Axiom Verge. I don’t know how they managed to improve on the feeling of Super Metroid, but they did it.

I really like Rabi-ribi

Its my no.1 genre… i have played A LOT of them. People have already hit on the “big three” - hollow knight, super metroid and castlevania SOTN… heres lesser mentioned gems… sure, they’re not as incredible as those 3 genre topping master pieces, but theyre super super good and worth a play.

• alwas awakening
• tunic*
• hyper light drifter*
• hob*
• Another Metroid 2 Remake (AM2R)
• Metroid Dread
• castlevania dawn of sorrows/aria of sorrow
• axiom verge
• metroid prime
• castlevania 3
• metroid zero mission
• SM: ancient chozo**
• SM: Ascent**
• 9 Sols

*yes, there could be called “zelda-likes” instead of metroid vanias, but i always felt those two game designs were kissing cousins… if you like one you might like the other.

** these are romhacks…,very very good ones. You need a rom of super metroid and emulator to play em.

Sundered: eldritch edition

I haven’t played that many, but I enjoyed Ori and the Blind Forest and Carrion.

I adore Supraland, which is more of a Zelda/Portal/Metroid mix.

Super Metroid Animal well Castlevania: SOTN

Ori series, specifically Ori and the Will of the Wisps. It’s my absolute favorite game of all time. It’s got the amazing visuals and insanely good OST, crisp and satisfying platforming and combat, engaging and unique bossfights, incredibly gripping story, good difficulty settings and going for 100% is rewarding and not nearly as annoying as in many other games. While it may stray a tiny bit from the classic Metroidvania formula I think it still does it incredibly well.

Castlevanias: Aria of Sorrow, Order of Eclessia, Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin (no, no Symphony on my top-top list, it’s awesome, but not that awesome);

Ori and the Blind Forest mentioned already;

Axiom Verge 1 and 2;

Some call it heresy, but… Dark Souls! bit harder, bit turn-based (combat, aye, heresy x2, but stamina system makes it turn based for me, thats wild)… but running all around, having maze with many options, each boss unlocks new paths and parts of map… 200% metroidvania to me.

I haven’t seen it mentioned and granted I’ve not played it but I’ve watched both be played and Blasphemy 1 and 2 seems really, really good.

Supraland

So many solid suggestions here already. I have a soft spot for the more retro styled games, and despite being short Gato Roboto is one of my favourites. It just feels so good to play.

Guacomelee should get more love, it’s a really stylish game and there is even coop if you want to play together with someone.

Super Metroid will always be my favourite. I also enjoyed Axiom Verge and Bloodstained ROTN.

I generally like shorter Metroidvania like Iconoclasts and some of the Shantae series or even Yoku’s Island Express which has some backtracking.

The Metroidvania tag is a bit like Dubstep in music, a lot of those Dubstep tracks aren’t Dubstep but they can still be fun for some people.

La mulana 1 and 2, animal well for puzzles.

Metroid dread, highly recommend for combat.

Dead cells and rouge legacy two for rouge lite bits

terraria for minecraft + metroidvania

time spinner, bloodsworn for more typical metroidvania

the old castlevania games are on steam, so there is that

almost metroidvania suggestion is Outer wilds. Progression based learning. just not in a 2d plane and no fighting.

Just so it’s not forgotten to time I want to recommend AM2R (Another Metroid 2 Remake). It’s basically what if Metroid 2 was made in the Super Metroid engine.

I’d recommend any of the 2D Metroids, but if you’re going to play Metroid 2, that’s the version to play.