Metroidvanias are games that pride themselves on their ability tocreate intricate and enthralling worldsteeming with little details, points of interest worth visiting, and a wealth of exciting set-pieces, bosses, and interactions to punctuate the adventure.
10 Best Metroidvanias With Amazing End-Game Content
Sometimes, the credits are only just the beginning
However, as any adult who endures the burden of adult responsibilities will know, carving out the time to uncover all the secrets, optional boss fights, and hidden achievements in a Metroidvania is easier said than done, and sometimes, you just want a quick burst of Metroidvania fun.
You might think that would go against the vibe of Metroidvania design, but on the contrary, as there are actually quite a few amazing metroidvanias that don’t take an age to complete, and I intend to highlight them so even the time-conscious gamers out there can get their fill.
To try and carve out some parameters of what ‘short’ actually means, we will be deferring to the times listed on HowLongToBeat and will only be considering games that take five hours or less to complete.
It’s Flocking Good
Metroidvania titles tend to be rather stern tests of skill with no regard for your sanity. However, there are some games that are happy to turn the metaphorical dial down to ‘casual’ for a more chill experience.
That’s exactly what you get from the purely platforming-based Metroidvania Sheepo, but critically, the game doesn’t lack for quality.
It’s an outstanding game with tight, varied platforming mechanics, map design that allows players to take on any section that tickles their fancy, and you get to play as a cute little sheep. It really is the whole package.
It’s not a game that offers any sort of worthwhile story, nor is it a visual spectacle, as this game doesn’t have detailed hand-drawn backgrounds like its competitors. But all in all, for a short and sweet experience, there are few microvanias that can rival this one.
9Trash Quest
Intergalactic Trash Panda
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and that couldn’t be more true when referring to the lovable trash pandas we call raccoons.
Trash Quest is exactly as it sounds, a pocket-sized Metroidvania where you’ll need to guide a little raccoon around a quaint pixelated world, using a variety of simple powers to get around and explore new areas.
It’s a rather simple Metroidvania at heart, but the incredible gimmick present here that sets this one apart relates to the world design. This game offers no checkpoints, and Everytime you die, you spawn in the middle of the map.
This means you need to memorize the map, unlock shortcuts, master your abilities, and maybe then you’ll be able to claim the treasures aboard the spaceship for yourself.
It’s a wonderful precision platformer for those who don’t have time to play for hours on end to roll credits. So, if you’re tight on time, give this one a try.
An Experiment Gone Wrong
If you’ve ever dreamed of playing as some sort of weird symbiote creature and rampaging through a medical facility with relentless aggression, then you’ll get a real kick out of playing Carrion, a game where you’re the monster everyone wants to stop.
By mercilessly killing the military forces and scientists within the facility, you’ll get bigger, stronger, smarter, and more powerful. Which will eventually lead to you rising out from the depths below to exact revenge on the human race.
This title can be finished in five hours or less, provided you don’t get lost in the labyrinthian labs that you were created in. It’s pure wish fulfillment, and a brilliant role reversal everyone should check out.
7Pseudoregalia
Parkour Perfection
Pseudoregalia
It’s always nice to rile up the Metroidvania communityby mentioning a 3D Metroidvania,but no matter what your ruling is on 2D vs 3D, it’s my list, and I make the rules. My official ruling is that Pseudoregalia is a truly stunning, short but sweet Metroidvania.
This title has a rather simplistic look, and the Souls adjacent combat is nothing to write home about either. But, the game stands out purely because of its amazing set of powers that gradually opens up the map through fluid parkour.
Through chaining and mastering these abilities you’ll be able to get around in style, and its a very rewarding process if I do say so myself. You can get through this one in five hours or less, and I guarantee you, you’ll finish this one and wish there was more.
6Gato Roboto
This Kitty Has Mechanical Claws
Gato Roboto
Here’s one for all you cat lovers out there. What do you get if you combine the minimalist visuals of games like Minit and Downwell with the instinctual feline mechanics of Stray? You guessed it, Gato Roboto.
This run-and-gun Metroidvania is a literal blast as you roam a hostile space outpost and search for your captain/owner. You might think a cat wouldn’t stand a chance of survival here, and usually, you’d be right. But thanks to your huge mech, you’ll be more than capable of holding your own.
The fast-paced action blends seamlessly with the moments where you’ll need to exit your mech and feel vulnerable for a spell. Plus, the soundtrack is a bop, too.
I’m of the opinion that Devolver Digital never misses, and this is just another example of their incredible talent-scouting skills.
5Mini Ghost
A Love Letter To Those Halcyon Days
Next up, we have a game that is a love letter to the MS-Dos era of gaming, but with just enough modern polish to make it an attractive venture to just about any generation of gamers.
This lovingly made prequel to Ghost 1.0 sees you run, gun, and platform around a simplistic map with a variety of weapons, powers, and bosses.
It doesn’t reinvent the wheel by any means, but this Metroidvania, which leans more toward the Metroid side of the equation, still has a lot to offer fans of the genre. All in a compact package that can be played from start to end in little over two hours.
The only criticism would be, due to the short, linear nature of this game, there isn’t a tonne of backtracking. But all in all, it’s a seminal microvania well worth the price of admission.
Flying The ‘Vania’ Flag
If we are including Microvanias that lean to the Metroid side of the equation, we need to do the same for the Castlevania contingent.
Kalinur is the pocket-sized game that flies the ‘vania’ flag, having you navigate a vampiric castle, collect upgrades, hack and slash baddies, and fight a handful of monstrous bosses.
This one feels like a much-simplified version of Rogue Legacy, both in terms of the overall gameplay, and the fact that you will die a lot, but that’s part of the process.
You simply learn from your mistakes, adjust, and purchase some new upgrades, and you’ll be able to break through to the next area.
It’s as straightforward as they come in the wild world of Metroidvanias, but for something fun, short, and uncomplicated, you can’t go wrong with this one.
3Super Skelemania
Spooky, Scary Skeletons
We move on to a game that I feel in your bones you’ll absolutely love.
Super Skelemania is a retro metroidvania where you play as a spooky, scary skeleton and send shivers down the spines of the various mob enemies around the labyrinthian map with your smooth parkour skills, and your head-bashing melee mastery.
The various powers you gain are satisfying to use, making movement feel even more buttery, and while there aren’t a ton of boss battles present, the ones included really get the most out of the solid combat mechanics.
Controls can be a little finicky at times, but even with these minor shortcomings, it’s a Microvania with a lot of cool ideas and satisfying moments packed into its minuscule runtime.
2Metroid Fusion
Modern Metroid Done Quickly
Metroid Fusion
From a handful of games you’ve likely never heard of to a series that is certified gaming royalty. To be honest, we could have included a lot of Metroid games in this list, but we thought fusion was the best option to represent the Microvania crowd.
Unlike pretty much all games listed, Fusion offers a solid story that builds over the course of the adventure, whilst also providing Metroid fans with all the staples that the series is famous for.
Due to the shorter runtime and carefully paced story, this one does play in a more linear and contained fashion than some other Metroid outings, but rest assured, this doesn’t mean it lacks quality.
It’s easily one of themost accessible beginner Metroidvaniasaround and a top-tier Microvania that won’t take you forever to roll credits on.
1Momodora: Reverie Under The Moonlight
The Full Package
Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight
When it comes to Microvanias, I’m of the opinion that if you want a game that’s the full package, there’s nothing that can compete with Momodora.
This beautiful pixel-art metroidvania has a solid story, varied and weighty melee and ranged combat mechanics, limited but rewarding exploration, and simple but effective platforming.
It delivers on all fronts, and is paced wonderfully to ease you in, before ramping up the difficulty, forcing you to tread with caution and use passive items to your benefit to survive and thrive.
It also has a bit of a Souls-lite feel to it as you progress through the tougher sections, so those who seek a challenge with stakes will be very satisfied with this one.
It may be a little light on the Metroidvania design elements, but it has enough to squeak its way into the sub-genre. It ticks every box in such a condensed amount of time, making Momodora our pick of the bunch.
10 Best Metroidvanias With No Traditional Platforming
Dashes and double jumps are great, but what about something a little bit different?
