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Silksong landing at Metacritic 90 raised the bar for everyone else, but the genre is broader than one release. These are the metroidvanias worth playing, including several doing things Hollow Knight does not.
The benchmark
Hollow Knight: Silksong — $19.99, Metacritic 90
You play Hornet rather than the Knight, and her moveset is faster and more aggressive, which changes the entire feel of combat. Team Cherry has confirmed new content is in active development and that their next original project will not be Hollow Knight 3.
Different takes on the formula
Volkolak: The Will of Gods — $11.19, 92%
A hand-animated soulsvania in dark Slavic fantasy built around werewolf transformation as a core mechanic rather than a cosmetic unlock. Multiple endings depending on what you become.
CICADAMATA
A metroidvania where the movement system itself is the puzzle rather than a means of reaching one.
Marble’s Marbles — $6.39
Not strictly a metroidvania, but a physics platformer built on the same appetite for movement mastery. Crumbling platforms, moving machines and wild contraptions.
Stray Dog: nobody cares
A dog carrying its dead master’s sword in its jaws through an invaded border fief. Precise parries, stealth kills, brutal bosses, and custom level support.
What actually makes a metroidvania good
It is not the map size. It is the moment an ability you were given for combat turns out to unlock a wall you walked past two hours ago.
That is why Volkolak transformation mechanic matters more than its art, and why Silksong changing the protagonist changed the whole game. The ability and the world have to be designed against each other, and games that bolt on abilities without redesigning the world feel hollow regardless of how large they are.
Recently added this week
Fatal Claw — $19.99, 90%
You play Kisha, a cat resurrected by his ancestors, exploring an arcane underworld. The progression hook: you absorb abilities from the infected enemies you defeat, tying combat directly to traversal.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best metroidvania right now?
Hollow Knight: Silksong holds a Metacritic score of 90 and is the current benchmark. Volkolak: The Will of Gods at 92% positive is the strongest recent indie alternative at $11.19.
Is Team Cherry making Hollow Knight 3?
No. The studio has confirmed new Silksong content is in active development, and stated its next original project will not be Hollow Knight 3.
