Metroidvanias You Can’t Miss!

Metroidvanias borrow the best features from two classic games, Metroid and Castlevania -- and they usually come with the high standard that both games set. These games are characterized by a large interconnected map with areas inaccessible without certain power-ups. Throw in shortcuts, secrets, easter eggs and a heavy emphasis on exploration, and you got yourself a great Metroidvania.

This list contain some epic Metroidvanias that are guaranteed to keep you on your toes and entertained for hours. 

VVVVVV ($4.99)

While it looks simple from the outside, VVVVVV is anything but. With challenging and addicting gameplay and a simplistic art style, VVVVVV will have you sucked in for hours on end. It was created by the studio Nicalis -- though most of the work fell specifically Terry Cavanagh, who designed the game with Adobe Flash. This game takes you back to the trials of old school gaming, so you better have a great amount of patience and expect to fail a lot.

Rex Rocket ($4.99)

This Kickstarter-funded, old-school 2D platformer takes heavy influence from the Mega Man series. Each level will challenge you and keep you on your feet as you make your way though an expansive world.

This game is the first game developed by Castle Pixel, LLC -- and it was a success. Rex Rocket pays homage to the classic platformers and breathes new life into the genre. So it was a good thing this game was funded. Hopefully Yooka-Laylee will have a similar success. 

Adventure Time: Hey Ice King Why'd You Steal Our Garbage?!! ($19.99)

Adventure Time's first video game came with some pretty big expectations. Developers were tasked with capturing Adventure Time's vast world, colorful characters, and humor into a game -- and fortunately they succeeded. Hey Ice King is developed by WayForward Technologies, which is best known for the Shantae series. Hey Ice King took heavy influence from Zelda II's top down and 2D side-scroller perspective, in addition  to the many dungeons this game has to offer. This game has a ton of Adventure Time easter eggs to keep even the biggest fans satisfied. 

Guacamelee! ($14.99)

What do you get when you cross Mexican culture and a non-stop action-packed beat em up? You get Guacamelee!, the epic game on Steam. Guacamelee! was released by DrinkBox Studios, whose most recent game came out last April. The game is filled with references to Zelda through a light and dark world, and classic Mario platforming -- all of which comes together to create a unique gameplay experience. 

Shantae and the Pirate's Curse ($19.99)

In honor of the Shantae: Half-Genie Hero announcement, I thought Shantae: and the Pirate's Curse should be on this list. Having lost her genie powers in the previous game, Shantae uses various pirate-themed weapons scattered throughout the game, and of course uses her signature hair attack.

This game was also developed by WayForward, a studio known for their Metroidvania titles. Like the other entries in this series, you will go platform though worlds, gaining new powers which will allow you access to new areas. Plus, the retro style artwork puts a bow on this must-play game. 

Kirby & The Amazing Mirror ($6.99)

This adorable fluffball never fails to entertain. However, this is the only entry in the Kirby series that is considered a Metroidvania because of its map, which allows you to take different paths at any time. In this entry, you can summon a yellow, red, and green Kirby to help you on your quest. Plus, if you get sick of the base game, there are minigames such as Speed Eaters and Kirby's Wave Ride guaranteed to spice up gameplay.  

Where there any Metroidvanias I missed? What is your favorite? Let me know in the comments! Hopefully we will see more Metroidvanias in the future that will really challenge us and remind us why we love this genera so much.