Metroidvanias are the genre where exploration, backtracking and a slow drip of new abilities all click into one tight loop. This guide ranks the best metroidvania games by what you actually get for your money, from a $15 modern classic to a brand new sequel that waited six years. Whether you want something cheap to try tonight, a co-op run on the couch, or a premium showcase, the picks below are sorted so you can decide fast.
Last updated: June 7, 2026. Prices checked: June 2026. Sources: Steam, Epic, publisher pages and partner stores. We refresh prices and sale notes regularly.
Best picks at a glance
- Best overall: Hollow Knight (massive world, tiny price)
- Best cheap (under $20): Hollow Knight, or Gato Roboto for pocket change
- Best premium / newest: Hollow Knight: Silksong and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
- Best for newcomers: Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Best for challenge-seekers: Nine Sols and Blasphemous 2
- Best couch co-op: Guacamelee! 2 (up to four players, local)
- Best cross-platform: Dead Cells (PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, mobile)
- Best Switch exclusive: Metroid Dread
- Best on Steam Deck: Dead Cells and Hollow Knight (both run flawlessly)
- Best reverse-metroidvania twist: Carrion (you are the monster)
Quick list
| Game | Best for | Players | Platforms | Entry cost | Why pick it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollow Knight | Overall value | 1 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch | ~$15 | Enormous world, brutal-but-fair, the genre benchmark |
| Hollow Knight: Silksong | Newest premium | 1 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch | ~$20 | Faster, deadlier sequel after a six-year wait |
| Ori and the Will of the Wisps | Newcomers | 1 | PC, Xbox, Switch | ~$30 | Gorgeous, generous checkpoints, emotional story |
| Dead Cells | Replayability | 1 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch | ~$25 | Roguelike runs with metroidvania map design |
| Blasphemous | Dark fantasy | 1 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch | ~$25 | Grim pixel art and punishing combat |
| Blasphemous 2 | Challenge | 1 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch | ~$30 | Tighter platforming, three weapon paths |
| Metroid Dread | Switch owners | 1 | Switch | ~$60 | The series that named the genre, modernised |
| Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown | Combat depth | 1 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch | ~$40 | Slick 2.5D platforming and a clever map system |
| Nine Sols | Parry fans | 1 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch | ~$30 | Sekiro-style deflection meets Taopunk art |
| Guacamelee! 2 | Couch co-op | 1-4 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch | ~$20 | Up to four players local, luchador combat |
| Animal Well | Puzzle-explorers | 1 | PC, PlayStation, Switch | ~$25 | Tiny file size, dense secrets, no hand-holding |
| Ender Lilies | Atmosphere | 1 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch | ~$25 | Melancholy, summon-based combat |
| Ender Magnolia | Story | 1 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch | ~$25 | Polished follow-up with a strong soundtrack |
| Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night | Castlevania fans | 1 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch | ~$40 | Igarashi's spiritual successor, loot-heavy |
| Axiom Verge | Retro sci-fi | 1 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch | ~$20 | One-dev love letter to old Metroid |
| Grime | Soulslike crossover | 1 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch | ~$30 | Absorb enemies, surreal world |
| SteamWorld Dig 2 | Relaxed pace | 1 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch | ~$20 | Mining loop, easy on-ramp |
| Salt and Sanctuary | 2D Souls | 1-2 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch | ~$18 | Local co-op, deep build system |
| Gato Roboto | Cheapest pick | 1 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch | ~$8 | Charming cat-in-a-mech, short and sweet |
| Carrion | Reverse twist | 1 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch | ~$20 | Play the monster eating the facility |
| Aeterna Noctis | Hardcore | 1 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch | ~$35 | Long, demanding, gorgeous hand-drawn art |
| Islets | Cosy modern | 1 | PC, Xbox, Switch | ~$17 | Friendly tone, smart map-merging gimmick |
Best overall and newcomer-friendly
If you have never finished a metroidvania, start here. Hollow Knight is the obvious recommendation because it does almost everything well: a vast interconnected map, tight controls, optional bosses for show-offs, and a price that almost feels like a mistake. It can be tough, but the world rewards patience.
For a gentler curve, Ori and the Will of the Wisps pairs stunning art with frequent checkpoints and a story that lands hard. It is the easiest game here to fall in love with on a first run. SteamWorld Dig 2 and Islets are also kind to beginners, with shorter runtimes and clear objectives, so you build confidence before tackling the genre's meaner entries.
Best newest and premium metroidvanias
The big recent releases are worth full price if you want the freshest design. Hollow Knight: Silksong finally arrived on September 4, 2025 across PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo platforms, priced at roughly $20, which is a steal for a sequel of this scale. It is faster and more aggressive than the original, so it suits players who already know the genre.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is the other modern showpiece. It is a 2.5D action-platformer with air dashes, a deep combat loop and one of the smartest map tools in the genre (you can snap a photo of a locked area to remember it later). Critics widely called it one of the best metroidvanias in years, and it goes on sale often, so it rarely stays at launch price for long.
Best challenging metroidvanias
Some players come to this genre specifically to suffer. Nine Sols, from Red Candle Games, builds its combat around Sekiro-style deflection and parries, wrapped in gorgeous hand-drawn "Taopunk" art. Blasphemous 2 sharpens the first game's platforming and hands you three weapon paths, while the original Blasphemous leans harder into grim atmosphere.
For Souls fans who want stats and builds, Salt and Sanctuary and Grime translate that formula into 2D. Aeterna Noctis is the endurance test of the group: long, precise and unforgiving, with platforming that demands real commitment.
- Deep, expressive combat systems
- Bosses that feel like genuine milestones
- Build variety keeps repeat runs fresh
- Steep difficulty can wall newcomers
- Backtracking after a death adds up
- Not the place to start the genre
Best cheap metroidvanias (under $20)
You do not need a big budget to get a great metroidvania. Several all-time greats sit under $20 even at full price, and far lower on sale.
Gato Roboto is the budget champion: a short, charming adventure where a cat pilots a mech, usually under $8. Hollow Knight at around $15 may be the best value in all of gaming. Axiom Verge and SteamWorld Dig 2 regularly dip to a few dollars during sales, and Dead Cells routinely sees 50% to 60% off its bundles. Track those drops on our Steam sale tracker so you never overpay.
Best couch co-op metroidvania
Here is the honest truth: the genre is overwhelmingly single-player, so genuine couch co-op is rare. The standout is Guacamelee! 2, a luchador-themed metroidvania where up to four players can join in locally, with chaotic punch-ups and dimension-swapping puzzles. It is colourful, funny and built to be played on a sofa.
Salt and Sanctuary also offers local two-player co-op if you want a darker, more deliberate session. Outside those two, assume any game on this page is a solo journey. I will not pad a co-op section with single-player titles just to fill space, because that would waste your time.
Best cross-platform and handheld
Dead Cells is the most flexible pick, available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and mobile, with cloud-friendly short runs that suit pick-up-and-play sessions. Metroid Dread is the one to grab if you live on Switch and want the polished modern face of the series that named the whole category.
On handhelds, almost everything here shines. Hollow Knight, Dead Cells, Blasphemous and Ender Lilies all run beautifully on Steam Deck, and their bite-sized loops fit handheld play perfectly. Our Steam Deck compatibility hub flags which versions are verified before you commit.
Honourable / adjacent picks
These are not pure metroidvanias, but they share enough DNA (exploration, ability-gating, or action-platforming) that fans of the genre may enjoy them. They are not core picks, and here is why each one sits in this section:
- October Night Games, an occult action-RPG with exploration, but it leans roguelike and ritual-puzzle rather than map-gated progression.
- Shard Games, action-platforming with combat that scratches a similar itch, though it lacks the interconnected world a true metroidvania needs.
- ABRACA - Imagic Games, a fairy-tale action party game; great fun, but structured around stages, not exploration.
If you want more like these, browse our best action, best indie and best horror hubs. RPG-curious explorers should also check the best RPG list.
FAQ
What is the best metroidvania for beginners? Ori and the Will of the Wisps. It has frequent checkpoints, readable maps and a forgiving difficulty curve, so you learn the genre's habits without getting walled. Hollow Knight is the next step up once you want a bigger, tougher world.
What is the best cheap metroidvania? Hollow Knight at around $15 is the value king, and Gato Roboto undercuts it at roughly $8. During seasonal sales, Axiom Verge, SteamWorld Dig 2 and Dead Cells often fall to a few dollars, so watch the deals page before buying.
Is Hollow Knight: Silksong worth it? Yes, if you have played a metroidvania before. It launched on September 4, 2025 at about $20, it is larger and faster than the original, and the price is low for a sequel of this size. Total newcomers may want to start with the first Hollow Knight or Ori.
Are there any co-op metroidvanias? Very few. Guacamelee! 2 supports up to four players in local co-op, and Salt and Sanctuary offers two-player local play. The rest of the genre is built for solo exploration, so check the store page before buying for a group.
What is a "reverse metroidvania"? A game that flips the formula so you grow more powerful by consuming or destroying, rather than collecting tidy upgrades. Carrion is the best example: you control a fleshy monster escaping a lab, eating staff and unlocking new abilities as you spread through the building.
Which metroidvania has the best combat? It depends on your taste. Nine Sols rewards precise Sekiro-style parries, Blasphemous 2 offers three distinct weapon styles, and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown blends combos with platforming. For loot-driven builds, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night and Grime stand out.
What is the best metroidvania on Steam Deck? Dead Cells and Hollow Knight are both perfect on Deck thanks to short, controller-first loops and verified performance. Blasphemous and Ender Lilies are also excellent on the go. Confirm the version on our Steam Deck hub first.
How long does a typical metroidvania take to finish? Most run 8 to 20 hours for the main path, though completionists chasing every secret can double that. Shorter picks like Gato Roboto wrap in a few hours, while Hollow Knight, Aeterna Noctis and Bloodstained can swallow 30-plus hours if you go for full completion.
The short version
The genre has never been healthier, and you can build a brilliant library without overspending. Start with Hollow Knight for value, add Silksong or Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown when you want a premium showcase, and grab Guacamelee! 2 if you need couch co-op. Whatever you choose, compare live prices across Steam, Eneba, Kinguin, Epic and GOG on our full catalog, watch the current deals, and keep an eye on free giveaways so you only ever pay what a game is worth.
Alex, Scout Team