10 Best Metroidvania Games on iOS & Android (October 2026)

Looking for the best Metroidvania mobile games in 2026? Mobile gaming keeps getting better, and Metroidvania games are a big part of that. These games are all about exploring big maps, unlocking new paths, and finding cool upgrades that help you reach hidden areas. With awesome action, smart level design, and exciting progression, they offer some of the most rewarding experiences you can get on a phone. To help you find the most fun Metroidvania titles out there, we’ve put together a list of the best ones you can play on iPhone and Android right now.

What Defines the Best Metroidvania Mobile Games?

On mobile, the best Metroidvania games are the ones that mix smooth controls, smart level design, and a real sense of discovery. Exploration feels rewarding when every new ability unlocks fresh paths and secret areas. Combat matters too! It should be responsive and feel great with touch controls. Good visuals and sound help a lot, but it’s the gameplay loop that keeps things exciting. A strong map layout, upgrades that actually change how you play, and enemies that get more interesting as you go — all these things make a big difference.

List of 10 Best Metroidvania Games on iOS & Android

Here are the most exciting, well-made, and enjoyable Metroidvania games you can play on your phone.

10. Teslagrad

Solve electromagnetic puzzles inside a mysterious tower

Teslagrad is, at its core, a love letter to Nikola Tesla’s legacy, wrapped up in a hand-drawn 2D platformer. You play as a young boy in a fictional kingdom, where a tyrant has been hunting down a group of technological wizards known as Teslamancers. The boy ends up fleeing into a massive abandoned tower in the middle of the city, and from there, most of the adventure unfolds in and around this sprawling structure. No dialogue, no text-based cutscenes, no tutorials explaining everything. The story plays out entirely through visual cues, background imagery, and environmental details, which is quite refreshing for a puzzle-platformer.

Now, the tower itself is the main character here, if I’m being honest with you. You’ll wander through rooms filled with electromagnetic puzzles, where understanding polarity, positive and negative charges attracting or repelling each other, is how you get through obstacles. Power gloves let you change the polarity of certain objects, and as you gain more electromagnetic abilities, you’ll be flinging yourself through gaps, sticking to magnetic surfaces, and bouncing through rooms using attraction and repulsion. Boss fights scattered across the tower are old-school in design and require precise timing and pattern reading rather than brute force. Teslagrad won’t blow you away with spectacle, but the puzzles are legitimately clever.

9. HAAK

Swing through a ruined world with an electric grappling hook

HAAK is about a wanderer named Haak, traveling south through a destroyed civilization to find his lost brother. The world itself is post-disaster, with ruined cities and mutated creatures everywhere, all rendered in this retro pixel-art style that blends cyberpunk neon with desolate wastelands. It’s fully hand-drawn, which gives the whole thing a comic book feel you can spot from a mile away. The tone is darker than most games on this list, and the narrative branches depending on your choices, with several possible endings attached to the decisions you make along the way.

You’ve got a grappling hook, a dash, and a charged slash, and combining them mid-air feels slick once you get the rhythm down. The map opens up in classic Metroidvania fashion, with locked-off areas you can return to after picking up new abilities. But HAAK also folds in light story choices that change the fates of characters you meet. Some later sections can demand serious mechanical precision. For a mobile title, HAAK punches well above its class, and it’s the sort of game you’ll want a controller for if you have one.

8. Swordigo

Classic sword-and-magic platforming with RPG character upgrades

Swordigo goes back to the basics of what made classic action-adventure games addictive, and it does so with a simplicity that’s hard to complain about. Your master has been defeated by dark forces, and you’re the apprentice who has to find a weapon strong enough to push them back. The whole thing is rendered in colorful 2.5D, with 3D graphics wrapped around traditional side-scrolling gameplay. You move between villages, caves, dungeons, and forests, each with hidden treasure chests and alternate paths. Plus, touch controls were designed for mobile from the ground up, and the customizable button layout means you can adjust it until it feels right for your grip.

Speaking of how it plays, Swordigo blends platforming with light RPG mechanics in a way that doesn’t overwhelm you. Defeating enemies earns experience, and with each level-up you choose to boost your health, attack power, or magic. You’ll pick up new swords in hidden dungeons, learn spells for combat and exploration, and buy potions from village shops using soul shards dropped by enemies. The boss encounters throughout the adventure require a bit of pattern recognition, and the difficulty curve is gentle enough that casual players can enjoy it while experienced ones still find challenge in the optional paths. Swordigo is among the best Metroidvania mobile games you can download for free on Android, and a solid entry point if you’re new to the genre entirely.

7. Elderand

Gothic pixel-art mercenary quest through a Lovecraft-drenched world

Elderand draws heavily from the old Castlevania games on Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS, which you’ll notice the moment you swing your first sword. The creators have been open about calling it a love letter to Castlevania, and it really shows in every frame of animation. You’re a warrior chasing glory and treasure in a world full of grotesque, Lovecraft-inspired creatures, and the combat demands patience because enemies can punish you heavily if you get careless. So there’s a careful pace to how you approach fights, almost like a dance where you study attack patterns before committing. And the pixel art here has a gothic quality to it, with hand-drawn environments and smooth character animations that make even the smaller encounters look visually satisfying.

However, the controls are a bit cramped, which is something multiple reviewers have pointed out too. Playing on a Bluetooth controller is definitely the way to go if you have one. Otherwise, combat still works, just expect a learning curve while your thumbs adjust. Still, where Elderand shines is the weapon variety, because switching between a whip, a dagger, or an axe actually changes how you approach each fight, and experimenting to find your preferred loadout is half the enjoyment. Alongside all the fighting, you can also upgrade your gear through crafting with materials you collect along the way, which feeds into a satisfying loop of explore, fight, upgrade, repeat. Elderand ticks every box for a solid Metroidvania on your phone.

6. Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition

Gravity-flipping exploration inspired by a Brazilian anti-slavery warrior

Dandara has one of the most interesting origin stories in this entire list. The character is inspired by Dandara dos Palmares, a figure from 17th-century Brazilian history who fought against colonial slavery alongside her husband. So, the Brazilian studio behind the game pulled from her legacy of resistance and freedom to build the narrative, and the world itself is filled with references to Brazilian culture, street art, and landmarks. You play as Dandara in a surreal, oppressed realm called Salt, and your mission is to bring balance back to a world that has lost it. The visual approach is abstract and colorful, with pixel art that looks entirely unlike any other Metroidvania out there.

And then there’s the movement. Dandara completely ditches walking and running. You aim at white surfaces on walls, floors, and ceilings, and launch yourself toward them. There’s no traditional walking along the ground or standard left-right movement. Your sense of orientation can change with every jump. You swipe to aim and release to launch, and once the muscle memory clicks, navigating these twisted rooms becomes second nature. Combat works through the same directional aiming, with projectile attacks you fire while clinging to surfaces. Among the best Android Metroidvania games in 2026, Dandara is the most original by a wide margin.

5. Carrion

Be the creature, crawl through vents, consume everyone

Carrion is, in the simplest terms, a monster movie where you’re the monster. Horror games have always been about surviving something terrifying, right? Well, Carrion reverses all of that. You’re a tentacled, shapeless creature trapped inside a research facility, and your goal is to break out by consuming the humans in your way. The creature itself was partly inspired by John Carpenter’s The Thing, which, if you’ve seen the movie, tells you everything about how grotesque and wild it looks on screen. It slithers across walls, squeezes through tiny gaps, and devours people in seconds. On mobile, how it moves is surprisingly fluid too, almost like controlling a living liquid that reacts to your touch.

Because Carrion follows a metroidvania layout, you can’t access every part of the facility right away. Certain paths open up as the creature acquires new abilities and shifts between different biomass forms, so there’s a reason to revisit older areas. However, it’s also a shorter experience compared to other picks on the list, which I’d say works in its favor because it doesn’t drag or repeat itself. Plus, the mobile version lets you try it for free before committing to the full purchase, no ads, no virtual currency nonsense. For the best Metroidvania mobile games in 2026, Carrion is easily the most unique pick.

4. Blasphemous

Brutal pixel-art combat rooted in Spanish Catholic guilt and folklore

Blasphemous is steeped in religious imagery and penitence. The entire world of Cvstodia exists under a curse called The Miracle, and you play as The Penitent One, a silent warrior wielding a sword called the Mea Culpa. The name itself translates to “my fault,” which reveals a lot about the game’s themes before you even swing it once. The Penitent One wears a tall, cone-shaped helmet, carries the weight of an entire fallen brotherhood, and marches forward through crumbling cathedrals and blood-soaked corridors without a single word. It’s dark. Brutally so. And the pixel art renders every grotesque detail with a hand-crafted quality you rarely see on mobile.

Combat here is deliberate, requiring tight parries, well-timed dodges, and a lot of patience. Rushing through enemies will get you killed almost immediately. You can unlock Prayers along the way, upgrade the Mea Culpa, and collect relics scattered throughout the world. The mobile version is the complete package too, with all three DLCs bundled in and dedicated touch controls that can be customized. You can also connect a Bluetooth controller, which I’d recommend for the tougher boss encounters.

3. Super Mombo Quest

Bounce off enemies in massive combo chains across connected worlds

Super Mombo Quest caught me off guard, and I think it’ll catch you off guard too. On the surface, this looks like a colorful, cutesy platformer with bright pixel art and a goofy purple creature who has an absurdly oversized tongue. But behind that cheerful exterior is a metroidvania built on tight platforming and arcade-style combo chaining, where you’re bouncing off enemies in sequence to rack up massive combos across hundreds of interconnected areas. The world of Subrosa is under threat from something called the King of Nightmares, and your character is apparently the prophesied hero who can stop it. Silly premise? Yes, absolutely. But the gameplay is anything but silly.

See, the core loop revolves around entering a room full of enemies and then defeating them before your combo timer runs out. Simple enough at first, when there are only a few enemies on screen. But then the variety ramps up, with some enemies chasing you, some of them shooting projectiles, and others flying around. And you’re expected to chain them all together, wall-jumping and bouncing your way through each encounter at ridiculous speed. Additionally, there are NPCs to chat with, items to buy, upgrades to grab, and secrets tucked into corners of the map.

2. Dead Cells

One of the most popular metroidvania games on iOS and Android

Dead Cells famously calls its blend of roguelike and metroidvania design a Roguevania. In simple terms, the character you control is an amorphous creature possessing a headless corpse on a mysterious island. Once you die, the layouts get reshuffled, while weapons, items, and enemy placements vary from run to run. So every run through the castle is different from the last one, which is precisely why it’s so hard to put down. Granted, losing all your gear on death can sting at first. However, some of your unlocks carry over between runs, like access to new weapons and permanent abilities that open alternative routes. And because of how the map rearranges itself, you end up discovering paths and enemy combinations you’ve never encountered before, even after dozens of attempts.

Speaking of weapons, Dead Cells has well over 90 of them, from swords and bows to whips, plus skills like traps and grenades, with plenty of options that handle completely differently. Pairing a heavy blade alongside a deployable turret creates a totally different run compared to going in with two fast melee weapons. Plus, the mobile version lets you customize your virtual button layout, resize them, and reposition them wherever you’re comfortable. When you strip everything back, Dead Cells is all about learning enemy patterns, adapting to whatever weapons you’re handed, and pushing a little further each time.

1. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Persian mythology meets time-bending metroidvania with incredible style

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is the number one pick here, and I’m confident about it. The Prince of Persia franchise has been around since 1989, but The Lost Crown does something the series hasn’t done in a very long time. It goes full metroidvania. You play as Sargon, the youngest member of an elite warrior group known as The Immortals. His mission is simple at first: rescue a kidnapped prince from a mountain called Mount Qaf. But once Sargon arrives, he realizes the whole place is under a time curse where past and future overlap in strange ways.

Sargon can dash through the air, warp back to a previous position, store objects for later, and chain all of these together in combat and traversal. The boss fights, in particular, demand precision and creativity with these abilities. Parries feel razor-sharp, and the combo potential between regular attacks and time abilities is massive. On mobile, the port runs at 60 FPS on recent devices and includes auto-parry and slow-time options. The game also won the Innovation in Accessibility Award, which is worth mentioning because accessible design often gets overlooked in this genre.

FAQs

Do I need a Bluetooth controller to play these Metroidvanias on my phone?

You don’t, and every game on this list can be played with touchscreen controls alone. However, titles like Blasphemous and Dead Cells involve quick parries and dodge timing, so a controller can make those moments far less frustrating. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and Carrion both handle touch input well on their own, and Swordigo was designed for mobile from the ground up, so it’s comfortable without external hardware.

Which of these games should I try first if I’ve never played a Metroidvania before?

I’d go with Swordigo or Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Swordigo eases you into the genre with a gradual pace and clear direction, so you’re never lost or overwhelmed. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a bigger game, yet it has built-in accessibility features like auto-parry and time-slow that soften the difficulty curve for newcomers. And the screenshot-to-map feature helps you keep track of where to go next, which is half the battle in this genre.

Are any of these available for free through Netflix Games?

Yes. Dead Cells: Netflix Edition is available at no extra cost for Netflix subscribers on both iOS and Android. Plus, the Netflix version includes all DLC packs bundled in, so you’re getting the complete experience. If you already have a Netflix subscription, this is an easy way to jump in without spending anything additional.

Can I play these games without an internet connection?

All of the games on this list can be played offline. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown was specifically marketed as a fully offline experience, and Blasphemous, Carrion, Swordigo, and the rest don’t require a connection either. So whether you’re on a flight or somewhere with spotty service, you’re covered.

How much do these mobile Metroidvanias typically cost?

Pricing varies, yet most fall well under what you’d pay on console. Blasphemous is around $7.99, Carrion offers a free demo before you buy the full version, and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has a free trial as well with the full unlock at around $9.99. Swordigo and Super Mombo Quest are either free with optional purchases or priced under $5. Dead Cells is available as a standalone purchase or free through Netflix.

Which game on this list is the hardest Metroidvania in 2026?

Blasphemous and Dead Cells are probably the toughest here. Blasphemous leans heavily into the Souls-like side of Metroidvanias, meaning enemies hit hard and boss patterns require patience and memorization. Dead Cells adds permadeath on top of that, so a failed run sends you right back to the start. Still, both games are fair in how they challenge you, and the satisfaction of clearing a tough section makes it all worthwhile.

Which of these games offer the most content and playtime?

Dead Cells leads in replayability because every run generates a different layout, and the DLC packs add new areas, weapons, and enemies on top of the base game. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown clocks in at around 20 hours for the main path, with more if you hunt down secrets. Blasphemous with all its DLC included is also a hefty experience. On the shorter side, Carrion can be finished in a few hours, yet it’s dense and well-paced for that length.

Is Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition very different from traditional Metroidvanias?

Completely. Dandara doesn’t use conventional left-right movement at all. You leap between surfaces in all directions, including walls and ceilings, so the entire map plays out differently from anything else on this list. It can feel disorienting at first, yet once the mechanics click, the exploration opens up in a way that’s unique to this game alone.