Mega Man ZX
3 out of 5. Combining Mega Man X with Metroidvania level design seems like a match made in heaven, but Mega Man ZX needed some significant changes to make it really work.
Blasphemous: The Stir of Dawn
4 out of 5. With the latest patch, Blasphemous is a great value, with five new great bosses, fixes to old content, and three new modes to extend your play time in challenging ways.
The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human
4 out of 5. While its story may be a case study in ludo-narrative dissonance, The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human provides a unique underwater take on metroidvania design with some great bosses.
Castlevania: The Lecarde Chronicles 2
4 out of 5. A delightful marriage between Classicvania and Metroidvania that will surely please fans of both. Challenging combat and a deep world to explore make for a wholly memorable game.
Castlevania: The Lecarde Chronicles
3.5 out of 5. A strong Classicvania experience with some of the series’ later mechanics mixed in. A worthwhile playthrough assuming you don’t have any technical issues.
Biomass
4 out of 5. Its combat is just good enough to be of passing interest to Souls-like fans, but where Biomass really shines is how it presents its mysteries, and how much it leaves open to interpretation.
BatBarian: Testament of the Primordials
4.5 out of 5. A multitasking focused action puzzle-platformer that will bend your brain in creative ways, with all of its challenges being wrapped up in great music and a charming layered narrative.
Smelted Kin
2 out of 5. The first half of the game is intensely engaging and has an alluring lonely atmosphere once you learn how to play, but the payoff for your efforts will likely leave you disappointed.
Enter Digiton
3 out of 5. Clever and sometimes relaxing platforming challenges are intermixed with mostly frustrating boss fights and a bit of loose control design. What sets it apart is its one-of-a-kind charm.
Phoenotopia Awakening
5 out of 5. While the difficulty and some features may grate against individual preferences, its immersiveness and gameplay variety combine to make Phoenotopia Awakening an absolute masterpiece.
Weapon Hacker
4 out of 5. Tight controls and strategic gameplay make this roguelite Metroid style game a great way to spend an hour, or maybe a hundred hours. Customize your weapons on the fly and conquer.
3000th Duel
3 out of 5. A mostly formulaic Souls-like experience that offers up fun exploration with good verticality and combat that is competently executed.
Bad Run – Turbo Edition
2.5 out of 5. An Endless Runner with some open castles to explore and test your skills. It won’t change your mind if you’re not into its genre, but it does offer something unique if you are.
Metroid Samus Returns
4 out of 5. An adrenaline rush remake of Metroid II that doesn’t quite stay true to the game it’s remaking, but it’s still very fun and very Metroid nevertheless. A must play for any Metroid fan.
AM2R – Another Metroid 2 Remake
5 out of 5. AM2R manages to update Metroid II with Metroid Zero’s mechanics in a way that not only honors the original’s vision, but sets a standard that remakes and Metroidvania games can aspire to.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
4.5 out of 5. Improved combat, a plethora of new mechanics and areas, and an emotional continuation of the story that The Blind Forest started makes this a must play for fans of the original game.
Lootbox Lyfe
4 out of 5. A treasure trove of platforming challenges, with plenty of options to accommodate players of all skill levels. It can be punishingly brutal, or you can just enjoy relaxing exploration.
Metroid II: Return of Samus
3.5 out of 5. While it lacks the improvements its successors pioneered, it’s still a masterclass example of horror and atmosphere, especially given its limitations.
Minoria
3.5 out of 5. A bit of a step backward from the Developer’s previous work, but there are still some great combat challenges to be had for those that enjoy mastering difficult patterns.
Pankapu
4 out of 5. Pankapu is an underrated linear platformer with a gorgeous dreamlike atmosphere and some Metroidvania elements to enjoy. Technically incomplete, but the story vagueness may be a feature.
Super Panda Adventures
3.5 out of 5. A tremendously high value for the price point. If you enjoy frequent rewards, tons of exploration, and a cast of funny characters satirizing game culture, you can’t lose on this one.
Teslagrad
3.5 out of 5. A unique magnet-based puzzle platformer with excellent pacing outside of its one-hit death mechanics. Fans of both puzzle platformers and twitch-based games should check this out.
Blasphemous
3.5 out of 5. Not the perfect game that people were hoping for, but nevertheless you’ll find some fulfilling exploration and memorable moments that still make this a worthwhile title to check out.
REDO!
4 out of 5. This Lovecraftian style survival horror side scroller successfully captures the sweet taste of release that can only come after feelings of absolute dread. Highly recommended.
Zeran’s Folly
1.5 out of 5. Initial impressions are good, but gradually the story, boss, and level design completely fall apart, leaving behind only vulgar jokes and wasted potential.
Demon Peak
3 out of 5. Some of the design and lack of polish makes it feel unfair, but it’s still the kind of unfair that feels satisfying to conquer – if you enjoy that kind of thing. The Price is Right.
External Visions
2.5 out of 5. Some parts feel unfair, but the lesser design is counteracted by some interesting puzzle design, satisfying accomplishments, and interesting story concepts. Plus it’s free.
Eagle Island
4.5 out of 5. Eagle Island doesn’t care about genre rules. It just takes inspiration and makes a wholly unique, and truly amazing, game out of it. It’s a roguelike platformer you won’t want to miss.
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon
4.5 out of 5. Not a Metroidvania. An absolutely fantastic revival of the Classic-vania style that any fan of the original Castlevania games – partiicularly the third one – should not miss!