Metroidvania is a subgenre of action-adventure that is defined by large interconnected maps that the player isfree to explore in any direction they choose. To begin with, many paths will be blocked off, though they can later be accessed once players have gained some sort of power, skill, or item. The subgenre’s name is a combination ofMetroidandCastlevania: two iconic franchises that played a key role in creating and shaping this style of game.
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The Metroidvania subgenre has made a welcome comeback over the last decade, with games likeOri and the Blind Forest,Hollow Knight, andGuacamelee!all showing that the subgenre can still thrive in modern gaming. Metroidvania games are predominantly 2D action-platformers, and there’s some debate among fans as to whether 3D games or non-platformers can ever be “true” Metroidvanias. The following games may not be 2D action-platformers, but they’re all excellent games that employ many of the Metroidvania subgenre’s core principles.
Updated on August 06, 2025, by Jack Pursey:There was once a time when finding a great new Metroidvania game was a tough task. Thankfully, the resurgence of the 2D Metroidvania genre has ensured that this is no longer an issue, as there are countless excellent indie Metroidvanias today, many of which have quickly become recognized as some of thebest Metroidvania gamesof all time. Unfortunately, however, high-quality 3D Metroidvanas are still hard to come by. As such, we’ve updated this list to add a bit more information for those looking for a 3D Metroidvania to play, such as the platforms that each game is available on and theirmain story completion timeaccording to howlongtobeat.com.
Available Platforms:PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One
Main Story Completion Time:13 Hours
Supralandwas developed and published by the aptly named Supra Games, who brand the game as being a “first-Person Metroidvania puzzle game” that’s “a mix betweenZelda,Portal, andMetroid.” Developers comparing their games to franchises likeThe Legend of Zeldais certainly not a new marketing strategy, thoughSupralanddoes do a great job of incorporating aspects of the aforementioned series in a way that is balanced and doesn’t come across as mimicking.
Puzzle-solvingis what players will spend the majority of their time doing inSupraland. The puzzles are smartly designed in a way that makes themrewarding despite being fairly straightforward at times.
Available Platforms:GameCube and Wii
Available Platforms:Wii
Main Story Completion Time:14 Hours
TheMetroid Primeseries is an easy choice for this list, as it is the first game that many people point to when arguing that 3D games can still qualify as Metroidvanias. When the firstMetroid Primewas released in 2002 on GameCube, many fans were worried that the series was going to lose its identity and become ageneric shooter.
Thankfully, however, this wasn’t the case, asMetroid Primestuck to the series' roots and offered an innovative3D Metroidvaniaexperience that earned a massive97 Metascore, which is enough to make it the joint-5th highest-rated game in the review aggregator’s history. The other two entries in theMetroidPrimetrilogy both reached the 90 mark on Metacritic too, making it one ofthe most critically acclaimed gaming trilogies of all time.Metroid Prime 4was announced at E3 2017, though news about the game has been few and far between since.
5Batman: Arkham Asylum
Release Date:June 28, 2025
Available Platforms:PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One
Main Story Completion Time:12 Hours
Batman: Arkham Asylumwas released just one year after the critically-acclaimedDark Knightmovie, so it had a lot to live up to. Thankfully, the game didn’t disappoint, as it offered one of thebest superhero gaming adventuresof all time, with a seamless combat system, excellent world design, and a brilliantly performed cast of villains.
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It’s unlikely that the player will ever get too lost inBatman: Arkham Asylum, though the game is still considered to be an example of a 3D Metroidvania. This is largely due to its interconnected map, which players will gradually be able to explore further after unlocking new items and abilities.
4Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order
Release Date:June 17, 2025
Available Platforms:PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Stadia
Main Story Completion Time:17 Hours
Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Orderwas first released in November 2019 and delighted the manyStar Warsfans who had been crying out for a big-budget single-playerStar Warsgame with a Jedi protagonist.Jedi Fallen Orderdidn’t disappoint, offering a wonderful set of worlds to explore, great enemy variety,smooth combat mechanics, and a solid story.
Dark Soulswas the first game that sprang to mind for many people when analyzing the game, thoughStar Wars: Jedi Fallen Order’s set of interconnected maps are clearly influenced by classic Metroidvania releases.
Available Platforms:PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, and Nintendo Switch
Whereas the firstDarksidersgame was heavily inspired byThe Legend of Zeldaseries,Darksiders 3takes inspiration from the Metroidvania subgenre. This shift in level design and structure was a welcome change of pace, although the game did struggle to nail the landing of some of its ideas.
Despite this,Darksiders 3remains a solid option for anyone looking for a game that offers a rare combination of the 3D Metroidvania and action-RPG genres.
Available Platforms:PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Stadia
Main Story Completion Time:7 Hours
Journey to the Savage Planetwas developed by Typhoon Studios and was first released in January 2020. The game stood out thanks to itsunique visuals, which are bursting with color and help to give the game a welcoming sense of fun.
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Journey to the Savage Planettasks players with exploring a planet named ARY-26, where they must research its creatures and plant life and gather resources. These resources can be used to craft items that allow the player to explore previously inaccessible areas.
1Shadow Man
Release Date:August 02, 2025
Available Platforms:PC, Nintendo 64, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 1, PlayStation 4, Dreamcast, and Xbox One
Main Story Completion Time:14.5 Hours
Shadow Manis considered by many to be the first example of a 3D Metroidvania and a game that showed just how great the subgenre could be in the world of 3D. The gamewas released in 1999 on PC, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, and PlayStation 1 and has since come to a range of modern systems, including Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4.
The action-adventure game was developed by Acclaim Studios Teesside and is based on a comic book series of the same name. The game stood out in the late ’90s for its difficulty and14.5-hour length, which was far longer than most other action-adventure games from that era.
