Top 25 Best Metroidvania Game ROMs Free Download (2024 Update)
25. Afterimage
Afterimage is a really solid and one of the best metroidvania games to come out in 2023. The game’s world is massive, with one of the most extensive interconnected maps in the genre. It becomes highly nonlinear, offering both dangerous areas and ability-gated paths. The world looks so beautiful. Something about it makes you get lost in it, making the exploration highly engaging. I never thought I’d see such a massive creature around here.
24. Assault Lily: Tears of the Earth
Assault Lily: Tears of the Earth is one of the finest metroidvania action platformers. The game has a lot of positives, including diverse enemies with an in-game monster encyclopedia, engaging map layouts, and various characters with unique moves. The game’s graphics and art style , which weredesigned by Ryusuke Mita of Dragon Half ,are outstanding. The 2D animated characters move with fluid animations, and the modern hardware allows for a wonderful pixel art.
23. Guacamelee! 2
Guacamelee! 2 is the sequel to Guacamelee!, both chibi-style metroidvania platformers focusing on combos. It’s closely tied to the first game’s story, so playing or knowing about the original is recommended. The writing is a highlight of this game ,with a humorous narrative full of fourth wall breaks, meta jokes, and witty dialogue. On top of that, this is also one of the rare metroidvanias you can play with your friends with a max of four players.
22. Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse sisthe best game in the Shantae series. The game excels in detailed sprite work, expressive character portraits, and clever dialogue. It has six unique islands to explore, each featuring a distinct theme and dungeon. On top of that, it also offers challenging boss fights with adjustable difficulty, making it a solid choice for metroidvania enthusiasts.
21. Grime
Grime shares similarities with Dark Souls in creepy environments and opaque storytelling while borrowing challenging platforming and a soulslike style from Hollow Knight. Unlike its parent games, Grime is a bit more forgiving, letting you keep your souls after death for character upgrades, which makes the game much less punishing while following a souls-like formula. Grime stands out as a beautifully crafted experience.
20. Axiom Verge
Axiom Verge is a metroidvania that genuinely immerses players in its alien world. Unlike other metroidvanias that provide constant guidance, hints, and markers, Axiom Verge stands out by not holding your hand and letting you explore freely. It captures the essence of classic Metroid and Super Metroid, allowing players to get lost in a mysterious alien environment. Despite having a second game, many people still consider the first Axiom Verge ta better one
19. Leica Ed: True Blood
Leica Ed: True Blood is a metroidvania game that features beautiful art and emotional stories. The game offers a unique motorcycle element, and we ride through it while shooting enemies standing in our way. It introduced intuitive tricky maneuvers such as backflip to reload and frontflip to recharge parries. It may take some time to to get used to it, but once you get used to it, the game gives you an immensely satisfying experience.
18. Momodora: Moonlit Farewell
Momodora: Moonlit Farewell is the final game of the Momodora series. The game’s standout feature is its remarkable pixel art, immersing players in its beautiful world. Not only that, the fluid animations also bring the action-packed gameplay to life, making the combat satisfyingly responsive. This game serves as a beautiful conclusion to the series, and despite being a sequel, newcomers can still enjoy this game because it has a standalone story.
17. Ti’Hi
Ti’Hi is a bullet hell metroidvania that surpassed expectations, created by the team behind Rabbit and Bear Studios. The game’s standout feature is its gameplay, which is exceptionally polished and features a technical and well-thought-out combat system. The ability to customize the combat mechanics with findable upgrades for character combos adds an extra layer of depth. The bullet hell boss fights are also fantastic. It provides a challenging yet satisfying experience that appeals to Rabbit and Bear Studios’ game fans.
16. Shadow Complex Remastered
Shadow Complex Remastered is a remaster of the well-received Shadow Complex from Xbox Live Arcade in 2009. The game features 2.5D graphics with 3D elements, following the story of Jason Flemming, who must infiltrate a sci-fi military facility. The game incorporates standard metroid mechanics like wall jumping, double jumping, and acquiring equipment to access previously inaccessible areas. The game’s overall presentation is impressive, offering smooth and streamlined player control.
15. EternaNoctis
EternaNoctis might be the most comprehensive platformer metroidvania and a really challenging one at that. Despite its intense difficulty, the challenge never feels impossible once you have mastered the available tricks. The movement becomes incredibly smooth. The game also boasts a vast map with fitting themes for each zone, lots of collectibles, time trials, and challenging boss fights. This game may not appeal to some casual fans, but if you love challenging metroidvanias, this game is for you.
14. SteamWorld Dig 2
SteamWorld Dig 2 is a metroidvania game centered around digging, maintaining the charm of its predecessor while also significantly improving upon it. The main gameplay loop involves digging, collecting gems, and returning to town to sell and upgrade. It creates an enjoyable and straightforward formula. Image & Forms’ dedication toward this game is evident, creating a wonderful metroidvania that will capture you from beginning to end.
13. Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom
Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom brilliantly reimagines the classic Wonder Boy series, capturing the essence of old games and seamlessly bringing it to the modern gaming world. The game will let you transform into various animal forms. While the story is simple, it remains gripping with charming and funny character dialogues. Furthermore, the vibrant world combined with the outstanding soundtrack for each section really enhances the overall immersion of the game.
12. Blasphemous
Blasphemous is a metroidvania game that excels in its style and has enough substance to be a great experience for the genre enthusiasts. The pixel art inspired by the medieval religious art is stellar and visually mindblowing. The world and narrative are obscure and intriguing, leaning more toward Dark Souls with heavy Catholic inspiration, creating a dark and insane atmosphere.
11. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Prince of Persia, once a top-selling franchise, is making a comeback with this new metroidvania. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a 2.5D metroidvania that takes a yet divisive direction, offering one of the best games in the franchise history. In typical metroidvania style, in this game you will explore a massive map while unlocking areas with new powers. The boss fights also stand out as thrilling and challenging, delivering a sense of accomplishment. This game truly delivers a fantastic metroidvania experience appealing to both newcomers and hardcore fans.
10. Salt and Sanctuary
Salt and Sanctuary is a 2D metroidvania-souls-like game that is heavily inspired by the Dark Souls franchise. The game offers a well thought-out gameplay loop that allows players to level up and take challenges at their own pace. It features a wide range of upgradable weapons and armors along with an impressive combat system that offers various attack animations through different button combinations. If you are a metroidvania fan who wants to experience a true soulslike feel, you will have a good time with this game.
9. Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition
Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition is one of the most beautiful metroidvanias ever made. The primary gameplay involves unique platforming with a distinctive respawn system, allowing players to create respawn points at the expense of energy. On top of having fantastic visuals, the music score is also emotional and fitting. It really creates a truly captivating metroidvania masterpiece.
8. Blasphemous 2
Blasphemous 2 may not vibe with those who didn’t connect with the first game, but this sequel enhances both the visuals and the gameplay, showcasing a variety that solidly builds upon its predecessor. The game excels in enhanced combat, engaging levels with enjoyable music, intriguing lore, and cool enjoyable bosses. Expecting a repeat of Blasphemous 1, that’s not what you’ll find here. Personally I’m fine with that and highly recommend this game.
7. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is a metroidvania game that is developed by the former Castlevania series producer Koji Igarashi and is considered a spiritual successor to the series. This game embodies classic Castlevania mechanics featuring side scrolling pseudo-2D gameplay with occasional camera twists, modern visuals, and a well-crafted art style. The controls are precise, the movement is smooth, and the combat is tailored to Castlevania standards. This game truly captures that Castlevania feel and it’s easily one of the best metroidvanias of the modern era.
6. Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights
Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights is a breathtaking metroidvania masterpiece that seamlessly combines compelling gameplay with a captivating narrative. The hand-drawn art style is stunning, meticulously crafted to convey desolation and beauty. On top of that, the soundtrack is also a work of art with haunting melodies that perfectly complement the environments, leaving a lasting impact. All in all, Ender Lilies is a rare gem that offers genuine emotion alongside top notch gaming experience.
5. Super Metroid
Super Metroid is one of the games that defined the metroidvania genre. This game took the Metroid series to new heights. It maintained the exploration and upgrades from the previous titles, but introduced new moves like the grapple beam and screw attack. The diverse locations, smooth gameplay, and memorable soundtrack contribute to Super Metroid being considered as one of the greatest SNES games.
4. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is regarded as the best game in the Castlevania series. This game has aged remarkably well across the board. The visuals remain inspiring and the controls and combat maintain a satisfying, accessible, and precise quality. While the PlayStation 1 era boasted numerous masterpieces, few have endured the test of time as successfully as Symphony of the Night.
3. Metroid Dread
After a long wait since the last 2D Metroid installment, Metroid Dread has arrived on the Nintendo Switch. The game’s story picks up after Metroid Fusion, involving Samus Aran investigating the reappearance of the deadly X Parasite on planet ZDR. Gameplay-wise, Metroid Dread demands mastery of every skill and mechanic introduced, staying true to its roots. This game received high praise and is hailed as the best Metroid game, showcasing MercurySteam’s dedication to the series and delivering a satisfying and challenging experience.
2. Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Imagine that Ori and the Blind Forest is already an amazing game, and Ori and the Will of the Wisps is even better than that. Notable enhancements include a revamped combat system with customizable abilities, the addition of equippable Spirit Shards, and engaging side quests. In terms of world atmosphere alone, I find this game to be the best metroidvania there is. It’s one of those rare experiences that brought tears to my eyes.
1. Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight is the ultimate metroidvania game that offers a rich setting, satisfying combat, and a unique world that feels like a real adventure. The game may prove difficult at the start, but once you master its mechanics, the game becomes highly satisfying and rewarding. While some people may consider this game a bit overrated, however, given how responsive the controls are and how polished the game is, I think Hollow Knight still stands as a strong contender for the title of the best metroidvania game ever.