Metroidvanias are games where, instead of a linear level design, the entire map exists in a single world space that is separated by barriers that are ability-gated, which can often be obtained by defeating area bosses. The map feels like a maze with locked doors that players need to remember or mark down in order to revisit later when they obtain the corresponding ability needed to unlock them.
15 Best Metroidvanias, Ranked
The Metroidvania is one of the most popular genres in indie gaming, even bleeding over into AAA titles. These games represent the best of the genre.
As a genre, Metroidvanias typically involve some degree of combat to spice up the gameplay. However, that is not always the case. Certain Metroidvanias forgo combat entirely, opting instead to focus on puzzles, quick reaction time, or both as the core parts of their gameplay loop. For players looking for something different than the standard fare, these games can serve as an excellent change of pace.
5 Sheepo
Transformative Abilities In A Charming, Offbeat World
- Release date: August 26, 2020
- Developer: Kyle Thompson
- Genres: Platformer, Adventure, Casual
Sheepo is a charming Metroidvania that forgoes combat entirely to focus on puzzle-based gameplay, a distinct art style, inventive world design, and an offbeat sense of humor. The gameplay strikes a balance between challenging puzzles that require actual thinking to solve but avoid being so frustrating that they become tiresome.
The goal of the game is to rescue eggs from boss monsters spread out across the map. Instead of fighting, the player character defeats these bosses by turning their own attacks against them via clever platforming and fast-paced movement. Sheepo unlocks new abilities after saving a new egg from each boss monster. These allow the player to transform into new species with new abilities, which are needed to unlock deeper areas of the game and uncover certain secrets.
4 Unbound: Worlds Apart
Spell-Based Platforming
- Release date: July 28, 2021
- Developer: Alien Pixel Studios
- Genres: Platformer, Puzzle, Adventure
Unbound: Worlds Apart is a deceptively complex Metroidvania that serves as an excellent entry point for players new to the genre who want to take on something that's challenging but not frustrating. This is because of the incredibly generous save system that creates respawn points very liberally, allowing players to redo sections without having to run back from far away. The game starts off simple but gets progressively faster-paced as the player progresses and starts requiring precise jump and portal timings to clear platforming puzzles.
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Navigating the map of Unbound: Worlds Apart requires the creative usage of spells, of which new ones will become available over time. Broadly, each spell creates a bubble around the player, changing the immediate surroundings with its unique aspects. These effects range from flipping gravity, revealing hidden platforms, and directly phasing through objects. While it is technically possible to defeat enemies in this game through creative spellwork, it does not involve direct combat. And for regular mobs, it's better to move past them rather than try to figure out how to take them out. Boss battles involve figuring out the correct way to deal damage to the boss while dodging their attacks via jumps, double jumps, and phasing.
3 Himno
A Serene Metroidvania Focused Entirely On Exploration
- Release date: April 26, 2019
- Developer: David Moralejo Sánchez
- Genres: Platformer, Adventure, Casual, Free To Play
Himno is a relaxing 2D platformer with randomly generated levels and absolutely zero combat. There are no boss battles to complete and no tricky enemies to outmaneuver. The main goal in Himno is exploration, and since the game's map is brand new every time a player starts a new run, it remains fresh.
Movement controls are relatively straightforward, with all the staples of platforming, like jumping, wall jumping, and dashing, present here. The player character feels nimble to control and can move in any direction, up, down, left, right, and diagonally. Experience orbs are scattered throughout the levels, and collecting enough of them levels up the character automatically. This allows players to collect certain power-ups found on the map, as they can only be picked up if the character meets the level requirement. These are temporary buffs that last for the duration of a run and make traversal easier. There is no other goal in this game; players explore because they want to, not because they have to. Combined with the fact that there is no combat and everything moves only as fast as the players want it to, makes Himno one of the most relaxing Metroidvanias out there.
2 Animal Well
A Puzzle-Filled Metroidvania With No Direct Combat
Animal Well
- Released
- May 9, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Shared Memory
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Metroidvania, Puzzle
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Animal Well is a bite-sized indie 2D puzzle platformer that revolves entirely around the way it handles movement and traversal. Progression involves unlocking tools that allow the player character to move in new ways, allowing them to reach places that were inaccessible beforehand. Instead of quick reaction times and difficulty platforming, Animal Well wants the player to think through the challenges in the game and come up with solutions. The sheer number of secrets in the game is staggering, and only the most dedicated and keen-eyed players find everything there is to find in this game.
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Animal Well is an unusual, intriguing Metroidvania game; however, there are a few games that scratch the itch for players looking for s similar title.
Even though there is no combat in Animal Well, there are bosses to defeat. Instead of mashing attacks, however, boss encounters in this game are essentially timed puzzles where the player needs to figure out which buttons to press and mechanisms to trigger in order to bait the boss to its death. Similarly, smaller enemies need to be avoided or bamboozled in order to progress past them.
1 Toki Tori 2
A Deceptively Complex Puzzle Platformer Without Any Combat
- Release date: April 4, 2013
- Genres: Puzzle, Platformer, Adventure, Casual
- Developer: Two Tribes
Toki Tori 2 is a curious 2D platformer that turns the Metroidvania formula on its head. Players start—and end—the game with only two abilities: a stomp and a tweet; there is nothing else the player can do. The entire map can be accessed just by using these two actions, provided the player understands the correct way to use them.
Every puzzle in this game revolves around using these two abilities to unlock the path ahead. The map of Toki Tori 2 is home to a large variety of different animals, and each one reacts differently when an ability is used in front of them; frogs open their mouth, bugs fall off walls, birds carry the player to high places, and so on. The player's job is to figure out which commands to give to which animal and in what order to make these small creatures open the path forward. While these puzzles start off simple, they can get incredibly intricate as players progress through the game. Learning the ins and outs of how every single critter in the game is key to reaching every single area and unlocking all the secrets. There is no combat of any kind in Toki Tori 2.