This gets my vote as well. I had fun playing through it. I did find it quite challenging though.
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What are your favorite lesser-known metroidvania games and why?
- Thread starter Cosmic Voyager
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This gets my vote as well. I had fun playing through it. I did find it quite challenging though.
I've mostly played well known metroidvanias but the only one i can think of that fits the bill (and one that hasn't been mentioned here yet) is a 3ds eshop exclusive game, Bloody Vampire. I admit it's not as good as many metroidvanias listed here but still feel it's worth a mention since it has long since been delisted from the eshop when the game company Agetec pulled all their games from the store. It's a mostly serviceable game that's sadly inaccessible in any official capacity anymore.
Same here, my dude!
I like the elegant approach Konjak took with the systems. Instead of a relentless string of upgrades, the levels and puzzles pushed your current repitoire to the limit.
Also the pixel art's just too top-notch, bringing to mind late-SNES/ early-Saturn games.
Quackshot and Monster World IV are awesome. Super Adventure Island II is a real good metroidvania too.
Castlevania Lecarde Chronicles 2(fangame) is probably one of the best Castlevania games and it's not even an official game of the franchise but it should be.
Castlevania Lecarde Chronicles 2(fangame) is probably one of the best Castlevania games and it's not even an official game of the franchise but it should be.
Back in the day, a lot of EGM/1up folks would thrash Tails Adventures on the Game Gear, often mixing it up with the completely-different "Tails Sky Patrol."
Tails Adventures is basically the Game Gear's one and only Metroidvania. It's cute and charming, though it's also not very fast or complex.
The game's biggest actual problem is that Tails has limited inventory space so you can only equip four gadgets at a time, and only one can be in use at the same time. So you might find a pair of running shoes that let you sprint like Sonic, but that means unequipping your weapon in order to use them. Fortunately, the difficulty isn't mean enough for it to really matter. It's just a little tedious having to go back to Tails' workshop to change out equipment all the time.
Tails Adventures is basically the Game Gear's one and only Metroidvania. It's cute and charming, though it's also not very fast or complex.
The game's biggest actual problem is that Tails has limited inventory space so you can only equip four gadgets at a time, and only one can be in use at the same time. So you might find a pair of running shoes that let you sprint like Sonic, but that means unequipping your weapon in order to use them. Fortunately, the difficulty isn't mean enough for it to really matter. It's just a little tedious having to go back to Tails' workshop to change out equipment all the time.
I'm playing through Touhou Luna Knights and it's really good. The map is not really that big from what I've seen, but the combat is where this game shines.
I find it a bit too difficult though! My reflexes are not that sharp, so I basically do a boss per week because it takes me some training lol.
I find it a bit too difficult though! My reflexes are not that sharp, so I basically do a boss per week because it takes me some training lol.
What's that they say about the first post nailing it? It actually angers me that so many people have slept on this one. The soundtrack is absolutely phenomenal, and you'd think it would be on a lot more people's radar being both an excellent Metroid style game and one of those instances where the game is light years ahead of the movie (like X-Men Origins Wolverine).
I'll continue to... what's the word the kids use these days... "stan"... for it.
Stealth, Inc. 2 (formerly Stealth Bastards I think?) was a super fun Metroidvania type game. Running around a top secret lab saving your fellow clones, involving lots of stealth and puzzles, powerups, hacking, big overworld. Damn I need my Wii U back lol
Double Fine's Headlander is really well designed and has a fun gimmick where you detach your head and control a variety of robots. Combat is fun too.
Recently I've been Putting in some time with Carrion on Gamepass...more of a Metroidvania lite, but it's been holding my interest. It has been fun playing as essentially "The Thing" of Carpenter fame.
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Blasphemous recently has been a real joy. Excellent animation work and satisfying combat - occasional platforming and puzzling that is fun without being tedious and just fantastic art direction. Really nice use of shortcuts and level design too - the recent update is impressive. I'd really recommend this one.
To a lesser degree, I'd also call out Un-Epic, which has some genuinely fun writing (think Monkey Island, in terms of tone) and despite not having the best combat, does a lot with what it has. Boss battles are smart and fun and the levels are well put together. It's won't to stand shoulder to shoulder with the bigger names out there, but for what is clearly a very low budget project, it's absolutely brimming with heart.
Based on this thread alone I should revisit Axiom Verge and Chasm. I think the environment design of Axiom Verge's first area always puts me, but I need to get over that.
To a lesser degree, I'd also call out Un-Epic, which has some genuinely fun writing (think Monkey Island, in terms of tone) and despite not having the best combat, does a lot with what it has. Boss battles are smart and fun and the levels are well put together. It's won't to stand shoulder to shoulder with the bigger names out there, but for what is clearly a very low budget project, it's absolutely brimming with heart.
Based on this thread alone I should revisit Axiom Verge and Chasm. I think the environment design of Axiom Verge's first area always puts me, but I need to get over that.
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There are quite a few really amazing overlooked metroidvanias on Steam, the ones that hurt the most to see unloved personally are Dandara and Treasure Adventure World (this is sort of a Treasure Adventure Island remaster). I'd put those 2 just below Hollow Knight and on par with other metroidvania greats like Axiom Verge or Salt & Sanctuary.
Touhou Luna Nights would probably be mine. The time mechanics are great and it has the graze mechanic that Touhou games have. It is definitely a lot more of a smaller map but what really makes the game is all the time based mechanics used for exploration and combat.
Pharaoh Rebirth+ is one of their earlier games and has the same kind of metroidvania-lite map. It is broken up into levels rather than one big map. It is very cute, you play as a guy who is a bunny trying to stop a pharoah curse. There's a lot of charm to it and I did really enjoy my time with it.
Pharaoh Rebirth+ is one of their earlier games and has the same kind of metroidvania-lite map. It is broken up into levels rather than one big map. It is very cute, you play as a guy who is a bunny trying to stop a pharoah curse. There's a lot of charm to it and I did really enjoy my time with it.
Big fan of forma.8.
Also a shout-out to the imperfect but endearing Genesis/Megadrive title, Phantom 2040.
Also a shout-out to the imperfect but endearing Genesis/Megadrive title, Phantom 2040.
Chasm NAILED that flawless Alucard feel WAY more than Bloodstained, surprisingly.
I really enjoyed this game and i don't see it mentioned anywhere in the discussions about metroidvanias and while i think it is not on the same level than games like super metroid or symphony of the night it is still worth playing.
A Robot Named Fight! continues to be the only real roguelite meets metroidvania that works for me with every run being its own new mini Super Metroid game with very close to Super Metroid mechanics and controls all over the place! It's about to hit it's third anniversary being out on both Steam and Switch and is about to get another HUGE content update that adds a bunch of new items and modes into the game (including a "MegaMap" Mode which truly feels like a proper randomized new Super Metroid)
Plus it just got announced next year it is getting a physical release on Nintendo Switch!
I have almost 200 hours just on the steam version of the game and with the new update (and the lone man dev saying there is still more in the future coming) upcoming, i don't see that stopping in any way... plus the fact they are starting to get races going too!
Plus it just got announced next year it is getting a physical release on Nintendo Switch!
I have almost 200 hours just on the steam version of the game and with the new update (and the lone man dev saying there is still more in the future coming) upcoming, i don't see that stopping in any way... plus the fact they are starting to get races going too!
+1 for Outland. Played it this year and it's amazing! (Last boss was too hard for me, tho. 😓 )
Also playing Hell Yeah! Wrath of the Dead Rabbit these days. While the gameplay and controls have some flaws, I'm totally digging the humor. Laughed out loud several times already. :>
Also playing Hell Yeah! Wrath of the Dead Rabbit these days. While the gameplay and controls have some flaws, I'm totally digging the humor. Laughed out loud several times already. :>
A Robot Named Fight! continues to be the only real roguelite meets metroidvania that works for me with every run being its own new mini Super Metroid game with very close to Super Metroid mechanics and controls all over the place! It's about to hit it's third anniversary being out on both Steam and Switch and is about to get another HUGE content update that adds a bunch of new items and modes into the game (including a "MegaMap" Mode which truly feels like a proper randomized new Super Metroid)
Plus it just got announced next year it is getting a physical release on Nintendo Switch!
I have almost 200 hours just on the steam version of the game and with the new update (and the lone man dev saying there is still more in the future coming) upcoming, i don't see that stopping in any way... plus the fact they are starting to get races going too!
I forgot I bought this game a long time ago and still need to play it. Great reminder and time to do deep dive on update/content added
Environmental Station Alpha and Castle in the Darkness. Both are really well designed and packed with clever, rewarding secrets. ESA especially is kind of absurd with how far you can fall down the rabbit hole with secrets and post-game stuff, which isn't surprisingly considering it's developed by Arvi Teikari/Hempuli (Baba is You, Noita).
Alwa's Awakening is nice too, although I remember the level design being a bit funky in some areas. The sequel Alwa's Legacy came out not too long ago, probably gonna pick it up soon.
Alwa's Awakening is nice too, although I remember the level design being a bit funky in some areas. The sequel Alwa's Legacy came out not too long ago, probably gonna pick it up soon.
It was also one of the very few completely exclusive GameGear games that I found enjoyable beyond the noviety of being able to play in color on the go.
There's definitely a ton of great ones but if I had to name just one it would be Timespinner. First off it's another successful Kickstarter project which doesn't get mentioned whenever Kickstarter is talked about. It goes for a PS1 look which I prefer than the usual 8/16 bit. Has a great story, a beautiful soundtrack, tons of side content, fun combat that you can customize to your liking, a extra dungeon, multiple endings, etc. It's so damn good. It's on PC/PS4/PS Vita/Switch, and Xbox One. Please check it out! Here's a song from the game.
The lightning flash move ruined that one for me. You have to use it a lot and it was kinda headache inducing. I'm sensitive to that sort of thing but it still seemed like something they could have added an option to, to turn off the effect. Seemed like a cool game otherwise though.
Did you know that there was a sequel to The Goonies? Did you know it only is alive in video game form?
The Goonies 2 is one part metroidvania, one part dungeon crawler. Platforming levels were interspersed with dungeons where our hero could punch, hammer, or climb his way to more useful items that would open up later pathways or help him in his quest to rescue his friends.
I recall enjoying it at least.
The Goonies 2 is one part metroidvania, one part dungeon crawler. Platforming levels were interspersed with dungeons where our hero could punch, hammer, or climb his way to more useful items that would open up later pathways or help him in his quest to rescue his friends.
I recall enjoying it at least.
One of my favorite Metrovanias is one that I've never heard anyone else bring up: Castle in the Darkness.
Timespinner is also fantastic. I hold the first platinum trophy in the PS4 version and have been meaning to go back and replay it on Vita now that it's been patched up.
Timespinner is also fantastic. I hold the first platinum trophy in the PS4 version and have been meaning to go back and replay it on Vita now that it's been patched up.
A lot of folks have picked great ones so here's one kinda outside a lot of the margins.
Heart of Ruin: Final Columbus - an open-world Cave Story-style adventure set in post-post-post apocalyptic Columbus, Ohio, mixing supernatural survivalists and ruined technology. Technically never really polished to the point of completion but still completely playable from start to end. It's also on GameJolt if that's your preference.
Also not getting enough attention:
The second great 2D Soulslike after Salt & Sanctuary.
One of the few comedy Metroidvanias I'd ever recommend, has a bit of Napoleon Dynamite energy with better and more crass jokes.
Certified masterpiece from the god year of 2013. All puzzles, no combat, brutally good story.
Heart of Ruin: Final Columbus - an open-world Cave Story-style adventure set in post-post-post apocalyptic Columbus, Ohio, mixing supernatural survivalists and ruined technology. Technically never really polished to the point of completion but still completely playable from start to end. It's also on GameJolt if that's your preference.
Also not getting enough attention:
The second great 2D Soulslike after Salt & Sanctuary.
One of the few comedy Metroidvanias I'd ever recommend, has a bit of Napoleon Dynamite energy with better and more crass jokes.
Certified masterpiece from the god year of 2013. All puzzles, no combat, brutally good story.
loved this game as a kid but it was super tough and kind of obscure at times (like a ton of NES games)
the La-Mulana games are definitely influenced by Goonies 2 (especially factoring in the "front/back" sides of the map).
Hell look at the box art for the Beep physical release:
Goonies MSX:
Outland is one of the best games ever but I wouldn't call it a Metroidvania.
Has anyone played Rex Rocket? It's super hard (too hard) but I really enjoyed it regardless. I feel like the same 20ish metroidvanias get recommended, which makes sense because they're great, but I'm trying to go a little more obscure in my mention.
I also like Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, but more for its visuals and style than its metroidvania aspects.
Has anyone played Rex Rocket? It's super hard (too hard) but I really enjoyed it regardless. I feel like the same 20ish metroidvanias get recommended, which makes sense because they're great, but I'm trying to go a little more obscure in my mention.
I also like Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, but more for its visuals and style than its metroidvania aspects.
Aggelos (Switch/PS4/PC) very Wonder Boy inspired. I've played through it 3 times now and it's a blast still.
I really wish something had come out of that powerslave EX port. I remember shortly after it got taken down I think Nightdive trademarked Powerslave.A lot of great games have already been mentioned here, but Exhumed/Powerslave needs more love. It's a fantastic metroidvania FPS that's definitely worth a look if you're a fan of either of the genres. It's one of my favourite Saturn games.
Still disappointed that it isn't getting a physical release in the states aparently, even after having one announced.
Yeah I just ended up picking up the PAL version since the Switch is region free.
It's a shame the price has skyrocketed in recent years, more folk should have access to the game.