10 Best Metroidvania Games on Steam (January 2026)

Looking for the best Metroidvania Steam games in 2026? Steam has a huge collection of games, and Metroidvania titles bring some of the most fun experiences out there. These games mix action, exploration, and puzzle-solving in a way that keeps you playing for hours. With so many great choices, we’ve picked out a list of the ten best Metroidvania games you can enjoy right now. Each one offers something special, and all of them are packed with exciting moments and smart gameplay.

What Defines the Best Metroidvania Games?

When picking the best Metroidvania games, I care about a few simple things. Exploration has to feel natural. I want to get lost, but in a good way. The game should make me want to look around, not just rush forward. Movement matters too. If it feels boring to jump or climb, I lose interest fast. Combat should be responsive and fun, even if it’s simple. I also look at how upgrades affect the game. The best ones change how you move or fight in ways that feel worth it.

List of 10 Best Metroidvania Games on Steam

These games have the right mix of smart combat, fun movement, and exploration that keeps you hooked.

10. Rain World

Survive as a small creature hunted by larger predators

Starting off, we have Rain World, a game that drops you into a living ecosystem where instinct decides fate. You step into the fragile life of a slugcat searching for shelter and food while surrounded by predators shaped by nature’s own law. The world never stops moving; creatures interact along their own paths. Some hunt, others hide. Nothing stays predictable for long, so observation becomes survival. The scarcity of food and sudden rainfall push every decision to the edge.

Instead of leading you by hand, it allows discovery through trial and adaptation. Each region contains creatures with distinct behaviors that must be studied and understood before acting. Beyond that, the subtle design helps you sense when to move, hide, or rest. It’s less about power and more about awareness. Rain World stands out among Steam Metroidvania games for its unique approach to survival and exploration.

9. Carrion

A reverse horror where the monster takes charge

Carrion shifts the entire Metroidvania idea by giving power to the creature itself. You no longer run from danger – you become it, spreading across a complex facility where fear is turned upside down. The main goal is to find paths that connect different areas while breaking through obstacles that block the way. You move from one containment area to another, searching for exits while dealing with guards and security systems that stand in your way. With every section conquered, the creature grows more capable, unlocking new ways to access places that were once sealed.

Further ahead, the action grows heavier as tougher threats appear. Instead of straightforward combat, the game pushes you to plan how to corner your prey. Across multiple levels, your growth grants access to new abilities that reshape how situations unfold. Ultimately, Carrion thrives on this inversion of control, where power replaces fear and curiosity leads the way through a facility that keeps transforming with every move you make.

8. Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition

Discover a new way to move through a surreal world

In Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition, movement breaks every traditional rule. The character launches from one surface to another through a gravity-flipping mechanic that feels instantly unique. You aim your direction and propel yourself toward safe ground, chaining jumps with instinctive precision. The freedom of control feels unlike any other Metroidvania-style experience on Steam. Combat merges seamlessly with this motion, allowing you to dodge projectiles and strike enemies while clinging to walls or ceilings.

The balance between fluid motion and accuracy gives the game a style that seems effortless once mastered. You soon begin to read enemy patterns, predicting their movement and countering with well-timed shots. Also, the environment itself challenges your sense of direction in subtle ways. So, you start to trust momentum and instinct more than sight. Overall, it delivers an experience that is both disciplined and free in equal measure.

7. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Explore mystical lands and master the flow of combat

This is a great game for anyone who has followed the Prince of Persia series for years. The name has always stood for acrobatic action, quick decision-making, and elegant combat sequences. Over the decades, the series has evolved from 2D pixel classics to modern fast-paced experiences. The Lost Crown continues that tradition with a focus on precision and smooth flow during battles. It combines swordplay, defense, and reactive techniques to make every encounter engaging. You take on the role of Sargon, a warrior known for his agility and strength, sent on a mission across a dangerous land.

The combat defines the core experience. You switch between short- and long-range weapons smoothly, chaining strikes to create impactful sequences. The core loop revolves around chaining attacks, parrying blows, and using enemy patterns to your advantage. Here, smaller enemies serve to warm you up before you face stronger warriors and magical beasts. Altogether, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown offers a smooth action-platforming experience that makes it one of the best Metroidvania Steam games worth mastering.

6. Ori and the Will of the Wisps

A breathtaking journey through a living forest world

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a remarkable platformer that blends exploration, combat, and gradual growth into a seamless experience. It is designed for a single player, presenting a journey where progress relies on discovering new abilities and adapting to diverse challenges. The world shifts naturally between calm spaces and intense areas filled with motion and interaction. Throughout the adventure, Ori faces varied opponents, environmental puzzles, and obstacles that enhance progression without overwhelming complexity.

Players can approach each section with strategy, using learned abilities to reach new areas. Skill growth is consistent and rewarding. Abilities develop steadily, allowing access to new paths and ways to manage encounters. Light and spirit powers provide options for offense and defense. Additionally, progress encourages revisiting areas with improved capabilities to engage in previously unreachable zones.

5. ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist

Wield abilities of fallen allies to face deadly enemies

Continuing on our best Metroidvania Steam games list, we have ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist. The game opens in a land poisoned by strange fumes where humans and artificial beings once thrived together. From the very first moments, it sets a heavy tone through its quiet pace and strong visual flow. It blends action and emotion through precise combat and a deep upgrade system. The main character relies on companions known as Homunculi, who grant new combat skills and mobility techniques as you progress.

Moreover, the art direction merges delicate hand-drawn visuals with atmospheric sound to create a striking rhythm that enhances every moment of gameplay. As you continue, combat becomes the game’s heartbeat. Lilac’s companions act as extensions of her abilities. Every Homunculus lets you experiment with different playstyles. The pace here balances challenge and progression and gives a sense of growth after each encounter.

4. Rogue Legacy 2

Battle through shifting castles while guiding a line of heroes

If the idea of stepping into a new hero’s shoes each time sounds interesting, you’ll love how Rogue Legacy 2 handles it. It throws you straight into a world where every hero is a descendant of the last. When one journey ends, the next hero continues the bloodline. The twist is that every new hero has unique traits that affect how they fight and explore. One might be stronger but slower, while another may perceive the world differently. This constant cycle keeps you wondering what kind of hero you’ll play next.

The structure combines old-school platforming with light RPG elements, where gold collected during a run is used to upgrade your castle, unlocking new classes, weapons, and abilities. The gameplay blends precise jumps, sword swings, and quick dodges into a smooth rhythm. Every death teaches something new, helping you prepare better for your next heir. Moreover, the map constantly reshapes itself, so players never repeat the same route twice.

3. Öoo

Blast your way forward as a bomb-bodied caterpillar

Öoo greets players with a strange but adorable world that runs on explosions. Its entire logic rests on one central mechanic — bombs. You play as a small caterpillar made of bomb-like body parts, and your progress depends on how you use them. Every path hides a puzzle, and every small leap forward depends on how you handle your explosive body. Through short bursts of exploration, you gradually start linking zones and finding new directions.

Later, the game introduces layered bomb mechanics that reshape how obstacles are approached. Instead of jumping with basic explosions, you begin experimenting with blast angles to climb or cross distant platforms. Furthermore, timing your placement before a blast becomes essential for reaching tougher sections. Overall, Öoo transforms its minimal concept into something constantly engaging through consistent discovery and playful experimentation.

2. Dead Cells

One of the best Metroidvania games of all time

Dead Cells is one of the most popular Metroidvania games on Steam, recognized for its fast-paced action and deep replayability. It throws players straight into action without wasting a moment. The game places them in a constantly shifting labyrinth filled with enemies that react instantly to movement and attacks. Players can experiment with a wide range of weapons, from blades and bows to traps and magical tools.

Every run offers something new, as the layout changes to create unpredictable encounters. Players earn cells by defeating enemies and invest them in upgrades that permanently enhance their abilities. Movement remains fluid throughout, with dodges, jumps, and melee strikes combining into a steady rhythm of attack and survival.

1. Hollow Knight: Silksong

Guide Hornet through battles across a vast insect kingdom

The first Hollow Knight earned deep respect from players across the world. It built its name through precise combat, interconnected worlds, and a distinctive hand-drawn style that made every zone memorable. It became a symbol of what independent studios could achieve – depth, balance, and immersion without compromise. For years, fans of the genre have kept it high on their playlists. That legacy shaped expectations for its successor, setting the stage for something grander and even more intricate in scope.

Silksong carries that legacy forward with unmatched energy and scale. Players step into the role of Hornet, battling across vast regions that blend elegance with danger. More than two hundred foes and dozens of bosses promise a wide range of challenges. By 2026, it has become the most popular Metroidvania Steam game, praised for its depth and design excellence. It delivers a complete expression of challenge and discovery that few others can match.