The Metroidvania genre stands as one of gaming’s most beloved, shaped by the enduring legacies of iconic franchises like Metroid and Castlevania. Evolving from its roots into a genre in its own right, it remains a favorite among indie developers. The fusion of Metroid and Castlevania elements yields exceptional gaming experiences.
From its modest origins in the 80s to its resurgence during the indie boom of the early 2000s, Metroidvanias have solidified their position as a fundamental part of gaming. While mastering the Metroidvania style can pose challenges, there are modern titles tailored for newcomers, crafting imaginative worlds and easing players into the genre's demanding nature. These games serve as a gateway, enticing players to delve into more challenging experiences like Hollow Knight.
In this article, Gurugamer is going to showcase the 8 beginner friendly Metroidvania games so that new fans can get into the genre.
1. Ori And The Blind Forest
Often regarded as one of the best games, not just in the Metroidvania genre, to be released in the past ten years, Ori and the Blind Forest is an incredible game. Without touching Castlevania or Metroid, players can get an incredible narrative, plenty of new abilities and areas to revisit, and an artistic style that is completely mesmerizing, building a beautiful world with surprising darkness lurking within.
Ori and the Blind Forest is already responsible for helping find the Metroidvania genre plenty of new fans, this incredible game holds some challenges but is well worth trying, and it never becomes hard to the point of real frustration. It also has a much more challenging sequel for those looking to test themselves after they finish.
2. Shadow Complex
In 2009, Shadow Complex emerged in a 2.5D format, drawing strong inspiration from the Metroid series. It unfolds within an underground cavern where a couple becomes trapped following a mishap during a spelunking expedition. Embracing the Metroidvania essence, the game offers extensive opportunities for revisiting locations with newfound abilities, gathering useful items, and more.
Shadow Complex stands independently from the renowned franchises that pioneered the Metroidvania genre, yet it showcases its own brilliance. It garnered multiple Game of the Year award nominations upon its initial release. While featuring optional challenge levels, the main game itself offers a relatively accessible experience for newcomers, presenting a manageable level of difficulty. Notably, it has recently undergone remastering for the PS5.
3. Timespinner
This game draws significant inspiration from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and enables players to assume the role of a time messenger navigating a castle, engaging in combat against adversaries, and discovering enhancements that unlock previously unreachable sections.
What sets Timespinner apart is its proficiency in acquainting players with the majority of controls typical in Metroidvania games. However, the standout feature that makes Timespinner an exceptional introductory game lies in the player's ability to halt time at their discretion. This unique capability enables players to consistently orient themselves and leisurely progress through the game at their own pace.
4. Owlboy
This game doesn't fully embody the intricate essence of Metroidvania gameplay, yet it stands out as an excellent choice for newcomers due to its effective introduction of numerous Metroidvania elements.
Owlboy offers an accessible learning curve, featuring diverse puzzles, combat scenarios, and a range of abilities, notably Owlboy's flight capability. The game underwent an extensive nine-year development phase, primarily focused on perfecting the flight mechanics and other abilities. Despite this prolonged process, it emerged as a charming and delightful game tailored for Metroidvania novices. Additionally, the indie developers behind Owlboy have an unexpected upcoming game in the pipeline.
5. Axiom Verge
In recent years, the indie game development community has been a driving force behind the popularity of the Metroidvania genre, with Axiom Verge serving as a prime example of an underrated, indie-crafted Metroidvania gem. Its narrative revolves around a scientist who finds himself on an alien world following a laboratory explosion, featuring captivating art and storytelling reminiscent of the Metroid series, rendering Axiom Verge one of the most captivating recent releases.
While the anticipation for Team Cherry's Hollow Knight: Silksong was high in 2021, there exists a wealth of other Metroidvania games worth exploring. Axiom Verge boasts an extensive array of over sixty distinct power-ups and numerous levels, positioning it as an ideal starting point for newcomers to the Metroidvania style. Players have the freedom to progress at their own pace, acquiring numerous abilities along the way, which significantly eases the game's difficulty compared to rushing through it.
6. Guacamelee
Guacamelee presents a more lighthearted and comedic take within the realm of Metroidvania games, straddling the line between this genre and a brawler. Infused with inspiration from Mexican culture, it revolves around Juan, who, after being killed and returning from the Land of the Dead, gains a transformative mask, turning him into a formidable Luchador.
While not a conventional Metroidvania title, Guacamelee incorporates familiar elements such as non-linear gameplay and the collection of coins to acquire new abilities. What sets it apart as beginner-friendly is the option for cooperative play—a second player can join in, aiding the primary player, thereby mitigating the challenges typical of Metroidvania games. This cooperative feature significantly eases the difficulties encountered within this vibrant Metroidvania hybrid.
7. Chasm
Chasm, a notable addition to the Metroidvania genre, debuted in 2018 and is accessible across various platforms. A standout feature of Chasm, drawing heavy inspiration from Castlevania, lies in its fully procedurally generated world map, offering a departure from solely generating individual dungeon contents.
The game's narrative follows a young boy striving to prove his worthiness as a knight, leading to encounters with several demanding boss battles throughout Chasm. These battles serve as beneficial learning experiences for aspiring Metroidvania players, as they align with the genre's tendency for boss fights reliant on mastering attack patterns. Notably, Chasm's bosses present a lesser challenge compared to similar game encounters, making them more approachable for newcomers to the genre.
8. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
While easier options exist within the Metroidvania genre, starting a player's journey with one of the foundational games responsible for its creation carries considerable appeal. Castlevania and Metroid stand as the pioneering franchises that inspired the subsequent Metroidvania titles, with Symphony of the Night reigning as the pinnacle Castlevania installment, exerting influence on numerous recent games.
There are multiple compelling reasons why this serves as an excellent entry point. However, beyond these aspects, the perceived difficulty isn't as daunting upon closer inspection. While most Metroidvania games present challenges, Castlevania typically allows players to easily surpass these difficulties by over-leveling, granting the option to reduce the overall challenge if desired.
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