Nana Muazin
The Metroidvania genre has long been dominated by monolithic pillars—titles like Super Metroid, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and Hollow Knight. While these games set the gold standard for interconnected level design, atmospheric storytelling, and tight mechanical loops, the sheer breadth of the genre often leaves smaller, equally inventive projects in the shadows.
For every major studio release, there are countless indie gems that push the boundaries of what exploration-based action can be. Whether through radical movement mechanics, experimental combat systems, or genre-bending narratives, these titles deserve a seat at the table. Here is a deep dive into eight underrated Metroidvanias that are not only essential for fans of the genre but serve as masterclasses in design innovation.
1. Infernax: The Morality of the Macabre
Infernax occupies the top spot on our list not just for its brutal difficulty, but for its uncompromising commitment to player agency. Developed by Berzerk Studio, it captures the aesthetic of 8-bit classics while modernizing the experience with a sophisticated, choice-driven narrative.
The Moral Weight of Choice
Unlike most linear Metroidvanias, Infernax features a robust morality system. Players are frequently confronted with quests that force them to choose between righteous mercy or cold-blooded cruelty. These decisions are not merely flavor text; they actively reshape the world, leading to one of four distinct endings: Good, Evil, Ultimate Good, or Ultimate Evil. This complexity adds a layer of replayability rarely seen in retro-inspired action games.
A Fever Dream Aesthetic
The game’s visual design is intentionally bizarre, blending classic fantasy tropes with grotesque, visceral horror. The character designs feel like they were pulled from a fever dream, offering a distinct visual identity that separates it from the generic pixel-art landscape. It is a challenging, rewarding, and darkly humorous title that respects the player’s intelligence and their ability to shape the world.
2. Laika: Aged Through Blood: The Western-Action Revolution
Brainwash Gang’s Laika: Aged Through Blood is a masterclass in combining disparate genres. While many Metroidvanias lean into fantasy or sci-fi, Laika delivers a post-apocalyptic Western experience with a core mechanic that feels revolutionary: motorcycle traversal.
Combat on Wheels
The central conceit of Laika is that you are rarely on foot. You navigate a sprawling, desolate wasteland on a motorcycle, using momentum and physics to engage in high-octane gunfights. The game requires players to manage reloading, parrying, and movement simultaneously, creating a rhythm that is both stressful and deeply satisfying.
Why It Deserves More Attention
It is often difficult for genre-purists to accept new movement paradigms, yet Laika proves that the core tenets of the Metroidvania—gating, exploration, and ability-unlocking—can function perfectly well in a physics-based, vehicular environment. It is an emotional, gritty, and technically demanding game that only gets better as you master the motorcycle’s complex handling.
3. Supraland: The 3D Metroidvania Masterpiece
Supraland is perhaps the most audacious entry on this list. It dares to take the 2D side-scrolling formula and force it into a 3D, first-person perspective. The result is a game that feels like a cross between Portal and Metroid Prime.
Innovation Through Perspective
By shifting to first-person, Supraland changes how players interact with their environment. Secrets are hidden in plain sight, tucked away on ledges or behind physics-based puzzles that require clever application of your growing arsenal. It captures the "Aha!" moment of discovery better than almost any other game in the genre.
Why It Remains Underrated
Despite its strong critical reception and inventive design, Supraland often flies under the radar because it doesn’t fit the "classic" 2D mold. However, its world-building—where you play as a toy-sized being in a human-sized backyard—is as charming as it is mechanically sound. It is a must-play for those who crave spatial puzzles and deep exploration.
4. Astalon: Tears of the Earth: A Retro Masterpiece
In an era where "modernizing" mechanics is the trend, Astalon: Tears of the Earth proudly doubles down on the sensibilities of the 8-bit era. It is a pixel-art tour de force that emphasizes non-linear exploration and character switching.
Sticking to the Roots
Astalon feels like a lost classic from the NES era, yet it avoids the frustration of early game design. You control a trio of heroes, each with unique abilities that allow you to bypass obstacles and defeat specific enemy types. This "party" system allows for a level of strategic depth that is absent in games where you only control a single protagonist.
The Difficulty of Forgiveness
The game is challenging but fair. Some critics suggest that its lack of "hand-holding" keeps it from achieving mainstream success, but for the dedicated player, that difficulty is a feature, not a bug. It is an experience that demands mastery, rewarding patience with an interconnected world that is as vast as it is intricately designed.
5. Blasphemous: The Soulslike Convergence
While Blasphemous has garnered a dedicated cult following, it remains under-appreciated in the context of the broader gaming industry. Inspired by the grim history of the Spanish Inquisition, it is a game of religious fervor and extreme violence.
Interconnectivity and Atmosphere
The map design in Blasphemous is, quite simply, some of the best in the genre. Every zone flows into the next with a sense of dread and purpose. Its boss encounters are legendary, forcing players to learn complex patterns and master timing.
Bridging the Gap
Is it a Metroidvania or a Soulslike? It exists in the liminal space between the two. While its focus on challenging combat and cryptic storytelling leans toward the latter, its reliance on ability-gating keeps it firmly rooted in the Metroidvania tradition. It is a dark, beautiful, and punishing experience that every fan of the genre should play at least once.
6. Axiom Verge 2: A Shift in Philosophy
Axiom Verge 2 is a fascinating case study in sequels. Instead of doubling down on the combat-heavy, gun-focused action of the first game, creator Tom Happ opted for a focus on exploration, puzzle-solving, and traversal.
The Trade-off
Because of this pivot, many fans of the first Axiom Verge were left cold. However, when judged on its own merits, the game is a triumph of design. It replaces the constant adrenaline rush of combat with a more cerebral, quiet sense of discovery. It forces players to think differently, using drone mechanics and hacking to traverse a world that is fundamentally different from its predecessor.
A Different Kind of Fun
It is not an "instantly fun" game in the same vein as Hollow Knight. It requires patience and a willingness to engage with the game’s unique rhythm. For those who find the typical combat loop repetitive, Axiom Verge 2 provides a refreshing, contemplative alternative.
7. Monster Sanctuary: The Turn-Based Twist
Monster Sanctuary is arguably the most experimental game on this list. It attempts to blend the exploration-focused world of a Metroidvania with the turn-based, monster-collecting mechanics of Pokémon.
Strategic Depth
The game succeeds because it doesn’t sacrifice the quality of either genre. The exploration is satisfying, with monster abilities serving as traversal keys, while the combat is deeply strategic. Managing a team of three monsters, each with unique skill trees and elemental affinities, provides a level of depth that makes every encounter feel significant.
Why It Isn’t More Popular
Blending two distinct genres is a high-risk, high-reward strategy. While it has a "Strong" rating on platforms like OpenCritic, it hasn’t reached the heights of its peers. Yet, for players who enjoy tactical depth alongside platforming, it offers an experience that is entirely one-of-a-kind.
8. Dandara: Trials of Fear: Defying Gravity
Finally, we arrive at Dandara: Trials of Fear. If you are looking for a game that completely ignores the standard X-axis movement of side-scrollers, this is it.
Unique Traversal Mechanics
In Dandara, you don’t run or jump in the traditional sense. Instead, you leap from surface to surface—walls, floors, and ceilings—creating a fluid, rapid-fire style of movement that feels more like a puzzle than a platformer. This mechanic is brilliant, though it serves as a high barrier to entry for players used to standard movement.
High Replay Value
Dandara is perhaps the most "Metroidvania" of all the games on this list in its commitment to world design. The "Trials of Fear" edition added significant content, refining the map and the combat. It is a game that asks you to bend your brain to match its geometry, and once it clicks, there is no other game that feels quite like it.
Implications for the Future of the Genre
The common thread among these eight titles is a refusal to settle for the status quo. The Metroidvania genre is not dying; it is diversifying. From the turn-based strategy of Monster Sanctuary to the physics-heavy motorcycle combat of Laika, these developers prove that the "Metroidvania" label is not a cage, but a foundation.
As the industry continues to evolve, these games serve as a reminder that innovation often happens in the margins. For players willing to look beyond the top-ten lists and the biggest marketing budgets, there is a wealth of complex, challenging, and profoundly satisfying experiences waiting to be discovered. The future of the genre lies not in repeating the past, but in daring to change the rules of the game.
Evan Lee Salim
Nila Kartika Wati
