The term "Metroidvania" refers to a whole sub-genre of 2D action-adventure platform video games involving non-linear exploration and gaining new abilities to access otherwise closed off areas. The name is a combination of the series names "Metroid" and "Castlevania", both of which popularized the genre. Metroid games have always been non-linear with progression made by accumulating new powers, while the Castlevania series started off as a straight platform adventure series. Drawing on the Metroid games and Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, Konami created Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for the PlayStation. Ever since, the Castlevania series has also been known for its non-linear gameplay as well as its trademark action RPG elements. There have been many other Metroidvania games, however; some are lesser known and some feature popular characters like Kirby and Spider-Man. For a more thorough argument as to the genre's qualifying factors, see the What Makes a Metroidvania? feature.

The following is a list of games that fit the Metroidvania criteria. If anyone out there knows of any more, feel free to e-mail me (SPK, your resident Metroidvaniac) at Dracyewla@aol.com.


Metroid

Game Name
System
Release Year
Metroid
NES
1986
Metroid II: Return of Samus
Game Boy
1991
Super Metroid
SNES
1994
Metroid Fusion
GBA
2002
Metroid: Zero Mission
GBA
2004
Metroid: Other M
Wii
2010

Castlevania

Game Name
System
Release Year
Vampire Killer
MSX
1986
Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest
NES
1988
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
PlayStation
1997
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
GBA
2001
Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance
GBA
2002
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
GBA
2003
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
DS
2005
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
DS
2006
Castlevania: Order of Shadows
Mobile
2007
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
DS
2008
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Mobile
2008
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
Mobile
2009
Castlevania: Harmony of Despair
XBLA
2010

Console

Game Name
System
Release Year
Montezuma's Revenge: Featuring Panama Joe
Atari 2600
1984
Brain Breaker
Sharp X1
1985
Citadel
BBC Micro/Acorn Electron
1985
Milon's Secret Castle
NES
1986
Super Pitfall
NES
1986
Knightmare II: The Maze of Galious
MSX
1987
The Goonies II
NES
1987
Zillion
Master System
1987
Legacy of the Wizard
NES
1987
Rambo
NES
1987
Faxanadu
NES
1987
Kid Icarus
NES
1987
Rygar
NES
1987
Euphory
Sharp X1
1987
Codename: Droid
BBC Micro
1987
Cosmo Police Galivan
NES
1988
Blaster Master
NES
1988
Exile
Acorn Electron, BBC Micro
1988
Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap
Master System
1989
Strider
NES
1989
The Battle of Mount Olympus
NES
1990
Toshi Tensou Keikaku: Eternal City
TG16
1991
Wonder Boy in Monster World
Genesis, Master System
1991
Ufouria: The Saga
NES
1991
Ys III: Wanderers from Ys
SNES
1991
Ghoul School
NES
1992
Wizards & Warriors III: Kuros - Visions of Power
NES
1992
G.I. Joe: The Atlantis Factor
NES
1992
Monster World IV
Genesis
1994
Adventure Island IV
NES
1994
Super Adventure Island II
SNES
1995
Kirby Super Star, "The Great Cave Offensive"
SNES
1996
Tomba!
PlayStation
1998
Super Smash Bros. Brawl, "The Great Maze"
Wii
2008
LostWinds
WiiWare
2008
Muramasa: The Demon Blade
Wii
2009
Shadow Complex
XBLA
2009
LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias
WiiWare
2009
La-Mulana
WiiWare
2009
Ophidian Wars: Opac's Journey
Xbox 360
2010
Robox
WiiWare
2010
Fluidity
Wii
2010
Outland
PSN/XBLA
2011
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet
Xbox 360
2011
Rochard
XBLA
2011
Fez
XBLA
2012
Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock
PS3
2012
Dust: An Elysian Tail
XBLA
2012
Axiom Verge
PC/XBLA
2013
Laika Believes
PC/XBLA
TBA
Grapple Buggy
XBLA
TBA
Fallen Frontier
PC
TBA

Handheld

Game Name
System
Release Year
Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters
Game Boy
1991
Dr. Franken
Game Boy
1992
Milon's Secret Castle
Game Boy
1993
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Radical Rescue
Game Boy
1993
Dr. Franken II
Game Boy
1997
Montezuma's Return
GB/GBC
1998
Blaster Master: Enemy Below
GBC
2000
Spider-Man
GBC
2000
Hunter X Hunter: Kindan no Hihou
GBC
2001
Mega Man Zero
GBA
2002
Shantae
GBC
2002
Samurai Jack: The Amulet of Time
GBA
2003
Gegege no Kitarou: Kiki Ippatsu! Youkai Rettou
GBA
2003
Kirby & the Amazing Mirror
GBA
2004
Fantastic Children
GBA
2005
Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Pumpkin King
GBA
2005
Mega Man ZX
DS
2006
Flushed Away
DS
2006
Wario: Master of Disguise
DS
2007
Mega Man ZX Advent
DS
2007
The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night
GBA
2007
Kung Fu Panda
-
2008
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows
DS
2008
Penguin no Mondai: Saikyou Penguin Densetsu!
DS
2008
Ore ga Omae o Mamoru or "I Will Protect You"
DS
2009
Penguin no Mondai: Tenkuu no 7 Senshi
DS
2009
I Dig It Expeditions
iPhone/iPod
2009
The Deep
iPhone/iPod
2009
Daniel X: The Ultimate Power
DS
2010
Dark Void Zero
DSiWare
2010
Alice in Wonderland
DS
2010
Grokion
iPhone
2010
Phoenix Spirit
iPhone
2010
Frogatto & Friends
iPhone/iPod
2010
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions
DS
2010
Shantae: Risky's Revenge
DSiWare
2010
Demon Hunter - Full Version
iPhone/iPod
2011
Monster Tale
DS
2011
Robot Wants Kitty
iPhone/iPad
2011
Elemental Rage
iPhone/iPod/iPad
2011
Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters
3DS/DS/Wii
2011
Glowfish: Full
iPhone/iPod
2011
Aliens: Infestation
DS
2011
Spider-Man: Edge of Time
DS
2011
Dark Incursion
iPhone/iPod
2011
Castle of Shadows
Android
2011
Mystery of the Japanese Werewolf
iPhone/iPod
2011
Mighty Switch Force!
eShop
2011
Avenger
Android
2011
Waking Mars
iPhone/iPod
2012
Swordigo
iPhone/iPod
2012
Bloody Vampire
eShop
2012
The Amazing Spider-Man
DS
2012
Hotel Transylvania
DS/3DS
2012

PC / Online

Game Name
System
Release Year
Zeliard
PC
1987
Vigilance on Talos V
PC
1997
Ikachan
PC
2000
Eternal Daughter
PC
2002
Akuji the Demon
PC
2002
MapleStory
PC
2003
Return of Egypt
PC
2003
Cave Story
PC, WiiWare
2004, 2009
La-Mulana
PC, WiiWare
2005, 2009
Ainevoltas
PC
2005
Albero and the Great Blue Emblem
PC
2005
Extra Mario Bros.
PC
2005
Sketchy
PC
2006
Within a Deep Forest
PC
2006
Lyle in Cube Sector
PC
2006
Bunny Must Die: Chelsea and the 7 Devils
PC
2006
LaTale
PC
2006
Painajainen
PC
2006
Hasslevania: The Quest for Shuteye
PC
2007
I Wanna Be the Guy
PC
2007
Knytt Stories
PC
2007
Manoria
PC
2007
Aquaria
PC/Mac
2007
The Underside
PC
2007
Final Vision
PC
2007
Space Barnacle
PC
2007
Art of Theft
PC
2007
Zeta's World
PC
2008
An Untitled Story
PC
2008
Iji
PC
2008
Ainevoltas II
PC
2008
The Power
PC
2008
Final Vision
PC
2008
Treasure Hunter Man
PC
2008
Legend of Princess
PC
2009
In 60 Seconds
PC
2009
Night n' Grail
Commodore 64
2009
Trine
PC
2009
Saira
PC
2009
Craz'd
PC
2009
Cat Planet
PC
2009
Jable's Adventure
PC
2009
Hero
PC
2010
Battle Kid: Fortress of Peril
PC
2010
Sanzu Fortress
PC
2010
Hero Core
PC
2010
Escape from the Underworld
PC
2010
Fate of Mankind
PC
2011
Singlehandedly
PC
2011
Tale of Maledict
PC
2011
Terraria
PC
2011
Hydra Castle Labyrinth
PC
2011
Project Black Sun
PC/Mac
2011
DLC Quest
PC/Mac/XBLA
2011
Treasure Adventure Game
PC
2011
Momodora II
PC
2011
Jottobots
PC
2011
Half Mech
PC
2011
You Have to Win the Game
PC
2012
Poacher
PC/Mac
2012
Kurovadis
PC
2012
A Valley Without Wind
PC/Mac
2012
Celestial Mechanica
PC
2012
Ex Vitro
PC
2012
Adventure Apes
PC
2012
Astronot
PC
2012
Mustache King Adventure
PC
2012
Mark of the Ninja
PC
2012
Subbania
PC
2012
Battle Kid 2: Mountain of Torment
PC
TBA
Guacamelee
PC
TBA
Legend of Iya
PC
TBA

Flash Games

Game Name
System
Release Year
Pieces
JayIsGames.com
2008
William & Sly
Newgrounds.com
2009
Level Up!
Newgrounds.com
2009
Babies Dream of Dead Worlds
Newgrounds.com
2010
Redder
Newgrounds.com
2010
Endeavor
Newgrounds.com
2010
Robot Wants Kitty
Newgrounds.com
2010
Robot Wants Puppy
Newgrounds.com
2010
Robot Wants Fishy
Newgrounds.com
2010
Robot Wants Ice Cream
Newgrounds.com
2010
Robot Wants Jay Is Games Banner
JayIsGames.com
2010
endeavor
JayIsGames.com
2010
K.O.L.M.
ArmorGames.com
2010
Insidia
Newgrounds.com
2010
Blue Knight
JayIsGames.com
2010
Amea
Newgrounds.com
2011
PRIOR
Kongregate.com
2011
Snailiad
Newgrounds.com
2011
Escape from Puppy Death Factory
AdultSwim.com
2011
Arzea
JayIsGames.com
2012
The Power
JayIsGames.com
2012
A Tale of Colours
Newgrounds.com
2012
ASCIIvania
Kongregate.com
2012
Kodachrome
Kongregate.com
2012
The Moonkeeper
Kongregate.com
2012

Overworld-Divided

Game Name
System
Release Year
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
NES
1988
Clash at Demonhead
NES
1990
Gargoyle's Quest
Game Boy
1990
Gargoyle's Quest II
NES
1992
Demon's Crest
SNES
1994
Popful Mail
SNES
1994
Phantom 2040
SNES, Genesis
1995
Tails Adventure
Game Gear
1995
Front Mission: Gun Hazard
SNES
1996
Wario Land 3
GBC
2000
Shaman King: Master of Spirits
GBA
2002
Shaman King: Master of Spirits 2
GBA
2005
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
DS
2008
Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why'd You Steal Our Garbage?!
DS/3DS
2012

3D Games

Game Name
System
Release Year
The Divide: Enemies Within
PlayStation/PC
1996
Super Mario 64
N64
1996
PowerSlave
Saturn/PC/PlayStation
1996-1997
Mega Man Legends
PlayStation
1997
Banjo-Kazooie
N64
1998
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
N64
1998
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
PlayStation/PC
1999
Donkey Kong 64
N64
1999
Mega Man Legends 2
PlayStation
2000
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
N64
2000
Banjo-Tooie
N64
2000
Conker's Bad Fur Day
N64
2001
Super Mario Sunshine
GameCube
2002
Metroid Prime
GameCube
2002
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
GameCube
2004
Super Mario 64 DS
DS
2004
Okami
PS2
2006
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Wii/GameCube
2006
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Wii
2007
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts
Xbox 360
2008
Batman: Arkham Asylum
PS3/Xbox 360/PC
2009
Darksiders
PS3/Xbox 360/PC
2010
Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom
PS3/Xbox 360
2010