Games that closely resemble the original metrovania template. Explore one map divided into sub-sections, get new abilities to reach new areas, backtrack to earlier parts of the game and use those new abilities, collect power ups and so on.
2011
Momodora 2
System: Freeware
Status: Beaten with infinite health cheat
Momodora 2 is a short but well done metrovania whose graphical style is inspired by Cave Story (which itself is not a metrovania). The first Momodora was also a nice platformer, but not a metrovania either.
2010
Blue Knight
System: Freeware
Status: Beaten
Blue Knight is a rather shortish but really stylish small metrovania title. Has a bit of a Seiklus clone mechanic-wise, as you have to collect diamonds after defeating enemies to open doors. As you also have to collect a few number of upgrades and backtrack to earlier parts of the game, I still consider it a metrovania. Still, the game is very small and may not have to size to count as a metrovania for others.
K.O.L.M.
System: Freeware
Status: Beaten
KOLM is a short but enjoyable metrovania with a minimalistic approach to graphics. Despite this approach, it has some nifty effects, like the swinging plane effect of your viewing screen and zooming out once you’ve entered a bigger level piece. The game has a sequel which plays pretty much the same, but which was a bit boring.
2008
The Power
System: Freeware
Status: Beaten
The Power is a short metrovania that sports juvenile writing and a rather dumb plot, but excellent gameplay done in a neat retro style that is more Metroid than Castlevania.
2007
An Untitled Story
System: Freeware
Status: Not beaten, probably never will (despite using infinite health cheat)
An Untitled Story is one of the best freeware metrovanias. It’s also a hard as nails platformer bordering, like all of Matt Thorson’s games, on masocore qualities. Also, don’t let the MS paint art style stop you from trying the game out, it’s much better than it looks on screenshots.
Plasma Warrior
System: Freeware (Download)
Status: Beaten
Plasma Warrior is a short and fun metrovania that lets you explore an abandoned research station on an alien world. The game seems mostly inspired by Metroid, both the gameplay and the entire graphical style.
2006
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
System: Nintendo DS
Status: Beaten (might have used health cheats)
PoR changed the gameplay a little bit. Not only could you explore a castle, but through paintings acting as portals other levels as well. Due to the castle still functioning as a hub, I consider PoR still a metrovania-type game, as there’s backtracking. The sequel (publication-wise) Order of Ecclesia changed the gameplay too much to be one, thought (goes under Action Adventures).
Lyle in Cube Sector
System: Freeware
Status: Beaten with infinite health cheat
Lyle in Cube Sector is one of the best freeware metrovanias around. Manages something that few examples of the genre do, innovation. In LiCS you have to use blocks that lie around as a way to attack enemies and also to jump higher. Also has awesome NES-style graphics that still manage to give the game a style entirely its own.
Soldexus
System: Freeware
Status: Beaten
Soldexus is pretty much one big homage to the castlevania metrovanias. The art direction takes some time getting used to, but the gameplay is perfect and the game is pretty big with much to discover.
Within a Deep Forest
System: Freeware
Status: Beaten
Within a Deep Forest is one of the more unusual metrovanias. You play a ball trying to save the world. Instead of jumping, like with most platformers, you bounce. Brilliant art style and very demanding gameplay makes this one one of the best.
2005
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
System: Nintendo DS
Status: Beaten (might have used health cheats)
DoS is the sequel to Aria of Sorrow. Good game, not much new thought. The one new element used the touchscreen for drawing magical runes to finish of boss fights, which was a highly annoying game mechanic and not reused in sub-sequent entries in the series.
2003
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
System: Gameboy Advanced
Status: Beaten (might have used health cheats)
AoS isn’t all that different from previous Castlevania metrovanias, but I liked the story (and to this day still wonder when they’ll make a game about Dracula’s last stand in 1999). Gameplay-wise pretty close to SotN, as you don’t use a whip but an assortment of weapons.
2002
Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance
System: Gameboy Advanced
Status: Beaten (might have used health cheats)
HoD wasn’t as gloomy as CofM and played a bit too much like CofM and SotN to really feel all that distinct. But aside the lack of originality, it was a pretty good game.
Eternal Daughter
System: Freeware
Status: Beaten with infinite health cheat
Eternal Daughter will probably drive you crazy, if you don’t cheat. While it’s a great, big freeware metrovania, it’s design is also a bit on the demanding side. If you manage to beat the game without cheating, you’re pretty good (or have too much time on your hands).
2001
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
System: Gameboy Advanced
Status: Beaten
CotM is the first metrovania-type castlevania on the GBA, and despite the advancements in later Castlevania’s remains my favorite for handhelds to this day. Since the metrovania castlevanias survived only on handhelds, this one was kind of a big step after SotN for the PSX.
1997
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
System: Play Station
Status: Beaten
SotN is pretty much the game that started it all. If the original Metroid for the NES was the trope maker, then SotN was the trope codifier. In its wake the whole metrovania name got created and is used to this day. The game itself is a great example for its genre and highly playable and enjoyable even to this day.
1993
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Radical Rescue
System: Gameboy
Status: Beaten with infinite health cheat
Pretty close to a pure example of a metrovania. Instead of unlocking new skills you find the other turtles and after switching to them you can use new abilities. Lacks save points and has instead a password system implemented, with is unusual for a metrovania type game and not in a good way. Actually, without cheating this is a pretty frustrating game, as the difficulty is more apt for conventional platformers than for a free roaming game where exploration is king. But if you cheat, exploring the game word is actually fun.
1987
Castlevania 2: Simon’s Quest
System: NES
Status: Beaten with save stats & FAQs, probably health cheat too
This game should have been great, but turned out to be unplayable (without FAQs) due to obscure, useless and confused hints by the town people. I’ll also missed that there weren’t any boss battles.
There’s a hack of the game (Simon’s Redaction) with rewritten town people dialog to make the game solvable without resorting to use FAQs. I plan to play this one day, maybe then the game becomes actually enjoyable.
1986
Metroid
System: NES
Status: Beaten, probably used save stats
Probably the first pure and unambiguous example of what is called a metrovania game these days. Despite being a NES game it’s still fun to play, mostly due to the variety and top notch level design, the near perfect game mechanics, a well done difficulty that is both demanding yet never frustrating and art that stills looks great after all these years.
