{"id":3271,"date":"2016-05-23T17:46:14","date_gmt":"2016-05-23T15:46:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/geekosas.com\/?p=3271"},"modified":"2026-05-23T17:47:04","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T15:47:04","slug":"metroidvania-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/geekosas.com\/index.php\/2016\/05\/23\/metroidvania-games\/","title":{"rendered":"Metroidvania Games"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I was a kid, around 10 years old, I first put a new cartridge I had received for Christmas into my beloved Super Nintendo<\/a>. This game was very strange: it was an orange character that appeared from a spaceship and could go in any direction. There were no stages, but every so often I would gain a new power that allowed me to reach new places in the immense map full of aliens and puzzles.<\/p>\n

The game was the great Super Metroid<\/a>, which, along with Castlevania: Symphony of the Night<\/a>, always ranks among the best games in history.<\/p>\n

At first glance, these games seem like platformers, but when you immerse yourself in them, you realize they are something completely different. To refer to this type of game, gamers created the concept of Metroidvania.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

To describe these games, I would dare say they are something between a traditional platformer where you gain powers like in Megaman and a large sandbox world full of enemies and puzzles. Every time you gain a new power, it allows you to unlock a new area.<\/p>\n

This is a genre quite forgotten by the video game industry, which has been revived by the growing indie game industry. Some examples of this genre (apart from the two mentioned above) are:<\/p>\n

Metroid Prime (1, 2, and 3):<\/strong> This is a Metroid game played as a first-person shooter. If you are interested in playing it, I recommend the Metroid Prime Trilogy.
\nhttp:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=u8klx34R8m8<\/a><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, all Metroid games are exclusively available for Nintendo consoles. If you don’t have a Wii or Wii U, you can play them with the Dolphin emulator<\/a>. If you want to try another Metroid<\/a>, you can also enjoy them with the corresponding emulator.<\/p>\n

Ori and the Blind Forest:<\/strong> This indie game is no slouch in graphics; in fact, I would say it is an example to follow. It is said that when the game was seen by Microsoft Studios, they offered all the necessary money so they could continue producing it.
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=cklw-Yu3moE<\/a><\/p>\n

Guacamelee!:<\/strong> Another indie representative, this one characterized by its vector graphics and Chicano humor. It is a Metroidvania without weapons; you must learn to fight and defeat your enemies in the same way you did in God of War or Devil May Cry.
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=L6Q0ma4FJPo<\/a><\/p>\n

Axiom Verge:<\/strong> A game with all the style of the most classic Metroid, with retro graphics and made by just one person. Yes, as I said before, just one person. But don’t be fooled; if I didn’t tell you, you would never notice.
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=WHn100ChFBY<\/a><\/p>\n

Shadow Complex:<\/strong> I must be honest and declare that because I do not own an Xbox 360, I have not had the pleasure of trying this game, but every time I look for a list of the best metroidvanias, this one is always on the list.
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fZwfpmH0Bs8<\/a><\/p>\n

Batman Arkham Blackgate:<\/strong> The Batman Arkham series turned into a 3D platformer, with a lot of grappling and a gameplay style that puts it on this list. What more can I say?
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=rJq_lD-k37I<\/a><\/p>\n

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver:<\/strong> A PlayStation 1 game, perfectly emulable on any modern PC and many cell phones. This game is a mix of RPG, puzzles, and metroidvania. The graphics are among the best of that time. The plot and gameplay will not disappoint you.
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lrD0NUWcmh0<\/a><\/p>\n

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