10 Best Metroidvanias You Need to Play This Summer

It's a fact that I'm not a sun-loving gamer. I just can't deal with high temperatures and swampy humidity, and much prefer the winter weather. But having said that, Summer is all about enjoying new places and wandering through sunny, tropical climes. And even though I won't be hunting through mysterious ruins in real life, it's quite another story in one of my favorite genres, the noble Metroidvania!

There are a surprising number of Metroidvanias that feature at least one super sunny area to explore, and I've gathered several of them for you here. Even if the entire game isn't sunny, the seasons are temporary, so you can't expect only one in any video game. These are generally free-spirited, fun-loving adventures, the perfect ones to represent the joy of Summer break.

As for the games included in this list, there's a pretty wide variety. There's some that take place on tropical islands, others full of pirates and genies, and some that even dive deep into Ancient Egypt. No matter the theme, though, these are all great games with some summer-themed areas to explore. And for simplicity, they're arranged according to relative score and how thoroughly they embrace the sunny season.

10 Blasphemous

Burning Sunlight

I know what you're thinking — Blasphemous isn't usually a game we associate with fun in the sun. Hell, it's not even a game that's all that pleasant, leaning more into moody and dark themes. But even in a Metroidvania like this, there's at least one sunny area. It's just the sort of sunny area where you'll die of thirst instead of getting a sexy tan. That area is called Mountains of the Endless Dusk.

Besides collapsing platforms, this area is full of brutal foes that love to snipe you and surround the Penitent One. That includes some hideous monsters with bull heads, and others which are reanimated torture victims. And once you think you're free, they throw a challenging boss battle your way.

While it might not be somewhere I want to visit in real life, it's a thrilling and engaging level to fight your way through. Another example of how diverse and unexpected Blasphemous proved to be.

9 Indivisible

The Golden Gaze of Sumeru

Anyone who's played it knows that Indivisible is visually stunning. The hand-drawn artwork never disappoints, and there are many beautiful locales to explore. But one of the most gorgeous is Sumeru, which is loosely based on Mount Meru from Hindu, Jain and Buddhist mythologies.

It's a glittering golden palace, the perfect sort of place to unwind. Or it would be, except every area in Indivisible is full of foes ready to wallop you. But that's okay, since Ajna lives for battle, and can even find some great new comrades in Sumeru. That includes a very good, very fluffy boy named Lanshi, and a fierce avian rider named Kushi.

If nothing else, I appreciate that Sumeru is the sort of place you can experience the sun secondhand via the glittering golden structure. Just be ready, since surviving its beauty will require some fierce fisticuffs.

8 Pharaoh Rebirth+

Bunny in the Desert

While the sun is something we associate with summer, another thing that complements the season is exploring new places. And nothing says exploration quite like a bunny named Dr. Banfield, who has a penchant for ancient mysteries that would make Indiana Jones smile. Best of all, it all comes together in a quirky PC Metroidvania called Pharaoh Rebirth+.

It's all about an ancient curse, mysterious ruins and tons of insane and quirky friends and foes. It's almost like if La-Mulana was mixed with Symphony of the Night, in a strange way. Best of all, you attack foes with your floppy ears as well as weapons like grenades.

Pharaoh Rebirth+ is honestly a fun and unique Metroidvania, and my only real regret is that it never got a full-fledged console port years later. But still, those who prefer PC games should really enjoy this sunny adventure.

7 Guacamelee! 2

Lucha Libre

You know what else does a great job of mixing adventure and exploration in one package? Guacamelee! 2 does it with style, thanks to the supernatural antics of Juan Aguacate. Not only is he a luchador without equal, but he fights his way through amazing ruins full of dangerous and strange monsters.

While this is very much a Metroidvania, it's also very much a fighting game, in a way. Juan learns a bunch of powerful wrestling moves over the course of the game, both to explore new areas, but also to tangle with throngs of foes. And when all else fails, he can even transform into a chicken!

Guacamelee! 2 feels like a love letter to Spanish culture, and shows how eclectic and nuanced it is. It's also just a spectacularly fun, sometimes revolutionary adventure from the talented folks at DrinkBox Studios. If you haven't already played it, I'd add it to your wishlists.

6 Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom

A Gorgeous Revival

As a Nintendo player, I didn't experience classics like Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap. But lucky me, it got a sort of modern revival in a game called Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom. A charming, visually delightful Metroidvania where you play a hero named Jin who can shapeshift into many distinct, monstrous forms.

Summer is all about enjoying the beach, and Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom treats fans to this phenomenon in an early boss battle against a giant octopus. Which is more stressful than beach combing, but not by much.

While this is a very visually stunning and memorable title, in some ways it feels more like a traditional platformer than a pure Metroidvania. On the plus side, it's pretty easygoing, and doesn't penalize you for dying. Which is good, since some of the bosses in this adventure will take some effort to finally defeat them.

5 Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Sizzling Sands

One series I've always associated with the sun and sand is The Prince of Persia. And in The Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, they embrace the sun in many of the regions of Mount Qaf that Sargon will be exploring. Sure, there are lots of death traps and mystical menaces, but at least you don't have to face it in total darkness, right?

It's a good thing that the game is so beautiful, since it's also full of terrifying, reanimated foes and diabolical monsters. And thanks to the Souls-like style of the combat, Sargon will be dying a lot as he makes his way through the enchanted mountain.

Honestly, The Lost Crown is one of the best modern takes on a classic series I've played in quite some time. If you're more inclined to rogue-like adventures, I'd also highly recommend The Rogue Prince of Persia.

4 Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Pass the Snorkel

Humans are funny. We crave the sun, and then get overwhelmed by it in quick order. Which usually means we have to find a way to tolerate the molten rays by doing things like jumping into the pool. Or in the case of Ori and the Will of the Wisps, jumping into the beautiful and dangerous Luma Pools.

You might think an area so full of gorgeous blues and coral would be smooth sailing, but you'd be sadly wrong. This is a challenging Metroidvania, and navigating underwater sections is no cakewalk. Especially when Ori meets an old friend who's become enchanted by a foul magic.

If nothing else, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is an emotional and challenging Metroidvania. So even though swimming around might not be easiest, it's worthwhile and a welcome break from the heartbreak right around the corner.

3 Shantae and the Pirate's Curse

Pirate Vacation

Summer vacation is all about putting yourself someplace new and exciting. And for Shantae, there's nothing more exciting than becoming stripped of her genie magic, and having to find a new way to save the day in Shantae and the Pirate's Curse. Which might sound like a bummer, but it's a tremendous amount of fun, and the best of the entire series.

Even though the game takes place in Sequin Land, you'll be seeing a new side of it as you discover magical pirate artifacts. They give Shantae a new way to play, but eventually also lead to the resurrection of a dangerous, mystical threat. Another great thing about the game is it gives a lot more context to familiar faces, such as Risky Boots and Rottytops.

That would be enough, but Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is also a very fun Metroidvania where the backtracking isn't a chore, and one that I've personally experienced several times. The only thing better would be if WayForward finally finds a way to outdo this engaging adventure.

2 The Messenger

Time for a Beach Off!

For this next entry, I'm taking a bit of a liberty and discussing one of the game's optional DLC instead of the mainline adventure. Only because Picnic Panic is the perfect summer section for The Messenger. It's only accessible after beating the final boss and interacting with the scrying orb in the shop.

Once you arrive in the new reality, you'll find a lot of fun in the sun, including sailing the seas, fighting fierce foes and rescuing kidnapped Phobekins. Sure, an alternate reality can't harm yours, but that doesn't mean you won't enjoy this quirky DLC adventure.

It's a reasonably sized DLC adventure, with a handful of levels to explore, though it's also a bit more of a pure platformer than a full Metroidvania. Still, if you loved the original game, this is the perfect summer encapsulation of it.

1 Yoku's Island Express

Tropical Postmaster

If you don't live in the tropics, then just the idea of a tropical adventure screams summer. And one game that fully embraces that vibe is Yoku's Island Express. A quirky, charming and original Metroidvania that mixes the traditional elements with pinball. Which really shouldn't work, but it does marvelously.

So much of the game is full of lush forests, blazing sun and sizzling sands, that you can't escape the season in this game. And it all comes together in a truly engaging Metroidvania the likes of which I've never seen before or since. It also features some really memorable and utterly strange boss battles, complete with intricate arenas.

One of my favorite things about Metroidvanias is exploring the unknown. And even though it's a pinball game, Yoku's Island Express is a near perfect tropical world you'll adore getting immersed in.