It’s been greater than every week since Hole Knight: Silksong lastly dropped into the world. Whereas that doesn’t seem to be very lengthy, contemplating how sprawling the indie Metroidvania’s map is, hyped-up followers are already hitting the top credit. (Didn’t anybody ever train you to chew your meals earlier than you swallow it!?)
For those who’re in that elite class of players who’ve already explored each biome in Pharloom, chances are you’ll be left wanting extra. Even if you happen to don’t get one other Hole Knight recreation for seven years, there are nonetheless loads of wonderful Metroidvanias so that you can attempt subsequent. Whether or not it’s a high-profile recreation like Metroid Dread, one other hand-drawn indie like 9 Sols, or a real hidden gem like Laika: Aged in Blood, there are many nice 2D platformers that may take the talents you’ve realized in Silksong and check them in new methods.
Ender Magnolia: Bloom within the Mist
Playable on: Nintendo Swap, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Sequence X
Put down the pitchforks, but when I needed to choose my favourite Metroidvania of 2025 proper now, it wouldn’t truly be Hole Knight: Silksong. That honor would as a substitute go to Ender Magnolia: Bloom within 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 battle 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 recreation skills that fully change how rapidly you may bounce round biomes, Ender Magnolia is a Metroidvania for individuals who want Hole Knight gave them extra instruments to battle and discover with.
Blade Chimera
Playable on: Nintendo Swap, Home windows PC
Earlier than Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound and Shinobi: Artwork of Vengeance, Blade Chimera actually kicked off 2025’s “cool ninja recreation” development. The 2D motion recreation places you in charge of a cyber ninja who groups up with a magical sword to battle 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 desires to dial the problem down only a bit after Silksong.
Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown
Playable on: Android, iOS, MacOS, Nintendo Swap, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Sequence X
You possibly can’t speak about latest Metroidvanias with out throwing in a suggestion for Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown. Ubisoft’s wonderful 2D journey goes again to the sequence’ roots by placing an emphasis again on cautious platforming and ranges stuffed with traps. Past that, it additionally incorporates the most effective fight programs you’ll discover within the style, making you’re feeling such as you’re controlling a Tremendous Smash Bros. fighter proper from the beginning of the sport. Its finest 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 function I want Silksong, and truthfully each Metroidvania, had.
Shadow Labyrinth
Playable on: Nintendo Swap, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox Sequence X
For those who’re searching for a recreation world that’s as sprawling as Pharloom, Shadow Labyrinth could be your subsequent finest pit cease. The grimdark Pac-Man recreation performs like an ‘80s fever dream, tossing you right into a surreal world stuffed with retro gaming Easter eggs turned strolling nightmares. Whereas it doesn’t solely work, due to some tedious trekking, Shadow Labyrinth does an incredible job at doling out unsettling vibes, a gradual stream of skills, and ingenious references to Pac-Man’s traditional maze gameplay. It’s a bizarre, wild journey that’s value 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 Swap, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox Sequence X
Let’s say that you just liked the ambiance of Silksong however didn’t look after its fight a lot in any respect. If that’s the case, Animal Properly ought to transfer to the highest of your backlog. The atmospheric indie is solely about its exploration, leaving gamers to find what the heck they’ll use a frisbee or bubble wand to navigate seemingly unattainable platforming challenges. With no powerful fights to handle between these moments, you’re free to soak in its maximalist Atari artwork fashion and uncover a seemingly bottomless nicely of secrets and techniques that goes a lot deeper than you could possibly ever think about. It’s a particular recreation that throws style conventions out the window to create one thing that’s not like something I’ve performed.
Blasphemous 2
Playable on: Nintendo Swap, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Sequence X
On the flipside to Animal Properly, Blasphemous 2 is for gamers who need extra of Silksong’s onerous battles. Fiercely following up on 2019’s Blamsphemous, the sequel throws gamers in a dreary Gothic world filled 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 an incredible choice for anybody who craves 2D battles that reward gamers who can study difficult boss assault patterns and dodge them with finesse. For those who can beat Silksong, you’ll be able to rise to these battles too.
Axiom Verge 2
Playable on: Nintendo Swap, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Sequence X
For my cash, the unique Axiom Verge continues to be the indie Metroidvania to beat — Hole Knight be damned. The sequence’ first recreation 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 skills that allow you to get round in ways in which you gained’t see coming. It’s an incredible step up for anybody who’s searching 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 Swap, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Sequence X
For those who already liked the Metroidvania style earlier than Hole Knight, there’s an opportunity you’ve already performed all of those and need a deeper minimize. For that, I’ll toss 2018’s implausible 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 allows you to zip world wide with finesse as you seek for hidden secrets and techniques. (I particularly advocate making an attempt it on a touch-enabled machine 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 strategy a tried and true system.