Different Types Of Metroidvania Games On The Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch is the perfect system for certain types of games. Over the last 6 years or so, the console has amassed an expansive library of indie and AAA projects that work splendidly on both a big-screen TV and in the palm of the player's hands, and Metroidvanias tend to be particularly sublime matches for the Switch's capabilities. While 3D adventures are not synonymous with the platform, the same cannot be said for the genre's classic 2D variants, many of which shine the brightest on something like the Switch Lite.

Axiom Verge, The Messenger, Cave Story+, Salt and Sanctuary, Rogue Legacy 2, SteamWorld Dig 2, Unsighted, Tales of Kenzera: Zau, Guacamelee! 2, and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown are just a handful of fantastic Metroidvanias on the Switch, and that is far from an exhaustive selection. Crucially, Metroidvanias come in many forms and subgenres, so disliking one game does not have to mean an aversion to every game out there. Consequently, let's highly a few Metroidvania types and their best games.

Dead Cells

A Roguelike Metroidvania

Sometimes, trying to chase too many trends can be detrimental to a project's overall quality, resulting in a messy and unfocused experience. A roguelike Metroidvania with Soulslike combat, Dead Cells sounds like a chaotic mash-up of popular late-2010s buzzwords, at least on paper. In execution, Motion Twin and Evil Empire created a game that can be rightfully described as one of the greatest indie roguelikes, Soulslikes, or Metroidvanias; combined, it is just one of the best games of the last decade.

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As with most roguelikes, Dead Cells works on a permanent death system, meaning that failure will send players back to the start with almost nothing to their name. While certainly difficult and potentially exhausting at times, the game staves off repetition by incorporating procedural generation technology, ensuring that runs do not feel identical. The combat takes a few ideas from Dark Souls' playbook, rewarding players who are willing to take their time and learn an enemy's moveset.

The Metroidvania aspect comes from a few unlockables that open up new routes; however, it needs to be said that this is not a huge part of the overall experience. It is enough to recommend Dead Cells to Metroidvania fans, but they should ideally also be interested in Soulslikes and roguelikes.

Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition

A Platformer Metroidvania

One of the very few console exclusives to grace the Xbox One during the previous generation, Ori and the Blind Forest eventually made its way to the Nintendo Switch in 2019. Moon Studios created something special with this project, delivering a surprisingly emotional campaign that seamlessly blends visual storytelling with satisfying gameplay and a memorable soundtrack. Unlike its sequel, Ori and the Blind Forest does not prominently feature combat, instead opting to focus on exploration, platforming, and a few intense escape sequences.

A great Metroidvania must nail its movement and map design, and Ori and the Blind Forest knocks both elements out of the park. While not necessarily the genre's biggest world, the Nibel Forest is a treat to investigate and traverse, largely thanks to its lively backdrops and consistently stunning art. The platforming is pretty much flawless, with Ori's move set being fairly straightforward while still providing quite a bit of options.

Animal Well

A Puzzle Metroidvania Done To Near Perfection

At a glance, Animal Well might seem like a Metroidvania platformer; however, that is not 100% the case. Naturally, players will be doing a lot of jumping, but they will primarily be racking their brains to figure out the path they should be taking. Essentially, Animal Well is a puzzle game where each room needs to be deciphered, both in its immediate mechanization and also in how it connects to the rest of the map.

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While not completely leaving players to their own devices, Shared Memory does not provide obvious direction either, and the game embraces the Metroidvania genre's typically nonlinear design to encourage backtracking and lateral thinking. Animal Well is not easy or extremely beginner-friendly, and some frustration should be expected. However, the puzzles are consistently well thought-out, and the map design is logical and rarely confusing (there are plenty of landmarks). Also, the art style is hauntingly beautiful.

Hollow Knight

The Soulslike Metroidvania (And Everything Else)

Occasionally, an indie game comes around that takes the world completely by storm, experiencing success that could even make AAA publishers jealous. Hollow Knight is one such triumph, and it is 100% earned. Team Cherry's game is deceptive. Initially, players might assume it is a fairly good action-driven Metroidvania with a unique visual identity, smooth combat, and fascinating lore; then, 30 hours have passed and Hallownest is still revealing secrets, NPCs, and bosses. "Massive" is an understatement when it comes to Hollow Knight.

More importantly and impressively, Team Cherry did not sacrifice quantity for quality. Every new area, enemy, and plot thread builds upon each other, creating an impeccable and (at times) overwhelming whole that can be life-consuming. The Soulslike-style combat is a top contender for the best of all time (for Metroidvanias and Soulslikes), and it comes with a rather steep learning curve. The map is, unsurprisingly, huge, and the game generally allows players to explore how they see fit, even if they might wind up in an area well beyond their current level.

Metroid Prime Remastered

The 3D Metroidvania

The Nintendo Switch might be a better fit for 2D and side-scrollers, but the console has a couple of 3D Metroidvanias. Supraland is pretty good, and Batman: Arkham Trilogy has two fantastic games and one title that barely works on the Switch. That said, it is not possible to recommend anything else besides Metroid Prime Remastered, which is the definitive version of arguably the greatest 3D Metroidvania of all time. The GameCube original is an absolute classic that (mostly) holds up well; however, the remastered is such an improvement that it mostly renders the 2002 iteration obsolete. At least, newcomers should start with the 2023 revamp.

Stranded on Tallon IV, Samus Aran has to explore, shoot, and roll her way through a vast planet, unlocking artifacts and abilities along the way. Considering this was the franchise's first attempt to translate the classic Metroid formula into 3D, Prime is a shockingly smooth transition, with the gameplay, map design, and controls being largely spot-on in both the GameCube version and the remaster.

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