Summary
Metroidis one of the most influential series in gaming history, spawning an entire Metroidvania genre alongside theCastlevaniaseries. It’s fair to say most of the modern acclaimed Metroidvanias borrow more from the latter, as it allows more for adapting the combat in line with the popular Soulslike blueprint.
With that in mind, this list will be giving preference to games that feel more like aMetroidtitle specifically, omitting some more obviouslyCastlevania-inspiredreleases.Metroidhas received a lot of love on theNintendo Switchwith entries new and old. For fans looking for similar experiences who like their games even more portable, consider these best mobile games likeMetroid.
7Evolution 2: Shooting Games
Sci-Fi Horde Shooter
Evolution 2: Battle For UtopiaorEvolution 2: Shooting Gamesas it now appears on the app store, is a light gun-style action game with traditional mobile controls. Featuring basic movement to find cover and avoid fire and a trigger button to blast hordes of enemies.
The game borrows from across the Sci-Fi spectrum with recognizable elements from the likes ofGears of WarandHalo. For fans of theMetroid Primeseries, in particular, with a penchant forblasting waves of alien foesand towering bosses,Evolution 2: Shooting Gamesshould suffice.
6Ailment
Deepspace Mystery
Awaking on a ship adrift in space to discover the crew have all become hostile, the protagonist must fight his way to discover what exactly happened during his stasis. That’s the premise forAilment,which delivers the most compelling narrative on this list.
It’s a top-down shooter that sees players traversing the corridors of the dormant vessel. A great option for fans of the more eerie elements of the2DMetroidgames and the sense of discoverythat comes from exploration.
5Zombotron Re-Boot
Side-Scrolling Survival
Zombotron Re-Bootis a remaster of a classicAbode Flashtitle that sees players exploring the subterranean caverns of a hostile alien planet. It is a side-scrolling action platformer much like the traditional format of theMetroidseries.
Players will be attacked by corridors of shuffling zombies and hulking robots.Combat features a host of firearmswith a full 180 arc and a basic melee attack for close-quarter situations.
4HAAK
Dystopian Hookshots
HAAKis a momentum-basedMetroidvania with a fine balance between platforming and combatchallenges. The central mechanics of the game are based around a hook that has applications for both, which the player receives early on.
Success is as much about timing as anything, most notable in the featured chase sequences reminiscent of the iconic self-destruct sequences or dreaded EMMI ofMetroid Dread.
3Xenowerk
Top Down Alien Assault
Comfortably the oldest game on the list which says something for its staying power as most apps aren’t usually supported this long.Xenowerkis theclosest to aMetroid Primeexperienceplayers will probably find on mobile, with impressively realized environments.
It’s a claustrophobic top-down shooter that bears some resemblance to the classic John Carpenter thrillerThe Thing. Players must explore an underground lab, with little visibility beyond a flashlight, and beware of the plethora of alien creatures that lurk within.
Dandara: Trials of Fear Editionis strictly based on Brazilian folklore but a lot of the pixel art enemies are very reminiscent of those found in theMetroidseries,particularly the boss fights. Another Metroidvania but with an identity all its own and a unique traversal system.
Protagonist Dandara, launches from surface to surface, sticking anywhere there is salt on the ground. Without traditional movement players have to be nimble and precise to avoid damage, constantly moving and firing projectiles for combat.
Dead Cellsdoesn’t have as much shared DNA in terms of combat and setting as some of the other games on this list but it is far and away the most critically acclaimed so it’s hard not to give it top recommendation. LikeDandara, Dead Cellsis an impressive game with itsown identity that appeals to fans of many genres.
Dead Cellsmanages to blend Metroidvania-style exploration with procedurally generated levels as traversal abilities grant access to a myriad of hidden routes and lore. As a Roguelike first and foremost, the gameplay is challenging and demands the player learn from their mistakes with many, many deaths.
