Guide

Metroidvania Games

PC metroidvania games about ability-gated exploration, movement upgrades, boss fights, secrets, and map mastery.

Subgenre guideUpdated 2026-05-31Players who want exploration and progression in a connected map.

MetroidvaniaExplorationMovementBossesSecrets

Metroidvanias depend on the pleasure of returning with new abilities. The best matches make the map feel different after each upgrade and reward attention with shortcuts, secrets, and new routes.

This guide separates combat-heavy, platform-heavy, story-heavy, and soulslike-leaning metroidvanias so players can pick the kind of friction they want.

How this guide decides

A metroidvania guide should explain how progression changes the map. Games rank higher when movement, abilities, bosses, and exploration gates all support the central loop.

Rule

Ability-gated exploration and map return value outrank broad platformer overlap.

Rule

Movement upgrades rank higher when they open new routes and change combat or traversal.

Rule

Boss-heavy games fit when exploration remains a major reason to play.

Good fit if

You want a connected map that opens up over time.
You like movement upgrades, secrets, boss gates, and backtracking with purpose.
You want to choose between precision platforming and combat-heavy exploration.

Skip if

You dislike backtracking or hidden routes.
You want a fully linear level-by-level platformer.

Catalog-backed picks

Start here

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Why it fits

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a top pick because it overlaps with metroidvania, exploration, movement rather than only sharing a broad genre tag. I'd try Ori and the Will of the Wisps because metroidvania, platforming, movement, and story rich lines up with Adventure.

Tradeoff

Check this one first if you want you want a connected map that opens up over time. Skip or tune the search if your priority is closer to: you dislike backtracking or hidden routes.

ActionAdventurePlatformermetroidvaniaplatforming

Blasphemous

Why it fits

Blasphemous is a pick 2 because it overlaps with metroidvania, exploration, bosses rather than only sharing a broad genre tag. I'd try Blasphemous because metroidvania, soulslike, bosses, and dark fantasy lines up with Adventure.

Tradeoff

Check this one first if you want you want a connected map that opens up over time. Skip or tune the search if your priority is closer to: you dislike backtracking or hidden routes.

ActionAdventurePlatformermetroidvaniasoulslike

Hollow Knight

Why it fits

Hollow Knight is a pick 3 because it overlaps with metroidvania, exploration, bosses rather than only sharing a broad genre tag. I'd try Hollow Knight because bosses, atmosphere, skill, and secrets lines up with Adventure.

Tradeoff

Check this one first if you want you want a connected map that opens up over time. Skip or tune the search if your priority is closer to: you dislike backtracking or hidden routes.

ActionAdventureIndieexplorationbosses

Resident Evil 4

Why it fits

Resident Evil 4 is a pick 4 because it overlaps with metroidvania, exploration rather than only sharing a broad genre tag. I'd try Resident Evil 4 because horror, survival horror, third person shooter, and resource management lines up with Adventure.

Tradeoff

Check this one first if you want you want a connected map that opens up over time. Skip or tune the search if your priority is closer to: you dislike backtracking or hidden routes.

ActionAdventurehorrorsurvival horrorthird-person shooter

Lethal Company

Why it fits

Lethal Company is a pick 5 because it overlaps with metroidvania, exploration rather than only sharing a broad genre tag. I'd try Lethal Company because horror, scavenging, teamwork, and risk management lines up with Adventure.

Tradeoff

Check this one first if you want you want a connected map that opens up over time. Skip or tune the search if your priority is closer to: you dislike backtracking or hidden routes.

ActionAdventureCo-ophorrorco-op

Pentiment

Why it fits

Pentiment is a pick 6 because it overlaps with metroidvania, exploration rather than only sharing a broad genre tag. I'd try Pentiment because story rich, choices, investigation, and dialogue lines up with Adventure.

Tradeoff

Check this one first if you want you want a connected map that opens up over time. Skip or tune the search if your priority is closer to: you dislike backtracking or hidden routes.

AdventureRPGstory richchoicesinvestigation

Baldur's Gate 3

Why it fits

Baldur's Gate 3 is a pick 7 because it overlaps with metroidvania, exploration rather than only sharing a broad genre tag. I'd try Baldur's Gate 3 because choice, tactics, companions, and fantasy lines up with Adventure.

Tradeoff

Check this one first if you want you want a connected map that opens up over time. Skip or tune the search if your priority is closer to: you dislike backtracking or hidden routes.

RPGAdventureStory RichCo-opchoice

Valheim

Why it fits

Valheim is a pick 8 because it overlaps with exploration, bosses rather than only sharing a broad genre tag. I'd try Valheim because crafting, base building, bosses, and progression lines up with Adventure.

Tradeoff

Check this one first if you want you want a connected map that opens up over time. Skip or tune the search if your priority is closer to: you dislike backtracking or hidden routes.

SurvivalAdventureCo-opsurvivalcrafting

The map should change meaning

Good picks make a locked route become a memory, a shortcut, or a new objective once movement and combat options expand.

Movement versus combat

Some metroidvanias are about clean traversal, while others are about bosses and survival. The right pick depends on that balance.

Review notes

How this page stays useful

PC GameDex keeps guide picks tied to visible play loops, catalog facts, and public source pages. Store popularity can help players notice a game, but it is not enough to make a title a strong recommendation when the mechanics do not fit the request.

Sources

Quick answers

Before you pick one

Is Hollow Knight the only starting point?

No. It is a major reference point, but the guide also covers lighter, faster, darker, and more platform-focused variants.

Are soulslike metroidvanias included?

Yes, if exploration and ability progression remain central rather than only boss difficulty.

How do I avoid very hard platforming?

Use Discovery notes such as less precise platforming, easier movement, or combat focus.

Metroidvania Games

How this guide decides

Good fit if

Skip if

Start here

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Blasphemous

Hollow Knight

Resident Evil 4

Lethal Company

Pentiment

Baldur's Gate 3

Valheim

The map should change meaning

Movement versus combat

How this page stays useful

Before you pick one

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