Best Metroidvania games for PC in 2026

The Metroidvania genre (mix of “Metroid” + “Castlevania”) has massive fan loyalty. Anyone who gets a taste for 2D exploration games with backtracking, double jump and precise combat rarely wants to go back to another genre.

2026 is a particularly good year: Silksong is finally here, Blasphemous 2 keeps adding content, and indies like Animal Well or Nine Sols have raised the genre’s bar. This selection covers them all, sorted by accessibility.

What defines a quality Metroidvania

For inclusion in this list, a game had to meet:

Interconnected map (not separate levels)
Abilities that unlock new areas (double jump, dash, etc.)
Backtracking rewarded (returning to old areas with new abilities)
Satisfying combat (precision, not button spam)
Unique atmosphere (the best ones have strong visual identity)

Tier 1 — Essentials of the genre

1. Hollow Knight (~$15 → $7 on sale) — the king of the genre

Probably the best Metroidvania ever made. Huge world, 30+ bosses, scalable difficulty, memorable soundtrack, 150-300 hours of content between lore + completionist. If you only play one, this.

Pro: inhuman amount of content for $15 Con: high difficulty, overwhelming for some

2. Hollow Knight: Silksong (~$30)

The most anticipated of the genre. Sequel to Hollow Knight with Hornet as protagonist. Faster, more agile, more vertical than the original. If you loved Hollow Knight, this is the mandatory next stop.

Pro: continues the saga with quality Con: difficulty even higher than original

3. Ori and the Will of the Wisps (~$30 → $10 on sale)

The most visually beautiful of the genre. Precise platforming + elegant combat + orchestral soundtrack. More narrative and emotional than Hollow Knight.

Pro: visually spectacular Con: 15h vs 100h of Hollow Knight

4. Blasphemous 2 (~$30 → $15 on sale)

Unique religious-gore aesthetic (dark Catholic Spain). Deeper combat than the original. Well received by community.

Pro: unmistakable aesthetic, solid combat Con: lore can be opaque at first

Tier 2 — Brilliant modern indies

5. Nine Sols (~$30 → $18 on sale)

2D Sekiro. Frame-perfect parry in Metroidvania style. Chinese taopunk aesthetic. One of the best recent indies of the genre.

Best short PC games → — Nine Sols fits here.

6. Animal Well (~$25 → $18 on sale)

Unique indie. Zero combat, all puzzle + exploration + discovery. One person developed it for 7 years. Awarded in 2024.

Pro: original as few, atmospheric Con: very weird/dark tonally

7. Dead Cells (~$25 → $8 on sale)

Roguelite + Metroidvania. Excellent combat, short cycles, infinite combinations. Strictly not pure Metroidvania but the feel is 80% of the genre.

Best PC roguelites →

8. Aeterna Noctis (~$25 → $12 on sale)

Hardcore Spanish Metroidvania. Very high difficulty, huge world. If Hollow Knight tasted too easy in difficulty, this is your next step.

Tier 3 — Modern classics and catalogue

9. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (~$40 → $15 on sale)

The spiritual heir of Castlevania. Made by Koji Igarashi (SOTN creator). RPG-elements in classic Metroidvania.

10. Axiom Verge (~$20 → $7 on sale)

The most faithful to classic Metroid. Retro pixel art, mechanics inspired by Metroid NES. For purists.

11. Salt and Sanctuary / Salt and Sacrifice (~$18 → $7 on sale)

Souls + 2D Metroidvania. Hardcore. For anyone who already devoured Hollow Knight and wants something more demanding.

12. Guacamelee 2 (~$20 → $5 on sale)

Mexican wrestler Metroidvania. Local 4P coop. More accessible and colourful than rest of list.

13. Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights (~$25 → $10 on sale)

More narrative and sad. Excellent music, combat based on summoning spirits. For fans of emotional Hollow Knight.

For Steam Deck

Almost all Metroidvanias are Steam Deck Verified and perfect for Deck:

✓ Hollow Knight — perfect (6-8h battery)
✓ Hollow Knight Silksong — Verified
✓ Ori and the Will of the Wisps — Verified
✓ Blasphemous 2 — Verified
✓ Nine Sols — Verified
✓ Animal Well — perfect
✓ Dead Cells — perfect
✓ Bloodstained — Verified
✓ Aeterna Noctis — Playable

The genre fits brutally well on Deck — short sessions, comfortable with controller, doesn’t need power.

Best cheap Steam Deck games →

Buying strategy

Metroidvanias drop aggressively in Steam Sales:

Game	Normal price	Typical sale
Hollow Knight	$15	$7
Hollow Knight Silksong	$30	no discounts yet (just released)
Ori	$30	$10
Blasphemous 2	$30	$15
Dead Cells	$25	$8
Bloodstained	$40	$15

Cheap starter pack: Hollow Knight ($7) + Dead Cells ($8) + Ori ($10) = $25. 500+ hours guaranteed if they hook you.

Compare prices →

Recommendation by your profile

Never played Metroidvania: Hollow Knight (no debate)
Want hardcore combat: Nine Sols or Aeterna Noctis
Want something pretty and narrative: Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Want something original: Animal Well
Want coop: Guacamelee 2
Retro purist: Axiom Verge

The most replayable genre in PC gaming

A typical Hollow Knight gives 150h in first run + 100h in special runs. That’s ridiculous cost/hour ($15 / 250h = $0.06/h). Probably the best cost-benefit in current PC gaming.