TheMetroidvaniasubgenre has become a go-to niche of the video games library alongside rogue-like titles and Souls-like conquests. Blending 2D or 3D platformer gameplay with free exploration of theMetroidandCastlevaniafranchises, the Metroidvania pot now holds a large variety of vibrant and energetic titles.
Regardless of how many triple-A games with modern graphics there are to marvel at, many gamers will always be tethered to retro graphics within classic-styled platforms, and there is an abundance of these stylistic titles on offer. Here are 10 of the best Metroidvania games available to buy for under $15.
Cave Story+
Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection
Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider
Guacamelee! Gold Edition
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Hollow Knight
Shantae: Risky’s Revenge - Director’s Cut
Blasphemous
18 Best Metroidvania Games Ever Made, Ranked
This list breaks down the best Metroidvania games around, exploring the genre’s origins and the titles that celebrate exploration and discovery.
A short and sweet solo adventure
This 2019 action-adventure Metroidvania by Robson Paiva sees you control a girl navigating a dystopian environment governed by machines to connect with another person. Explore themes of loneliness and retribution within a brooding narrative and experience the colorful, pixel graphics yourself for only $9.99.
The first of three female-driven Metroidvania games on this list belongs to REDO! and it’s an eye-catching, post-apocalyptic adventure for incredibly cheap - especially when it flaunts an immersive, dystopian atmosphere alongside terrific level designs. If you fancy putting your smarts to the test, REDO! rewards players for thinking ahead and being tactile, and it wouldn’t be a Metroidvania if it didn’t have semi-punishing combat.
9. Cave Story
Experience the nostalgia of 8 and 16-bit games
Independent designer, Daisuke Amaya, released the Metroidvania platformer, Cave Story, back in 2011, and in the last decade, it’s become a classic in the subgenre. Explore a world full of Mimigas to save the race and the world from a deranged villain. Steam is currently offering this iconic indie for only $14.99, which is a bargain for a masterpiece.
Cave Storyis rather low-key under the wider umbrella of video games, but in the Metroidvania corner, it’s held in high regard. There’s plenty of run-and-gun fun to be had here, as well as six new play modes, 15 levels to explore, over 20 boss fights, and more for a cheap price. Furthermore, we included Cave Story in our list of the10 Most Influential Indie Games, which solidifies its mark on the genre, alongside other indie classics likeLimboandUndertale.
8. Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection
Experience the exclusive Z-Chaser mode
WHERE TO PLAY
Capcom’s iconic platformer hero, Mega Man, returns in the Legacy Collection, compiling six games in one: Mega Man Zero 1, 2, 3, and 4, as well as Mega Man ZX and ZX Advent. Released in 2020, this collection also includes an artwork gallery, music player, special filters, and much more, and all of it can be yours for only $9.88 reduced from $29.99.
Mega Manwill forever be a legendary Japanese character in the video games Hall of Fame, and this Legacy Collection offers some of the best games in the franchise for pennies. Full to the gunnels with nostalgia accompanied by a foot-tapping score and colorful visuals, it’s a no-brainer to pick up this six-games-in-one purchase. If you’re a fan of mecha in games and anime, this is a series to check out, and instead of deciding which games in the series to play first, the collection compiles all the best ones for you.
7. Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider
Stunning 16-bit action
Moonrider is on a vengeful mission to take down its creators in JoyMasher’s high-octane, side-scrolling platformer. Capturing the nostalgia of 16-bit action games, Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider has enough blood and gore to keep you on the edge of your seat and the revenge quest is a steal on Steam with an $11.04 price tag.
Praised for its top-tier soundtrack and well-balanced combat, Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider has been compared to Mega Man and Shinobi with a campaign that doesn’t outstay its welcome. For under $10, you get eight stages to battle through combined with a retro-gaming aesthetic that’s sure to please any gamer with an eye for vintage, 16-bit graphics. If you played JoyMasher’s other work, including Oniken, Odallus, and Blazing Chrome, or you want to check out the developer’s predecessor titles for the first time, Steam is also offering a Moonrider/Blazing Chrome Bundle with a 26% discount alongside a JoyMasher Bundle.
6. Guacamelee! Gold Edition
Embrace becoming a luchador with impressive wrestling techniques
The 2013 Metroidvania platformer, Guacamelee! Gold Edition, from DrinkBox Studios, calls upon Mexican culture and folklore to supply energetic 2D action with many colorful characters. Steam is offering this vibrant dip into the country’s lore for $14.99, and you also get extra powers, levels, enemies, and more through the Gold Edition.
Guacamelee!Gold Edition is packed with fun content to elevate your experience, including the “El Infierno” level expansion that yields powerful costumes for Juan and Tostada, should you best the challenges, trading cards, 2-player local co-op play, and the promise of lots of chickens. Experience engaging combat steeped in culture for under $15, and if the upbeat soundtrack piques your interest, you can download the soundtrack DLC for only $6.99 to listen to your favorite tracks.
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5. Beholgar
Perfect for Conan fans
Serkan Bakar presents this 2022 classic-styled Metroidvania where you assume the role of the titular beefy barbarian to explore the kingdom’s expanse, conquer castles, and defeat creepy creatures. Not only is this 2D adventure visually pleasing, but the $9.99 price tag secures a roster of intriguing powers and abilities, as well as music prepared by Andrea Baroni.
If you’re looking for a Metroidvania reminiscent of the adventures of Conan the Barbarian, Hercules, and Jason and the Argonauts, look no further than Beholgar. For $8.99, you’ll embark upon a vivid fantasy battling ancient creatures lurking within the kingdom with various new skills and abilities to master. Highlighted for being a satisfactory, bite-sized journey, Beholgar has a fair difficulty with combat taking place in memorable environments, and it’s all pulled together through its stunning color palette.
4. Bloodstained: Ritual Of The Night
Beat the alchemist’s curse!
Channeling the vibes of Castlevania, ArtPlay’s 2019 Metroidvania, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, focuses on side-scrolling action by Koji Igarashi and features orphan, Miriam, who must battle her way through a castle rife with demons to defeat the master and save the world. The PlayStation Store is serving up a generous 70% saving on this dark fantasy with rave reviews across the board.
Held in extremely high regard within the subgenre,Bloodstained: Ritual of the Nightflaunts fluid gameplay, impressive 3D model environments, and incredibly designed monsters. Miriam is a badass character to champion through each challenge and the character roster is voiced by some big names in the business, including David Hayter, Ray Chase, and Erica Lindbeck. For $15, PlayStation fans are in for a treat that serves as a spiritual successor to the iconic Castlevania franchise.
3. Hollow Knight
Warrior of Hallownest
The 2017 2D side-scrolling Metroidvania from Team Cherry invites you to control an insectoid warrior, The Knight, and traverse the fallen kingdom of Hallownest that’s consumed by a supernatural disease. Encountering friendly and hostile insectoids in this side-scroller adds to the worldbuilding, atmosphere, and difficulty, and you can pick up your copy today for only $14.99 on Steam.
SecureHollow Knightfor a haunting journeybattling hostile insectoidswithin a map ofsubterranean locationsfor under $15, and you can also get your hands on the official soundtrack and the Gods & Nightmares DLC for under $10 each. Once you’ve completed Hollow Knight, and you’re biding your time until the next adventure, you may not have to wait long as the Hollow Knight: Silksong release is right around the corner. Touted to have a 2024 release date, Silksong was originally slated for early 2023, butTeam Cherry reassured fansthat the devs were taking their time because the game had “gotten quite big.”
2. Shantae: Risky’s Revenge - Director’s Cut
The half-genie returns
WayForward brought this 2D Metroidvania, Shantae: Risky’s Revenge, to the subgenre in 2014, and the Director’s Cut included more hair whips and platformer fun in the PC port. Purchase your copy on Steam or on the Playstation Store for the low price of $9.99 to have a go at this classic sequel.
Shantaehas been making a comeback recently with the upcoming release of Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution - a previously canceled Game Boy Advance sequel that will come to fruition this year. Risky’s Revenge - Director’s Cut combines all the content you know and love from the base game and gameplay has been updated with HD portrait artwork, extra challenges, new illustrations, and much more. Excelling in Metroidvania gameplay, this title is a great example of bold pixel art that’s pleasing to the eye, and it’s a classic platformer to indulge in if you need a charming introduction to the titular genie.
1. Blasphemous
Gothic hack’n slash
The debut Blasphemous game from The Game Kitchen honed addictive gameplay in the Metroidvania genre, enough to make it a staple entry in the field. Players control a silent knight called the Penitent One who battles a host of enemies in a fictional region with his sword, Mea Culpa. Prepare to engage in a gothic, religious adventure full of bloody battles, beautiful graphics, and a haunting score for only $6.24 marked down from $24.99 on Steam and the PlayStation Store.
If you’re just about to begin yourBlasphemousjourney, welcome to Cvstodia, and prepare yourself for a poetically punishing but atmospheric ride through the region. To keep up to date with the lore, it’s recommended to play the original 2019 game first before it’s sequel, Blasphemous 2, which we gave fifth place to in our list of theBest Indie Souls-Like Gamesfor its beautiful animation, smooth gameplay, and mechanical feats in the Metroidvania genre.
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