There are many well received games released this year, but let’s focus on the niche that is Metroidvania. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term, Metroidvania is considered a subgenre of action-adventure games. It is a combination of the Metroid and Castlevania franchises in terms of design and gameplay mechanics.
These games usually feature obstacles and challenges for players as they journey throughout a large interconnected map to get to their objective. These obstacles and challenges can only be cleared by acquiring a certain object, level or special ability that the players have somehow unlocked along the way.
Sounds fun, right? So here’s some of those games that are released within 2020 that we think you should try out.
Carrion
Ever wanted to be a giant red tentacled monster looking thing that wrecks havoc and instills fear in the hearts of men? Well, in Carrion, you got it! You will play as this monster trying to escape a guarded research facility by crawling through air vents and going on a killing spree to ensure your own survival. As you go along, you could acquire more abilities and even grow in size - as if you’re not already a giant as you are.
This game was released recently on the 23rd of July for PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, MacOS and Linux. It has received huge appraisal since then, even going viral for its unintended erotic game icon on Steam which resembled a certain lady part. All jokes and blunders aside, if you ever just feel like going on a rampage - this is the game for you.
Ori and The Will of The Wisps
This is the direct sequel to the hit Metroid game Ori and The Blind Forest released in 2015. It is one of the most anticipated games of the year by developers Moon Studios, following the success of the first game. It is a direct continuation of where the previous game left off and you will be controlling Ori as he journeys through the forest in search of ‘something’. We don’t want to give too much away, it is a magnificent story of loss and love that players will have to experience for themselves.
Ori and The Will of The Wisps was released for PC and Xbox One on the 11th of March, 2020. An enhanced version will also be released on the upcoming Xbox Series X. If you’re up for a game that will bring you through a rollercoaster of emotions that will linger in your mind for days whilst also being one of the more challenging Metroidvania games out there, this is the game for you.
INMOST
Literally released a few days ago on the 21st of August 2020 (at the time of writing), this is the most recently released game for PC on this list. INMOST was previously released for Nintendo Switch in 2019. The game follows three playable characters - a knight, a young girl and a wandering man. Each character has their own unique gameplay styles and situations that speak of their stories. Best part: they are all interconnected somehow.
If you love a full circle storyline that slides perfectly in place, this is the game for you. The developers of the game intended for the game to be played in a single sitting in the dark. The world will be crumbling around you, there will be hidden traps and enemies waiting to kill you - now top it off with some emotional storytelling and you’ll get INMOST.
Bloodstained: Curse of The Moon 2
Bloodstained: Curse of The Moon 2 released on July 10th 2020 is a sequel to Bloodstained: Curse of The Moon and a spin off of Bloodstained: Ritual of The Night. The game follows Zangetsu - a demon hunter swordsman along with some characters he befriends along the way which consist of a spear wielding exorcist named Dominique, a corgi piloting a steampunk mech suit and Robert, a rifle-wielding normal man.
The gameplay is rather unique as you would have several chapters to play through and you would have to repeatedly play the same chapters in different ways to fully accomplish your task. There are also two difficulty levels - Veteran and Casual, which depends on how comfortable you are with dying and taking damage. The game is available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4 and Xbox One.
Rogue Legacy 2
The game is currently in Early Access on Steam as well as the Epic Games Store and is planned for a full release by 2021. We know it’s considered cheating to include this in the list - but if you think about it, it is still considered as a release in 2020. Plus, if it is anything like its predecessor, it’s a damn good game and it would be a shame not to include it.
That aside, Rogue Legacy 2 is a ‘genealogical rogue-LITE’, as described on Steam. If you’ve played the first Rogue Legacy, you would know what that means but for those in the dark - this game is a rogue-like game with upgrades and dead heirs. In short, you will grow your family manor and inheritance for the future of your children. Each child has their own unique traits and abilities - you can play however you want. This also makes each run of the game completely different from the other.
If you’re up for some interesting and unique gameplay, this would be the preferred game for you.
That’s All For Now..
Well, that’s all we have for now!
The library of Metroidvania games have grown significantly over the years, and so have their fanbase. It would not be a far-fetched idea to say that Metroidvania games will make it even bigger in the future. Honestly, we’re just excited to see what future game developers would create in the Metroid genre and their own unique twists.
I’m sure there are more Metroidvania games released in 2020, and some perhaps deserve a shout; so make sure to let us know in the replies!
These games usually feature obstacles and challenges for players as they journey throughout a large interconnected map to get to their objective. These obstacles and challenges can only be cleared by acquiring a certain object, level or special ability that the players have somehow unlocked along the way.
Sounds fun, right? So here’s some of those games that are released within 2020 that we think you should try out.
Carrion
Ever wanted to be a giant red tentacled monster looking thing that wrecks havoc and instills fear in the hearts of men? Well, in Carrion, you got it! You will play as this monster trying to escape a guarded research facility by crawling through air vents and going on a killing spree to ensure your own survival. As you go along, you could acquire more abilities and even grow in size - as if you’re not already a giant as you are.
This game was released recently on the 23rd of July for PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, MacOS and Linux. It has received huge appraisal since then, even going viral for its unintended erotic game icon on Steam which resembled a certain lady part. All jokes and blunders aside, if you ever just feel like going on a rampage - this is the game for you.
Ori and The Will of The Wisps
This is the direct sequel to the hit Metroid game Ori and The Blind Forest released in 2015. It is one of the most anticipated games of the year by developers Moon Studios, following the success of the first game. It is a direct continuation of where the previous game left off and you will be controlling Ori as he journeys through the forest in search of ‘something’. We don’t want to give too much away, it is a magnificent story of loss and love that players will have to experience for themselves.
Ori and The Will of The Wisps was released for PC and Xbox One on the 11th of March, 2020. An enhanced version will also be released on the upcoming Xbox Series X. If you’re up for a game that will bring you through a rollercoaster of emotions that will linger in your mind for days whilst also being one of the more challenging Metroidvania games out there, this is the game for you.
INMOST
Literally released a few days ago on the 21st of August 2020 (at the time of writing), this is the most recently released game for PC on this list. INMOST was previously released for Nintendo Switch in 2019. The game follows three playable characters - a knight, a young girl and a wandering man. Each character has their own unique gameplay styles and situations that speak of their stories. Best part: they are all interconnected somehow.
If you love a full circle storyline that slides perfectly in place, this is the game for you. The developers of the game intended for the game to be played in a single sitting in the dark. The world will be crumbling around you, there will be hidden traps and enemies waiting to kill you - now top it off with some emotional storytelling and you’ll get INMOST.
Bloodstained: Curse of The Moon 2
Bloodstained: Curse of The Moon 2 released on July 10th 2020 is a sequel to Bloodstained: Curse of The Moon and a spin off of Bloodstained: Ritual of The Night. The game follows Zangetsu - a demon hunter swordsman along with some characters he befriends along the way which consist of a spear wielding exorcist named Dominique, a corgi piloting a steampunk mech suit and Robert, a rifle-wielding normal man.
The gameplay is rather unique as you would have several chapters to play through and you would have to repeatedly play the same chapters in different ways to fully accomplish your task. There are also two difficulty levels - Veteran and Casual, which depends on how comfortable you are with dying and taking damage. The game is available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4 and Xbox One.
Rogue Legacy 2
The game is currently in Early Access on Steam as well as the Epic Games Store and is planned for a full release by 2021. We know it’s considered cheating to include this in the list - but if you think about it, it is still considered as a release in 2020. Plus, if it is anything like its predecessor, it’s a damn good game and it would be a shame not to include it.
That aside, Rogue Legacy 2 is a ‘genealogical rogue-LITE’, as described on Steam. If you’ve played the first Rogue Legacy, you would know what that means but for those in the dark - this game is a rogue-like game with upgrades and dead heirs. In short, you will grow your family manor and inheritance for the future of your children. Each child has their own unique traits and abilities - you can play however you want. This also makes each run of the game completely different from the other.
If you’re up for some interesting and unique gameplay, this would be the preferred game for you.
That’s All For Now..
Well, that’s all we have for now!
The library of Metroidvania games have grown significantly over the years, and so have their fanbase. It would not be a far-fetched idea to say that Metroidvania games will make it even bigger in the future. Honestly, we’re just excited to see what future game developers would create in the Metroid genre and their own unique twists.
I’m sure there are more Metroidvania games released in 2020, and some perhaps deserve a shout; so make sure to let us know in the replies!
