About MetroidvaniaReview
MetroidvaniaReview.com is a dedicated review site for the Metroidvania genre — games inspired by the exploration-driven design of Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.
Every review focuses on what matters most in the genre: how the map unfolds, how abilities gate exploration, how satisfying the backtracking feels, and whether the game earns the "Metroidvania" label. Each review includes a structured Metroidvania Breakdown scoring Combat, Platforming, Exploration, Story, Graphics, and more — so you can quickly see where a game shines and where it falls short.
The site originally ran from 2016 to 2021, covering over 200 games — from celebrated classics like Hollow Knight and Dust: An Elysian Tail to obscure indie releases few people have heard of. This rebuilt version preserves all of those reviews in a faster, cleaner format.
Scoring System
All games are scored out of 5:
- 5.0 — Masterpiece
- 4.5 — Excellent
- 4.0 — Great
- 3.5 — Good
- 3.0 — Decent
- 2.0–2.9 — Mixed
- Below 2.0 — Poor
The breakdown table scores individual aspects of each game on the same 1–5 scale, giving a granular view beyond the final number.
On Steam
We also post short reviews as a Steam curator. Follow us and our recommendations show up on the store pages you browse.
Follow us on SteamFurther reading
New to the genre, or wondering where the line between "Metroidvania" and "action platformer" sits? GearsRealm's what makes a good metroidvania game is a good primer on the traits these reviews look for.