What is a Metroidvania?

A metroidvania is subgenre of video games characterized by an emphasis on skill-gated exploration, character progression, and oftentimes platforming puzzles. It is most commonly applied to 2D sidescrollilng games, though some have expanded their understanding of the genre to include games that have managed to capture the mysterious spirit of the original metroidvanias.

While the exact definition of the term is still debated, we have decided to include any games that fit what we consdier to be the spirit of the Metroidvania. For this reason, we have opted to include titles such as those in the Dark Souls franchise and other non-2D games that capture the essence of the metroidvania.

About this site

MetroidvaniaDB is a wiki-style database for metroidvania video games. We allow and encourage users to submit their own game listings as well as edit existing ones.

List of Properties

• Physical Release

• Multiple Difficulties

• Has DLC

• Endless mode

• Boss Rush Mode

• Equipment System

• Custom Controls

• In-Game Map

• Local Multiplayer

• Online Multiplayer

• Online Leaderboards

• Speedrun Options

List of Tags

• ability absorption

• aerial combat

• bestiary

• bright visuals

• challenging

• claustrophobic

• collectibles

• corpse runs

• crafting

• dark

• dash

• dimension shifting

• double jump

• environmental puzzles

• environmental storytelling

• fantasy

• grappling hook

• grindy

• gritty

• hidden areas

• hand-drawn art

• horror

• igavania

• interconnected world

• melancholy

• minimalist narrative

• multiple playable characters

• mysterious

• permadeath

• physics-based

• pixel art

• platformer

• post-apocalyptic

• resource management

• rocket jump

• roguelike elements

• sci-fi

• sequence breaking

• shape-shifting

• shooter

• silent protagonist

• skill tree

• souls-like

• survival

• teleport mechanics

• time travel mechanics

• varied biomes

• wall jump