Summary
- Valdis Story: Abyssal City offers rich RPG elements and combo-heavy combat, but struggled to gain widespread attention due to lack of marketing.
- Kharon’s Crypt pays tribute to Game Boy Color aesthetics with a unique possession mechanic, overlooked by many for its retro visuals.
- Astalon: Tears of the Earth features crispy movement and unique exploration but was overshadowed by visually elaborate Metroidvanias, despite critical acclaim.
The Metroidvania, as a genre, has enjoyed enormous growth over the past decade, yet many standout titles have been left out of the limelight. Whether due to unfortunate release timing, modest marketing, or being overshadowed by larger releases, some games never reached the audience they warranted.
But a lack of mainstream buzz doesn't necessarily mean a lack of quality. Some of the best games in the genre are hidden away behind industry titans and flashy new releases, just waiting to be discovered. These titles deserve recognition for their innovative designs, unique gameplay approaches, and overall ambition.
The Best 2D Metroidvania Games To Start With
Metroidvania games are very popular, but with so many to choose from it may be overwhelming. These are the best 2D Metroidvania games for beginners.
Valdis Story: Abyssal City
RPG Elements With Platforming Goodness
Valdis Story: Abyssal City
- Released
- September 8, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
Blending intense, combo-heavy combat with a rich RPG progression system, Valdis Story offers a large amount of replayability through multiple playable characters, unique skill trees, and branching upgrades. Yet despite critical praise, it struggled to distinguish itself during the surge of early indie releases on Steam Greenlight.
Without strong marketing or a major publisher, the game has remained a cult favorite rather than a breakout success. Today, it’s remembered by those who played it as a near-perfect blend of fast action and thoughtful exploration.
Kharon’s Crypt
A Good Old-Fashioned Nostalgia Kick
- Release Date: Feb 1, 2022
- Developer: Hebi Lee
- Available Platforms: Switch, PC
Kharon’s Crypt pays loving tribute to Game Boy Color aesthetics, but expertly pairs its retro visuals with a clever possession mechanic. As a wandering soul, players can inhabit enemies and objects, using them to solve puzzles, bypass hazards, and uncover secrets in a way that was unique to the genre.
Upon release, it saw little attention outside of retro-focused communities. Many dismissed its visuals as a simple throwback, missing its inventive approach to exploration. But for those who gave it time, it revealed itself as a modern game hiding under a nostalgic skin, full of charm, challenge, and surprises.
Astalon: Tears of the Earth
Crispy Movement Across Several Captivating Characters
Astalon: Tears of the Earth
Story
Three heroic explorers wander the post-apocalyptic desert on a mission to save their village from despair. They soon find a dark, twisted tower that has risen from the depths of the planet and seemingly holds the key to their survival. In order to ensure their victory, one of them has made a secret pact with the Titan of Death, Epimetheus, allowing them to reincarnate until they have accomplished their mission. But what fate lies in store for the heroes and their village?
Death is Only the Beginning
Astalon: Tears Of The Earth is an action-platformer set in a dying world where life is cruel, but death can be a stepping stone to victory! Use the unique skills and weapons of Arias the fighter, Kyuli the rogue, and Algus the wizard, to surmount the mysterious tower and find the answers to their survival. Slay terrible monsters, discover powerful artifacts, and solve fiendish puzzles, reaching new heights in the tower with the aid of a Titan. Follow a story about friendship and sacrifice, building up the courage to take down giants to protect the weak and powerless. Strengthen your party and change their fate by embracing death. Discover the countless secrets of the Tower of Serpents!
Features
• Relive the glory days of 8-bit action-adventure through beautifully detailed, authentic pixel art set in a dark, fantastic world! Astalon features the progressive exploration of an interconnected world with the swiftness and quick rhythm of a room-by-room action platformer.
• Original character design by Ryusuke Mita, creator of world-famous manga Dragon Half!
• Play at your own pace -- explore thoroughly and build your characters strengths, or use risky methods to slice your way up the tower furiously!
• Switch between your heroes and utilize the unique abilities of a warrior, archer and wizard to progress through the game.
• Battle against a large assortment of different enemies, giant monsters, and epic bosses! Choose the right hero to find the weaknesses of the creatures that stand in your way!
• Upgrade your characters’ abilities and change the course of destiny by making deals with Epimetheus -- the Titan of Death.
• Collect a variety of incredible artifacts such as the “Sword of Mirrors” that will bestow your characters with new abilities and open new possibilities.
• Use campfires to save your progress, change characters, and discover details about the heroes’ pasts.
• Hundreds of rooms to discover -- hours of challenging exploration with a plethora of unlockables and secrets to reward the most inquisitive players!
• Experience an exciting soundtrack of chiptune music composed by Matt Kap, spanning over 30 pieces of music!
- Released
- June 3, 2021
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Windows, macOS, Linux
With three heroes to switch between at any time, Astalon: Tears of the Earth encourages experimentation in a world that demands to be explored. Its NES-inspired visuals masked a wealth of modern conveniences and clever level design that made backtracking enjoyable rather than tedious.
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Despite the innovative approach, it was kept in the dark by more visually elaborate Metroidvanias. While it did win PC Gamer’s Best Metroidvania award the year it released, the recognition never translated to widespread popularity. Yet, it still stands as a rewarding Metroidvania that honors retro sensibilities without being bound by them.
Ghost Song
Haunting Elegance Below A Rough Exterior
Ghost Song
- Released
- November 3, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Old Moon
- Platform(s)
- Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Set on a mysterious alien moon, Ghost Song combines atmospheric exploration with melancholic storytelling in a hand-painted world unlike any other. The haunting soundtrack lends it a meditative tone, but it isn't afraid to break the slowness with some intense combat that demands precision and timing, like any good Metroidvania.
After a lengthy development, Ghost Song arrived alongside a crowded lineup of sci-fi games and went largely unnoticed. However, those who explored its quiet, lonely corridors found an emotionally resonant adventure that valued mood as much as mechanics. It is well worth picking up for fans of a more psychologically oriented journey.
Catmaze
Fairy Tales Meet Slavic Myths
- Release Date: May 24, 2018
- Available Platforms: PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Android
- Developers: Red Black Spade, Ratalaika Games, indigo game production
Drawing heavily from Slavic mythology, Catmaze presents a whimsical yet mysterious world full of magical creatures and folklore-inspired bosses. Its hand-drawn art and personal story create a warm, distinctive identity, coupled with a cartoony look that sets it apart from the crowd in a big way.
Launched in 2018 by a solo developer, it lacked the promotional reach to stand out. Its lighter tone and gentle difficulty did make it stand out from the darker trends in Metroidvania design, but that made it easy to overlook at the time, despite being a charming, heartfelt take on the genre’s core principles.
Depths of Sanity
Entering The Depths Below
- Release Date: Nov 2, 2022
- Developer: Bomb Shelter Games
- Available Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One
Depths of Sanity takes the unusual approach of setting its entire adventure in a submarine, trading traditional platforming for claustrophobic navigation through underwater caverns. The slower movement adds tension, as each new ability opens routes deeper into unknown waters, and makes the world seem much larger than it initially appears.
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Metroidvanias often pair exploration and discovery with brutal combat to challenge players. These titles have some of the best combat in the genre.
Its niche concept and measured pace kept it from appealing to the broader Metroidvania audience. Yet for those willing to adapt, it offers a uniquely atmospheric journey, blending exploration with quiet horror to deliver a unique experience in one of the more crowded gaming spaces.
Bone Appetit
Simplistic Yet Full Of Life
- Release Date: May 8, 2020
- Developer: DXF Games
- Available Platforms: PC
Mixing absurd humor with classic Metroidvania design, Bone Appetit stands out for its playful premise. Players battle enemies and collect bizarre ingredients to craft meals that grant abilities and powers to be used at various points.
Its creativity shines through in both level design and world-building, but unfortunately, its intentionally silly tone and modest art style led some to underestimate it. Despite the exterior, however, it is still a cleverly structured Metroidvania that rewards curiosity and experimentation, whilst managing to deliver a few laughs along the way.
Environmental Station Alpha
Minimalism At Its Finest
- Release Date: Apr 23, 2015
- Developers: Hempuli, Roope Mäkinen, Arvi Teikari
- Available Platforms: Linux, Microsoft Windows, macOS
Environmental Station Alpha embraces a minimalist pixel-art style while delivering intricate exploration and tight, challenging combat. It demands observation and skill at all times, while presenting players with meaningful secrets hidden throughout its alien environments.
But that stripped-back presentation and lack of hand-holding kept it niche, appealing mostly to hardcore fans. However, its well-executed mechanics and sense of mystery have earned it a devoted following over time. Even today, it offers a masterclass in subtle, yet rewarding design.
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Players don't have to wait long at all for these Metroidvania games to rev up. Here's which ones are fun from the get-go.