Best Metroidvania Games: 14 Picks to Play on Steam

The best metroidvania games hand you a map full of locked doors and the slow pleasure of coming back with the power that opens them. You remember a ledge you couldn’t reach three hours ago, earn a dash or a double jump, and suddenly the whole world folds back in on itself. If you love that loop of exploring, getting stuck, getting stronger and finding the shortcut home, these are the games to play next on Steam.

What makes a game a metroidvania?

The name joins two series: Metroid and Castlevania. Both built games around one large, connected map instead of a string of separate levels. Parts of that map stay closed until you find the right ability, item or tool. A wall-jump gets you up a shaft, a key item opens a gate, and so on. Every new power changes what the old areas mean, so you keep going back through familiar ground to reach rooms you passed earlier.

A few other traits come up again and again:

• Backtracking with a purpose. Going back over old ground is the point. The good ones fill it with shortcuts and secrets so it never feels like a chore.
• A map you fill in. Half the pleasure is watching blank space turn into a route you know by heart.
• RPG-style growth. Many add equipment, stats or perks (charms, relics, rosary beads) so you grow stronger as well as more mobile.
• Bosses that guard progress. A tough fight often stands between you and the next ability.

Two related terms show up below. A roguelite is a game built on repeated runs: you die, start over, and carry some permanent progress forward. Souls-like (or “souls-lite”) describes demanding, pattern-learning combat in the spirit of the Dark Souls games, where every enemy can hurt you and patience beats button-mashing.

The best metroidvania games to start with

If you want the genre at its most polished, start here. These four are the ones other metroidvanias get compared to, and they all have Very Positive or Overwhelmingly Positive reviews on Steam.

Hollow Knight

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Ask anyone for the best metroidvania games of all time and Hollow Knight comes up first. Beneath the fading town of Dirtmouth lies Hallownest, a ruined insect kingdom of twisting caverns, ancient cities and deadly wastes. You dodge, dash and slash through tainted creatures, befriend odd bugs and slowly piece together what went wrong at the kingdom’s heart. The world is huge, it connects in clever ways, and the hand-drawn art gives it a quiet, melancholy mood.

It also comes with a lot to do. Team Cherry added four free content packs (Hidden Dreams, The Grimm Troupe, Lifeblood and Godmaster) with new bosses, quests, charms and characters. It suits players who like getting lost on purpose and can handle tough but fair bosses. Steam lists it as single-player with full controller support, on Windows, macOS and Linux, and its reviews are Overwhelmingly Positive.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

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The sequel puts you in control of Hornet, the lethal hunter, who has been captured and brought to the unfamiliar kingdom of Pharloom. Where the first game takes you down into the depths, this one has you climbing, through mossy grottos, gilded cities and misted moors toward a citadel at the top of the world. Combat is more acrobatic, and you craft tools such as weapons, traps and mechanisms that change how you fight and explore. There are also quests to take on for the kingdom’s downtrodden and over 200 foes to face.

Play it after Hollow Knight if you can, both for the story and because it expects you to be comfortable with the genre. It released on September 4, 2025, is single-player with full controller support (Steam recommends a gamepad), runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and has Very Positive reviews.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

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If movement is your favourite part of a metroidvania, this is the one. Ori’s sequel opens up a bigger, more varied world with towering enemies, challenging puzzles and traversal that flows from one move into the next. It keeps the series’ emotional storytelling and beautiful art, but adds more combat depth and boss fights than the first game.

It suits players who want something that feels good to move through every second, with a story that lands. Single-player with full controller support, Windows only, released March 10, 2020, with Overwhelmingly Positive reviews.

Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition

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The first Ori is a gentler start. After a storm sets disaster in motion, the forest of Nibel is dying, and a small orphan named Ori sets out to save it. It’s a hand-painted action-platformer with an orchestral score and a story about love and sacrifice. The Definitive Edition adds new areas, two new abilities (Dash and Light Burst), more story, full backtracking support, teleporting between Spirit Wells and multiple difficulty modes.

Those difficulty options make it one of the friendliest entry points in the genre. The platforming still gets demanding in places, especially the escape sequences. Single-player, Windows only, released April 27, 2016, Overwhelmingly Positive.

Gothic castles and dark fantasy metroidvanias

This group is closest to the Castlevania side of the family tree: cursed castles, grim religious imagery, gear to collect and enemies that want you dead.

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

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Bloodstained comes from Koji Igarashi, the designer whose castle games defined the “Igavania” style, and it reads like a love letter to that era. You play Miriam, an orphan whose body is slowly crystallising from an alchemist’s curse, fighting through a demon-infested castle summoned by her old friend Gebel. Expect loads of weapons, spells and gear, plus a big castle to map room by room.

It’s the pick for players who want RPG depth: grinding for drops, trying new builds, chasing every item. The store page mentions 13 free DLCs through content updates, a Speed Run Mode, a Boss Rush Mode and three playable characters. Steam lists single-player along with Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op and PvP modes, plus Remote Play Together. Windows only, released June 18, 2019, Very Positive.

Blasphemous

Blasphemous is the darkest game here. A curse called The Miracle has fallen on the land of Cvstodia, and you play The Penitent One, the lone survivor of a massacre, stuck in a cycle of death and rebirth. You fight with Mea Culpa, a sword born from guilt, learning combos and finishing enemies with savage executions. Relics, rosary beads and prayers let you shape your abilities as you explore a non-linear world full of traps and titanic bosses.

It suits players who want punishing combat and an unforgettable, grotesque art style. If you enjoy dread, it pairs well with our best horror games on Steam. Single-player, full controller support, on Windows, macOS and Linux, released September 10, 2019, Very Positive.

Blasphemous 2

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The sequel wakes The Penitent One in a strange new land, picking up the story from the original’s free Wounds of Eventide DLC. The big change is choice: several new weapons to wield and more ways to customise and improve your skill set, so you can lean into the playstyle you like. The tone and the bosses are as grim as ever.

Play the first game first if you care about the story. If you mainly want combat variety, starting here works too. Single-player, gamepad recommended, Windows only, released August 24, 2023, Very Positive.

Metroidvanias that test your combat skill

These three still have you exploring, but the fighting is the main event. They’re for players who finish a hard boss and immediately want the next one.

Nine Sols

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Nine Sols builds its combat around deflection, in the style of Sekiro. Instead of dodging everything, you parry attacks at the right moment and turn the enemy’s pressure back on them. You play Yi, a forgotten hero woken by a human child, on a quest for revenge against the nine Sols who rule the realm of New Kunlun. The setting is what the developers call “Taopunk”, a mix of cyberpunk, Taoism and far-eastern mythology, all in hand-drawn 2D.

If parrying clicks for you, Nine Sols ranks among the best metroidvania games for pure boss-fight satisfaction. If it doesn’t, the learning curve is steep. Single-player, gamepad recommended, Windows and macOS, released May 28, 2024, Very Positive.

Prince of Persia The Lost Crown

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Ubisoft took the Prince of Persia name into 2D metroidvania territory here, and it suits the series well. You explore Mount Qaf, a cursed, Persian-inspired world of big landmarks and detailed biomes, using Time Powers alongside combat and platforming to chain combos against time-corrupted enemies and mythological creatures. There are puzzles, hidden treasures and quests along the way.

It suits players who want stylish, combo-heavy fighting and a clear story, with a slightly more mainstream feel than the indie picks. Single-player, full controller support, Windows only, released August 8, 2024, Very Positive.

Dead Cells

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Dead Cells calls itself a “Roguevania”: a roguelite built on metroidvania ideas. You’re a failed alchemical experiment taking over bodies to explore a cursed, ever-changing island. There are no checkpoints. You either beat the final boss in one go or start again, but you keep some progress between runs, such as new paths, levels, mutations, abilities and weapons. The world is interconnected with branching routes, so each run can head somewhere new.

It’s ideal if you like short, intense sessions instead of long expeditions. Our best roguelike games on Steam list goes further in that direction. Single-player with Steam Workshop support, on Windows, macOS and Linux, released August 6, 2018, Overwhelmingly Positive.

Puzzle boxes, retro worlds and couch co-op

Not every metroidvania is about combat. These lean on secrets, old-school style or playing together on the same screen.

ANIMAL WELL

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Animal Well flips the usual power fantasy. You hatch from a flower into a dense, pixelated labyrinth, and the store page is clear that you’re disempowered: the focus is tension and suspense, not action. Instead of weapons, you find unusual items that each have several uses, and you learn how small details in the environment turn out to matter. It’s non-linear, so you collect things in whatever order you like, lighting candles for safety as you fill in your map.

It suits players whose favourite moment in any metroidvania is the “wait, what if I…” discovery. The main game is only the start. The developer says hidden puzzles go much deeper. Single-player, gamepad recommended, Windows only, released May 9, 2024, Overwhelmingly Positive.

Axiom Verge

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Axiom Verge feels the closest to classic Metroid on this list. After a lab accident, a scientist wakes up in a surreal alien world that might be a distant planet, the far future or a simulation. You blast biomechanical enemies, collect a large arsenal of weapons and tools, and use glitches to corrupt foes and break the environment to solve puzzles. That glitch mechanic gives it a real identity of its own.

Pick it if you love retro sci-fi atmosphere and hunting for every upgrade. Developed and published by Thomas Happ Games. Single-player, Windows and Linux, released May 14, 2015, Very Positive.

Environmental Station Alpha

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This one is a smaller pick. You control a robot sent to investigate an abandoned space station overrun by wildlife, where earthquakes have made getting around even harder. It’s retro in look, heavy on exploration, full of secrets and packed with boss fights, with an ambient soundtrack holding it together.

It suits players who’ve finished the big names and want something with a tighter, old-school feel. Single-player, on Windows, macOS and Linux, released April 22, 2015, Very Positive. One note from the store page: the Mac version lacks gamepad and Steam Cloud support.

Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition

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Guacamelee! is the funniest game here and the best one for two players. Agave farmer Juan finds a legendary luchador mask and sets out to stop Carlos Calaca from merging the World of the Living with the World of the Dead. The combat uses wrestling grabs and an extensive move list, and you switch between parallel dimensions to solve platforming challenges. This edition adds new levels, powers and challenges to the original.

It’s the pick for couch co-op, meaning two people playing on one screen in the same room. Steam lists Shared/Split Screen Co-op, plus Remote Play Together, which lets a friend join online over your stream. If co-op is what you’re after, our games like It Takes Two list has more. Windows only, released August 21, 2014, Very Positive.

How to choose from the best metroidvania games

All fourteen are strong, but they pull in different directions. Ask yourself one question: what is your favourite moment in this genre?

A worked example

Say you finished Hollow Knight, loved the bosses, but found the wandering slow. Silksong is the obvious follow-up, but if you want a change, Nine Sols keeps the boss focus and adds deflection, a system that rewards timing over dodging. If you love that, Blasphemous 2 gives you more weapons to experiment with between fights. You stay in the same mood but get something new each time.

Mistakes to avoid

• Starting with the hardest game. Nine Sols and Blasphemous can put newcomers off the whole genre. Ori and the Blind Forest or Guacamelee! teach the basics more gently.
• Ignoring the map. If you’re stuck, the answer is almost always a spot you passed earlier. Mark odd ledges and blocked doors in your head, or with the game’s map pins where it offers them.
• Playing sequels first. Silksong, Blasphemous 2 and Will of the Wisps all work alone, but their stories land better after the originals.
• Expecting co-op everywhere. Most metroidvanias are single-player. Check the player modes above before planning a session with a friend.
• Treating Dead Cells like Hollow Knight. It’s built around repeated runs, and losing everything except your permanent progress is the design, not a failure.

Where to go after these

Once you’ve worked through the best metroidvania games here, the genres around it are a natural next step. Bloodstained’s gear and stats overlap with our best RPG games on Steam, and Dead Cells’ runs lead straight into roguelites. For more genre lists, browse the best games on Steam. To keep an eye on what’s coming, our upcoming games page tracks what Steam lists for future releases. If you’d rather start from a single favourite, games like the ones you love works backwards from it.

The best metroidvania games all share the same promise: the world you thought you knew is bigger than it looks. Pick the one that matches the moment you love most, and start filling in the map.

Questions and answers

What is the best metroidvania game on Steam?

Hollow Knight is the safest answer. It has an Overwhelmingly Positive Steam rating from more than 565,000 reviews, a huge interconnected kingdom to explore, tight controls and four free content expansions. If you've already finished it, its sequel Hollow Knight: Silksong, released on September 4, 2025, is the natural next step. If you'd rather have something gentler and more story-led, try Ori and the Will of the Wisps.

What does metroidvania mean?

The word blends Metroid and Castlevania, the two series that shaped the style. A metroidvania gives you one large connected map where some areas are blocked until you find a new ability, tool or item. Once you have it, you head back to earlier places to reach routes, shortcuts and secrets you couldn't get to before. Many add RPG-style upgrades, tough bosses and a strong focus on exploration.

Which metroidvania is best for beginners?

Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition is a good first pick, because its Definitive Edition adds multiple difficulty modes, full backtracking support and fast travel between Spirit Wells. Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition is another easy way in, with bright, funny combat and same-screen co-op so a more experienced friend can help. Wait on Nine Sols and Blasphemous until you're comfortable with the genre.

Are there co-op metroidvania games on Steam?

A few. Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition lists Shared/Split Screen Co-op and Remote Play Together on Steam, which makes it the strongest couch co-op pick here. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night lists Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, PvP modes and Remote Play Together. Most other big metroidvanias, including Hollow Knight, both Ori games and Nine Sols, are single-player only.

Is Dead Cells a metroidvania or a roguelite?

It's both. Its developer calls it a roguelite, metroidvania-inspired action-platformer, or a Roguevania. You explore a connected island with branching paths and permanent new routes the way a metroidvania works, but there are no checkpoints and death sends you back to the start. You keep some progress between runs, such as new paths, weapons and abilities, so every attempt pushes you further.

Which of these metroidvanias run on Mac or Linux?

Steam lists Hollow Knight, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Dead Cells, Blasphemous and Environmental Station Alpha for Windows, macOS and Linux. Nine Sols runs on Windows and macOS, and Axiom Verge on Windows and Linux. The rest of this list, including both Ori games, Bloodstained, Blasphemous 2, Prince of Persia The Lost Crown and Animal Well, is listed for Windows only.