Best Metroidvania Games That Are Immediately Fun

A key aspect of Metroidvanias is the drip-feeding of impactful upgrades that encourage exploration. Much of the joy typically comes from the sense of discovery that these upgrades evoke, and, as a result, these games tend to get off to slow starts.

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Some Metroidvanias, however, manage to be fun from the get-go. This is usually thanks to fluid movement controls, accessible gameplay, or a faster pace than usual. Rich world design and immersive atmospheres can also help to make the onboarding process a more engaging experience.

6

Gato Roboto

An Accessible & Minimalist Approach

• Platform(s): PC, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
• Released: 2019
• Developer(s): doinksoft
• Genre: Metroidvania

Gato Roboto is a minimalist Metroidvania about a cat in a mech-suit. This charming set-up makes this black-and-white action game remarkably approachable, supported by classic run-and-gun gameplay that will be familiar to many and easy to learn for beginners.

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Overall, the classic combination of exploration and action provides a straightforward structure for the moment-to-moment gameplay. While this may be a little basic for some, the combination of familiar mechanics and tongue-in-cheek charm make it an immediately fun experience.

5

Dead Cells

An Action-Packed Combination Of Roguelite & Metroidvania

Released

August 7, 2018

Developer(s)

Motion Twin

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

This unique combination of the roguelite and Metroidvania genres is a stylish action-platformer with RPG elements. The game’s slick combat is a definite strength, bolstered by intuitive, tactile controls that allow players to maneuver through each environment with ease and make traversal an immediately fun experience.

The action-packed nature of Dead Cells, thanks to its predominantly roguelite structure, allows for a consistently engaging loop in which players need not worry about getting lost or discovering the next upgrade. However, while this is certainly a strength, fans of more traditional Metroidvanias may not get much out of this one.

4

Minishoot Adventures

A Tactile & Familiar Twin-Stick Shooter

Metroidvania

Twin-Stick Shooter

Systems

Released

April 2, 2024

Developer(s)

SoulGame Studio

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

This top-down twin-stick shooter excels with simple controls and familiar gameplay that give it a widespread appeal. This is supported further by bright cartoon graphics and a variety of accessibility options that are sure to provide fun for a wide range of players.

These options include auto-fire, aim-assist, and three difficulty settings that provide a dynamic level of challenge. Overall, it’s the inoffensive style, familiar controls, and approachable difficulty that ensure Minishoot is a highly polished and immediately fun Metroidvania.

3

Pseudoregalia

A Satisfying 3D Platformer With Expressive Movement

Systems

Released

July 28, 2023

Developer(s)

rittzler

Pseudoregalia is a movement-based Metroidvania with little in the way of combat, though it does feature a small variety of enemies and bosses. The real joy of this title, however, is its quiet melancholic atmosphere and tactile movement controls that make the frequent 3D platforming a tremendously satisfying experience.

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Additionally, Pseudoregalia takes little time at all in expanding this move-set, making it more expressive and even more of a joy to use. For fans of 3D platformers, old-school graphics, and melancholic atmospheres, Pseudoregalia is worth a shot.

2

Hollow Knight

An Immediately Atmospheric World

Released

February 24, 2017

Developer(s)

Team Cherry

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Hollow Knight’s melancholic and truly mysterious atmosphere is immediately apparent and highly immersive thanks to a winning hand-drawn art style and tranquil soundtrack. Players are almost immediately exposed to its charming NPCs and interconnected underground world and set off on a memorable adventure through numerous locations.

The combat is simple but skill-based, especially during boss fights, and there are a variety of encounters to battle through right away. However, it’s arguably Hollow Knight’s immediately mysterious world that provides the strongest motivation to further explore its depths.

1

Animal Well

Immediately Mysterious & Completely Accessible

Released

May 9, 2024

Developer(s)

Shared Memory

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Animal Well is a truly unique Metroidvania not only for its neon-infused pixel-art presentation but for its distinctive lack of combat mechanics and focus on lightweight puzzle-solving. More importantly, Animal Well succeeds with its quiet and enigmatic atmosphere that players are steeped in from the very start.

This atmosphere rewards curiosity and encourages methodical exploration, drip-feeding players unique landmarks and new tools. All of this is immediately fun thanks to simple controls, stylish presentation, and a quick gameplay introduction.

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