Best Metroidvanias That You Need to Play This Winter

Let me just be honest — I'm not a fan of the heat. I much prefer cold and wet weather, generally speaking. But when the weather is as unpredictable as it's become in recent years, you never really know what sort of temperatures you're going to get. And when it's frigid outside, and you can't leave the comfort of your home, games are a true blessing.

For me personally, the one comfort genre that I keep returning to is Metroidvanias. I like the symmetry of their design, where you explore, fight, get upgraded, continue exploring, and fighting. Sure, it's a little predictable, but that's hardly the same as bad. And this particular batch of Metroidvanias is perfect for the cool weather. As for how they're ranked, for simplicity, it's based on their relative review reception.

Each of them features at least one frigid, snowy area to survive, and all of them are creative and provide a solid challenge. They range from dystopian nightmares to Gothic adventures, mournful tales of woe, and even time-travelling epics. So grab a blanket, get comfortable on the couch, and let's talk about some Metroidvanias that you need to play this Winter (and beyond)!

10 Ebenezer and the Invisible World

Bah Humbug!

I first demoed Ebenezer and the Invisible World while attending PAX West one year, and was captivated by the weird mix of a classic tale and Metroidvania mechanics. This Ebenezer is less broken than the one we're all accustomed to, and more than a bit more spry with a cane. Best of all, he befriends a gaggle of ghosts to help save the day in this unexpected adventure.

While it's true Ebenezer and the Invisible World didn't live up to all my high expectations, featuring some issues with overall balance and challenging puzzles, it's still a game that's set in a world beset by snowy weather. The main area you start in is downright chilly, and while the difficulty heats up, the weather in the game rarely does.

Though I applaud the game for its creativity and the novelty of the story, it's ultimately just a peculiar little Metroidvania that happens to have a lot of ice and frost. Still, there's plenty more where that came from!

9 Cathedral

Knight and Spirit

There aren't all that many modern Metroidvanias that accurately depict an NES style, but Cathedral did a great job of it. In fact, the game's overall aesthetic is probably its strongest aspect, featuring a wide range of weird and dangerous monsters and spirits.

Cathedral also spans a lot of different areas, but one that sticks with me is full of snow-laden trees and treacherous traps, which makes an already quite difficult Metroidvania even harder, and almost made me entirely give up on the game.

Thankfully, if you're persistent and can get past the early game jitters, Cathedral is an expansive and worthy little Metroidvania. Just don't expect it to hold your hand, because it will slap it away before pushing you off a cliff.

8 The Last Faith

God Help Me

The Last Faith is a game that wears its challenge on its sleeve. It fully embraces the Souls-like style, and it can be more than a little brutal. It's also distinguished on this list as being the only game with multiple frosty areas, ranging from the Frozen Caverns to Ruined Outpost and even Orden's Shrine.

Put simply, this is a game that is perhaps more concerned with looking cool than being well-balanced. So if you're not ready for a Metroidvania that is going to punish you, you might want to look elsewhere.

Still, the main thing this list is concerned with is snowy areas. And as we've already established, The Last Faith has that in spades.

7 Blast Brigade vs. the Evil Legion of Dr. Cread

80s Sci-Fi Mayhem

Admittedly, snowy weather isn't the first thing I think about when talking about Blast Brigade. I think about the cartoons I grew up with in the 80s, as well as sci-fi comic book mayhem. But once you set that aside, this is a very fun game that does include one frigid area.

What's best about Blast Brigade is that it features a cast of zany characters you can swap between as the need arises. Each has a different solution to both combat and unique platforming abilities. Meaning that even though most Metroidvanias are single-player quests, this one benefits from having a team.

If there is one thing my childhood taught me, it's that you want some cartoons when you're snowed in. Which makes Blast Brigade an excellent choice for Winter adventures.

6 Blasphemous

Repentance is Nigh

I'll admit it took me a while to finally play Blasphemous. Not because I wasn't entranced by the visuals and darkly morbid story. No, it was because I don't play a lot of Souls-likes, and it was clear to me that The Game Kitchen was embracing that level of difficulty.

But once I finally decided to buckle up and give the game a chance, I found one of my favorite recent Metroidvanias. And Blasphemous features a darkly stunning world of horrors. One very noteworthy section is fancifully referred to as Where Olive Trees Wither, and it's a true Winter deathtrap.

The very wind itself is a constant threat, and the foes there are brutal, fierce, and full of pain. Which might not be fun in real life, but in a Metroidvania, it's pretty memorable, and damned addictive.

5 Dust: An Elysian Tail

Animal Heroes and Villains

Dust: An Elysian Tail is a notable addition to this list because of both the anthropomorphic animal characters and the lush hand-painted style. And as for the chilly parts of this game, most of that comes from the Blackmoor Mountains.

Until you manage to put together the blueprint for the Snow Suit, this area of the game can be a challenge. Which isn't to say the rest is easy, but as most gamers know, areas where you slip and slide can be a nightmare.

Still, those willing to persevere will find a beautiful Metroidvania world in Dust: An Elysian Tail. Here's hoping we eventually get a sequel that's so long been speculated about.

4 Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights

Lily's Quest

Even though the gamer in me much prefers the combat of Ender Magnolia, Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights had a more gripping and emotional story. Lily's journey across a ravaged and twisted land is a heartbreaking one, and one where death is constantly waiting for her to slip up.

Much like Blasphemous and The Last Faith, this is not an easy Metroidvania at all. But it rewards players with stunning storytelling, gorgeous yet macabre visuals, and a soundtrack that will immerse you emotionally in this world. And one of the hardest areas to get past is the frigid Hinterlands.

Honestly, there is no part of Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights that I'd call easy. But having said that, the fight against Hoenir, Keeper Of The Abyss is a gnarly one. Especially since he constantly has an entourage of Executioners to distract you. Make sure you go into battle with the right group of spirits, otherwise Lily won't make it home from this frosty hellscape.

3 The Messenger

Climb the Peak

The Messenger is a game in two parts, split between the past and present. And the area called Glacial Peak serves not only as a test of your understanding and abilities, but it also serves as a gateway between the first and second parts of the adventure.

I absolutely love Glacial Peak, even though it hurt me repeatedly. Falling here means death, and you'll have to keep climbing and climbing to deliver your scroll. There are all sorts of nasty monsters and ghosts that will try to trip you up, too.

All I can say is enjoy the ride. Because while I still love The Messenger overall, I strongly feel that the NES sections of the game are far superior to the SNES ones. Still, either way, this is a gorgeous and brutal winter section.

2 Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow

It Begins in The Lost Village

Between the two Sorrow entries in the Castlevania series, I prefer Dawn of Sorrow. Not only is it more visually stunning than Aria of Sorrow, but the plot is a bit more interesting and nuanced. So even though I don't necessarily love the forced touch-screen implementation, overall, it's a very solid adventure.

This particular adventure starts in a place called The Lost Village. It's frigid, full of rope ladders and snow drifts. Since it's the first part of the game, it's not all that difficult, but it'll still wallop you if you're not careful. After all, even though Soma Cruz is a powerful warrior, he gets stronger by defeating foes. Meaning the start of the game is when he's at his weakest.

While I'd love to populate these lists with even more Castlevania adventures, I feel this particular game features some of the more noteworthy winter areas. Just like our last entry below!

1 Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Sad Old Bear

There are very few Metroidvanias out there that will manipulate your emotions as much as Ori and the Will of the Wisps. And for this particular game, one incredibly emotional and challenging section is a frosty level called Baur's Reach.

The titular Baur is a god-like bear who's more than a bit down on his luck, sort of like if Winnie-the-Pooh had the personality of Eeyore. And getting Baur to move out of your way will take a lot of effort. You'll be lighting lanterns, avoiding deadly icicle spears, and eventually running like hell from a monster named Shriek.

There's really no part of the Ori games that goes easy on you, so you can't expect the winter area to be easy breezy in Ori and the Will of the Wisps. But still, even longtime gamers will find a challenge in this frosty gauntlet.