Best 2D Metroidvania Games For Beginners, Ranked

With non-linear levels and main heroes that can constantly be upgraded, Metroidvania games have become a beloved genre. As a result of their popularity, some are designed specifically for those who love the genre, which can result in a less beginner-friendly experience, but others showcase that the developers care about newcomers.

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Many games in the genre showcase a 2D visual style and gameplay that often includes simpler combat mechanics, more forgiving save systems, and clearer navigation for those who are new to Metroidvania games. They range from completely accessible to nearly every kind of gamer to providing a strong challenge to newcomers without alienating them.

9

Batman: Arkham Origins – Blackgate

The Arkhamverse Returned To Metroidvania With The Spin-Off

Released

August 25, 2013

OpenCritic Rating

Weak

The spin-off game in the Batman: Arkham franchise trades the open-world gameplay for a 2.5D exploration of Blackgate Prison. Batman: Arkham Origins – Blackgate is often overshadowed by its more famous brother and sister games, but that doesn’t stop it from providing gamers with a proper Batman adventure with quality gameplay.

Even from a storytelling perspective, Batman: Arkham Origins – Blackgate is worth playing for moments such as Batman first meeting Catwoman in the Arkhamverse timeline. It’s not long or all that difficult, but it still provides action-packed gameplay that feels like a 2D version of the original Batman: Arkham Asylum, which was essentially an open-world Metroidvania set on Arkham Island.

8

Axiom Verge

A Love Letter To The Metroid Games

Released

March 31, 2015

Developer(s)

Thomas Happ Games

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Taking heavy inspiration from H.R. Giger’s unique art style, Axiom Verge is designed to look and feel like a spiritual successor to the Metroid games to create a sci-fi adventure. It features a lone protagonist on an alien planet using a variety of weapons and upgrades to destroy creepy extraterrestrial threats and solve puzzles on a winding labyrinth-like map.

Axiom Verge was a surprising gem that burst onto the scene, demonstrating that gamers still loved Metroidvania games. It was also beginner-friendly, allowing newcomers to adjust to the gameplay while preparing them for a natural progression of difficulty that would test their skills by the end.

7

Yoku’s Island Express

Metroidvania And Pinball Is An Odd But Effective Combo

• Release Date: May 29, 2018
• Developer: Villa Gorilla
• Publisher: Team17
• Systems: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Yoku’s Island Express is a unique take on the Metroidvania genre. While it does include interconnected rooms that unlock as players progress, solve puzzles, and acquire upgrades, its gameplay mechanics differ significantly from traditional titles. Notably, there is no combat; instead, players navigate the game using pinball mechanics to launch and propel the main character, Yoku, to solve puzzles.

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Unlike many other Metroidvania games, Yoku’s Island Express is also more family-friendly. From Yoku himself to the world, everything is designed to feel like an interactive cartoon with pleasant visuals and sound. It’s also one of the easier Metroidvanias, but the pinball mechanics can still provide a challenge for most players, especially in later sections.

6

Ori And The Will Of The Wisps

The Strong Sequel Changed Into A Metroidvania

Released

March 11, 2020

Developer(s)

Moon Studios

While the original game is a more traditional platformer with minor Metroidvania elements, Ori And The Will Of The Wisps fully embraces the genre while maintaining the colorful and vibrant visuals that made the first Ori game so enchanting for games. With each area and puzzle solved, the titular Ori character is given new upgrades to help on the journey.

Ori And The Will Of The Wisps was immediately praised on release, with many considering it a step up from the original classic. However, while it may be a Metroidvania that the majority of gamers can get into, it is still recommended that beginners play the predecessor first to truly appreciate what is a proper sequel in nearly every way.

5

Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown

Sargon Brought New Life To The Beloved Franchise

Released

January 18, 2024

Developer(s)

Ubisoft Montpellier

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Prince Of Persia has been both a puzzle platformer and an action-packed hack-and-slasher, so when the series finally returned, UbiSoft combined both styles into one to create Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown. After the franchise went on hiatus for so long, many were pleasantly surprised to see Prince Of Persia going down a Metroidvania route.

A new protagonist, Sargon, is introduced in Prince Of Persia and is a member of the Immortals clan. Sargon traverses a massive mountain city that has a plethora of routes, shortcuts, and side content for the player to get lost in. The cinematic action set pieces are the frosting on top of what is an already delicious cake.

4

Super Metroid

Samus Aran Helped Establish The Metroidvania Genre

Action-Adventure

Metroidvania

Systems

Released

April 18, 1994

ESRB

e

Developer(s)

Nintendo

Gamers wouldn’t have the Metroidvania genre without the Metroid series, which first established non-linear gameplay with the original Metroid in 1986. However, as any great threequel should, Super Metroid took what the first two games established and enhanced it to create a definitive SNES title.

Super Metroid features Samus Aran going on an extraterrestrial journey, getting even more powerful, and testing players’ platforming skills. It would help establish the Metroidvania formula and iron out any kinks from the original games, thus setting up what would come in future sequels. It’s also a healthy progression of difficulty, with enough challenges to keep the player engaged but never feel like they want to throw their controller.

3

Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night

The Game That Changed Castlevania Forever

Systems

Released

October 2, 1997

ESRB

T For Teen Due To Animated Blood and Gore, Animated Violence

For many years, Castlevania had a more traditional gameplay, and Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night was the first game in the beloved Konami franchise to embrace the Metroidvania style. Ever since the majority of games in the original timeline would use Symphony Of The Night as the template for their gameplay.

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After first being introduced in Castlevania 3: Dracula’s Curse, Alucard takes over from the Belmont family as the main protagonist in Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night. As expected, players traverse through an expansive version of Dracula’s castle, leveling up and equipping new gear to take on the Prince Of Darkness and his legion of monsters.

2

Hollow Knight

Proof That Metroidvanias Are Not Going Anywhere

Released

February 24, 2017

ESRB

E10+ for Everyone 10+: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood

Developer(s)

Team Cherry

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

For many, Hollow Knight quickly became the definitive Metroidvania for the modern era, mixing its beautifully dark and macabre Tim Burton-like art style to create a memorable experience. While it does feature classic Metroidvania tropes such as upgrades to the enigmatic Knight and an open-ended map, it also blends in elements of a Souls-like game in the vein of Dark Souls or Bloodborne.

Gamers are forced to contend with a gauntlet of bosses throughout the twenty to forty hours of main story gameplay as the faceless protagonist. Hollow Knight became such a bestseller that it received multiple free DLC content drops and a highly anticipated sequel with Hollow Knight: Silksong.

1

Metroid Dread

A Long Hiatus Resulted In An Award-Nominated Hit

Action

Adventure

Metroidvania

Systems

Released

October 8, 2021

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Fans had to wait nearly twenty years for the official sequel to Metroid Fusion, but it finally came in the form of Metroid Dread, which brought the franchise back to its 2D roots. Samus Aran is more fun than ever, and the new 3D visuals on the Switch allow for an even better atmosphere with the visuals and sounds as she fights aliens, parasites, robots, and other sci-fi threats.

To continue the Metroidvania gameplay, Metroid Dread introduces even more upgrades to Samus’ signature armor, featuring new weapons and abilities that transform her into an unstoppable super soldier. While it certainly helps to have played previous Metroid games, Metroid Dread does not alienate newcomers and can stand out on its own for anyone to enjoy the addictive gameplay on the planet ZDR.

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