Though I adore the Metroidvania genre, I’m also completely enthralled by a good mystery; the horror of the unknown, mixed with a ticking clock and dangerous forces makes for a heady mix. It’s a theme that many Metroidvanias do exceptionally well, especially some of those that are more traditional examples, like Super Metroid.
This group of Metroidvanias is one where they feel more rewarding the less that’s explained. The mystery is a big part of it, since the less you know, the more underpowered you typically are and the more exciting things are. Which isn’t to say none of these games are good once the mystery is revealed; it’s just that the early part of the game is generally more compelling.
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Like usual, there’s a good mix of games on this list. They range from spooky games with puzzles to bold new takes on iconic characters as well as some very well-known series. The only thing they all have in common is they’re all Metroidvanias and all feature a heaping helping of mystery. For simplicity, they’re ranked according to overall reception, with ties broken by the level of mystery present in the adventure.
10
Shadow Labyrinth
A Brand New Maze
I’m one of those gamers old enough to have played Pac-Man arcade machines. I was never particularly good at them, but I enjoyed the bright lights, colorful ghosts and unique mazes to explore. What I never could have imagined was that the series would get completely reimagined, first in the Secret Level episode called Circle, and later in a Metroidvania called Shadow Labyrinth.
From the get-go, Shadow Labyrinth is a much darker and more intense take on Pac-Man. You’re a tool of a machine named PUCK, and you lack arms and a mouth, until you’re granted prosthetic limbs to wield swords. You’ll quickly become immersed in an apocalyptic world where deceit is a common theme, and even learn to merge with PUCK into the monstrous GAIA form, reminiscent of the iconic character.
It’s a wonderfully weird premise, especially since it marries the game with the UGSF (United Galaxy Space Force) timeline. The problem was that the combat was sometimes rough, and that the save points were incredibly spaced apart. But if you can put up with the quirks, this is a mysterious Metroidvania worth experiencing.
9
Gato Roboto
Purrfectly Weird
Sometimes, a game feels more rewarding when there’s not a lot of plot getting in the way of exploration and combat. And one Metroidvania that does a marvelous job of that is Gato Roboto. It’s a game with a lot of humor where you play a cat piloting a giant mech suit, as well as the occasional submersible.
While the plot of the game is entertaining, it’s also pretty secondary to the action, meaning they never really explain all that much. Which is just as well, since Gato Roboto is a very finely tuned, classically styled Metroidvania. While the black and white palette is sometimes disappointing in games, here it works to ground it in a classic Game Boy style.
The only complaint I have about Gato Roboto is that it’s a pretty short burn, and that it never got a sequel. Still, if you’re looking for a Metroidvania that’s a blast to become immersed in, this is your game.
8
Momodora: Moonlit Farewell
Can’t Unring that Bell
You’d never know, having played Momodora: Moonlit Farewell, that it’s the fifth entry in the series. That’s because, while the plot is somewhat important in the games, it’s not at the forefront of them. Thankfully, that in no way prevents the games from being rewarding. In fact, the last game has a sort of Studio Ghibli vibe, where it’s a joy just to explore this strange, mysterious world.
What little plot there is revolves around a magical bell summoning demons, and a catastrophic encounter with a would-be god. The real meat of the adventure, though, is the nuanced and simple combat, where you fight with a leaf and bow, and empower Momo with powerful Sigils. They add a lot to the game that makes it even more engaging than Reverie Under the Moonlight.
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Another wonderful thing about Momodora: Moonlit Farewell is how the art and music come together to bring a lot of emotion to the proceedings. Though it’s a shame this is the last game in the series, at least they went out with a bang.
7
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Igarashi’s Successor
I have a bit of a history with Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. I was a huge fan of Koji Igarashi’s Castlevania games, and was ecstatic when his Kickstarter was announced. After spending more on backing this particular project than any other, I feel that it was good, but not great. And a big part of that was thanks to the ham-handed storytelling.
That said, thankfully, the gameplay in Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night still holds up well. It instantly feels like a Castlevania adventure, even though there’s some stuff thrown in that’s distinctly different. So early on, when the story is a sort of vague idea, the game fares very well. Once you understand the stakes, it’s a bit less engaging.
That said, I’d still recommend this Metroidvania to any fan of the genre. It’s well-made and features rewarding backtracking and combat. Just don’t expect it to impress more than the classics it was built upon.
6
Dead Cells
Going Rogue
It’s pretty rare to succeed as not only a Metroidvaina, but a Roguelike as well. Somehow, Motion Twin managed just that feat with Dead Cells. But as anybody who’s played a Roguelike can tell you, they generally aren’t big on plot or explaining things. Thankfully, you don’t need much at all clarified to enjoy this unusual adventure.
The only plot that matters is you’re a blob of sentient slime called The Prisoner, and you live on host bodies. Other than that, you’re in a kingdom in steep decline. But all you care about is fighting your way to the end, and you’ll be able to do so in style. As you play, you’ll use Cells you’ve gathered to unlock more loot and equipment to make future runs easier.
Dead Cells is a remarkably fluid game with incredible challenge and deep replay value. I’ve been playing it myself for quite a while, and have yet to manage a truly successful run. Still, it’s clear the folks at Motion Twin and Evil Empire know how to make an engaging Metroidvania that’s not big on story.
5
Animal Well
Lost in the Woods
There aren’t many Metroidvanias quite like Animal Well. It’s almost more of a puzzle platformer, but has just enough exploration upgrades that I still consider it part of the genre. It evokes the unknown and deep mystery better than probably most other Metroidvanias, which is both a good and a bad thing.
That sense of mystery, with wraith-like animals hounding you, and no traditional way to fight back, makes Animal Well a really compelling adventure. There are a lot of secrets to unearth, including many hidden areas and several hard-to-get endings. While the plot of the game might not be that important, unveiling the core experience is a hell of a drug.
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Even though the game might not be for everyone, Animal Well is still a challenging, mysterious and puzzling Metroidvania with hand-drawn artwork that’s worth checking out.
4
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Gothic Adventure Beckons
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is one of the OGs of the genre, and for good reason. It’s a hell of a lot of fun, and holds up even to this day. And while there is a story worth experiencing in the game, one of the greatest joys in playing it is just exploring and finding things on your own.
You don’t need them to explain any of Alucard’s plight to enjoy this vast, beautiful and deadly Gothic world of fantasy. This is a pure example of the genre where just going from one area to the next is not just fun, but it immerses players in a world full of dark magic. It’s clear that the castle itself is a big part of the problem, and you’ll have to explore every dread inch of it in order to save the day.
3
Metroid Dread
From Hunter to Hunted
There aren’t many series that embrace the fear of the unknown quite like Metroid. And of that series, the game that’s the most horrifying and full of, well, dread, is none other than Metroid Dread. It’s a game where the mystery of what’s happening is an active threat to Samus’ existence, along with brutal robots known as E.M.M.I.
Unlike some of the games on this list, even when you get the full download on what’s actually happening, it doesn’t diminish the terror or exhilaration of playing Metroid Dread. It’s just incredibly rewarding to explore planet ZDR, which is full of threats both new and shockingly familiar.
In the end, Samus Aran retakes her place at the top of the proverbial food chain. But surviving long enough to get there will be a hell of an adventure.
2
Hollow Knight
Hive Mentality
I’ll start by saying that Hollow Knight is an outstanding Metroidvania that fully lived up to my hype as a backer. But with that in mind, after beating the game with the good ending, I really couldn’t make heads or tails of the story. But luckily, even without a coherent story, this is a wondrous world to explore.
More than many of the games on this list, Hollow Knight embraces the sense of mystery even with the way the map system works. Which initially really bothered me, since I like clear benchmarks showing me where to go and where I’ve been. But once I started to get farther and unlock more features, it came together smoothly.
Even without a clear story explained, Hollow Knight is incredibly rewarding, and probably one of the best of all time. But the next game managed to embrace that sense of deep mystery just a bit better.
1
Axiom Verge
Trace in Wonderland
Axiom Verge is one of the most perfect examples of mystery done right in a Metroidvania I’ve ever played. There’s a deep, shattering sense of being lost in an alien world, mixed with a story that does a reasonable job of explaining it. The entire adventure is very rewarding since it builds upon that mystery in a gradual fashion.
Trace isn’t sure where he is, but he knows how he got there — a devastating injury. Once in this weird world, Elsenova explains some aspects of his plight, which in no way makes things any better. As for the gameplay, it builds upon mystery as well, with Trace able to glitch the world itself to his advantage.
Axiom Verge is a game where you don’t need to understand everything to enjoy this mysterious, dangerous Metroidvania adventure. And even when you have a more complete understanding, the odds are still stacked against you.
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