Sometimes I catch myself thinking about how Hollow Knight’s development story is still one of my favorites in the gaming industry. Not only because it was a Kickstarter project that barely reached its goal days before the campaign ended, but also because it serves as a brilliant reminder of how a simple idea can evolve into something truly significant.
That’s because Hollow Knight took a beloved, familiar genre and injected a fresh take into it, delivering a massive, interconnected world that cleverly shifts as you progress – not to mention its mysterious story with a quite original mythology and its amazingly quirky characters.
And I know I’m not alone in feeling this way, considering how the game became an immediate global hit when it first launched in 2017 and remains one of the best-selling indie titles of all time!
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Naturally, that also translated wonderfully into the gaming critic reception as the game holds an impressive 89 average score on OpenCritic, ranking as one of the highest-rated Metroidvania games ever.
However, it seems that a few other games in the genre have managed to climb even higher, believe it or not. There are not so many (since we are talking about a gaming benchmark here, of course), but the ones that did are equally incredible. So, shall we take a deeper look at them?
5
Ori and the Blind Forest
A Masterpiece of Tears and Precision
I think pretty much everyone can agree that Ori and the Blind Forest is just as beautiful and challenging as Hollow Knight – and some would say that it is even more challenging, mostly because trying to survive its platforming hell sequences while tears are coming out of your eyes is a genuinely elite-level task.
Jokes aside, Moon Studios’ debut title stunned players when it launched (including me), thanks to its carefully crafted gameplay, gorgeous visual aesthetics, emotionally simple (yet powerful) story, and, obviously, its unforgettable finale.
And do not even get me started on those brilliant chase sequences! By recalling all of that, it is hard not to say that Ori and the Blind Forest simply excels by putting all of its elements together in a way that very few games manage to pull off. I mean, it has everything you could expect from a Metroidvania: the drama, the adrenaline, the challenge, the panic, the joy – everything!
So it is no surprise that the game eventually broke out of the indie bubble, managing to steal the hearts of players of all ages. And that universal appeal is exactly why its critic score sits so high above the competition.
4
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger
Well, I guess we all saw this coming. If its predecessor opened the list, then Ori and the Will of the Wisps was destined to follow it, especially because it absolutely smashed by improving nearly every aspect of the original.
Sure, some players may feel that the first game’s charm came from its simplicity and the sequel goes for a more ambitious path, but it is impossible to deny how much smoother platforming feels here, or how deeply combat and progression were refined.
With enhanced mechanics, stronger exploration, stunning environments, a beautiful soundtrack, and even more fluid gameplay (if that were possible), the sequel wastes zero time in hypnotizing you from the moment you start playing.
And we all know that creating a follow-up to a beloved “instant classic” is one of the hardest feats in game development. Still, Will of the Wisps went there and simply delivered, which is why it is rated higher than Blind Forest (and even higher than Hollow Knight, we must not forget).
3
Hollow Knight: Silksong
SHAW
Speaking of sequels facing the impossible task of surpassing a masterpiece, it turns out Ori was not the only one! According to gaming critic reviews, Hollow Knight: Silksong managed to climb even higher than Team Cherry’s original game – and I follow that.
Even though it carries a lot of emotional DNA from Hollow Knight, Silksong feels like a pretty damn refined successor, especially when it comes to level design, pacing, and world flow. From the very first second, you feel that its story progression is smoother and more direct, meaning it manages to be even more addictive.
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Oh, and let’s not forget that the map itself is absurdly larger. For example, there are 82 rest benches here, which is almost double the number in the original title (which has 44).
Add all of that to the fact that Hornet is the playable character in this chapter with brand-new abilities (to love and hate, sure), plenty of challenging bosses are waiting for you in every corner, there are a bunch of quests with even stranger NPCs around, and that Shakra’s voice is simply amazing – and that’s it. You have another Metroidvania masterpiece.
2
Dead Cells: The Queen & the Sea
The DLC That Became Essential
Yes, I know that technically this is a DLC, and not a full game. But we are making an exception for this ranking for exactly two reasons: first, Hollow Knight’s score is already extremely high, so very few titles surpass it; and second, this is not just a simple expansion. For Dead Cells fans, it is THE one.
On top of the base game and its previous expansions, The Queen & the Sea adds quite a generous amount of brand-new content, including a huge variety of weapons, outfits, biomes, bosses, and even a pet – I mean, that alone is already completely worth it.
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And we must not forget how it finally wraps up some old loose story ends, adding further excellence to what was already an incredible swaggering role-playing beat-’em-up.
It is literally the game’s biggest chunk of DLC, a great conclusion to the expansion trilogy, and also an awesome way to cap off Dead Cells, so it naturally pleased the gaming critics and reserved a spot in the ranking.
1
Metroid Prime Remastered
A Timeless Benchmark Reborn
Well, Metroid is basically the culprit for the “metroid” part in Metroidvania, so it could only feel fair to crown the top spot in this ranking with the very best game in the franchise, right? I’m happy we all agree!
But yeah, the original Metroid Prime is a masterpiece at adapting the genre’s exploration, backtracking, and ability-gated progression into a first-person 3D space world. The result is a very immersive, atmospheric experience where every corridor hides a secret, and every upgrade genuinely changes how you approach the environment.
And its remastered edition – Metroid Prime Remastered – only elevates that brilliance. It keeps the soul of the 2002 classic fully intact while giving it a modern shine, smoother controls adapted perfectly to the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Cons, and a visual overhaul that makes the whole experience feel polished and timeless.
That way, it makes the game still feel surprisingly fresh, responsive, and ahead of its time, even after all these years. If you are a Metroidvania fan, this is not just a “must-play” – it is a must-have, must-experience, must-everything!
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