10 Best Metroidvania Games on PlayStation Plus (March 2026)

Looking for the best Metroidvania games on PlayStation Plus? Metroidvania games bring a perfect mix of action, platforming, and deep exploration. They let you unlock new powers, backtrack through hidden paths, and discover new areas as you grow stronger. With so many great options on PS Plus, it’s the right time to dive into this exciting genre. Here’s a list of ten fun and standout Metroidvania games you can play right now.

What Defines the Best Metroidvania Game?

A good Metroidvania game should give a sense of discovery through a connected world where paths link back to each other. Combat needs to be engaging, with enemies and bosses that test skill without becoming unfair. Progression works best when new abilities or tools open fresh areas, encouraging you to revisit earlier zones with a new purpose. Visual style and music play a big part too, which sets the right mood for long sessions. Considering all these things, we have put together this list of the best Metroidvania games that you can enjoy on PS Plus.

List of 10 Best PlayStation Plus Metroidvania Games in 2026

Each game on this list brings exciting combat, smart upgrades, and maps designed for deep exploration.

10. Strider

Battle waves of enemies inside a futuristic city

Strider is a side-scrolling action game that places you in the role of Hiryu, a highly trained ninja equipped with a glowing sword called the Cypher. The main objective is to defeat enemy forces spread across a large futuristic city. You move through connected districts filled with soldiers, drones, and mechanical creatures. Combat is fast but clear to understand. You attack with your sword, jump over incoming fire, and use slides or wall climbs to avoid danger.

Enemies range from simple guards to armored units that require stronger techniques to defeat. Large bosses also block your path at key points, and these encounters require careful positioning and smart use of your skills. As you advance, you earn upgrades that improve your weapon and grant new traversal abilities, giving you more room for mistakes during tough encounters. Strider remains a strong choice for players who enjoy fast combat within the Metroidvania style.

9. Salt and Sacrifice

Hunt dangerous mages in a dark fantasy world

Salt and Sacrifice is a 2D action role-playing game that places you in the role of a Marked Inquisitor. Your main task is to hunt dangerous mages who roam across different regions. These mages are not limited to a single arena. They travel through different areas, summon creatures, and use powerful spells during long pursuits. Fights can shift across multiple platforms, which forces you to stay alert and adapt to changing attack styles. Regular enemies also guard many areas, and you must manage stamina carefully during combat to avoid leaving yourself vulnerable.

Defeated enemies drop materials that are used to craft weapons, armor, and other tools. Different gear types change how your character performs in battle. Heavy weapons deal more damage but swing more slowly, while lighter weapons allow faster strikes. You can also join other players online for co-op, which helps during difficult mage hunts. Although the difficulty of this game is high, it remains fair once you understand enemy attack behavior.

8. Celeste

Climb a mountain using precise jumps and dashes

Celeste is not a traditional Metroidvania. It does not feature a large map that opens gradually through permanent ability upgrades. There is no backtracking to earlier areas with new powers. However, it earns a place on this list because it captures one of the core strengths of the genre: skill-based platform challenges tied to a clear ability system. The entire game revolves around jumping, climbing walls, and using a mid-air dash. That dash can be used once before landing, so you must think carefully about when to use it. Certain surfaces refill your dash, which allows longer sequences across spikes, moving platforms, and narrow gaps.

The structure is chapter-based. You move from one self-contained area to the next, and each chapter introduces new mechanics such as wind currents, moving blocks, or special crystals that refresh your dash. The difficulty increases steadily, yet the game restarts you instantly after failure, so you can retry without long delays. There is no combat. The challenge comes purely from navigating hazards safely. Celeste stays clear in its design, fair in difficulty, and satisfying through steady skill improvement.

7. Source of Madness

Face strange creatures that move in unusual ways

Source of Madness plays very differently from most side-scrolling action games because enemies do not move in fixed or familiar ways. Their bodies stretch, collapse, and twist based on physics simulation, so attacks can come from unexpected angles. You play as a mage who uses spells to defeat these creatures. Since enemy limbs swing freely and react to impacts, positioning matters a lot during fights. You often need to adjust your distance carefully and choose spells that match the situation. Some abilities deal steady damage, while others strike hard but leave you exposed for a moment.

The world is structured in vertical and horizontal layers that connect through portals and passageways, yet the path forward is not strictly linear. Boss encounters feature large creatures formed from shifting shapes, and they require steady attention to how their limbs and bodies react during battle. If you rush forward without watching their form, you may get struck from an angle that was not obvious a second earlier.

6. Child of Light

A fairy tale adventure with turn-based battles

Developed by Ubisoft, Child of Light is a side-scrolling role-playing adventure that uses a turn-based battle system rather than real-time combat. You guide Aurora through hand-painted environments. She can walk at first and later gains the ability to fly freely. Flight changes how you travel, since you are no longer limited to the ground and can reach platforms placed high in the sky or hidden behind obstacles.

Enemies appear directly on the map, and touching them begins a battle on a shared timeline. Both allies and opponents move along this timeline toward their turn, and you can interrupt enemy actions if you strike at the right moment. Battles are based on planning instead of speed. You choose between basic attacks, spells, healing, or defensive actions while watching the timeline bar carefully. Outside of combat, you solve light environmental puzzles.

5. Rain World

Try to survive as a fragile creature in a harsh world

In Rain World, you guide a small creature called a slugcat who has been separated from its family after a heavy storm. Your main objective is survival. You search for food, avoid dangerous predators, and find safe shelters before heavy rain floods the land. The world does not guide you with clear instructions or markers. You must observe animal behavior, learn which creatures are aggressive, and understand which ones ignore you. Some animals hunt you on sight, while others fight among themselves. This creates a living ecosystem that continues whether you are nearby or not.

Hunger plays a major role. You need to eat enough small creatures or plants to hibernate safely. If you fail to do so, you cannot save your progress for that cycle. Furthermore, there are no flashy powers early on. Your main tools are agility, spears for defense, and awareness of your surroundings. Spears can be used to fend off predators or to create temporary climbing spots by sticking them into walls. Rain World stands out among the best PlayStation Plus Metroidvania games because it does not treat you like a hero. You are small and vulnerable, and that vulnerability shapes every encounter.

4. Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition

Leap between surfaces in a gravity-defying adventure

Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition presents a unique twist on the genre by removing traditional ground-based movement. You cannot walk left or right in a normal way. Instead, you leap from surface to surface. Floors, ceilings, and walls all serve as launch points. With one button press, Dandara jumps instantly to another white surface within range. This system changes how you think about space. Enemies can attack from any direction, so staying in one spot for too long can be dangerous. You must quickly choose your next landing point while avoiding projectiles and hazards.

Your main attack is an energy shot that can be fired at enemies attached to different surfaces. Rooms often lock during combat encounters, which means you must defeat all enemies before moving forward. Boss battles use the same surface-jumping mechanic but on a larger scale, with attacks coming from multiple angles. So, if you are looking for something different among the best PS Plus Metroidvania games, Dandara should be high on your checklist.

3. Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom

Switch forms to solve puzzles and fight monsters

Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom is colorful and welcoming, yet it offers surprising depth. You play as Jin, a young hero who can transform into different animal forms. Early in the adventure, you gain the ability to switch between these forms at will. One form can breathe fire, another can swim underwater, and another can break specific blocks. These abilities are essential for solving environmental puzzles and reaching hidden paths. As you unlock more transformations, earlier areas become more meaningful because new routes become accessible.

Combat plays an equally important role. Jin can equip swords, shields, and armor that improve his strength and defense. You collect gold from enemies and treasure chests, then spend it in shops to purchase better gear. Boss fights highlight the importance of using the correct form during battle. The game explains its systems clearly, so even new players can understand what to do. Beneath its cheerful art style lies a well-designed adventure filled with smart puzzles and satisfying combat encounters.

2. Dead Cells

One of the most popular Metroidvania games in the PlayStation Plus lineup

Dead Cells is an action-heavy entry that merges Metroidvania structure with rogue-like systems. The game sends you through a chain of interconnected areas filled with enemies, traps, and branching routes. When you defeat enemies, you collect cells that can be invested in permanent upgrades. If you are defeated, you return to the starting area, but certain upgrades remain unlocked for future attempts. This structure keeps the game fresh because level layouts, enemy placements, and item drops change frequently. Over time, you unlock permanent abilities, such as wall climbing, that open sealed paths.

Combat is quick and skill-based, with a wide range of weapons that suit different playstyles. You can carry two main weapons, such as swords, bows, or heavy hammers, along with skills like traps or grenades. Dodging at the right moment and reading enemy attack cues are vital for survival. Its replay value and constant sense of discovery make it one of the strongest action-driven Metroidvania titles in the PlayStation Plus lineup right now.

1. Hollow Knight

Explore a vast underground insect kingdom and battle fierce creatures

What could be a better title to close our best PlayStation Plus Metroidvania games list than Hollow Knight? This game represents everything people love about the genre. You guide a small silent warrior through a massive underground world, fighting dangerous enemies and powerful bosses. In this game, your main weapon is a nail-like blade used for close attacks, and later you also gain spells. Combat feels precise and fair. When you lose a fight, it usually happens because you made a mistake, not because the game was unfair.

Much like other titles in this genre, enemies attack in clear ways, and you must watch their actions carefully to avoid damage and strike at the right moment. However, boss battles are super intense and memorable, and often require multiple attempts before you finally defeat them. Platforming sections also play an important role and require accurate jumps across spikes and moving hazards. Steady improvement and learning from mistakes make Hollow Knight one of the most respected games in the genre.