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The best metroidvanias of the 2020s are not interchangeable: Hollow Knight: Silksong is the exploration-first headliner, Metroid Dread sets the movement-and-pursuit standard, Ori and the Will of the Wisps excels at platforming and emotion, and ANIMAL WELL turns the formula into a puzzle box. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Blasphemous 2 and Nine Sols complete a shortlist for polished action, dark-fantasy combat and demanding deflection play.
“Best” depends on what you want from exploration, combat, secrets, difficulty and platform. The guide below compares those qualities rather than pretending one game suits every player.
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These seven games cover the genre’s strongest recent directions: precise movement, interconnected maps, ability-gated backtracking, environmental puzzles, atmospheric storytelling and deep combat. Each recommendation has a distinct reason to play it.
| Game | Best for | Core emphasis | Difficulty profile | Availability noted in the source material |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollow Knight: Silksong | Exploration and discovery | Large, secret-filled world and traversal | Challenging | Steam; released September 4, 2025 |
| Metroid Dread | Movement and pursuit | Parkour, sliding, counters and ability-gated returns | Demanding but readable | Nintendo Switch; released October 8, 2021 |
| Ori and the Will of the Wisps | Platforming and emotional story | Fluid traversal, puzzles, bosses and spectacle | Moderate with hard challenges | Nintendo Switch release September 17, 2020 |
| ANIMAL WELL | Puzzles and secrets | Environmental manipulation in a dense labyrinth | Variable; knowledge is the main advantage | Steam; released May 9, 2024 |
| Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown | Polished action-adventure | Time powers, combo combat and mythic biomes | Adjustable action challenge | Platform availability varies by edition |
| Blasphemous 2 | Dark fantasy and lore | Nonlinear exploration, brutal fights and multiple endings | Hard | Steam; released August 24, 2023 |
| Nine Sols | High-skill combat | Sekiro-inspired deflections and boss duels | Very demanding | Platform availability varies by edition |
Is Hollow Knight: Silksong the best metroidvania for exploration?
Yes, if your priority is discovering a sprawling world whose rewards are often hidden behind curiosity, precision and repeated visits. Team Cherry’s Steam listing describes a haunted kingdom ruled by silk and song, with the player ascending through it while exploring, fighting and surviving. It launched on September 4, 2025, so it is a current released game rather than a future promise.
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- Become intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran and explore an alien planet in this critically-acclaimed first-person adventure
- Use and upgrade abilities like the Morph Ball, Missiles, and an array of beams to survive the harsh environments and lethal creatures of the planet Tallon IV
- Gain abilities and revisit areas to uncover the different routes and secrets hiding in a beautiful-yet-threatening interconnected world
- Scan your surroundings to gather information about the planet’s history and the creatures that call it home or to reveal enemies’ weak points
- Choose from multiple control options and experience revamped graphics, sound, and unlockable art in this remastered classic
Silksong is the natural choice for players who value map connectivity, secrets and a strong sense of place above a quick finish. Steam’s 2026 snapshot reports 93% positive English reviews from 146,979 reviews; that percentage and count can change as more players review the game. Expect the most satisfaction when you enjoy marking unexplained routes, revisiting earlier zones after earning abilities and learning enemy patterns.
Why is Metroid Dread still the movement benchmark?
Metroid Dread is the clearest recommendation for players who want movement to feel like the central reward. Nintendo’s description emphasizes a labyrinth on Planet ZDR, parkour, sliding, counters, ability-gated returns and relentless E.M.M.I. robots. Every new ability changes how familiar rooms can be read, while pursuit sequences create pressure that ordinary backtracking does not.
The game released for Nintendo Switch on October 8, 2021. Metacritic records an 88 critic Metascore from 124 reviews. Choose it after another metroidvania when you want a compact, highly authored campaign in which traversal, combat and escape encounters reinforce one another.
Should I play Ori and the Will of the Wisps for platforming or story?
Choose Ori and the Will of the Wisps when precise platforming, visual spectacle and an emotional narrative matter as much as combat. Nintendo presents a vast world with challenging puzzles, new spirit weapons and spells, a shard system, large bosses and optional Spirit Trials. The movement is expressive, and the game frequently turns a traversal challenge into a set-piece.
The Nintendo Switch version released on September 17, 2020. It is a stronger fit than Dread for players who want a pronounced story arc and a softer visual style, while its late-game trials still provide serious mechanical tests.
What makes ANIMAL WELL different from a conventional metroidvania?
ANIMAL WELL shifts the genre toward puzzle solving and secret hunting. Its Steam description centers on a dense, interconnected labyrinth in which items manipulate the environment; the store also tags it as a metroidvania, puzzle, nonlinear and atmospheric game.
Progress often comes from understanding what an object can do rather than simply increasing damage or health. That makes the game especially rewarding for players who enjoy testing interpretations, spotting environmental clues and returning with new knowledge. It released on May 9, 2024, and has a 90 Metascore on Metacritic. Steam’s 2026 snapshot lists 95% positive English reviews from 13,107 reviews, a live figure that may change.
Is Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown the most approachable action pick?
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown broadens the formula with a polished action-adventure structure. Time powers support traversal and puzzle solutions, while combo combat and mythic biomes give the world a strong forward drive. It suits players who want modern presentation and a clear action loop without giving up interconnected exploration.
Its appeal is breadth: movement abilities, combat upgrades and environmental challenges share the same spaces, so returning to an earlier biome can reveal either a shortcut or a new tactical option. Check the edition and platform you intend to buy, because availability differs by release.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Are Blasphemous 2 and Nine Sols the best choices for difficult combat?
Blasphemous 2
Blasphemous 2 is the dark-fantasy choice. Steam lists nonlinear exploration, multiple endings and Metroidvania and Souls-like tags, with the Penitent One returning to an endless struggle against the Miracle. Combat is weighty, the setting is deliberately oppressive and lore is delivered through exploration, encounters and environmental detail.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsIt released on August 24, 2023. Steam’s 2026 snapshot reports 90% positive English reviews from 6,255 reviews. Select it when atmosphere, grotesque imagery and build-oriented combat matter more than a gentle learning curve.
Nine Sols
Nine Sols is aimed at players who want boss fights built around timing. Its combat is described as Sekiro-inspired, with deflection at the center and a high combat-depth profile. That makes it the hardest recommendation here for anyone who has not already developed confidence with parries, reaction windows and aggressive counterplay.
The game’s exploration and ability gates provide the metroidvania framework, but the defining pleasure is mastering encounters. Pick it after Dread or Blasphemous 2 if you want combat to demand more deliberate defensive execution.
Which metroidvania should you choose?
- Choose Silksong for the broadest exploration and the densest discovery loop.
- Choose Metroid Dread for the sharpest movement, pursuit and ability-gated progression.
- Choose Ori for platforming spectacle, puzzles and an emotional story.
- Choose ANIMAL WELL when secrets and environmental puzzles matter more than combat.
- Choose The Lost Crown for polished action-adventure pacing and time-based abilities.
- Choose Blasphemous 2 for dark fantasy, nonlinear routes and multiple endings.
- Choose Nine Sols for the deepest, most demanding deflection-focused combat.
Platform and edition should be part of the decision. Metroid Dread and Ori and the Will of the Wisps have official Nintendo Switch releases, while current Steam listings cover Silksong, ANIMAL WELL and Blasphemous 2. Prices, regional storefronts and physical stock can change, so verify the listing for your region before purchasing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What should I play after Metroid Dread?
Try Ori and the Will of the Wisps for similarly fluid traversal with more emphasis on story, or Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown for a broader action-adventure structure. Choose Nine Sols instead if the counter-focused combat was your favorite part of Dread.
Which metroidvania has the best secrets?
ANIMAL WELL is the strongest specialist because many discoveries come from interpreting items and environmental behavior rather than following obvious upgrade paths. Silksong is the better choice if you want those secrets embedded in a much larger adventure.
Is Silksong finally out?
Yes. Team Cherry’s Steam listing gives September 4, 2025 as its release date, making it a released game in the 2020s lineup. Store review totals are live data and can change over time.
Which game is best for players who dislike hard combat?
Ori and the Will of the Wisps puts more weight on movement, puzzles and story, while ANIMAL WELL makes knowledge and observation central to progress. Both let you engage with the genre without requiring constant mastery of parries.
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