For better or worse, the term “Metroidvania” is here to stay when referring to open world platformers. In the past few years the term has almost become a genre unto itself, and some would even argue that games like Dark Souls and the Batman: Arkham games are Metroidvania games. While those games might be mechanically and structurally similar to the Metroid and Castlevania source material, they don’t capture the spirit of the genre the same way platformers do. It’s fairly widely accepted that Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night are the two games that created the term “Metroidvania”. Two games focused on progress-based exploration and the ability to choose the order in which you take on areas and bosses.

Funnily enough, both of these franchises haven’t seen a proper 2D release in a few years but there has not been a lack of these types of games. In fact, their absence has seen many indie developers try their hand at this style of game, or pay homage to it. The past few years have seen a ton of Metroidvania games pop up on nearly every console available so it’s only natural to wonder which are the best. These are the 10 Best Metroidvania Games.

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