PPG Game Of The Year 2024 - 17 - "Search Action" Get In The Bin, It's A METROIDVANIA
I'll let you in on a little secret: I actually don't care what you personally call the genre. For me however, I think the term "metroidvania" is a great descriptor - not because it explains what you actually do in the game, but specifically because it encompasses more than a single word usually could. There’s a history of a specific type of design present here; it holds a legacy in two beloved franchises that began with games that are still great to play today; it holds a certain vibe, that once you learn it, you inherently understand the types of games it is referencing, whether you have knowledge of the progenitors or not. To disregard the moniker, regardless of how unhelpful it might be to an outside observer, is to lose confidence in the very thing that makes games engaging in the first place. Someone who hasn’t been scared doesn’t understand horror; someone who hasn’t experienced a metroidvania might need further explanation. It's OK for a medium to hold its own lexicon.
Momodora: Moonlit Farewell
Cute Short Metroidvania
The closing out of a much beloved metroidvania series with top notch pixel art and animation, pulled together with tight, responsive, challenging gameplay.
Ultros
Psychedelic Metaphorical World
A "strange" game that clearly has strong emphasis on bodies, health, life and death. Add to this some obtuse mechanics made for deliberately frictional discovery and you have a diamond in the rough.
Rebel Transmute
Retro SNES Feels
Pulling very specifically from Super Metroid, this one leans into the more retro feels in many ways. Has a worthwhile story to follow along as you explore and power up.
ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist (EA)
The Cycle of Destruction & Rebirth
The follow up to one of the best metroidvanias in recent years that's hitting all the right notes. Melancholy, sorrow and despair drench this game in a vibe you'll either love or bounce totally off of.
Frogmonster
First Person Frogs
A rare first person metroidvania with a focus around frogs, swamps and bugs mixed with a voxel style aesthetic. Oh, and you have a gun.
BIOMORPH
Morph Into The Enemy
The twist with this one is that you become the enemies you kill. Use their unique abilities to navigate the world and uncover the secrets of a lost civilization.
Arcane Assembly
Visual Language Spell Creation
Use a Scratch-esque visual building block programming language to build out your arsenal of spells as you make you way around this world gathering power and slaying bosses.
Venture to the Vile
Strange 2.5D World, Power Absorption
A cool take on the idea of gaining power, which comes from enemy bosses Megaman style, which also has an affect on who your character becomes as a result.
Noreya: The Gold Project
High Octane Pixel Action
Dark fantasy setting with some very crisp pixel animation and good readability. Good puzzle platforming alongside some slick combat.
Gestalt: Steam & Cinder
2D Sidescrolling Platform & Combat
An action adventure game with a twist filled narrative in a steampunk world with some great pixel art and character portraits.
Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus
2.5D Japanese Folklore
Gorgeous graphical style mixed with Japanese folklore inspired mystery, a perfect flow and nail biting boss fights. Hollow Knight and Ori are obvious pulls, but this stands on its own.
Frontier Hunter: Erza’s Wheel of Fortune
Sidescrolling Anime RPG Progression
A nice looking 2D sidescroller that has multiple characters with different skill sets to switch between, with a hefty amount of game to keep you occupied.
MARS 2120
Stunning 2.5D Mars Colony
Pulls heavily on Super Metroid, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Guacamelee! with some punchy cinematics and large scale boss fights.
DEVIATOR (EA)
Deflection Based Combat
2D sidescrolling metroidvania with deflection of attacks being your primary way to face off against enemies. Plenty to explore even in EA.
Iron Diamond
Exploration Focused
Despite a somewhat incongruous art style, there's some really fun non-linear exploration to be had with some cool power ups to be found here.
Marko: Beyond Brave
Hand Drawn Bulgarian Solo Dev
Very pretty 2D metroidvania made by one person with history and lore you don't get to see much in prominent western media.
Alruna and the Necro-Industrialists
Sequence Breaking Metroidvania
Stylized as a classic gameboy metroidvania with modern design sensibilities, this one focuses hard on sequence breaking and a tight world space to set it apart.
Anima Flux
Co-op Sidescroller
A neat metroidvania that can be played with a friend, with a dystopian space age setting.
Stardust Demon
Charming Retro Vibes
Fun world to explore with plenty of secrets to discover, inventive use of game mechanics and the medium in general, with some bangin tunes to round things out.
Voidwrought
Can't Wait For Silksong
Very solid "one of these" with a crisp art style, satisfying combat and exploration with some really neat abilities to be gained as you progress.
And The Best Metroidvania Of 2024 Is…
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU
Bantu Mythological Action
2D sidescrolling metroidvania about "a young shaman who bargains with the God of death to bring his Baba back from darkness". Stunning visuals and a heartfelt story blend to make this one stand head and shoulders with the best of the genre. An excellent Afro-futurist setting we need to see more of.