1
Hollow Knight
Team Cherry · 2017
90Score
The modern benchmark: a vast, hand-drawn world with razor-tight combat and platforming.
Solo
Meta90
OC89
The Best Metroidvanias, Ranked
Metroidvanias are about the map: a tangled world that slowly opens up as you earn new abilities and backtrack to once-blocked paths. These are the best metroidvanias, ranked by combined Metacritic and OpenCritic scores.
11 games rankedGenre avg. score 86Updated June 2026
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Showing 11 of 11 games
2
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Moon Studios · 2020
90Score
A gorgeous, emotional platformer with fluid combat and best-in-class movement.
Solo
Meta90
OC90
3
Dead Cells
Motion Twin · 2018
89Score
A roguelike metroidvania hybrid with combat as sharp as anything in the genre.
Solo
Meta89
OC89
4
Hyper Light Drifter
Heart Machine · 2016
88Score
A wordless, stylish action-explorer dripping with atmosphere and mystery.
Solo
Meta91
OC84
5
Ori and the Blind Forest
Moon Studios · 2015
88Score
A heart-rending platforming fairytale that put Moon Studios on the map.
Solo
Meta88
OC88
6
Guacamelee! 2
DrinkBox Studios · 2018
87Score
A vibrant lucha-libre metroidvania with brawler combat and clever co-op.
SoloCo-op
Meta87
OC88
7
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Ubisoft · 2024
87Score
A slick, fast modern metroidvania with superb combat and traversal.
Solo
Meta87
OC87
8
Axiom Verge
Thomas Happ Games · 2015
84Score
A retro-styled sci-fi metroidvania built almost entirely by one person.
Solo
Meta86
OC82
9
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
ArtPlay · 2019
84Score
The spiritual successor to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night from its original creator.
Solo
Meta85
OC83
10
Blasphemous 2
The Game Kitchen · 2023
83Score
A grisly, gorgeous pixel-art metroidvania with tighter combat than the original.
Solo
Meta82
OC84
11
Blasphemous
The Game Kitchen · 2019
72Score
A punishing, religiously-themed metroidvania with unforgettable grim art.
Solo
Meta66
OC79
How we rank
Every game gets a single HostedGG Score: a weighted blend of the two leading review aggregators, so no single outlet decides the result.
- Metacritic · 55%
- OpenCritic · 45%
Critic scores were verified against Metacritic and OpenCritic in June 2026. OpenCritic launched in 2015, so a few older classics have no OpenCritic average; for those the score uses the Metacritic number on its own. This is an independent editorial ranking, and no game pays for placement.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best metroidvania?
Hollow Knight tops our combined score and is the genre’s modern standard-bearer, with the Ori games right behind it.
What is the best metroidvania for beginners?
The Ori games and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown are approachable and generous with guidance, while Hollow Knight is deeper but well worth the climb.
Which metroidvanias have co-op?
Guacamelee! 2 offers local co-op, though most of the best metroidvanias are designed as focused single-player experiences.
Explore more rankings
Best RPGsSprawling worlds, deep builds, and stories that stick with you.Best Survival gamesGather, craft, build, and live to see another dawn.Best ShootersTight gunplay, killer level design, and that perfect headshot feel.Best Strategy gamesOut-think, out-build, and out-maneuver, turn by turn or in real time.Best Open-world gamesVast maps worth getting lost in, packed with things to do.Best RoguelikesRun-based runs, permadeath, and just one more attempt.Best Co-op gamesThe best games to play with friends, from couch to online.Best Horror gamesSurvival horror, psychological dread, and things best not faced alone.Best SoulslikesPunishing combat, deliberate pacing, and hard-won victories.
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