If you spend any time reading about games like Hollow Knight, Ori, or the new Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, you’ve definitely seen the word Metroidvania.
It’s a weird-looking word, right? But it’s actually a “mash-up” of two of the most famous game series ever made. Here is everything you need to know about this awesome genre.
The Name: A Tale of Two Classics
The word comes from combining Metroid (the sci-fi space adventure from Nintendo) and Castlevania (the vampire-hunting classic from Konami).
Back in the day, most games were “levels”—you finish Level 1, then move to Level 2. But Metroid and Castlevania did something different. They gave you one giant map that was all connected, like a massive underground maze.
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How Does a Metroidvania Work?
There are three main “rules” that make a game a Metroidvania:
1. One Giant World Instead of levels, you explore a huge, continuous world. You might see a door or a high ledge early in the game that you can’t reach. You’ll have to remember where it is and come back later!
2. The “Ability Gate” This is the heart of the genre. You’ll find “gates” (like a wall that’s too high to jump over) that stop you from moving forward. To get past them, you have to find a new power-up.
- Example: You find a “Double Jump” boots, and suddenly that high wall isn’t a problem anymore!
3. Backtracking (The Treasure Hunt) In most games, you never want to go backward. In a Metroidvania, backtracking is the point! Once you get a new power, you head back to those old rooms you couldn’t explore before to find secret treasures, boss fights, or the path to the next area.
Why Are They So Fun?
Metroidvanias feel like a giant puzzle. There’s a huge sense of “Aha!” when you finally get the power-up that lets you reach a secret area you’ve been staring at for three hours. It makes you feel like a genius explorer!
Best Metroidvanias to Play Right Now:
- Hollow Knight: A beautiful (and tough!) game about a tiny bug knight in a ruined kingdom.
- Metroid Dread: The newest adventure for Samus Aran on the Nintendo Switch.
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown: The brand-new 2026 hit that uses these rules for fast-paced parkour.
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps: A stunningly pretty game with amazing music.
The Bottom Line: If you love exploring, finding secrets, and feeling yourself get stronger as you play, you’re probably already a Metroidvania fan!
