Best Metroidvanias For Players Tired of Open World Bloat

I'm about to offer an opinion that some may see as blasphemy — I don't mind if a Metroidvania is linear. Every single example of the genre toes the line between open-world and linear. And while it can be exhilarating to get lost in a strange alien environment, I also don't particularly like my time being wasted.

As such, I came up with a list of Metroidvanias for our fellow players tired of open-world bloat. In short, these are short, sweet, and typically quite linear adventures where you'll get lost very rarely. And while I can hear some of you already scoffing, there are a lot of amazing adventures featured on this list.

This includes alternate history adventures, pinball hybrids, tales of sweet little robots, and soldiers fighting for their lives against ancient Egyptian horrors. So get comfortable, grab a cup of something tasty, and let's talk about these great examples of the Metroidvania genre!

10 Carrion

Be the Monster

Carrion is a unique game for a couple of different reasons. For one, it's the first Metroidvania I can remember that mixes deep horror influences like you'd see from an old sci-fi movie. For another, in this horror adventure, you play the monster instead of the human fighting against it. Which was just novel enough to grab my attention and force me to play.

Despite those unique facets, Carrion is essentially a traditional Metroidvania. Meaning you'll get stronger the longer you play, using powerful mutations to gain a whole assortment of terrifying new abilities. Better yet, the game lets you find nearby points of interest with a sort of radar that makes it so you don't even need a mini map.

As a result, this is a short and sweet Metroidvania adventure. Sure, you might get lost a couple of times (I sure did), but it also doesn't get held back by bloated areas that you'll get utterly lost in. While I suspect a mini-map would help even more, this is still a thrilling and unique take on the genre.

9 Teslagrad Remastered

Magnetic Resonance

I first played Teslagrad on my Wii U, long before it got totally overhauled as Teslagrad Remastered on modern consoles. And even then, I was captivated by this alternate history world full of strange science and dystopian themes. Rain Games did a remarkable job on it, creating a Metroidvania that was full of deep puzzle-solving and terrible monstrosities.

The game has you use electricity and magnetism in increasingly complex ways to scale Tesla Tower and defeat all the bosses in your path. Despite that, Teslagrad Remastered isn't a game where you'll be fighting much, which is good since a single hit will instantly kill you. Instead, the game is full of gorgeous artwork, visual storytelling, and remarkable indie style.

My only real issue with the game is that it might be a little too easy to die, which can be frustrating as you're exploring. Thankfully, I never felt truly lost in the game, and only got stuck in particularly tricky puzzle sections.

8 Shantae and the Seven Sirens

Ret 2 Go!

You might suspect that the only Shantae game I love is Shantae and the Pirate's Curse, given how much I talk about that adventure. And while it's true that's my favorite in the series, I also have a lot of affection for Shantae and the Seven Sirens. It basically takes a similar approach to Pirate's Curse, but immerses it in gorgeous, hand-drawn HD artwork that's to die for.

In fact, the artwork style is the only good thing to come from Half-Genie Hero, so I'm glad it made the transition to Seven Sirens. The game itself is a very streamlined Metroidvania, and one you can beat in just a few short hours. It's also a bit of a throwback in that it's all about using powerful genie transformations to get around and fight against the titular baddies. Though I'll note the Monster Cards were an interesting, if flawed, new mechanic.

While perhaps not as thrilling a Metroidvania as my favorite game in the series, Shantae and the Seven Sirens is still an excellent Metroidvania adventure that's easy to jump into and beat, even when you don't have a lot of free time. Now I'll just hope the next unannounced game in the series takes the best elements from this game and brings them to the future.

7 Yoku's Island Express

Bouncing Ball of Joy

I'm still not sure how a hybrid of pinball and Metroidvania worked. All I can attest is that it absolutely does in Yoku's Island Express, and the game itself is a charming and quirky little adventure. In a weird way, the game reminds me stylistically of Sheepo, in that it's a very non-traditional take on this genre I so adore.

Yoku might not be the hero we expected, but this little postal bug certainly proves his mettle. Best of all, the game is not only colorful and fun, but it's remarkably streamlined. Primarily, that's because you're rolling and bouncing around what's essentially a gigantic pinball machine, so getting truly lost takes a lot of effort.

While getting used to the mechanics can take some time, you'll still find yourself captivated by this tropical adventure. I know I certainly did!

6 Islets

Cobble Together a Fragmented World

If you're not already familiar with Kyle Thompson, you need to fix that. He's a talented solo developer who already has three games under his belt, and more on the way. Put simply, he's put out some of the most enjoyable and quirky Metroidvanias I've played in the past decade or so, including one called Islets.

Islets has you playing Iko, a wannabe hero whom nobody has much faith in. All he has is a rickety airship and a sword, but that's all it takes to become a legend. With that limited start, he'll fight fierce beasts, learn the truth of the shattered islands, and eventually bring them back together.

While the island reconnection feature can be tricky, since it has you cobble together mini-maps in novel ways, I never felt really lost in this game. Better yet, the upgrades that tweak and enhance your combat abilities made things even more streamlined and enjoyable. It's truly a compelling indie adventure.

5 Momodora: Moonlit Farewell

Fond Farewell

I'd like to say I've played all the Momodora games, but the truth is the only ones I'm familiar with are Reverie Under the Moonlight and Moonlit Farewell. What helps differentiate those from other Metroidvanias is the anime visual style and the dedicated focus on brutal combat encounters.

Momodora: Moonlit Farewell is a game full of stunning artwork and atmospheric music design. This is an idyllic world on the verge of destruction, and only Momo can save it. In her path are monsters and an army of fierce demons, and other surprises. I never got lost playing the game, but I did find roadblocks in the challenging bosses.

Thankfully, Moonlit Farewell also features a handy Sigil system, where you can customize how Momo fights and make the game a bit easier as a result. While I'm a bit sad that this is the last game in the series, at least Momodora goes out with a bang in this stellar adventure.

4 Haiku, the Robot

A Corrupted World

Haiku, the Robot is the only game on this list that I had a hand in crowdfunding. The reason I felt compelled to do so was that I loved this mix of dystopian world and charming, retro visual style. And while the wait for any crowdfunded project can be onerous, Haiku was definitely worth the long wait.

Much like Momodora: Moonlit Farewell, this is a game full of stunning visuals that wouldn't be out of place in a Game Boy adventure. But it's also a wholly modern Metroidvania experience. My favorite part of it is using chips to upgrade my little robot, alongside new upgrades used for traversal.

There was only one area of the game in which I got momentarily stuck, but it was smooth sailing from there. Best of all, those who want something to do after they roll credits can enjoy two free DLC episodes.

3 Touhou Luna Nights

Ladybug's Legacy

We're nearing the end of this list of Metroidvanias, and that means the next few games are the most streamlined and enjoyable on the list. And though I'm not very familiar with many other Touhou games, Touhou Luna Nights was a remarkably addictive adventure.

It combined lush artwork with intense, often brutal combat and platforming. It even brought the graze system from previous Touhou games to the forefront, though it thankfully combined that with the Time Stop ability. You'll need all the help you can get to survive in this brutal, albeit short, Metroidvania. Especially the insane boss battles.

Honestly, I have yet to play a game developed by Team Ladybug that hasn't been worth my time. Touhou Luna Nights is a masterful indie adventure, and it's also one you'll be able to beat in a single afternoon.

2 Gato Roboto

Domo Arigato

I first played Gato Roboto at PAX West. I kept getting drawn to the demo station by the unique black and white aesthetic and bombastic music. And when I actually played the game, I discovered one of my favorite Metroidvanias of all time. Sure, it's a quick burn, but it's also a game I've been happy to play more than once.

Gato Roboto is an unusual tale of a mech suit, a damaged pilot, and a little kitty. It looks bleak at first, until the kitty scampers over to the mech suit and starts piloting it. Which honestly shouldn't surprise anyone, since cats are incredibly smart, sneaky little critters. What follows is a charming adventure full of humor and strange encounters.

The game is split between sections where you pilot the suit and have to climb out and crawl around as the cat. That might not sound like much, but I found that Gato Robot was incredibly well-balanced and a ton of fun. My only real complaint is that I wanted to spend even more time in this doinksoft adventure, and I also wouldn't mind if the game had a touch of color. But that aside, this is a must-play Metroidvania.

1 The Mummy Demastered

Ahmanet's Fury

Some of you might be surprised to see The Mummy Demastered take the gold. But for those of you who've actually played the game, you'll understand. This list is all about games without open-world bloat, and The Mummy Demastered is a remarkably streamlined Metroidvania that also happens to be gorgeous and captivating.

WayForward has made some great Metroidvanias over the years, and this one reminds me slightly of an oldie named Aliens Infestation. That was also a very short and sweet adventure where horrifying monsters were everywhere. And The Mummy Demastered is a roller coaster ride against supernatural hordes.

Honestly, The Mummy Demastered was even better than the movie it was based on. It's a wonderful example of linearity done right, backed up by the usual stellar design work WayForward is known for. Do I wish it were longer? Sure. But I'd rather have a short and sweet adventure than a bloated and boring one any day.