Metroidvania is a beloved subgenre of action-adventure video games renowned for its non-linear exploration, interconnected maps, and ability-gated progression....
Metroidvania games are action-adventure titles characterized by non-linear exploration, interconnected maps, and progression gated by acquiring new abilities, which allow players to revisit areas and unlock new paths.
Classic examples include 'Super Metroid' and 'Castlevania: Symphony of the Night'. Modern acclaimed titles include 'Hollow Knight', 'Ori and the Blind Forest', and 'Blasphemous'.
The name is a portmanteau of 'Metroid' and 'Castlevania', the two seminal game series that established and popularized the genre's signature blend of exploration, combat, and ability-gated progression.
Players often enjoy the deep sense of discovery, rewarding exploration, intricate level design, the satisfaction of mastering movement and combat, and the emergent feeling of growing stronger within an expanding world.