left fans skeptical, no one expected this to end up being one of the greatest games of its kind ever made.

Indeed, The Lost Crown is one of the few 2020s video games that are true masterpieces. Tight combat, fluid platforming, and an excellent design that's bound to prove timeless as the years go by, it's proof of just how great this decade has been for this genre thus far. The way the awesome abilities complement exploration (which is made all the smoother by features like Memory Shards), as well as all the fun puzzles and spectacular platforming, is a genuine genre masterclass.

8 'Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist' (2025)

All in all, the 2020s have been one of the greatest decades for Metroidvanias of all time. By the time 2030 rolls in, fans are likely to look back on games like Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist and have nothing but fond memories of what the decade had to offer. After the tremendous masterpiece that was Ender Lillies: Quietus of the Knights, this indie gem is proof of how the indie space is keeping Metroidvanias alive in the modern day.

Where can one even begin singing Ender Magnolia's praises? For one, the way it stands out within such a crowded genre is fantastic. Instead of focusing on an excessively fast rhythm or action-packed progression, it feels far more patient and deliberate, allowing the player to bask in the enrapturing atmosphere built by developers Adglobe and Live Wire. You unlock hugely satisfying abilities refreshingly early into the game's runtime, allowing the whole experience to feel highly customizable and utterly painless through and through.

7 'Nine Sols' (2024)

Developers and publishers Red Candle Games call Nine Sols a taopunk game, blending the philosophical and religious Chinese tradition of Taoism with cyberpunk elements. This unique tonal blend is but one of the reasons why this is one of those video games that keep you hooked from start to finish, an immensely creative platformer that's nigh-impossible to put down.

With a combat system focused on highly satisfying parrying and some deeply compelling cinematic storytelling, Nine Sols is far more linear than most other Metroidvanias. Its appeal, however, comes from the rewarding combat, the engaging story, and the fascinating lore. For those looking for a more straightforward, narrative-driven gateway into the Metroidvania genre, Nine Sols should be perfectly able to do the trick.

6 'Ori and the Will of the Wisps' (2020)

Inspired by movies like The Lion King and game series like Rayman, Moon Studios' Ori and the Blind Forest is another one of the greatest Metroidvanias ever made. It's its sequel, however, that's one of the best fantasy games of the last 25 years. It's Ori and the Will of the Wisps, one of the most perfect sequels that the genre has ever seen.

The combat system, largely overhauled from what the first game had to offer, is one of the most fluid and fast-paced of any recent Metroidvania. Mix that with airtight platforming sections and highly rewarding exploration, and it's no wonder why Will of the Wisps was so critically acclaimed. As if that weren't enough, it's also one of the most visually stunning games this genre has ever been treated to.

5 'Blasphemous' (2019)

Warrior standing next to giant in 'Blasphemous'

Developed by Spanish studio The Game Kitchen, Blasphemous is proof of just how well horror and Metroidvanias can blend together. Inspired heavily by Gothic aesthetics and elements of Spanish Catholicism and folklore, it may not be for the faint of heart, but it's a must-play for all those fascinated by what this genre has to offer when it's at its darkest.

Highly tactical combat, unparalleled level of player freedom, and stunning pixel art and lore.

The haunting atmosphere and brutal combat are but the tip of the iceberg of what makes Blasphemous legendary. The gated progression is entirely unconventional, standard traversal abilities not being unlocked the way they are in most typical Metroidvanias. Big genre purists aren't likely to love that, but the ways in which Blasphemous pushes the boundaries of the genre are irresistibly fascinating. With its highly tactical combat, unparalleled level of player freedom, and stunning pixel art and lore, it's one truly special masterpiece.

4 'Metroid Prime' (2002)

A still from Metroid Prime from within Samus' suit

Metroid kept delivering home run after home run in the 2D space during the '80s and '90s, but everything changed as soon as the 21st century rolled in. Indeed, Metroid Prime absolutely revolutionized gaming by pioneering the first-person 3D Metroidvania. How more appropriate could it be for the franchise that started it all to be the one to break into such an important new frontier?

It's one of those sci-fi games better than most movie blockbusters, and the remastered version that came out for the Nintendo Switch in 2023 has allowed it to remain even more timeless as the years go by. It's stunning just how perfectly Prime translates the 2D Metroidvania formula into 3D, preserving the pillars of the genre while sprinkling in unparalleled immersion and environmental storytelling.

3 'Castlevania: Symphony of the Night' (1997)

Battle against winged monster in 'Castlevania Symphony of the Night'

There's no Metroidvania without Castlevania, and there's no Castlevania title quite like Symphony of the Night. It's one of the best dark fantasy games of all time, part platformer, part action RPG, and part one of the greatest Metroidvanias ever created. It's one of the most influential video games of the '90s, and though it initially performed poorly financially, word of mouth soon turned it into a sleeper hit that has aged as one of the biggest cult classics in the series.

Many different people will have different opinions on what the best Castlevania Metroidvania is, but Symphony of the Night is an answer that's bound to come up more than most. The blend of action RPG mechanics and non-linear exploration works flawlessly, with a seamlessly interconnected map and delectably fluid combat. Coupled with an unparalleled atmosphere supported by some of the best visuals of any '90s game, this is an irrefutable masterpiece.

2 'Hollow Knight' (2017)

As far as 21st-century Metroidvanias go, there's really no question about it: the cult classic Hollow Knight is the most popular and widely influential of them all, truly one of the best indie video games of all time. Developed and published by Australian studio Team Cherry, it's an absolute masterclass in virtually every department that Metroidvanias are supposed to get right.

Combining flawlessly tight controls and combat with a massive and deeply immersive map, timeless visuals, masterfully rewarding exploration, and abilities that never stop feeling fresh and fun, it's arguably one of the most acclaimed video games of all time—for good reason. Full of fascinating lore, punishing bosses and skill checks, and meaningful progression, it truly is an example of everything that a video game can get right.

1 'Super Metroid' (1994)

Samus Aran face to face with giant alien monster Kraid in 'Super Metroid'

There's no beating the classics. Super Metroid is the Metroidvania par excellence, the gold standard that all future entries in the genre are measured against. Perfection in video games is, of course, not entirely possible and entirely subjective; but if ever there has been a Metroidvania that's worthy of being called absolutely faultless, it's Super Metroid. Over three decades after its release, it's still impossible to put down.

The interconnected map is virtually flawless, and the revolutionary way in which it introduces elements of environmental storytelling is still hugely effective today. Then there's the timeless visuals, the tremendous freedom of exploration that players are given, the sequence-breaking opportunities, the perfect sense of progression, and the iconic bosses. There's really nothing about Super Metroid that's worth complaining about, so if someone is looking to get into the Metroidvania genre, they might as well start with the best of all time.