The Best Metroidvania Games for Nintendo Switch

Update 15 November 2023: The Last Faith added at rank #21.

Here are our 10 Best Metroidvania Games for Nintendo Switch:

Play Video: Laika: Aged Through Blood

Nintendo Switch Xbox Series X Xbox One Playstation 5 Playstation 4 PC Windows

Laika: Aged Through Blood is a western-inspired motorvania set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. It is the story about a tribe oppressed by occupant forces, and the personal story of a mother coyote warrior who descends on an endless path of vengeance to take back what her people lost.

• metroidvania
• motorbike
• bullet
• blood
• motocross
• soundtrack
• time
• gore
• twin-stick
• shooter
• scroller
• violent
• hand-drawn
• exploration
• reloading

Good match + 3 Bad match

Play Video: Ghost Song

PC Windows Xbox Series X Playstation 5 Nintendo Switch Playstation 4 Xbox One

In Ghost Song, discover the secrets of the mysterious moon of Lorian while battling strange creatures and customizing your battlesuit. With stunning 2D graphics and a haunting story, Ghost Song is an adventure game you can't miss.

• Beautifully crafted game with eerie atmosphere
• Unique paths to explore and interesting boss fights
• Good dialogue and compelling story
• Fluid and fun combat with unique modification combos and weapons
• Moving main character with personal stories

• Excessive backtracking and frustration without enough fast travel locations
• Limited replayability and short-lived experience
• Some creative decisions fall flat
• Nearly non-existent story that lacks item description
• Lack of depth and tactics in combat, and poor damage output

• metroidvania
• 2d
• platform
• boss
• hand-drawn
• sci-fi
• atmospheric
• scroller
• exploration
• boss-fight
• metroid
• horror
• dark
• robots
• controller-support

Good match + 128 Bad match - 181

Play Video: Monster Sanctuary

PC Windows Nintendo Switch Playstation 4 Xbox One Mac OS Linux

Monster Sanctuary is a retro-inspired RPG where you collect over 100 unique monsters to fight alongside you in strategic turn-based combat. The game offers a huge world to explore and highly customizable equipment for each monster. With free DLCs and alternate music tracks, there's always something new to experience. Jump in and start your journey as a Monster Keeper now!

• Intricate teambuilding and turn-based gameplay
• Huge map with many secret locations and over 100 monsters
• No required grind, relies mostly on monster synergy and tactics
• Highly customizable equipment and skill trees for each monster
• Generous amount of content, including free DLCs and alternate music tracks

• Game may be too difficult for players expecting a Pokemon-like experience
• Story and general progression may not do a great job of directing players towards building monster synergies
• Sudden difficulty spike relative to the rest of the story may turn some players off
• Plot is basic and nothing breathtaking

• turn-based
• metroidvania
• rpg
• battle
• japanese
• pixel
• exploration
• collector
• creature
• jrpg
• combat
• platform
• fight
• tactical
• 2d

Good match + 171 Bad match - 270

Play Video: Afterimage

PC Windows Nintendo Switch Xbox Series X Xbox One Playstation 5 Playstation 4 Xbox Series X/s

Afterimage is a Metroidvania game where you play as Renee, a young girl who survived an attack and sets out on a journey to regain her memory. Battle fierce enemies and explore the ruins of Engardin with over 200 different equipment options and deep RPG mechanics, crafting a unique gameplay experience. The stunning hand-drawn art style and original orchestral soundtrack add to the immersive experience.

• Smooth and responsive combat
• Excellent exploration and enormous map
• Exciting weapon and skill progression
• Varied enemy design
• Nice visuals and relaxing soundtrack

• Difficulty ramp-up can feel abrupt and inaccessible areas can be frustrating
• Lack of minimap can be inconvenient
• Poorly made quests and bad progression system
• Poorly designed boss fights except for a few

• metroidvania
• platform
• souls
• boss
• hand-drawn
• 2d
• exploration
• rpg
• anime
• multiple-endings
• scroller
• lore
• action-adventure
• hack-and-slash
• combat

Good match + 22 Bad match

Play Video: Unsighted

PC Windows Nintendo Switch Xbox One Playstation 4 Android

UNSIGHTED invites you into a post-apocalyptic world where you have a ticking clock before your own expiration. With Metroidvania-like gameplay, fully interconnected world, and an interesting story that allows for tough choices, the game provides a balanced mix of exploration, combat, and character progression. With additional modes like co-op and rogue-lite, UNSIGHTED guarantees a high replay value. A game that creatively brings several game designs together to make a fun and polished game.

• Balanced mix of gameplay elements
• Interesting story with tough choices
• High replayability with additional modes
• Polished sound and graphics
• Responsive controls

• Writing could be better
• Characters feel one-dimensional
• Dialogue interrupts gameplay

• pixel
• exploration
• boss
• top-down
• robots
• metroidvania
• dungeon
• combat
• puzzle
• war
• post-apocalyptic
• souls
• platform
• rpg
• crafting

Good match + 138 Bad match - 162

Play Video: F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch

Playstation 5 Xbox Series X Nintendo Switch PC Windows Playstation 4

F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch is an incredible adventure game set in a gorgeous, vast dieselpunk world. You take on the role of Rayton, a disgruntled former resistance soldier, to reclaim your mechanical fist and fight your way through the hierarchy of the city. Explore rich, interconnected environments packed with secrets and traverse through snowy mountain tops to bustling neon cities. Unlock weapons and abilities to progress further, use precision-based platforming segments and master combo-based combat system with three different weapons to be successful.

• Interconnected World
• Diverse Gameplay
• Deep Combat System
• Rich Visuals & Soundscape
• Challenging yet Rewarding

• Some May Find Bosses Difficult
• There's a Lot of Travelling

• metroidvania
• platform
• exploration
• boss
• combat
• combo
• fight
• boss-fight
• mech
• war
• narrative
• steampunk
• side-scrolling
• challenging
• robots

Good match + 104 Bad match - 216

Play Video: Souldiers

Xbox Series X Playstation 5 Playstation 4 Xbox One Nintendo Switch PC Windows

Souldiers is a beautifully handcrafted action-adventure game set in a mystical land on the edge of the afterlife. Battle your way through stunning 16-bit graphics, solve puzzles, and upgrade your character's skills and equipment. With engaging melee combat, a connected world, and clever environmental puzzles, Souldiers is a retro epic that you won't want to miss.

• Challenging and replayable with different classes
• Gorgeous pixel art and music
• Well-designed maps and huge locations
• Solid combat and platforming mechanics with challenging boss fights
• Compelling story and multiple unique class playthroughs

• Not a lot of interconnectivity in the world map
• Story is all over the place with many unresolved questions
• Some exploration secrets can be tedious
• Music can get repetitive

• metroidvania
• pixel
• dungeon
• platform
• boss
• retro
• combat
• fight
• action-adventure
• exploration
• difficult
• 2d
• side-scrolling
• skill
• lore

Good match + 114 Bad match - 153

Play Video: Elderand

Nintendo Switch IOS iPhone Android Xbox Series X Xbox One PC Windows

Only the strong will conquer this gruesome action platformer with RPG elements. Dismember demonic creatures and terrifying bosses by wielding brutal weapons in intense skill-based combat. Slay or be slain as you collect glory and treasure in this nightmarish 2D world.

• metroidvania
• gothic
• boss
• lovecraftian
• rpg
• 2d
• scroller
• platform
• gore
• combat
• action-adventure
• character
• action
• cult
• hack-and-slash

Good match + 10 Bad match - 5

Play Video: Islets

PC Windows Nintendo Switch Xbox One Xbox Series X

Journey with Iko, a young mouse warrior, as they explore the five floating islands of Islets and attempt to reconnect them with powerful magnets! Enjoy snappy movement and combat, cute character design, and competent map design.

• Fun combat and movement
• Cute character design
• Competent map design
• Challenging boss fights
• Bullet hell-style airship battles

• Random upgrade rewards can limit options

• platform
• boss
• metroidvania
• cute
• boss-fight
• exploration
• colourful
• pirates
• fight
• atmospheric
• story
• combat
• 2d
• nature
• adventure

Good match + 88 Bad match - 141

Nintendo Switch Xbox Series X Playstation 5 Playstation 4 PC Windows Xbox One

Defeat the mage Kalinur and bring peace back to the kingdom in this mini metroidvania with a lot of action.

• metroidvania
• 2d
• swordplay
• retro
• fantasy
• platform
• demons
• pixel
• dark
• adventure
• exploration
• medieval
• action
• nonlinear

Good match + 3 Bad match

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