Whichever games you choose, you can expect a lot of 2D animation platforming and some intense boss battles. In reality, it’s a chimaera created by combining important gameplay components from two titles that once ruled the gaming world but haven’t had a significant rebirth in current gaming, even if their legacy lingers on. The genre has seen a spectacular comeback in the last decade or two, with several superb titles produced to widespread acclaim from critics and audiences alike. We’re here to expose you to some of these games or to refresh your memories of them, but first, a little explanation of what constitutes a Metroidvania game is in order.
Here is the list of Best Metroidvania Games on PC
The Mummy Demastered
Easily one of the best Metroidvania Games on PC available on the store, The Mummy Demastered is a licenced video game for the 2017 Mummy reboot starring Tom Cruise, and it is far superior to the film from which it is based. This is the one to play if you prefer shooting in Metroidvanias over melee combat. It looks as 16-bit as they get. Aside from that, if you die, you don’t simply respawn someplace and leave your belongings behind, but begin as a new character. If you want your belongings back, you must battle for them with your old self. The map could have used a bit more depth, and it’s more about discovering new weapons than gaining new talents, but it’s a good-looking, simplistic advocate of its genre. Overall, it is one of the best Metroidvania games on PC that you can steam from official website.
Axiom Verge
Axiom Verge is one of the best recent instances of the genre, set in a dark, Giger-esque alien environment inhabited by mysterious huge mechanical beings and, of course, a horde of bullet hell boss monsters. As you uncover new alien gadgetry, such as a trenchcoat that allows you to phase through walls and a device that allows you to manipulate a microscopic alien beetle to crawl into new cave systems, new avenues open up. Combat is as simple as blasting the alien objects fluttering around each level, but there are tonnes of weaponry to find and mysteries to uncover if you’re determined enough to glitch or blast your way through secret walls. It’s a scary and slightly unsettling game with some genuinely grim moments, but it’s a perfect tribute to the original Metroid games’ lonely inhospitable hallways.
Aggelos
Aggelos can feel more like a light Metroidvania like Zelda, a game that doesn’t confine you too much but yet has a lot to offer in terms of surprises. If you prefer your games colourful and lively, with chubby adversaries and Super Mario-like surroundings, this is the game for you. While it does not play like the modern marvel’ that it is billed as, it does play like the 16-bit era platformers that it is influenced. It is one of the few Metroidvanias for players searching for something that does not come with hardcore base difficulty. If you want to make things more tough, you can attempt the hard mode. It’s the perfect Metroidvania snack for a wide range of players, with a pleasant music and a decent gameplay of roughly 10 hours.
Owlboy
Many of these games are set underground in seemingly infinite cave systems. The story of Owlboy takes place in a floating cloud country. As Owlboy stated, Otus, you must flap across the earth in a somewhat laborious manner befitting a character that is regarded as an idiot by his town. As you fly around, you can transfer pals into your claws. Diverse companions have different skills; some will fend off nearby opponents with projectile assaults, while others will assist you in exploring new areas in true metroidvania manner. It’s difficult to explain much about Owlboy without giving too much away about the plot, but suffice it to say it’s an emotional rollercoaster rendered in gorgeously detailed pixel art.
Blasphemous
Every time you think Metroidvanias have exhausted every possible topic, a game like Blasphemous appears. It adds a Dark Souls-style touch to the Metroidvania genre, complete with cursed undead, religious symbolism, and a central bonfire system. The art direction is excellent, and the gameplay is solid, albeit a little short in anything to set it apart from the sea of Metroidvanias available, which is a common issue with most newer products.
Ori and the Blind Forest
Ori & The Blind Forest, one of the most sublime and brilliantly constructed metroidvanias, emphasised exploration and achievement above difficulty on its original release, which divided the MV audience. Its upgraded version, released a year later, improved and expanded the game by adding additional regions, powers, and, most importantly, difficulty levels, increasing the appeal of this most beautiful and evocative of games. You play as Ori, a brilliant woodland spirit accompanied by a floating ball called Sein as they try to figure out why their planet is being overrun by a virulent corruption. Which entails jumping, dashing, upgrading, and fighting your way through an ever-expanding selection of breathtakingly stunning places.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
One of the best Castlevania games in years, these are the words that commonly begin Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. However, it didn’t get off to the best of starts. The demo shown to supporters was met with criticism after raising ten times the original goal on Kickstarter. As a result, the release date was pushed back, but the end product paid off and shown to the gamers that heart and soul were poured into it. The dark, beautiful anime-style graphics in Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night pay homage to the timeless classic. The map design and fighting also feel familiar, while the range of cool weapons and loads of powers allows you to customise your builds to meet your playstyle. For fans of metroidvania games, this is a must-play.
Sundered
The first thing you notice when you launch Sundered is its stunning, hand-drawn artwork. And this release continues to demonstrate the numerous benefits and distinguishing aspects of metroidvania games on PC. Sundered provides players with a lot of freedom by letting them to freely choose their way between critical rooms. So, if the road to the boss is now too difficult, you can always take an alternate route. Furthermore, the location’s construction varies with each death. The game’s simplicity and repetitiveness may be a turnoff for some. There aren’t many different types of adversaries here, and character stats matter more in battle than agility and reflexes.
The Messenger
The Messenger is a big gift to the elder generation of players who remember and adore 8-bit graphics games like Castlevania. This retro-style title will also bring a smile to those who remember the Commodore. Despite the fact that the plot is almost non-existent, the funny language is worth noting. Surprisingly, they make reference to the current state of affairs in the gaming business. Despite the fact that this production is aimed at veterans, younger gamers will like it as well. All thanks to the fantastic gameplay and mechanisms that allow you to switch between 8-bit and 16-bit graphics. It enables you to dodge traps that were previously insurmountable.
Steamworld Dig 2
SteamWorld Dig was unique in that it took a fresh look at the metroidvania genre. In truth, it was a hybrid of several genres, including a platformer, an RPGs, and a cunning use of 2013’s mining game boom. Combining all of these elements, its stunning little tale spoke of a desert mining village of robots living on a post-apocalyptic Earth, with its first launch on the desperately-needed-something-like-this 3DS. Rusty was your character, and your mission was to dig, mine for diamonds, smack foes, and explore the planet’s rocky underbelly. The more you mined, the more new and improved equipment you could acquire, and the more regions you could access. But, most importantly, it wasn’t a 2D Minecraft of aimless digging; it was a structured story with predetermined goals along your improvised pathways down.
Final Words
Thus concludes our list of the best Metroidvania Games on PC. Whether you’re a fan of the genre or a beginner, these largely independent titles are certain to have something to start or continue your trip through it. Metroidvania is one of the more difficult genres to define. With its moniker derived from a mash-up of two very different Nintendo-based game series, Metroid and Castlevania, just what qualifies is always up for discussion.
