As the name implies, the Metroidvania video game genre combines the notorious difficulty of the Castlevania series with the labyrinth-like layout of many of the Metroid games to create lengthy and often infinitely-replayable new experiences. While it's hard to define exactly where the boundaries of the genre lie, games that gradually introduce new abilities which unlock new combat and exploration opportunities typically earn the label.
Difficulty is, of course, totally relative, but many gamers agree that most Metroidvania gamers are noteworthy for their challenge. From Hollow Knight's harrowing Hallownest to Blasphemous' cursed Cvstodia, these Metroidvania titles will both punish and reward the brave players who attempt to finish them.
Momodora: Reverie Under The Moonlight
There's quite a bit of crossover between the more concretely established Metroidvania genre and the newer, more ill-defined Souls-like genre. Though they take influence from totally separate gaming franchises, the two genres are nearly synonymous, and 2016's Momodora: Reverie Under The Moonlight highlights just how well the two can mesh.
Matching the tense high-risk, high-reward combat of the Souls series with the focus on exploration and item discovery first seen in early Metroidvania games, Reverie Under The Moonlight is perfect for fans of various gaming backgrounds. It's also the fourth in a series, so new fans may want to subsequently experience other Momodora releases.
Skul: The Hero Slayer
The namesakes of the early PC game Rogue, the roguelike and rogue-lite genres have flourished in recent years, bolstered by the unprecedented popularity of games like The Binding of Isaac and Nuclear Throne. Also recognized for their often fiendish levels of difficulty, the randomized gameplay systems of roguelikes tend to fuse well with Metroidvanian design philosophy.
It may not feature sprawling, complex levels, and the combat may not be as nuanced as what's seen in the Souls games, but the unending amount of permanent unlockables and upgrades, coupled with the game's unique head-swapping mechanic, makes Skul a memorable mash-up of gaming inspirations.
Salt and Sanctuary
While many modern titles under the Metroidvania banner are often compared to From Software's Dark Souls series—and perhaps not undeservedly so—Ska Studios' 2016 hit Salt and Sanctuary takes things to an entirely new level. Less of a game influenced by Dark Souls and more of a 2D demake, many of the famous series' core mechanics are replicated here with a surprising level of detail and accuracy.
Of course, Salt and Sanctuary also stands on its own merits as an excellent Metroidvania title. Exploration is a key factor here, and the lengths to which players are willing to go to explore are often dictated by the sorts of items and abilities they have equipped.
Metroid
It may seem odd to list one of the pillars of the genre as one of its toughest, but the original Metroid game on the NES offers up a crushing difficulty level that can only be circumvented after hours of trial and error. The game is an absolute maze full of dead ends and deadly traps, and, more often than not, players find themselves respawning and checkpoints within a minute or two of their departure.
Most of the game's map is initially inaccessible, and the game can only be completed by discovering and mastering several hidden abilities. Obviously, this design approach would later become a staple of both the series and the genre.
La-Mulana
Originally released in 2006 for the PC and later ported to everything from the Nintendo Wii to Sony's PS Vita, La-Mulana feels a bit like Metroid by way of the 2013 cave diving classic Spelunky. The title places players in the shoes of an archeologist plunging through crypts and catacombs on a quest that, much like the original Metroid, begins on ambiguous notes. Remembered for its incredible difficulty and epic boss fights, those who are always up for a challenge will definitely want to give this underrated gem a go.
Blasphemous
Released in 2019, Blasphemous doubles down on the doomed gothic aesthetic seen in the Souls games, taking place in a twisted land that looks to be right out of Dante's Divine Comedy. Boasting pixel art that's unparalleled in terms of detail, those looking for a game that combines the presentations and moods of Castlevania IV and Dark Souls III need to look no further.
As the player progresses, the wicked world gradually opens up, and new abilities can be mixed and match to make for varied approaches to combat. As difficult is disturbing, Blasphemous is a must-play for most Souls fans who desire tough, otherworldly bosses and a world filled with strange and dangerous creatures.
Valdis Story: Abyssal City
Placing the player in a sunken city at the epicenter of a catastrophic war between angelic and demonic beings, Valdis Story: Abyssal City features a premise complex enough to fit into a Kingdom Hearts title. Heavy on the RPG elements and including combat which requires both quick wits and broad strategy, it can be a bit of a daunting title to delve into.
That said, Valdis Story is a perfect Metroidvania for those who don't tend to shy away from difficult games. Frustrating and rewarding in equal measure, it's sure to keep even the attention of even the most experienced gamer.
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Though it did feature a selection of branching pathways that offered up some variety, Castlevania III debuted before the so-called Metroidvania genre was set in stone. As a result, there's not much in the way of exploration or permanent powerups, though the title still deserves to be included among the pantheon of genre greats.
What might be the most difficult game in the long-running series, Castlevania III is the standard-bearer for nigh-immeasurable video game difficulty. Mastery of the controls and the various characters' move sets is mandatory, and defeating the final boss takes a kind of patience perhaps possessed only by the eons-old Dracula himself.
Hollow Knight
Often heralded as a Metroidvania title able to stand equally with genre paragons like Symphony of the Night and Super Metroid, Hollow Knight is an immense adventure that sees players traverse the hidden depths of the insect kingdom of Hallownest in search of the cure for a mysterious plague.
Bolstered by a bunch of free post-launch content updates, discovering everything Hollow Knight has to offer would take dozens—if not hundreds—of hours, and some of the game's toughest sections rival even the most frustrating segments in the Souls series. Its gorgeous animated visuals hide the fact that the game is one of the most difficult, and rewarding, titles in recent years.
Rabi-Ribi
At first glance, Rabi-Ribi doesn't look like it would fit in among titles like Blasphemous and Salt and Sanctuary. Yet, while it sports a sugary-sweet anime aesthetic that's almost totally foreign to the genre, it's a tough-as-nails Metroidvania title that could give just about any Souls fan a run for their money. Incorporating bullet hell elements and sporting over 40 bosses, Rabi-Ribi defies conventions on all fronts and delivers one of the most memorable 2D platformer experiences in recent memory.