Best Metroidvania Games 2026 – Explore, Power Up, Backtrack
The Metroidvania genre delivers some of gaming's most satisfying exploration loops. Gain new abilities, reach previously inaccessible areas, and uncover interconnected world designs.
The Best of the Best
1. Hollow Knight
- Metacritic: 87/100
- Steam Rating: Overwhelmingly Positive (97%)
- Price: $14.99
The modern Metroidvania benchmark. Hallownest is a massive, atmospheric underground kingdom filled with secrets, challenging bosses, and melancholic beauty. 40-60+ hours of content for $15 is absurd value.
Why It's #1: Tight combat, incredible atmosphere, genius world design, and sheer amount of content.
2. Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Metacritic: 90/100
- Price: $29.99
The most beautiful Metroidvania ever made. Every frame is a painting. Will of the Wisps improved on Blind Forest with better combat, more abilities, and equally emotional storytelling. The chase sequences are gaming at its most exhilarating.
3. Metroid Dread (via emulation)
- Metacritic: 88/100
The return of 2D Metroid after 19 years delivered masterfully. EMMI zones create genuine terror, and the movement feels incredible once you unlock all abilities. Speed-running this game is a joy.
Dark & Challenging
4. Blasphemous 2
- Metacritic: 82/100
- Price: $29.99
Dark Souls meets Metroidvania with grotesque religious imagery. Three starting weapons with unique traversal abilities create different routing options. The pixel art is stunningly detailed.
5. Salt and Sanctuary / Salt and Sacrifice
- Price: $17.99 / $19.99
- Genre: Soulslike Metroidvania
2D Dark Souls done right. Challenging combat, RPG character building, and interconnected world design. Salt and Sacrifice adds monster hunting to the formula.
6. Ender Lilies
- Steam Rating: Overwhelmingly Positive
- Price: $24.99
Hauntingly beautiful post-apocalyptic Metroidvania. Defeat bosses and absorb their spirits as new abilities. The art direction is stunning, and the difficulty curve is well-balanced.
Indie Excellence
7. Dead Cells
- Metacritic: 89/100
- Price: $24.99
Roguelike meets Metroidvania. Each run is different but permanent upgrades unlock new areas and paths. The combat is lightning-fast and incredibly responsive. Years of DLC have added massive content.
8. Axiom Verge 1 & 2
- Price: $19.99 each
- Genre: Sci-fi Metroidvania
If you love Super Metroid, Axiom Verge is its spiritual successor. Glitch-themed weapons and world manipulation create unique puzzle-solving. Both games are solo-developed achievements.
9. The Messenger
- Price: $19.99
- Genre: Action Platformer → Metroidvania
Starts as a linear ninja platformer, then transforms into a full Metroidvania halfway through. The 8-bit/16-bit switching mechanic is brilliant. Hilarious writing and tight controls.
10. Guacamelee! 2
- Metacritic: 82/100
- Price: $19.99
Mexican wrestler Metroidvania with co-op. Vibrant art, hilarious humor, and combat that uses wrestling moves. The dimension-switching mechanic adds puzzle complexity.
Essential Abilities Checklist
Every great Metroidvania gives you abilities that change how you see the world:
| Ability Type | Example | Opens Up |
|---|---|---|
| Double Jump | Almost every MV | Higher platforms |
| Wall Jump/Climb | Hollow Knight, Ori | Vertical exploration |
| Dash | Dead Cells, Ori | Gaps, dodge through barriers |
| Underwater | Hollow Knight, Axiom Verge | Submerged areas |
| Grapple | Blasphemous 2, Guacamelee | Distant platforms |
| Phase/Warp | Axiom Verge, The Messenger | Hidden dimensions |
Hollow Knight: Silksong Status
The most anticipated Metroidvania ever is Hollow Knight: Silksong. Playing as Hornet with silk-based abilities in a new kingdom. No confirmed release date, but the hype is justified given the original's quality.
Getting Into Metroidvanias
New to the genre? Start with:
- Ori and the Blind Forest – Beautiful, not too hard
- Guacamelee! – Fun, forgiving, has co-op
- Hollow Knight – The best overall, medium difficulty
Want a challenge? Try:
- Blasphemous 2 – Soulslike difficulty
- Salt and Sanctuary – Dark Souls in 2D
- Dead Cells – Roguelike punishes mistakes
FAQ
Q: What's the difference between Metroidvania and regular platformers? A: Metroidvanias have interconnected worlds where new abilities unlock previously inaccessible areas, encouraging backtracking and exploration.
Q: How long are Metroidvanias typically? A: 8-15 hours for most, with Hollow Knight being an outlier at 40-60+ hours.
Q: Are Metroidvanias hard? A: They range from gentle (Ori) to brutal (Blasphemous). Most offer a satisfying middle ground.
Q: Can I play Metroidvanias on Steam Deck? A: Absolutely. The genre is perfect for handheld play. Nearly all titles listed are Steam Deck Verified.