Here’s the games I have reviewed so far on the Nintendo Switch in this genre, from best to worst. Note: If multiple games have the same score, they will be sorted alphabetically.

Metroidvanias

Game	Genre	Grade
Batman: Arkham Asylum	Action-RPG / Metroidvania	A+
tl;dr Simply put, Batman: Arkham Asylum set the groundwork for this series with an absolute massive success right from the first game, with a perfect blend of exploration, combat, fun gadgets, great story, and lots of variety. While some may prefer the Open-World approach of later games, I feel the more focused Metroidvania level design of this game is every bit as valid. In any case, this is an absolute must-play game for any Bat-fan.
Metroid Prime Remastered	First-Person Shooter / Metroidvania	A+
tl;dr Metroid Prime Remastered is a remake of a game that combines First-Person Shooter Gameplay with Metroidvania game structure, first released on the GameCube. Not only has Metroid Prime aged incredibly well, but this remake is outstanding, going above and beyond in its graphical improvements, control options, and bonus content. The result is the absolutely definitive version of one of the greatest games ever made.
Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition	Metroidvania	A+
tl;dr Ori and the Blind Forest is, quite simply, one of the best Metroidvania games ever made, and not only is this an amazing port of a previously Xbox One-exclusive title, but it’s actually improved in its Switch release, which now stands tall as the truly definitive version of the game. This is a must-have game on the Switch, and if you missed it on the Xbox and PC, you owe it to yourself to get it now.
Ori: The Collection	Compilation / Metroidvania	A+
tl;dr Ori: The Collection on Nintendo Switch is a physical-only Compilation of Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition and Ori and the Will of the Wisps. In sum, this is two of the most well-crafted, fun, and stunningly beautiful Metroidvania games ever made. The Compilation is priced about the same as it would cost to get these games separately, but in exchange you get both games on the cartridge, with a few small extras as well. If you have somehow missed out on these games until now, you should definitely remedy that oversight.
Animal Well	Metroidvania / Puzzle-Platformer	A
tl;dr Animal Well is a Metroidvania with strong Puzzle-Platforming elements where players take the role of a small blob in a series of caves and ruins teeming with a variety of fauna and flora that they must explore. This game is a masterpiece of graphical design, audio design, puzzle design, and gameplay design. While it falls just short of perfect due to a few minor annoyances, overall this is a game that should be considered a must-play for fans of either Metroidvanias or Puzzle-Platformers.
Axiom Verge	Metroidvania	A
tl;dr Axiom Verge is a Metroidvania that is the closest thing to Super Metroid outside of the Metroid series itself, yet it still maintains its own identity, with its own bizarre alien world, an intriguing plot, and unique powers based on the “glitchy” infection spreading through the game’s world. While the game has a few flaws keeping it from perfection (some control issues and a fairly high difficulty level), it is still a phenomenal game that fans of Metroidvanias absolutely need to get.
Axiom Verge 2	Metroidvania	A
tl;dr Axiom Verge 2 is a Metroidvania that is a big departure from the first game, focusing on a new character, with new enemies, a completely different set of abilities, and a compelling new sci-fi plot to follow. This game has excellent exploration, some fun and unique traversal options, and while there are definitely some areas where it could be improved, this is overall a must-play entry in the genre.
Axiom Verge 1 & 2 Bundle	Compilation / Metroidvania	A
tl;dr Axiom Verge 1 & 2 Bundle is a Compilation of two extraordinary Metroidvania games, and while I highly recommend playing both of these games, you’re not really getting any benefit from buying them together in this bundle, which sells for the same price as both games combined. Still, whichever way you go about getting them, these games are well worth playing, and this is a perfectly fine way to get them both.
Castlevania Advance Collection	Compilation / Metroidvania / Action-Platformer	A
tl;dr Castlevania Advance Collection is a Compilation of Castlevania: Dracula X, Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance, and Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow. While Dracula X and Harmony both have their flaws, they’re both still solid games well worth playing. However, Circle and especially Aria are absolutely fantastic Metroidvania games that are must-play entries in the genre. Add to all of that a wealth of extra content and options and a wonderful $20 price tag, and you have a collection that is a must-buy for both Castlevania fans and Metroidvania-lovers.
Guacamelee Super Turbo Championship Edition	Metroidvania	A
tl;dr Guacamelee is a Metroidvania with game progression that ties into your character’s fighting abilities, with your fighting prowess and movement options growing in tandem. It’s also a joyous celebration of color, humor, memorable characters, and great music. This is one of my favorite games in this genre in years.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps	Metroidvania	A
tl;dr Ori and the Will of the Wisps is an outstanding sequel that improves on the first game in multiple areas, and changes enough things to make it distinct, although many of its best qualities are carried over from the first game. The Nintendo Switch version has a few technical issues, but overall this is still a gorgeous, incredibly fun, must-have Metroidvania.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown	Metroidvania	A
tl;dr Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a Metroidvania that does virtually everything exceptionally well. Great Platforming, fantastic combat, a huge and interesting location to explore, excellent visuals, a wonderfully atmospheric soundtrack, superb voice acting, a compelling story and characters, and the Nintendo Switch version of the game sacrifices very little. While in every area it falls just short of perfection, that it excels in just about everything makes it one of the best games the Metroidvania genre has ever received. Do not miss it.
Yoku’s Island Express	Metroidvania / Pinball	A
tl;dr Yoku’s Island Express is a Metroidvania Pinball game that puts you in the role of a cartoony dung beetle lugging around a big round rock as he delivers mail across a huge and complex island set up like a gigantic pinball machine. It’s an odd combination of elements that works amazingly well, heightened by a beautiful presentation and an overall joyful experience throughout. Definitely give this game a look.
A Robot Named Fight	Metroidvania / Roguelike	A-
tl;dr A Robot Named Fight is a combination of a Metroidvania that is very clearly trying to be like Super Metroid, and a Roguelike with randomized level design, permadeath, and the gradual unlocking of upgrades. It doesn’t quite reach the heights of Super Metroid, but it’s still an engaging experience that fans of the genre should definitely check out.
Aggelos	Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Aggelos is a Metroidvania game that doesn’t really innovate, but nevertheless delivers an absolutely superb experience with gameplay elements reminiscent of Zelda II, Castlevania II and other classic NES games, but with today’s great gameplay and game design. Well worth owning for fans of the genre.
Astalon: Tears of the Earth	Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Astalon is a retro-style Metroidvania with a great presentation, a fantastic chiptune soundtrack, a clever character-swapping mechanic, wonderful level design, and some nice Roguelike elements. The high challenge level may put off some players, but overall this is a delightful entry in the genre that fans of this sort of game would do well to play.
Blaster Master Zero	Metroidvania / Top-Down Action	A-
tl;dr Blaster Master Zero is a remake/reboot of the Nintendo Entertainment System classic Action-packed Metroidvania that I would argue is superior to the original, modernizing it and making it a far more playable game by today’s standards. There are still areas where it could do with improvement, but overall this is a phenomenal Metroidvania that straddles the line between old-school and modern design brilliantly.
Blaster Master Zero 2	Metroidvania / Top-Down Action	A-
tl;dr Like its predecessor, Blaster Master Zero 2 is an Action-packed Metroidvania in the same style of the original Nintendo Entertainment System game, although this game is completely new, building on the formula laid down in Blaster Master Zero while adding new gameplay elements that are worked into the game’s design and really do a good job of improving the overall experience. This game does still suffer the same flaws its predecessor had, but overall it’s a better experience, and a fantastic game fans of Metroidvanias and Action games should give a try.
Blaster Master Zero III	Metroidvania / Top-Down Action	A-
tl;dr Blaster Master Zero III is the third and purportedly final entry in this trilogy of reboot Metroidvania/Top-Down Action games inspired by the 1988 classic, and I would argue that it is the best in the series, taking everything that was great about Blaster Master Zero 2 and improving on it with more cohesive Metroidvania elements, subtle quality-of-life improvements, and overall better progression, with the same great gameplay and retro-style presentation. While not without its flaws, overall if you’re looking for a modern game that channels the spirit of the best that the 8- and 16-bit era had to offer, you should definitely grab this game.
Castlevania Dominus Collection	Compilation / Metroidvania / Action-Platformer	A-
tl;dr Castlevania Dominus Collection is a Compilation containing three Metroidvania-style games in the Castlevania series from Nintendo DS, along with the arcade Action-Platformer Haunted Castle and a brand new remake of that game, Haunted Castle Revisited. The original Haunted Castle is clunky and dated, but everything else here ranges from good to outstanding, with Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow being one of the best games in the franchise. This collection does a good job with the dual-screen and touchscreen elements of the original games, and adds a bunch of features and bonus content, overall making for a great package that’s a must-have for any fans of Metroidvania games and the Castlevania series specifically.
Castlevania Collections Bundle	Compilation / Action-Platformer / Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Castlevania Collections Bundle includes three bundles of Castlevania Action-Platformers: Castlevania Anniversary Collection, Castlevania Advance Collection, and Castlevania Dominus Collection, collectively containing seventeen Action-Platformers and Metroidvania games. The overall level of quality here is extremely high, with very few stinkers, and overall this bundle represents an absolutely massive amount of great gameplay. However, definitely compare the price in this bundle to the sale prices of the individual Collections contained within, as you might get a better deal getting the individual games, depending on the current sale.
Child of Light: Ultimate Edition	Turn-Based JRPG / Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Child of Light is an outstanding RPG with Metroidvania elements. There’s a lot of inventive gameplay here, but it’s the game’s dreamy, somber audiovisual presentation that steals the show. And while the game’s story isn’t quite as strong as the rest of the package, this game is still an absolute treat for RPG fans.
Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights	Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Ender Lilies is a Metroidvania that has clearly been strongly-inspired by the Dark Souls franchise, and the resulting mix of elements is fantastic, with the “Souls” side of things helping to make up for a few elements that are a bit lacking on the Metroidvania side of things. The comparisons to Blasphemous are inevitable, but this game mixes its two inspirations differently, with some of its stronger points being its absolutely gorgeous presentation, its strong worldbuilding, its excellent combat and its fantastic boss fights. In any case, if you’re a fan of any of the games that inspired Ender Lilies, consider this game a must-have.
Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist	Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Ender Magnolia is a Metroidvania and follow up to Ender Lilies that features similar gameplay and presentation, but is set in a different world, with far more characters and dialogue. There are elements of the progression that could do with some improvement, but overall this is an outstanding entry in the genre, and one that Metroidvania fans should consider a must-play.
Guacamelee 2	Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Guacamelee 2 is a Metroidvania with a superb fighting engine, and it retains many of the qualities that made the first game great. However, it’s a little less focused and a little rougher than the first game. It’s still one of the best Metroidvanias on the Switch, but not quite as good as its predecessor.
Hollow Knight	Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Hollow Knight is a Metroidvania with an absolutely beautiful moody presentation, tons of secrets and things to find, and a punishing difficulty. It’s not without its flaws, but if you like the genre, it’s well worth your time.
Hollow Knight: Silksong	Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Hollow Knight: Silksong is the long-awaited sequel to the original Hollow Knight, and it is a fine successor, with an absolutely beautiful presentation and a fascinating new world to explore. Unfortunately, it still has many of the problems the first game had, including a punishing difficulty level and frustrating design choices. Still, even with these issues, this is a game not to be missed for any fan in the genre who isn’t opposed to a challenge.
Journey to the Savage Planet	First-Person Shooter / Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Journey to the Savage Planet is a First-Person Metroidvania much in the same vein as Metroid Prime, but with a fantastic sense of humor and a really beautiful and inventive world to explore, as well as surprisingly good local wireless and online co-op. This game is definitely flawed, with various elements that don’t work or things that are desperately needed but missing, but even with these flaws, this is an absolutely incredible game that’s a must-play for Metroidvania fans.
Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection	Compilation / Action-Platformer / Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection is a collection of six games in Mega Man spinoff series on the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS. Some of the biggest complaints about these games (namely, the punishing difficulty) have been addressed with new features, making the otherwise excellent games much more approachable, and the result is a series that is sometimes truly great but always at least pretty good. Plus, the amount of extra content here is fantastic, especially for the low price of $30. If you’re a fan of Action-Platformers, especially if you enjoy Mega Man games, you need to own this collection.
Metroid Dread	Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Metroid Dread is an excellent fifth entry in this series of 2D Metroidvania games, with stunning visuals, well-crafted gameplay, and excellent bosses. However, some of the level design and stealth elements here keep it from reaching the same highs as Super Metroid. Still, if you’re a fan of Metroidvanias, this game is a must-have for you. And if you’re a Metroid fan, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond	Open-World First-Person Shooter / Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Metroid Prime 4 is a First-Person Shooter and Metroidvania with Open-World sections, and it is an audiovisual tour de force on Nintendo Switch, with a gorgeous world, incredible puzzle design, and some clever gameplay elements. It also disappoints with its underwhelming Metroidvania elements, its half-baked Open World elements, and some truly baffling design choices. The result is a game that, while still outstanding, is a bit underwhelming given the 18 years it took for us to finally see this game release.
Momodora: Moonlit Farewell	Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Momodora: Moonlit Farewell is a Metroidvania that greatly improves on the previous game, Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight, resulting in a game with a gorgeous presentation, challenging but satisfying combat, and pretty good level design and progression. And while I do think there’s room for improvement, this is still an outstanding Metroidvania that every fan of the genre should play.
Monster Sanctuary	Turn-Based Monster Collecting RPG / Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Monster Sanctuary takes Turn-Based Monster-Collecting RPG gameplay and places it in a side-scrolling Metroidvania. I wish the game went farther to incorporate its Metroidvania elements into the game, but overall it’s hard to complain when this is a top-notch Monster Collecting RPG, and one with a lot of depth to its gameplay. Fans of the genre will find it well worth playing.
Nine Sols	Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Nine Sols is a Metroidvania about a warrior reborn after being left for dead and fighting back against those responsible. The exploration elements of this game aren’t quite as good as the best Metroidvanias, but the immensely satisfying and highly-challenging combat more than makes up for this. This isn’t a game for the light of heart, but those who enjoy working towards mastery will find this to be an extremely rewarding game that is not to be missed.
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse	Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is a Metroidvania with some of the best-animated pixel art you’re likely to find in a videogame, and the gameplay is top-notch as well, even if it’s not doing anything especially new or novel. If you’re a fan of the genre, consider this game a must-have.
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero	Action-Platformer / Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is an Action-Platformer with Metroidvania elements that takes the series’ already-amazing presentation to new levels with gorgeous, exquisitely-animated hand-drawn visuals. And while some players may not be thrilled with this game dialing back the series’ Metroidvania elements, the gameplay here is still plenty of fun and well worth playing for fans of 2D Platforming action.
The Messenger	Action-Platformer / Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr The Messenger is an Action-Platformer that later in the game unfolds into a Metroidvania with strong gameplay, nostalgic visuals, and a great sense of humor, and it’s difficult without being as punishing as the Ninja Gaiden games that clearly inspired it. It’s just a pity that some design choices do still cause some frustration here and there.
Timespinner	Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Timespinner is a Metroidvania about a time-traveling girl looking to use her abilities to take down the evil empire that destroyed her village, or perhaps find a way to set things right. This is a game that is very clearly trying to imitate Castlevania: Symphony of the Night in numerous ways, and for the most part it does a stellar job of it, though the game is overall smaller and its map more spread out, which lead to some other issues. However, while it may not be quite as good as Symphony, it’s still a superb Metroidvania, and one well worth playing for fans of the genre.
Tunic	Isometric Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Tunic is an Isometric Metroidvania where players control an anthropomorphic fox on a quest to… well, you’re gonna’ have to figure that part out yourself. This game’s way of having players try to figure out what they’re meant to be doing from incomplete information is one of Tunic’s greatest strengths, and it has a lot of them, including clever level design, deceptively beautiful graphics, and a great soundtrack. Really, the biggest flaw I can point to here is that the challenging combat and confusing goal structure is likely to scare off less-skilled players who may find themselves otherwise attracted to this game’s approachable presentation. However, for most players Tunic will be an absolute delight.
Xeodrifter	Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Xeodrifter is a Metroidvania game that really does a good job of feeling like a Metroid game, although it’s a bite-size experience that lacks the scope of the actual Metroid titles.
Alwa’s Legacy	Metroidvania	B+
tl;dr Alwa’s Legacy, the sequel to Alwa’s Awakening, is a Metroidvania that improves on its predecessor in just about every way. The result is a game with some great puzzle design, excellent boss design, solid visuals and music, and while the world design is still a bit overly convoluted, this is still overall an excellent Metroidvania that fans of the genre should absolutely be sure to play.
Blasphemous 2	Metroidvania	B+
tl;dr Blasphemous 2 is a Metroidvania that improves on its predecessor in multiple ways, with a truly stunning presentation, more gameplay options, and the same grotesque sensibilities and nails-hard difficulty. Again, this won’t appeal to everyone, but if you’re craving a challenging Metroidvania, you may want to kneel at the altar of this game.
Chasm	Metroidvania	B+
tl;dr Chasm is a Metroidvania game that copies elements of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night while adding in a few of its own. Unfortunately, the difficulty is a bit high, and the randomly-generated level design is a bit repetitive. It’s good, but falls short of greatness.
GrimValor	Metroidvania	B+
tl;dr GrimValor is a Metroidvania with an atmosphere ripped straight out of Dark Souls, but more than anything, this is a game that delights with its satisfying, fast-paced combat and solid RPG elements. Don’t go into this expecting the deep exploration of some of the best Metroidvania games, but if you’re looking for a nonlinear game with some great action and solid platforming, GrimValor is an excellent choice.
Iconoclasts	Metroidvania	B+
tl;dr Iconoclasts is a Metroidvania game with strong gameplay, an interesting story, charming characters, a good soundtrack, and an appealing art style. But it also has its fair share of frustrations, in part because some of those elements don’t seem to fit together as well as I’d like.
Kunai	Metroidvania	B+
tl;dr Kunai is a Metroidvania with visuals that look like an old-school Game Boy game and gameplay that has you swinging around using a pair of kunai grappling hooks. The game is a bit too linear at points for the Metroidvania genre and the level design can seem a bit repetitive, but the game makes up for this with just how incredibly fun it is to move around. Definitely a game to try out for fans of the genre.
Shantae and the Seven Sirens	Metroidvania	B+
tl;dr Shantae and the Seven Sirens is the fifth game in this series, and this time the world design is a more standard Metroidvania, retaining the series’ signature great animation and colorful, cartoony art style. However, the game is a bit easy, and exploration isn’t as rewarding as some of the best games in the genre. That said, it’s still an excellent Metroidvania well worth checking out.
Blade Chimera	Metroidvania	B
tl;dr Blade Chimera is a Metroidvania set in a future overrun by demons, where a demon hunter fights using a demonic sword. The game’s world and art style are excellent, and there are multiple clever ideas in the gameplay, but often those ideas have problems that make them more trouble than they’re worth, and the Metroidvania level design is lacking in areas too. Overall this is still a solid entry in the genre, but it’s not a truly great Metroidvania.
Blasphemous + Blasphemous 2 Bundle	Compilation / Metroidvania	B
tl;dr Blasphemous + Blasphemous 2 Bundle is a Compilation of the two named Metroidvania games that draw inspiration from the “Soulslike” genre. The games are very good, albeit made a bit niche due to their high difficulty and grotesque imagery. However, as a bundle, whether this makes for a good value is really going to depend on the price when you get it – you may be better off getting both games separately.
Crypt Custodian	Top-Down Action-RPG / Metroidvania	B
tl;dr Crypt Custodian is an Action-RPG with Metroidvania elements about a cat who goes to an animal afterlife and becomes condemned to spend eternity as a custodian. This game marries a lovely presentation with solid gameplay, and while I don’t think it particularly excels at anything, it is still very enjoyable and has little in the way of flaws. Overall this is a solid entry in the genre that I think most players will enjoy.
Dust: An Elysian Tail	Action-Platformer / Metroidvania	B
tl;dr Dust: An Elysian Tail is an Action-Platformer with Metroidvania elements. The Metroidvania mechanics here leave a bit to be desired, and the gameplay here often feels barely-controlled and chaotic, but despite these issues, this is still a thoroughly-enjoyable Action game with exciting combat and a great presentation.
Finding Teddy 2: Definitive Edition	Metroidvania	B
tl;dr Finding Teddy 2 is a Metroidvania that has a young girl journeying to a monster world to save her friend. The presentation here is superb, and the puzzles are refreshingly original thanks to this game’s unique language system. Just be aware that the game’s map is convoluted and frustrating, and the puzzles can at times be a bit unclear. If you’re not bothered by cryptic clues (or okay with using a walkthrough), this is a charming entry in the genre well worth trying.
La-Mulana	Metroidvania	B
tl;dr La-Mulana is a Metroidvania about an Indiana Jones-style character exploring an ancient ruin, and this game has some really clever ideas and mechanics, as well as some difficult to parse puzzles and clunky platforming. For the sort of player who thrills in unravelling clues to solve puzzles, this game may well prove thrilling, but other players will find it extremely frustrating. Suffice it to say, while some will love La-Mulana, this isn’t a game for everyone.
The Mummy Demastered	Metroidvania	B
tl;dr The Mummy Demastered is a Metroidvania that’s much better than the terrible 2017 Tom Cruise film it’s based on, taking elements from Castlevania, Metroid, and even Contra for some pretty unique gameplay, with a superb presentation. It’s a pity, then, that this otherwise excellent experience is marred by numerous frustrations, from a weapon system that’s limited in numerous ways to a frustratingly chatty and hand-holdy Russel Crowe. This game that could have been one of the better entries in the genre on the Switch. As-is, it is still pretty good though, and fans of the genre should definitely give it a look.
Treasure Hunter Man 2	Metroidvania	B
tl;dr Treasure Hunter Man 2 is a $2 budget-priced Metroidvania that’s actually pretty decent despite the small price and generic name. It doesn’t do anything particularly unique or spectacular, but what’s here is good, and definitely worth adding to your collection if you’re a fan of the genre.
Voidwrought	Metroidvania	B
tl;dr Voidwrought is a Metroidvania about a being of ichor in service to a dark god seeking to reclaim the remaining ichor from monsters it has transformed and empowered. This is overall a pretty solid Metroidvania, even if very little it does seems particularly new. If you’re a fan of the genre, you’ll probably enjoy this one.
9 Years of Shadows	Metroidvania	B-
tl;dr 9 Years of Shadows is a Metroidvania where you play a woman trying to find the source of a curse plaguing her land. Some of the gameplay mechanics here seem needlessly irritating, and the game doesn’t really make the best use of the fact that it’s a Metroidvania, but despite these issues there’s a lot to like here, including some creative abilities and a beautiful presentation. This isn’t a great Metroidvania, but it’s not a terrible one either.
Alwa’s Collection	Compilation / Metroidvania	B-
tl;dr Alwa’s Collection is a physical-only Compilation of two solid Metroidvania games, Alwa’s Awakening and Alwa’s Legacy. The games here are solid entries in the genre (though Legacy is clearly the better of the two), but this Compilation’s price means that you’re paying a premium to get the games on a physical cartridge along with some pack-in stickers. For most players, you’re better off just getting the individual games on the eShop.
Blasphemous	Metroidvania	B-
tl;dr Blasphemous is a Metroidvania that takes a lot of influence from Dark Souls, and pumps the game full of gruesome, bloody, repulsive imagery and repeatedly slams this imagery into players with a giant religious sledgehammer. This is absolutely not a game for everyone, but I give it credit for doing what it does very well, with good but challenging gameplay and detailed artwork and animation.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night	Metroidvania	B-
tl;dr Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is a Metroidvania designed by the creator of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and it shows… for better or worse. This game’s lack of its own distinct identity combined with serious technical flaws that still plague it a half a year after launch make it difficult to appreciate the good gameplay that’s buried underneath. Fans of the genre will still likely want to check it out, but absolutely do not expect the second coming of Symphony.
Dandara	Metroidvania	B-
tl;dr Dandara is a Metroidvania where instead of jumping, you ignore gravity and move directly to any white platform in line of sight. It’s an excellent concept, but it’s marred by frustrating combat and some problems with game difficulty.
Disney Illusion Island	Metroidvania	B-
tl;dr Disney Illusion Island is a family-friendly Metroidvania starring Mickey Mouse, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy as they search an island for missing magical books. The core gameplay here is polished and enjoyable, but doesn’t do anything special, and this game doesn’t make very good use of its Metroidvania mechanics. If you’re looking for an enjoyable Platformer for younger kids this may be worth a look, but most players will find they have better options on Nintendo Switch.
Indivisible	Metroidvania / Action-RPG	B-
tl;dr Indivisible is a game that combines Metroidvania and Action-RPG elements, along with a wonderful presentation and great characters. Unfortunately, the story feels odd, with characters acting unrealistically. The Metroidvania elements have limited exploration. And the Action-RPG stuff is poorly-explained and chaotic. This is still overall a good game, but not without some very rough spots.
Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom	Metroidvania	B-
tl;dr Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom is a Metroidvania that follows in the footsteps of the Wonder Boy games, and does an admirable job of it, too. It still feels like there’s a bit too much filler here, but the gameplay is solid and the visuals are absolutely gorgeous, making this a superb entry for the genre.
Omega Strike	Action-Platformer / Metroidvania	B-
tl;dr Omega Strike is an Action-Platformer with Metroidvaia elements that has players gradually unlocking abilities for three swappable characters. This game can be a tad slow-paced and repetitive, but overall it’s an enjoyable retro-style experience, and fans of these genres will find it worth a try, especially if you can catch it in a good sale.
Origamihero Games 2D Platformer Collection	Compilation / Platformer / Metroidvania	B-
tl;dr Origamihero Games 2D Platformer Collection includes the Platformer Smash Star, along with the Metroidvania games Treasure Hunter Man 2 and Unstrong Legacy. The Metroidvania games are pretty good, but what’s really special about this package is its outstanding price. For just over $4, this is a solid collection of content well worth getting.
Shinsekai: Into the Depths	Metroidvania	B-
tl;dr Shinsekai is a Metroidvania, albeit a somewhat limited one, where players explore the depths of a post-apocalyptic series of underwater caves to escape an encroaching ice. This is a pretty unique experience, and the sound design here in particular is excellent, but numerous game design and control issues make it far more frustrating and limited than it could be. Still worth a look, but it doesn’t quite meet its full potential.
Unstrong Legacy	Metroidvania	B-
tl;dr Unstrong Legacy is a $2 budget-priced Metroidvania that’s actually pretty decent despite the budget price. It doesn’t do anything particularly unique or spectacular, and the platforming is sub-par, but otherwise what’s here is good, and definitely worth adding to your collection if you’re a fan of the genre.
Watcher Chronicles	Metroidvania	B-
tl;dr Watcher Chronicles is a Metroidvania with “Soulslike” elements that’s somewhat lacking in multiple areas, but still offers a worthwhile experience if you’re looking to play this pairing of genres with a friend in co-op. If that’s the case, I think you’ll find a pretty enjoyable experience here. However, if you’re looking to play solo, you have multiple better options on Nintendo Switch.
Alwa’s Awakening	Metroidvania	C+
tl;dr Alwa’s Awakening is a Metroidvania with an old-school aesthetic and design inspired by classic NES games. Unfortunately, it’s not just the aesthetic that’s inspired by those older games, with the progression being a bit slow and the difficulty being overly high. It’s still worth a look for fans of the genre who have the patience for a game like this, but for most there will be better options on the Nintendo Switch.
Battle Kid: Fortress of Peril	Metroidvania	C+
tl;dr Battle Kid is a Metroidvania designed to be vaguely reminiscent of early games in the Mega Man series. Unfortunately, the gameplay isn’t as nuanced and well-designed as those games, and the Metroidvania elements are lacking. This is still a decent game (if you don’t mind repeatedly dying and restarting from checkpoints), but it doesn’t quite live up to what it’s aspiring to do.
Carrion	Metroidvania / Horror	C+
tl;dr Carrion is a Metroidvania that has you playing as the frightening, murderous tentacle monster storming through a facility. It’s an outstanding concept with a phenomenal presentation, but unfortunately, it falls prey to a few core gameplay problems, with the main one being repetitive level design and no map. This game still has some great moments, but those moments are interspersed with far too much frustration.
F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch	Metroidvania	C+
tl;dr F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch is a Metroidvania set in a dystopian world peopled by anthropomorphic animals where you play as a gruff, grizzled rabbit fighting using a large mechanical arm. It’s a decent entry in the genre with some good graphics (though less so on Nintendo Switch), though it isn’t especially noteworthy or memorable.
Feudal Alloy	Metroidvania	C+
tl;dr Feudal Alloy is a Metroidvania where players take the role as a sword-swinging robot in a medieval setting where everyone is a robot. The major role stamina plays in combat won’t be to everyone’s liking, and the repetitive areas are less than ideal, but if you can look past this game’s flaws you’ll find that at its heart it’s still a charming entry in the genre.
Forma.8	Metroidvania	C+
tl;dr Forma.8 is a Metroidvania that has players directing a floating drone through a stylized otherworldly environment. The presentation here is very good, but the sluggish gameplay and unresponsive controls make this game far too frustrating to play.
Ghost 1.0	Metroidvania / Two-Stick Shooter	C+
tl;dr Ghost 1.0 is a Metroidvania that has players invading a tech company as an android capable of possessing enemies. The core gameplay here is fun, and the game has some unique mechanics that are an interesting take on the genre, but the level design is boring, samey, and not conducive to a Metroidvania. It’s a flawed entry in the genre, but Metroidvania fans may still want to give it a look.
Hunter’s Legacy: Purrfect Edition	Metroidvania	C+
tl;dr Hunter’s Legacy is a Metroidvania where players explore a medieval fantasy realm with a warrior cat. This game doesn’t do anything particularly well – it has issues in its graphics, sound, gameplay, level design… yet even with these problems, it still manages to be an enjoyable Metroidvania, albeit certainly far from a “purrfect” one.
Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight	Metroidvania	C+
tl;dr Momodora is a Metroidvania about a mage exploring a dark city to try to undo a curse spreading across the kingdom. This is a beautiful game that has some good ideas in its combat that have a lot of potential, but unfortunately its overly high difficulty and its poor grasp of proper Metroidvania world design and progression keep this game from fully delivering on that potential.
Shantae: Risky’s Revenge – Director’s Cut	Metroidvania	C+
tl;dr Shantae: Risky’s Revenge is the second game in the series, a Metroidvania that was originally on the Nintendo DS and has aged pretty poorly, with low-resolution visuals, stiff gameplay, and level design that isn’t really conducive to a Metroidvania. It still has some good qualities and fans of the genre may still want to give it a try, but it’s a far inferior game compared to later entries in the series.
Supraland	First-Person Platformer / Metroidvania	C+
tl;dr Supraland is a First-Person Platformer with skill progression and a degree of freedom like a Metroidvania. This game is extremely unpolished, but that lack of polish is also a hidden strength, making players feel like they can do anything as long as they can just find a way to exploit the game’s imperfections. This is a highly flawed game, yet it’s still a joyous one well worth trying if you’re looking for a game that truly embraces exploration.
The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human	Metroidvania / 2-Stick Shooter	C+
tl;dr The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human is a Metroidvania with 2-Stick Shooter gameplay where players command a submarine searching the ruins of humanity to see what went wrong. This game absolutely nails the atmosphere, but the challenge level on the bosses is so steep that most players will probably lost interest after dying a dozen times or so.
Trash Quest	Metroidvania	C+
tl;dr Trash Quest is a Metroidvania that has players fighting through retro-styled Game Boy-esque environments as a gun-toting racoon. This game is more focused on challenging exploration and difficult boss fights than it is on Metroidvania-style exploration. It’s a decent entry in the genre, but not an especially noteworthy one. If you catch it on sale, it’s not bad, but at full price, you have better options.
Vernal Edge	Metroidvania	C+
tl;dr Vernal Edge is a Metroidvania set in a world of islands floating in the air, where players take the role of the titular Vernal, a young woman searching for her father so she can kill him. Yeah, Vernal is really unlikeable, and really sours this game’s story. Likewise, the tedious and frustrating combat and broken-up world design ruin the otherwise enjoyable Metroidvania elements. This game has some genuinely good parts to it, but the whole is a mess that just doesn’t work like it should.
Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap	Metroidvania	C+
tl;dr Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap is a stunningly good remake of a classic Sega Master System Metroidvania title. The visuals in this version of the game are fantastic, and you can swap in the original game’s visuals at any time if you prefer to go old-school. It’s just unfortunate that this game also brings with it the classic game’s repetitive, tedious level design.
Gato Roboto	Metroidvania	C
tl;dr Gato Roboto is a Metroidvania about a cat exploring an alien world using a mech. The gameplay here is decent, but difficulty spikes and the game’s simplistic black-and-white pixel art presentation mar the experience.
La-Mulana 1 & 2 Bundle	Compilation / Metroidvania	C
tl;dr La-Mulana 1 & 2 Bundle is a Compilation containing the two named games, but I strongly believe that only the first of these two games is worth playing, and this bundle doesn’t give players a very enticing reason to get the two games together. Unless you absolutely must have both of these games, just get the first La-Mulana and don’t bother with this bundle.
Super Skelemania	Metroidvania	C
tl;dr Super Skelemania is a short, budget Metroidvania that has you exploring an alien world as a skeleton. The game has some unique movement abilities that make it stand out, but its horrendously poor hit detection and uneven difficulty make it hard to recommend to anyone outside of the most diehard genre fans.
AvoCuddle	Metroidvania	C-
tl;dr AvoCuddle is a Metroidvania that has the player controlling a gun-toting avocado seeking to rescue his mate. This game has a lot of good elements to it, but those elements do not fit together well at all, and the gameplay itself feels shoddy and poorly-designed.
La-Mulana 2	Metroidvania	C-
tl;dr La-Mulana 2 is a Metroidvania about the daughter of an Indiana Jones-style character exploring an ancient ruin, and this game follows its predecessor in numerous ways, even improving on some. Unfortunately, it has also added overly sadistic level design and poor performance, resulting in a game that goes over the top with its challenge level into “just plain bad”, which is a shame because parts of this game are so very good. However, in the end, I cannot recommend this game to anyone.
Shantae	Metroidvania	C-
tl;dr Shantae is a Metroidvania and the first game in the self-titled series. This game was a jaw-dropping marvel when it originally released on the Game Boy color, but by today’s standards it is flawed in numerous ways that make it the worst game in its franchise. Definitely check out any of the other Shantae games instead.
Angel’s Punishment	Metroidvania	D+
tl;dr Angel’s Punishment is a Metroidvania that’s clearly trying to imitate Castlevania, but it falls far short of this due to a wide range of problems like terrible pacing, poor hit detection, and extremely repetitive visuals and gameplay. On top of this, the game is using absurd pricing to try to game the Nintendo Switch eShop. Don’t be fooled into thinking you’re getting a deal by buying this Metroidvania – you’re far better off spending a bit more and getting a game that’s actually good.
Spooky Ghosts Dot Com	Metroidvania	D
tl;dr Spooky Ghosts Dot Com is a mediocre Metroidvania that’s only a few hours long and doesn’t do much of interest with those few hours. Even its low $5 price tag isn’t enough to make up for its uninspired combat and platforming and poor grasp of what makes Metroidvanias compelling. Skip this one.
Final Light: The Prison	Metroidvania	F
tl;dr Final Light: The Prison is a Metroidvania that is a terrible mess of unresponsive controls, excruciating load times, and a cobbled-together presentation that doesn’t have any good qualities I can point to. Do not buy this game.

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