Much to the dismay of a legion of fans who have been patiently (or, maybe not so patiently) awaiting any shred of definitive news regarding its release, yet another round of developer showcases and the Summer Game Fest has come and gone without any mention ofHollow Knight: Silksong. Many had anticipated that the game would see the light of day in 2023 given Phil Spencer’s comments at last year’s Xbox Games Showcase whereHollow Knight: Silksongreceived an extended trailer and gameplay reveal, but unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case. Besides the obligatory hope of it appearing at the Nintendo Direct tomorrow, it’s safe to say that those same fans may have some time to kill beforeSilksongwill see the light of day.
Thankfully, theabsence ofHollow Knight: Silksonghasn’t resulted in a dearth of quality Metroidvania titles; quite the opposite, in fact. In the long wait betweenHollow Knight’s release in 2017 and the continued lack of any firm updates regarding the status of its sequel in 2023, plenty of developers have crafted quality action-platformers with deep combat systems and maps full of secrets to uncover. Some of them could even be considered to stand shoulder-to-shoulder withHollow Knightas stalwarts of the Metroidvania subgenre. These are some of the best titles with rich melee combat to invest time in while waiting forHollow Knight: Silksong.
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Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
It’s safe to say thatHollow Knightwouldn’t exist were it not forCastlevania: Symphony of the Night, and really, neither would the Metroidvania genre.Symphony’s mastermind Koji Igarashi would go on to continue his formula (dubbed “Igavania”) on the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DSCastlevaniareleases but then would largely take a step back from game development. Thankfully, Igarashi returned to his roots with 2019’s fantasticBloodstained: Ritual of the Night, which is considered to be the spiritual successor to bothCastlevania: Symphony of the Nightand the GBA masterpieceCastlevania: Aria of Sorrow.
WhereBloodstainedshines is in its freedom of customization and implementation of the Soul system (called “Shards” here) fromAria of Sorrow. Being able to absorb the abilities of downed enemies gives players plenty of incentive to explore every inch of the map and completely fill out their Bestiary in hopes of acquiring each of the game’s numerous abilities. With plenty of gear to collect, an impressive set of biomes to traverse, and an intriguing and dark narrative,Bloodstained: Ritual of the Nightis as close as fans will ever get to a properSymphony of the Nightsequel anda worthy Metroidvaniaby its own merit.
Blasphemous
Resting firmly in the “Soulsvania” territory occupied byHollow KnightandSalt and Sanctuary,Blasphemousis one of the more visually-arresting games on this list that also happens to be anincredibly challenging Metroidvaniawith some best-in-genre boss battles. While many Metroidvania titles can trace their inspirations back to eitherMetroidorCastlevania,Blasphemousis perhaps the most “Soulslike” of any contemporary genre title and features a gothic-horror aesthetic absolutely bursting with religious iconography.
TheDark Soulsinfluence comes through in how important both dodging and a well-timed parry are toBlasphemous' intricate combat, and the environment houses plenty of devious hazards for players to avoid otherwise they meet an untimely demise. The recentannouncement of aBlasphemoussequelcoming this summer is yet another reason to go back and play the original, and it’s likely thatBlasphemous 2will go just as far in easing the wait forSilksongas its predecessor.
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Along withRogue Legacy,Dead Cellshelped merge the roguelite and Metroidvania subgenres with great success, proving that the combination was a winning one and inspiring a host of other titles in its wake. Since its release, developer Motion Twin has continuallyupdatedDead Cellswith incredible DLCthat add new biomes, weapons, and boss encounters, all while increasing and improving the game’s “choose your own adventure”-style progression through its impressively large maps.
If therecentCastlevaniacrossoveris any indication,Dead Cellshas more than earned its spot in the Metroidvania “Hall of Fame”. It almost goes without saying that the star of the show is its phenomenal combat, with dozens of potential builds and hundreds of weapon and sub-weapon combinations making every playthrough feel different. It might be threadbare in the story department and not necessarily a “true” Metroidvania in the purest sense, butDead Cells' melee combat is best-in-class.
Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth
Coming from Team Ladybug, the talented developers behind the somewhat overlookedTouhou Luna Nightsand the recent Shmup/RPG hybridDrainus,Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinthis one of the best Metroidvania titles to have been released in some time. With a story that followsDeedlit from theRecord of Lodoss Warmanga and anime and leads directly into the events ofThe Crown of The Covenantnovel series,Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinthwill scratch the itch for anyone that enjoys digging into a strong narrative within their Metroidvanias.
Not content to rest on just its story,Deedlitalso features excellent combat that is heavily reminiscent ofSymphony of the Nightand an interesting elemental-based traversal and defense mechanic. When a Metroidvania pulls part of its inspiration from Treasure’sIkaruga, it’s an indication of something unique, andDeedlitdoes not disappoint in that regard.
Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights
In terms of titles that make the long wait forSilksongeasier to bear, few reach the same heights ofHollow KnightasEnder Lilies. With a combat system that calls to mind the glyph-wielding Shanoa fromCastlevania: Order of Ecclesia, the protagonist Lily doesn’t actually equip weapons but rather the souls of the dead knights sworn to protect her. With stunning art direction, a great soundtrack, and a brooding, dark atmosphere reminiscent of players' time in Hallownest,Ender Liliesis one of the best Metroidvaniasthat players may have overlooked.
Hollow Knight: Silksongis in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
