these are the games that made backtracking fun welcome to
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watchmojo.com it’s they’ll be counting down our picks
it’s they’ll be counting down our picks
it’s they’ll be counting down our picks for the top ten 2d Metroidvania games
Metroidvania games named after the
Metroidvania games named after the Metroid and Castlevania series are
Metroid and Castlevania series are
Metroid and Castlevania series are defined as nonlinear action-adventure
defined as nonlinear action-adventure
defined as nonlinear action-adventure games with large interconnected maps
games with large interconnected maps
games with large interconnected maps where items and abilities gained over
where items and abilities gained over
where items and abilities gained over the course of playing provide access to
the course of playing provide access to
the course of playing provide access to previously locked areas through
previously locked areas through
previously locked areas through backtracking though there have been 3d
backtracking though there have been 3d
backtracking though there have been 3d games that can be considered
games that can be considered
games that can be considered Metroidvania we’re only looking at 2d
Metroidvania we’re only looking at 2d
Metroidvania we’re only looking at 2d games here our one entry per franchise
games here our one entry per franchise
games here our one entry per franchise rule also applies
number ten aliens infestation while the
number ten aliens infestation while the aliens franchise hasn’t always had the
aliens franchise hasn’t always had the
aliens franchise hasn’t always had the best reputation for its games this entry
best reputation for its games this entry
best reputation for its games this entry for the Nintendo DS certainly stands out
for the Nintendo DS certainly stands out
for the Nintendo DS certainly stands out you guide a small team of Marines around
you guide a small team of Marines around
you guide a small team of Marines around the USS Sulaco as they investigate the
the USS Sulaco as they investigate the
the USS Sulaco as they investigate the causes of the xenomorph menace
what separates infestation from other
what separates infestation from other games on this list is the use of hermit
games on this list is the use of hermit
games on this list is the use of hermit app if any of your Marines die they are
app if any of your Marines die they are
app if any of your Marines die they are gone for good and it’s game over if they
gone for good and it’s game over if they
gone for good and it’s game over if they all go down this added risk is a perfect
all go down this added risk is a perfect
all go down this added risk is a perfect fit for aliens as tense aesthetic
fit for aliens as tense aesthetic
fit for aliens as tense aesthetic capturing the tension of the franchise
capturing the tension of the franchise
capturing the tension of the franchise in a most unlikely package
although their catalogue is pretty thin
although their catalogue is pretty thin compared to other developers vanillaware
compared to other developers vanillaware
compared to other developers vanillaware has a reputation for creating gorgeous
has a reputation for creating gorgeous
has a reputation for creating gorgeous games and Muramasa is no exception
set in a world inspired by Japanese
set in a world inspired by Japanese mythology the game follows Kazuki and
mythology the game follows Kazuki and
mythology the game follows Kazuki and Momo he made powerful youths each with
Momo he made powerful youths each with
Momo he made powerful youths each with their own story more amasses somewhat
their own story more amasses somewhat
their own story more amasses somewhat simple world structure is more than made
simple world structure is more than made
simple world structure is more than made up for by its deep and satisfying combat
up for by its deep and satisfying combat
up for by its deep and satisfying combat system with two blade types multiple
system with two blade types multiple
system with two blade types multiple chainable combos and a bunch of enemies
chainable combos and a bunch of enemies
chainable combos and a bunch of enemies to slice up you’ll never be short on
to slice up you’ll never be short on
to slice up you’ll never be short on action
the game follows Ori a guardian spirit
the game follows Ori a guardian spirit as he attempts to restore his forest
as he attempts to restore his forest
as he attempts to restore his forest home after a disastrous event withers it
home after a disastrous event withers it
home after a disastrous event withers it taking the life of his adopted caretaker
taking the life of his adopted caretaker
taking the life of his adopted caretaker Naru
pulling off the usual Metroidvania
pulling off the usual Metroidvania mechanics beautifully Ori also
mechanics beautifully Ori also
mechanics beautifully Ori also introduces soul links these are freely
introduces soul links these are freely
introduces soul links these are freely placeable checkpoints affording players
placeable checkpoints affording players
placeable checkpoints affording players a way to ease more difficult challenges
a way to ease more difficult challenges
a way to ease more difficult challenges however the items required to place them
however the items required to place them
however the items required to place them come in short supply so some strategy is
come in short supply so some strategy is
come in short supply so some strategy is needed
number seven Shantae and the pirate’s
number seven Shantae and the pirate’s curse
next up is the third installment in a
next up is the third installment in a series about a half genie hero who now
series about a half genie hero who now
series about a half genie hero who now after losing her Genie powers teams up
after losing her Genie powers teams up
after losing her Genie powers teams up with her rival risky boots to stop the
with her rival risky boots to stop the
with her rival risky boots to stop the return of the evil pirate master without
return of the evil pirate master without
return of the evil pirate master without her powers Shantae learns to use a set
her powers Shantae learns to use a set
her powers Shantae learns to use a set of pirate gear including a pistol
of pirate gear including a pistol
of pirate gear including a pistol scimitar and even a hat each with its
scimitar and even a hat each with its
scimitar and even a hat each with its own special utilities she’ll need them
own special utilities she’ll need them
own special utilities she’ll need them when exploring the expansive world said
when exploring the expansive world said
when exploring the expansive world said to be twice as large as the game’s
to be twice as large as the game’s
to be twice as large as the game’s predecessor
if Indiana Jones were a Metroidvania
if Indiana Jones were a Metroidvania game it looks something like this
whip cracking hero ancient temples
whip cracking hero ancient temples health it even calls itself an
health it even calls itself an
health it even calls itself an archaeological ruin exploration action
archaeological ruin exploration action
archaeological ruin exploration action game
la mulana is known for its relentless
la mulana is known for its relentless difficulty and nods to its inspiration
difficulty and nods to its inspiration
difficulty and nods to its inspiration the MSX home computer
among the regular weapons and equipment
among the regular weapons and equipment special items can be found or purchased
special items can be found or purchased
special items can be found or purchased as rom cartridges to be mixed and
as rom cartridges to be mixed and
as rom cartridges to be mixed and matched in your characters MSX laptop
matched in your characters MSX laptop
matched in your characters MSX laptop for various effects
there’s actually two different versions
there’s actually two different versions of this game
of this game
of this game the original released in 2005 which was
the original released in 2005 which was
the original released in 2005 which was made to look like an old MSX game that
made to look like an old MSX game that
made to look like an old MSX game that was released only in Japan there’s also
was released only in Japan there’s also
was released only in Japan there’s also a remake released in 2012 with modern
a remake released in 2012 with modern
a remake released in 2012 with modern graphics and audio so choose at your
graphics and audio so choose at your
graphics and audio so choose at your will
number five Shadow Complex someday
number five Shadow Complex someday you’re gonna find something worth
you’re gonna find something worth
you’re gonna find something worth fighting for and then you’ll change your
fighting for and then you’ll change your
fighting for and then you’ll change your tone while on a hiking trip our
tone while on a hiking trip our
tone while on a hiking trip our protagonist Jason discovers an
protagonist Jason discovers an
protagonist Jason discovers an underground complex housing
underground complex housing
underground complex housing state-of-the-art technology and small
state-of-the-art technology and small
state-of-the-art technology and small army guarding it
army guarding it
army guarding it luckily the technological goodies found
luckily the technological goodies found
luckily the technological goodies found throughout take Jason from everyman to
throughout take Jason from everyman to
throughout take Jason from everyman to super soldier soon enough he’s running
super soldier soon enough he’s running
super soldier soon enough he’s running and blasting through any and everything
and blasting through any and everything
and blasting through any and everything in a cyber suit stacked with a full
in a cyber suit stacked with a full
in a cyber suit stacked with a full range of upgrades
shadow complexes controls are smooth and
shadow complexes controls are smooth and responsive with dual stick shooting and
responsive with dual stick shooting and
responsive with dual stick shooting and cover mechanics making it the perfect
cover mechanics making it the perfect
cover mechanics making it the perfect example of Metroid mania for the modern
example of Metroid mania for the modern
example of Metroid mania for the modern era number four Cave Story
in the midst of exploring a cave he
in the midst of exploring a cave he mysteriously wakes up in an amnesiac boy
mysteriously wakes up in an amnesiac boy
mysteriously wakes up in an amnesiac boy soon uncovers a man’s evil plot to force
soon uncovers a man’s evil plot to force
soon uncovers a man’s evil plot to force the caves bunny like inhabitants into
the caves bunny like inhabitants into
the caves bunny like inhabitants into rabid savagery and of course to dominate
rabid savagery and of course to dominate
rabid savagery and of course to dominate the world naturally he decides to stop
the world naturally he decides to stop
the world naturally he decides to stop him because what else is he going to do
Kaede story is one of the few
Kaede story is one of the few Metroidvania that weighs more on the
Metroidvania that weighs more on the
Metroidvania that weighs more on the metroid side controls are easy to use
metroid side controls are easy to use
metroid side controls are easy to use there are plenty of upgrades to find and
there are plenty of upgrades to find and
there are plenty of upgrades to find and ten web to collect all upgradeable and
ten web to collect all upgradeable and
ten web to collect all upgradeable and some very strange but you’ll definitely
some very strange but you’ll definitely
some very strange but you’ll definitely need them to combat what dangers await
need them to combat what dangers await
need them to combat what dangers await within
number three Wacha male eight sometimes
number three Wacha male eight sometimes an evil skeleton attacks your village
an evil skeleton attacks your village
an evil skeleton attacks your village sometimes you die trying to save the
sometimes you die trying to save the
sometimes you die trying to save the president’s daughter from said skeleton
president’s daughter from said skeleton
president’s daughter from said skeleton luckily sometimes you’re given a mask in
luckily sometimes you’re given a mask in
luckily sometimes you’re given a mask in the afterlife that transforms you into a
the afterlife that transforms you into a
the afterlife that transforms you into a mighty luchador with awesome
mighty luchador with awesome
mighty luchador with awesome otherworldly powers
guacamelee is held in the highest regard
guacamelee is held in the highest regard among critics and players like the
among critics and players like the
among critics and players like the combat system allows you to chain moves
combat system allows you to chain moves
combat system allows you to chain moves together juggling and throwing enemies
together juggling and throwing enemies
together juggling and throwing enemies without missing a beat
exploring the world hinges on switching
exploring the world hinges on switching between the realms of the living and the
between the realms of the living and the
between the realms of the living and the dead
dead
dead giving you 2 gorgeous versions of every
giving you 2 gorgeous versions of every
giving you 2 gorgeous versions of every environment plus it’s one of the only
environment plus it’s one of the only
environment plus it’s one of the only solid titles in the genre to offer co-op
solid titles in the genre to offer co-op
solid titles in the genre to offer co-op play
number two super metroid for our runner
number two super metroid for our runner up we have the game that started at all
Super Metroid established the now
Super Metroid established the now well-known formula and besides being one
well-known formula and besides being one
well-known formula and besides being one of the best of the genre some master
of the best of the genre some master
of the best of the genre some master class in games on the whole great
class in games on the whole great
class in games on the whole great graphics timeless gameplay engrossing
graphics timeless gameplay engrossing
graphics timeless gameplay engrossing atmosphere and great sound design
among the concepts it introduced to the
among the concepts it introduced to the series and genre are the ability to hold
series and genre are the ability to hold
series and genre are the ability to hold aim while moving switch certain weapons
aim while moving switch certain weapons
aim while moving switch certain weapons and abilities on and off and combine
and abilities on and off and combine
and abilities on and off and combine different weapon beams for special
different weapon beams for special
different weapon beams for special attacks Super Metroid will always be
attacks Super Metroid will always be
attacks Super Metroid will always be celebrated but it falls just short of
celebrated but it falls just short of
celebrated but it falls just short of our number one before we get to our
our number one before we get to our
our number one before we get to our rather obvious topic here are a few
rather obvious topic here are a few
rather obvious topic here are a few honorable mentions
number one Castlevania Symphony of the
number one Castlevania Symphony of the night
Super Metroid may have established the
Super Metroid may have established the formula but Symphony of the Night
formula but Symphony of the Night
formula but Symphony of the Night perfected it it has just the right
perfected it it has just the right
perfected it it has just the right balance of playability and challenge
balance of playability and challenge
balance of playability and challenge freedom and guidance
Alucard might be a vampire but he
Alucard might be a vampire but he certainly doesn’t suck in combat with a
certainly doesn’t suck in combat with a
certainly doesn’t suck in combat with a huge variety of weapons and spells at
huge variety of weapons and spells at
huge variety of weapons and spells at his disposal the huge map encourages
his disposal the huge map encourages
his disposal the huge map encourages exploration and experimentation and has
exploration and experimentation and has
exploration and experimentation and has a clear visual design that allows
a clear visual design that allows
a clear visual design that allows players to know exactly where they are
players to know exactly where they are
players to know exactly where they are at anytime
designer koji Igarashi claims that he
designer koji Igarashi claims that he was actually trying to capture the feel
was actually trying to capture the feel
was actually trying to capture the feel of the top-down Zelda games but it’s the
of the top-down Zelda games but it’s the
of the top-down Zelda games but it’s the side-scrolling gameplay that drew its
side-scrolling gameplay that drew its
side-scrolling gameplay that drew its comparisons to Metroid and we’re
comparisons to Metroid and we’re
comparisons to Metroid and we’re certainly not complaining do you agree
certainly not complaining do you agree
certainly not complaining do you agree with our list yeah right
with our list yeah right
with our list yeah right which Metroidvania did we miss for more
which Metroidvania did we miss for more
which Metroidvania did we miss for more adventurous top 10s published every day
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time monster you don’t belong in this
time monster you don’t belong in this world
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