The Best Metroidvanias to Play Right Now, Ranked by Our Scores

The one that redefined the modern genre, and still its high-water mark. Team Cherry's hand-drawn descent into the ruined kingdom of Hallownest is enormous, atmospheric, and quietly devastating, a game that trusts you to explore, get lost, and piece its world and story together yourself. The combat is tight, the bosses are unforgettable, and the sheer scale of what one tiny team built remains staggering. If you have never played a metroidvania, start here. If you have, you already know.

The most beautiful game on this list, and one of the most emotionally affecting. Moon Studios' sequel keeps the sublime, flowing movement of the original and builds a fuller, richer metroidvania around it, with real combat, a wider world, and a wordless story told through image and one of the finest orchestral scores in games. It is harder and more combat-focused than its predecessor, but as a package of movement, art, and feeling, very little touches it.

The long, long awaited follow-up, and it was worth the wait. Silksong hands you a new protagonist in Hornet, faster and more aggressive than the original's Knight, and a new kingdom that is more vertical, more hostile, and more demanding. It is a harder, sharper game than Hollow Knight, and that will not suit everyone, but for players who wanted the series to push them further, it delivers a spectacular, enormous adventure that honors its predecessor without simply repeating it.

A gorgeous surprise that leans into the genre's classic roots. Styled after the handheld action-adventures of the past, Mina the Hollower pairs a striking retro-inspired look with sharp, satisfying combat and a world built for exploration and secrets. It is proof that the genre still has fresh, confident new entries in it, and that a strong sense of style and place matters as much as the map. A standout for anyone who loves the form.

The pick for players who want their exploration with a jolt of adrenaline. Dead Cells fuses metroidvania structure with roguelite runs, so death sends you back to the start but the world, weapons, and unlocks keep evolving. Its combat is fast, fluid, and endlessly replayable, and years of substantial updates have made it deeper and more generous than ever. If a slow, methodical crawl is not your speed, this is the high-energy alternative.

The big-budget entry that reminded everyone how good a mainstream metroidvania can be. The Lost Crown brings slick, acrobatic combat and traversal to a genuinely clever, secret-packed world, with a time-manipulation hook that gives its puzzles and platforming real personality. It is polished, generous, and immediately accessible, an easy recommendation for newcomers and a great palate cleanser for veterans who want something more action-forward.

Every game here is one we actually played and reviewed, and the order follows our review scores rather than hype or nostalgia. We stuck to games built on the core metroidvania idea, one connected world that opens up as you gain new abilities, while allowing a couple of roguelite-flavored hybrids like Dead Cells that use the same DNA. The genre is deep and this is not everything worth playing, but if you start at the top of this list and work down, you will not go wrong.

Why it matters: the metroidvania is one of the few genres where small, independent studios routinely outdo the biggest budgets in the business, and right now the quality on offer is extraordinary. Whether you want beauty, challenge, style, or speed, there is a world here waiting to be unlocked.