I'm looking for a fun metroidvania to play but I have so many games so I'd love some suggestions
I'd love some recommendations on what to play next. I've been playing shooter/looter exploration games for a while and want something different to play next so recs would be awesome. Below is a list of metroidvanias I have played and loved as well as the metroidvania I own but have not yet played. Fair warning, I own a LOT of games. I may have a problem...
I don't want to be derisive or start debate over what is an isn't a metroidvania. I'm hoping to start a fun conversation about what is fun and what isn't that will end in finding me some fun games to play
What I want out of a metroidvania is side scrolling in a massive interconnected environment with exploration, upgrades, unlocks, platforming, etc. I love RPG mechanics but h*a*t*e souls-like. I don't have fun if a game is too difficult. A tough boss or tricky platforming section that takes a few tries is fine, but not a punishing slog as the default mode. No shade on folks who like them, but just not for me. I don't want a top-down Zelda-like or something with side-scrolling connected by Zelda-likes (such as Blaster Master). I love me some Zelda-likes, but that's not what I'm looking for. Same for a map screen like Bionic Commando or Mario 3/World. I disagree with categorizing them as metroidvanias but again, no shade at all
Here are some of my favorite metroidvanias:
- Metriod , Super Metroid, Metroid: Fusion, Metroid: Zero Mission, AM2R
Really thought I owned more I've played...
Here are some I played but didn't work for me for one reason or another
- Castlevania 1986 (too linear for the genre but worth mentioning because it's too difficult to be fun)
- Legacy of the Wizard (too obtuse and kind of annoying to navigate even with a map)
- Metroid II: The Return of Samus (no map plus GB graphics and controls)
Below are the games I own that are metroidvanias (I think but may be wrong for some). I'm looking for suggestions from this list
- Adventure Island IV
- Catlevania: Anniversary Collection (
Castlevania, II: Simon's Quest, III: Dracula's Curse, IV, The Adventure, II: Belmont's Revenge, Bloodlines, Kid Dracula), Dracula X, Legends, Symphony of the Night, Circle of the Moon, Harmony of Dissonance, Aria of Sorrow, Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, Order of Ecclesia - Cave Story+
- Celeste
- Dandara
- Death's Gambit
- DOOMBLADE
- Eastern Exorcist
- Faxanadu
- F.I.S.T. Forged in Shadow Torch
- Greak: Memories of Azur
- Grime
- GRIS
- Guacamelee!, Guacamelee 2
- Islets
- Kid Icarus
- Kingdom: New Lands
- Megaman ZX, Megaman ZX Advent
- Next Up Hero
- Ori and the Blind Forest
- Phantom 2049
- Rambo 1987
- Shante, Shante and the Pirate's Curse
- TMNT III: Radical Rescue
- Yoku's Island Express
A lot of these were free Epic games but others, like the non-collection Castlevania games, I went a little crazy in a retro game store like a year ago when I saw them... I blame the bipolar...
If there are similar games I'm missing that are inexpensive, feel free to drop a rec. Feel free to let me know if some of these are not metroidvanias so I can change up my collections
Alternatively, if there are any games that are just bad, I would also like to know so I don't play them accidentally lol
I have some games I'm not sure if they are metroidvanias or not so if you see any here, let me know so I can update the post and my collections
- 20XX, Contra: Shattered Soldier, Contra 4, Dandara, Duke Nukem, Duke Nukem II, Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project, Gun Witch, Inside, Jill of the Jungle, Kid Icarus, Limbo, Little Nermo the Dream Master,Neko Ghost Jump!, Never Yield, Rising Hell, Runbow, Slain: Back from Hell, Super Meat Boy Forever, Tandem: A Tale of Shadows, Tomb Raider Starring Lara Croft, Tomb Raider: Curse of the Sword, Xena: Warrior Princess (Game Boy Color)