Share This Article
What are the absolute best Metroidvanias on Nintendo Switch 1 and 2?
Believe it or not, the Nintendo Switch is home to the best Metroidvanias ever created, and I haven’t played them all, unfortunately.
So, here’s what I’ll be doing for this list, I’ll be separating them into two lists. One where I’ll rank every MetroidVania I’ve played and another with the ones I want to play in the future since the gaming community highly regards them.
With this said, let’s start with the latter:
4. Shantae Series
By now Shantae is Inticreates most recognizable and successful franchise, spanning multiple titles where you play a half-genie with magical dances that, when performed, will transform her into different creatures.
Although the only game I played years ago on my Nintendo 3DS, Pirate’s Curse, had a different approach. Shantae had lost her genie power and had to rely on her hair-like whip more often and unlock weapons by exploring the several levels, much like Seamus in Metroid.
Each Shantae game features a great story to follow, quirky characters, humor, and some mild fan service, which is the only reason why I haven’t played more of its games.
Although there are other Metroidvanias better regarded, Shantae is a series you should not miss out on, and if you have to play a game, from my experience I can only recommend starting with Pirate’s Curse.
3. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is probably the best Ubisoft single-player game released recently.
It’s the revival of a franchise thought dead, and I can’t believe they chose to bring it back in Metroidvania style, since its most popular games are all in 3D. Lost Crown resembles Metroid Dread with fast and fluid movement but with more tight platforming challenges for those that truly mastered its mechanics.
The game goes on sale pretty often on the Nintendo Switch, so if you’re still on the fence with this one, you might want to wait for that price drop. Although I always recommend going for the physical edition if possible.
2. Ori Series
If there’s a Metroidvania that can match Hollow Knight’s stunning art style, it’s Ori.
Both Ori titles are visually stunning with great fluid movement, which allows for tight platforming even when combined with their combat mechanics.
The story is more in your face, and it will leave you with a tear or two. I speak from experience since I did manage to play a chunk of the first title before my Game Pass subscription came to an end.
Exploring the world of Ori is an experience I can’t get out of my head, and I’m still trying to find the right opportunity to continue my playthrough and dive into the second title.
Both games are on sale pretty often, so definitely be on the lookout for them!
1. Hollow Knight + Silksong
Hollow Knight needs no introduction by this point. The sequel, Silksong, was one of the most anticipated games of the decade and managed to break multiple online shops on release, and for a reason.
In Hollow Knight, you’ll explore the beautiful, hand-crafted underground Kingdom of Hallownest and its interconnected zones. There you’ll face tough enemies and rage-inducing bosses while trying to uncover the game’s hidden lore.
Silksong replaces the previous protagonist with Hornet, who by now is the face of the franchise for me, since for the last seven years it was impossible to escape it whenever a Nintendo Direct was announced.
I was surprised it wasn’t the best-rated Metroidvania on this list, though. The difficulty curve might be a bit steep for the average gamer, and the number one title might be a safer pick.
Personal List
Now that we’ve got these outstanding Metroidvanias out of the way, let’s get more personal, starting with OwlBoy:
5. OwlBoy
OwlBoy is a 2D art MetroidVania, just as I like them. You play as Otus, a young, mute owl with a lack of confidence. You’ll journey with him through the floating islands while finding new companions, exploring this beautifully crafted world, and stopping the destruction of your home.
Unfortunately, Owlboy comes in last on my Best Metroidvanias List. I remember being super excited for it and was even more ecstatic when I finally got my hands on a physical copy. It’s not a bad game by any means, but it left me disappointed.
Part of this disappointment is my fault, though. I remember watching a bit of the trailer, being completely sold on the first few seconds, and immediately closing the video.
In those few seconds I decided I would be purchasing the game, and I would want to play it as blind as possible.
But when I sat down to play it, the gameplay never grew on me, unfortunately. I was not a fan of the twin-stick shooter style while flying around with Otus, it felt uncomfortable, and I struggled to aim properly…
Storywise, I loved it. Seeing Otus become more confident as the story reached its climax with the help of his new friends was heartwarming. Although I felt the ending was a bit rushed. I wished we’d have one more hour of gameplay to explore the lore dump we got near the end.
In summary, if you like twin-stick shooter Metroidvanias with amazing visuals and a great story, then Owlboy is just for you.
4. Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap
Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap is a 2D platformer and a remake of Wonder Boy III, released all the way back in 1989. You control a cursed knight that will gradually gain the ability to transform into different animals and gain access to specific areas of the game.
For example, Mouseman is tiny enough to fit in small spaces and climb certain platforms. Fishman is the only transformation capable of swimming through water, and with Eagleman you can access high places or even skip sections filled with enemies.
I think I’ve mentioned this before in my best 2D platformers, but this was one of the few games I bought in early 2018 during spring, and I remember being hooked for days.
After replaying it, I can still confirm that it’s a great title; however, as a Metroidvania, it barely made the cut. Simply for the fact that this game is a faithful remake, meaning some mechanics and level design will feel a bit outdated, despite its beautiful graphics.
It’s so faithful, in fact, that you can switch between the original and the remake version with the press of a single button!
Still, it’s definitely a game I would recommend to anyone looking to get into the Metroidvania genre.
3. SteamWorld Dig 1 and 2
In SteamWorld Dig 1, you play as Rusty, a robot that inherited a mine from his uncle in the town of Tumbleton. Without much knowledge of the mine, he keeps digging and uncovering weird tech that he will gladly use to power up and keep digging deeper.
In SteamWorld Dig 2, Rusty has gone missing, and it’s Dorothy’s job to find him while also trying to uncover the reason behind these mysterious earthquakes that are threatening the planet. Just like Rusty, as she explores, more power-ups will be available, allowing her to access new areas of the underground you couldn’t access before.
Both are a must for any Nintendo Switch owner in my opinion, and you don’t have to be a MetroidVania fan to enjoy it. Actually, when I first played them, I didn’t even realize they were Metroidvanias, since all I was doing most of the time was digging and collecting rare ores.
Believe me when I say that this mechanic is super addictive, and it’s easily the best part of the game.
But digging in these games is not just a fun and very addictive mechanic, and it’s also your main way of progressing through the story and unraveling all the secrets it offers.
Both are fantastic Metroidvanias with great platforming in the mix, especially in the second game. Some challenges the game offers will definitely leave you sweating a bit, like the one involving the use of the jetpack!
Although the second game is the better of the two, I still prefer the first one due to the smaller scope of the game and the nostalgia associated with playing it for the first time on my Nintendo 3DS.
It goes on sale pretty often for as low as $1.99, so you don’t have an excuse to not play this wonderful game!
2. Megaman Zero/ZX Collection
I absolutely love Megaman Zero and played through the GBA game multiple times. Then I played them some more when the Megaman Zero/ZX collection dropped on the Nintendo Switch.
But the sequels on the Nintendo DS always eluded me. I could never find a copy available at my local stores at the time, and Nintendo DS emulation wasn’t perfect back then either, so I never got to experience them.
Luckily, they were also included in the Switch collection, and I was more than thrilled to finally play them.
And as I was playing them, a realization came. These were Metroidvanias! How come I never noticed these? I always thought that these would follow the same boss-level structure expected from Megaman games.
Honestly, this is a refreshing take on the series, and I would love to see a new Megaman Zero game in this style.
I also feel they are more narrative-driven and have more interaction with other characters in general when comparing them to the previous titles.
Megaman ZX is set in a distant future where humans and Reploids coexist. However, Maverick attacks are still frequent, and the world clearly needs someone to stop them. That’s when you come in.
You play as Vent or Aile, who, by fate or sheer luck, acquired a BioMetal of X. Now, with this newfound power, they can finally put an end to the Mavericks and Serpert Corporation from taking over the world.
In Megaman ZX Advent, the goal is practically the same, just like any other Mega Man game, actually…
But this one tries to expand everything done in the previous title. The world has a more refined exploration. It features more voice acting, it has more bio-metals to acquire, and also the ability to transform into defeated bosses. Which is cool, but a bit unnecessary, honestly.
But doing so will allow you to also unlock different areas that you couldn’t previously.
The controls are tight and responsive, making dashing through the vast areas of the game a breeze. However, these two games have one of the most annoying map systems in any Metroidvania. Most of the time I don’t even know where I should go, and I have to check the map constantly.
Still, this is the only issue I have with these titles, and they are certainly a major step up not just for the Megaman Zero franchise but also for Mega Man games in general.
Now, if only Capcom would revive this franchise, that would be great…
I’ve played a lot of Shantae games, and my favorite one continues to be Shantae: Risky’s Revenge. I played it all the way back in 2015 on my Nintendo 3DS, and having replayed it on Switch, it still holds up as one of the best Metroidvanias.
1. Metroid Series
If you own a Nintendo Switch and want to play Metroidvania, you need to play Metroid. Without it, the term MetroidVania would not even exist.
The Metroid series doesn’t have a single bad game. Even the original game on the NES is fun today, even if there are better options as an entry point to the series.
If you haven’t played a single Metroid game before, I urge you to play the games on Switch Online first, starting with Metroid Zero Mission, then Super Metroid, and finally Metroid Fusion.
Metroid 2 can be skipped, although it’s integral to the lore. It’s the weakest of all the titles, in my opinion, due to how difficult it is to navigate through this game without a map. Even more than Metroid on NES, since every locale looks almost the same.
If you would rather not play the original, you should play it after Zero Mission, since it continues its story.
Following this path will finally get you to the best MetroidVania I’ve personally played on the Nintendo Switch, Metroid Dread.
Metroid Dread
This time around, Samus is tasked with traveling to planet ZDR, where traces of the deadly X parasite were found. Before the Federation Force decided to dispatch 7 robots, the E.M.M.I., to dispose of the parasite, but during their mission they have gone missing.
It’s now in Samus’s hands to find what happened to the E.M.M.I. while also eradicating the X parasite for good.
In terms of pure atmosphere and looks, my favorite game in the series is still Super Metroid, but objectively, gameplay-wise, Dread is a major step up.
Samus controls better than ever. She’s fast, slick, and has all the power-ups you know and love from previous games that will help her traverse this dreadful world with style.
From the Grappling Hook, the Morph Ball, the Speed Booster, and my all-time favorite, the Screw Attack. Which is so much easier to perform when compared to the older titles. (If you’ve played Metroid 2, you’ll know).
With each power-up found, the game will open up more, allowing you to explore new areas you couldn’t before with brand-new enemies to take on.
The parry mechanic is also back from the Return of Samus game on the Nintendo 3DS, and I know it’s a bit divisive. Personally, I like it mainly because I love the satisfaction of hitting a successful parry. Doing so will also get you more drops from enemies, which is a great incentive to use it frequently.
Boss fights are also a highlight for me; they are fun, cinematic, and challenging. And the last boss left raging more than Mother Brain did on the original Metroid.
But what makes this game truly dreadful are the E.M.M.I. encounters, where they definitely took inspiration from Metroid Fusion’s SA-X encounters.
Each time you encounter one, you are completely vulnerable, and your only option is to escape with your heart pounding and your hands shaking until you can finally find a way to shoot them down.
The effect does start to wear off, but aiming those freaking shots never stopped being stressful!
I truly feel Metroid Dread is the culmination of 2D Metroid and I have no idea where they can go from here.
Actually, I do. Bring Metroid: Returns of Samus to the Switch and then give us some remakes, please! It’s great we’re getting Metroid Prime 4 soon, but Metroid shines best in 2D in my opinion.
The Best Metroidvanias on Nintendo Switch?
There you have it; these are the best Metroidvanias on Nintendo Switch, based on my super opinion. If you have any other suggestions, please let me know!
Thanks for reading, and if everything goes well, I’ll be seeing you next time with brand-new content!
