It’s been greater than per week since Hollow Knight: Silksong lastly dropped into the world. Whereas that doesn’t look like very lengthy, contemplating how sprawling the indie Metroidvania’s map is, hyped-up followers are already hitting the top credit. (Didn’t anybody ever educate you to chew your meals earlier than you swallow it!?)
In the event you’re in that elite class of avid gamers who’ve already explored each biome in Pharloom, it’s possible you’ll be left wanting extra. Even if you happen to don’t get one other Hole Knight sport for seven years, there are nonetheless loads of glorious Metroidvanias so that you can strive subsequent. Whether or not it’s a high-profile sport like Metroid Dread, one other hand-drawn indie like 9 Sols, or a real hidden gem like Laika: Aged in Blood, there are many great 2D platformers that can take the abilities you’ve realized in Silksong and check them in new methods.
Ender Magnolia: Bloom within the Mist
Playable on: Nintendo Change, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Collection X
Put down the pitchforks, but when I needed to choose my favourite Metroidvania of 2025 proper now, it wouldn’t really be Hole Knight: Silksong. That honor would as a substitute go to Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist. A sequel to 2021’s Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights, the moody motion journey takes its clear Hole Knight affect and brings that right into a extra full-fledged motion RPG. Not solely do you combat alongside Homonculi, every of which adjustments your playstyle, however you even have entry to stat-altering tools and passive relics that absolutely change the way you play. With a dream-like darkish fantasy world to discover and a few late sport talents that utterly change how shortly you’ll be able to bounce round biomes, Ender Magnolia is a Metroidvania for many who want Hole Knight gave them extra instruments to combat and discover with.
Blade Chimera
Playable on: Nintendo Change, Home windows PC
Earlier than Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound and Shinobi: Artwork of Vengeance, Blade Chimera actually kicked off 2025’s “cool ninja sport” development. The 2D motion sport places you in charge of a cyber ninja who groups up with a magical sword to combat off demons. As a Metroidvania, it takes its cues from Castlevania a part of the portmanteau with RPG leveling and a number of weapon slots that allow you to pair a machine gun with a whip, if you happen to so want. With its detailed pixel artwork and a really handy quick journey system, Blade Chimera delivers a trendy, approachable Metroidvania for anybody who needs to dial the problem down only a bit after Silksong.
Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown
Playable on: Android, iOS, MacOS, Nintendo Change, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Collection X
You possibly can’t discuss current Metroidvanias with out throwing in a suggestion for Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Ubisoft’s glorious 2D journey goes again to the collection’ roots by placing an emphasis again on cautious platforming and ranges crammed with traps. Past that, it additionally comprises top-of-the-line fight techniques you’ll discover within the style, making you are feeling such as you’re controlling a Tremendous Smash Bros. fighter proper from the beginning of the sport. Its greatest innovation, although, is a Reminiscence Shard system, which lets you pin screenshots of areas you’ve been to in your map so that you always remember what roadblock you hit in a room. It’s a characteristic I want Silksong, and truthfully each Metroidvania, had.
Shadow Labyrinth
Playable on: Nintendo Change, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox Collection X
In the event you’re on the lookout for a sport world that’s as sprawling as Pharloom, Shadow Labyrinth could be your subsequent greatest pit cease. The grimdark Pac-Man sport performs like an ‘80s fever dream, tossing you right into a surreal world crammed with retro gaming Easter eggs turned strolling nightmares. Whereas it doesn’t totally work, due to some tedious trekking, Shadow Labyrinth does a fantastic job at doling out unsettling vibes, a gradual stream of talents, and creative references to Pac-Man’s basic maze gameplay. It’s a bizarre, wild trip that’s price taking if you wish to really feel such as you’re on an acid journey in an arcade at 2 a.m.
Animal Properly
Playable on: Nintendo Change, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox Collection X
Let’s say that you just cherished the ambiance of Silksong however didn’t look after its fight a lot in any respect. If that’s the case, Animal Well ought to transfer to the highest of your backlog. The atmospheric indie is totally about its exploration, leaving gamers to find what the heck they’ll use a frisbee or bubble wand to navigate seemingly not possible platforming challenges. With no robust fights to handle between these moments, you’re free to soak in its maximalist Atari artwork model and uncover a seemingly bottomless effectively of secrets and techniques that goes a lot deeper than you may ever think about. It’s a particular sport that throws style conventions out the window to create one thing that’s in contrast to something I’ve performed.
Blasphemous 2
Playable on: Nintendo Change, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Collection X
On the flipside to Animal Properly, Blasphemous 2 is for gamers who need extra of Silksong’s exhausting battles. Fiercely following up on 2019’s Blamsphemous, the sequel throws gamers in a dreary Gothic world stuffed with nightmarish non secular imagery. As The Penitent One, it’s your job to take down grotesque monstrosities in the identical type of difficult fights that make Silksong such a thrill. Whereas it doesn’t push the style ahead an excessive amount of, it’s a fantastic possibility for anybody who craves 2D battles that reward gamers who can be taught difficult boss assault patterns and dodge them with finesse. In the event you can beat Silksong, you’ll be able to rise to these battles too.
Axiom Verge 2
Playable on: Nintendo Change, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Collection X
For my cash, the unique Axiom Verge remains to be the indie Metroidvania to beat — Hole Knight be damned. The collection’ first sport took express notes from Metroid, making a sci-fi shooter that hid non-compulsory, game-changing objects in a world that begged to be explored. Axiom Verge 2 continues that philosophy, nevertheless it additionally brings in some surprising traversal talents that allow you to get round in ways in which you gained’t see coming. It’s a fantastic step up for anybody who’s on the lookout for a Metroidvania that places an emphasis on mobility over every little thing, letting you discover each single nook of the map.
Dandara
Playable on: Android, iOS, Linux, MacOS, Nintendo Change, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Collection X
In the event you already cherished the Metroidvania style earlier than Hole Knight, there’s an opportunity you’ve already performed all of those and need a deeper reduce. For that, I’ll toss 2018’s improbable Dandara as a must-play. Based mostly on Brazilian folks historical past, the distinctive Metroidvania has gamers shifting solely by leaping from floor to floor. It takes a while to get the hold of, however when you do, you’ll discover a fast-paced Metroidvania that permits you to zip world wide with finesse as you seek for hidden secrets and techniques. (I particularly suggest making an attempt it on a touch-enabled gadget if you happen to can, because it actually advantages from streamlined faucet controls.) It’s nothing like every of the video games on this record, however it’s going to present you what number of methods there are to method a tried and true formulation.
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