Metroidvania

One of the games that pioneered the genre.

A Metroidvania is a genre of video game succinctly described as a "combat adventure." Metroidvanias marry reflexive combat action mechanics with a lot of adventure elements. Metroidvanias typically require the player to increase the strength of their character by finding items or upgrading statistics as the player progresses through the game's story line. The genre is named after two pioneer franchises, Metroid and Castlevania, but the style of game play predates them both with origins in the early 1980s with games like Montezuma's Revenge, Pitfall II: Lost Caverns, and Below the Root. It wasn't until the late 1990s that the game really started to be identified as a unique genre with the release of Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Metroidvanias traditionally are platformers, that is, they use a side-view perspective in a 2-D gravity-bound environment. However, games which present a top-down perspective are just as common and tick all the same boxes with titles like The Legend of Zelda and going back even earlier to 1980 with the Atari 2600's Adventure.

Personal

These games tend to be among my favorites for several reasons. I enjoy well-tuned real-time combat mechanics. I prefer story-based games over abstract games. I like the fact that Metroidvanias tend to be graphically beautiful with a thought-provoking atmosphere. I like that, if areas are too difficult, you can grind monsters or explore other areas and try again when you're stronger. I also like the feeling of accomplishment when you return to earlier areas after you've become stronger and seeing how powerful you've become.

Properties

These are the specific properties I have identified that I feel can be used to accurately determine whether a game is a Metroidvania and are also fairly easy to gauge as a yes or no. Other properties may much more accurately determine a game's genre, but are greatly a matter of opinion, so I don't include them. Those games with the largest number of matching properties are more of a "pure" Metroidvania game.

Side-view Platformer: Although I don't think the perspective really matters, Metroidvanias are traditionally side-view platformers.
Non-linear Map: Part of the allure of Metroidvanias is being able to explore a large complex map when you can return to past areas at your leisure. Compare this to stage-based games where you're forced to move at the game's pace.
Power-up Collection: For this page, a "power-up" is something that remains with you once you collect it (like Samus's high jump boots).
Usable Inventory: This includes items that are placed in your inventory and later can be consumed (like a healing potion). It does not include things like ammo or money.
Hidden Passages: Areas of the map that are not readily apparent, but can be discovered with persistence.
Stat Leveling: Often through experience rewards for defeating enemies. This causes the player to grow in strength over time.
Money: A lot of Metroidvanias include money, usually dropped by enemies, that can be used to purchase items.
Mini-bosses: In addition to a final boss, Metroidvanias often have minibosses for various areas which serve as gatekeepers to new areas.
Environment Puzzles: Many Metroidvania games have puzzles created from their environments which require a bit of ingenuity to solve and often feature power-ups as a reward.

Games

For all Metroidvania games, see the category.

Game	Released	Side-view Platformer	Non-linear Map	Power-up Collection	Usable Inventory	Hidden Passages	Stat Leveling	Money	Mini-bosses	Environment Puzzles	Total
Adventure	1980-??-??	No	Yes	No	Yes	No*	No	No	No	No	2
Axiom Verge	2015-03-31	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	6
Below the Root	1984-??-??	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No*	6
Bionic Commando (Game Boy)	1992-07-24	Yes	Yes	Yes	No*	No*	Yes	No	Yes	No*	5
Bionic Commando (NES)	1988-07-20	Yes	Yes	Yes	No*	No*	Yes	No	Yes	No*	5
Bionic Commando: Elite Forces	2000-01-??	Yes	Yes	Yes	No*	No*	Yes	No	Yes	No*	5
Blaster Master	1988-06-17	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	4
The Castle	1985-04-??	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	4
Castle Adventure	1984-??-??	No	Yes	Yes	No*	No*	No	No	No	Yes	3
Castlequest	1985-11-??	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	4
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest	1987-08-28	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No*	Yes	No*	Yes	7
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow	2003-05-06	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	9
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon	2001-03-21	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	9
Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance	2002-06-06	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	8
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night	1997-03-20	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	9
Cave Story	2004-12-20	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	7
Demon's Crest	1994-10-21	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	8
The Goonies II	1987-03-18	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	4
Kid Icarus: Angel Land Story	1986-12-19	Yes	No*	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	6
The Legend of Zelda	1986-02-21	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No*	6
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past	1991-11-21	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	7
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening	1993-06-06	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	6
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap	2004-11-04	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	7
Metroid	1986-08-06	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No*	5
Metroid II: Return of Samus	1991-11-??	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	6
Metroid Fusion	2002-11-18	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	6
Metroid: Zero Mission	2004-02-09	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	5
Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight	2016-03-04	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	8
Rambo	1987-12-04	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	5
River City Ransom	1989-04-25	No*	No*	Yes	Yes	No*	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	5
Rygar	1987-04-17	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	6
Seiklus	2003-08-15	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	5
Super Mario World	1990-11-21	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	6
Super Metroid	1994-03-19	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	6
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles	1989-05-12	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	4
VVVVVV	2010-01-11	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	3
Wonder Boy in Monster World	1991-10-25	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No*	7
You Have to Win the Game	2012-05-06	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No*	No	No*	3
Ys III: Wanderers from Ys	1989-07-28	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	7
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link	1987-01-14	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	7