On this page 8 games
A metroidvania is a game of locked doors. You see a door that won't open, a ledge that's too high, a wall that looks fake, and two hours later you come back with the right power. The joy is watching the map open up bit by bit and remembering that corner you left behind.
PC is probably the best platform in the world for the genre, thanks to indies. Six of the eight games below come from small studios, and two were made by a single person.
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KinguinLikely ends in 1 dayHow we picked
- Quality of 84 or more on the GameValio index in October 2026. Five of the eight were at 90 or higher.
- An interconnected map with ability-gated progress, which is what defines the genre. Roguelikes with metroidvania elements, like Dead Cells, went to the honorable mentions.
- One of each style: hard combat, platforming, pure exploration, story.
The genre's benchmark for the past decade. Hallownest is a ruined kingdom of bugs, huge and full of secrets, where you have to buy each area's map and fill it in yourself. The combat is hard and fair, and the bosses are among the best in 2D games.
Three people made it, and it easily runs 40 hours, far more if you want everything.
Between October 2025 and October 2026, the lowest Steam price was $7.49, in December 2025. Worth waiting for a sale.
The sequel arrived more than six years after it was announced. You play Hornet, faster and more acrobatic than the Knight, in a new kingdom with character quests that give you more reasons to explore.
It's harder than the first from the start. If you haven't played Hollow Knight, start there.
It had three sales in the twelve months we tracked, the deepest at 25%, in June 2026. It doesn't discount much.
The prettiest game on the list and the one most likely to get to you. Its opening minutes are famous for making people cry. After that it becomes a demanding platformer, with timed escapes that test everything you've learned.
The Definitive Edition adds extra areas and fast travel. The sequel, Will of the Wisps, is just as good.
Between October 2025 and October 2026, the lowest Steam price was $3.99, in June 2026. On sale, it's one of the best buys on this list.
Almost no combat, all exploration and puzzles. You don't get a sword, you get a frisbee, a bubble wand and a yo-yo, and you discover uses the game never explains. Under the campaign are layers of secrets the community took weeks to crack.
One person made it, over about seven years.
It went on sale nine times in twelve months, but never deeper than 33% off. Waiting gets you little.
A girl wakes up in a kingdom destroyed by a rain that turns people into monsters. Every boss you defeat becomes a spirit that fights beside you, and building the right set of spirits is the heart of the game.
The melancholy soundtrack by the group Mili is among the best in the genre.
Between October 2025 and October 2026, the lowest Steam price was $9.99, in February 2026. Worth waiting for a sale.
Gorgeous, disturbing pixel art inspired by Spanish religious art. The sequel greatly improves on the first game's exploration: there are now three weapons, each opening different paths through the map.
Bloody and strange in the best way. Not for everyone, but unforgettable if it's for you.
Between October 2025 and October 2026, the lowest Steam price was $7.49, in June 2026. On sale, it's one of the best buys on this list. Resellers went lower in the same period.
The surprise of 2024. Ubisoft turned the series into a real metroidvania with the smoothest combat on the list: combos, parries and time powers that work for fighting and for exploring.
It has a great feature for people who get lost: snap a "memory" of a spot and pin it on the map to come back later.
Between October 2025 and October 2026, the lowest Steam price was $8.99, in June 2026. Never pay full price. Resellers went lower in the same period.
The most direct love letter to Metroid on PC. A scientist wakes up in an alien world and finds weapons that warp the game itself: one "glitches" the graphics so you can walk through walls.
Another one-person game, and the one with the lowest list price when we made the list.
Between October 2025 and October 2026, the lowest Steam price was $4.99, in April 2026. Worth waiting for the next big sale. Resellers went lower in the same period.
Just missed the cut
- Nine Sols: Sekiro-style deflect combat in a "taopunk" world. Hard, with a strong story.
- SteamWorld Dig 2: dig downward for ore and upgrades. Short, light and very well made.
- Dead Cells: half metroidvania, half roguelike. The map changes every run.
Played the first and wondering about the second?
Hollow KnightHollow Knight: SilksongFAQ
Why is it called metroidvania?
It blends Metroid and Castlevania, the two series that popularized the format: a big, interconnected map with areas that only open once you gain a new ability.
Which metroidvania is good for beginners?
Ori and the Blind Forest and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown have accessibility options and a gentler curve. Hollow Knight is the best, but it's hard from the start.
Should I play Hollow Knight before Silksong?
Yes. Silksong stands on its own, but it's harder and the story lands better after the first game.
Are the prices on this page current?
Yes. Each game's price, discount and recommendation come from today's data. The words are ours; the numbers are live.
