Much to the dismay of a legion of fans who have been patiently (or, maybe not so patiently) awaiting any shred of definitive news regarding its release, yet another round of developer showcases and the Summer Game Fest has come and gone without any mention of Hollow Knight: Silksong. Many had anticipated that the game would see the light of day in 2023 given Phil Spencer's comments at last year's Xbox Games Showcase where Hollow Knight: Silksong received an extended trailer and gameplay reveal, but unfortunately, that hasn't been the case. Besides the obligatory hope of it appearing at the Nintendo Direct tomorrow, it's safe to say that those same fans may have some time to kill before Silksong will see the light of day.
Thankfully, the absence of Hollow Knight: Silksong hasn't resulted in a dearth of quality Metroidvania titles; quite the opposite, in fact. In the long wait between Hollow Knight's release in 2017 and the continued lack of any firm updates regarding the status of its sequel in 2023, plenty of developers have crafted quality action-platformers with deep combat systems and maps full of secrets to uncover. Some of them could even be considered to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Hollow Knight as stalwarts of the Metroidvania subgenre. These are some of the best titles with rich melee combat to invest time in while waiting for Hollow Knight: Silksong.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
It's safe to say that Hollow Knight wouldn't exist were it not for Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and really, neither would the Metroidvania genre. Symphony's mastermind Koji Igarashi would go on to continue his formula (dubbed "Igavania") on the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS Castlevania releases but then would largely take a step back from game development. Thankfully, Igarashi returned to his roots with 2019's fantastic Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, which is considered to be the spiritual successor to both Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and the GBA masterpiece Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow.
Where Bloodstained shines is in its freedom of customization and implementation of the Soul system (called "Shards" here) from Aria of Sorrow. Being able to absorb the abilities of downed enemies gives players plenty of incentive to explore every inch of the map and completely fill out their Bestiary in hopes of acquiring each of the game's numerous abilities. With plenty of gear to collect, an impressive set of biomes to traverse, and an intriguing and dark narrative, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is as close as fans will ever get to a proper Symphony of the Night sequel and a worthy Metroidvania by its own merit.
Blasphemous
Resting firmly in the "Soulsvania" territory occupied by Hollow Knight and Salt and Sanctuary, Blasphemous is one of the more visually-arresting games on this list that also happens to be an incredibly challenging Metroidvania with some best-in-genre boss battles. While many Metroidvania titles can trace their inspirations back to either Metroid or Castlevania, Blasphemous is perhaps the most "Soulslike" of any contemporary genre title and features a gothic-horror aesthetic absolutely bursting with religious iconography.
The Dark Souls influence comes through in how important both dodging and a well-timed parry are to Blasphemous' intricate combat, and the environment houses plenty of devious hazards for players to avoid otherwise they meet an untimely demise. The recent announcement of a Blasphemous sequel coming this summer is yet another reason to go back and play the original, and it's likely that Blasphemous 2 will go just as far in easing the wait for Silksong as its predecessor.
Dead Cells
Along with Rogue Legacy, Dead Cells helped merge the roguelite and Metroidvania subgenres with great success, proving that the combination was a winning one and inspiring a host of other titles in its wake. Since its release, developer Motion Twin has continually updated Dead Cells with incredible DLC that add new biomes, weapons, and boss encounters, all while increasing and improving the game's "choose your own adventure"-style progression through its impressively large maps.
If the recent Castlevania crossover is any indication, Dead Cells has more than earned its spot in the Metroidvania "Hall of Fame". It almost goes without saying that the star of the show is its phenomenal combat, with dozens of potential builds and hundreds of weapon and sub-weapon combinations making every playthrough feel different. It might be threadbare in the story department and not necessarily a "true" Metroidvania in the purest sense, but Dead Cells' melee combat is best-in-class.
Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth
Coming from Team Ladybug, the talented developers behind the somewhat overlooked Touhou Luna Nights and the recent Shmup/RPG hybrid Drainus, Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth is one of the best Metroidvania titles to have been released in some time. With a story that follows Deedlit from the Record of Lodoss War manga and anime and leads directly into the events of The Crown of The Covenant novel series, Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth will scratch the itch for anyone that enjoys digging into a strong narrative within their Metroidvanias.
Not content to rest on just its story, Deedlit also features excellent combat that is heavily reminiscent of Symphony of the Night and an interesting elemental-based traversal and defense mechanic. When a Metroidvania pulls part of its inspiration from Treasure's Ikaruga, it's an indication of something unique, and Deedlit does not disappoint in that regard.
Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights
In terms of titles that make the long wait for Silksong easier to bear, few reach the same heights of Hollow Knight as Ender Lilies. With a combat system that calls to mind the glyph-wielding Shanoa from Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, the protagonist Lily doesn't actually equip weapons but rather the souls of the dead knights sworn to protect her. With stunning art direction, a great soundtrack, and a brooding, dark atmosphere reminiscent of players' time in Hallownest, Ender Lilies is one of the best Metroidvanias that players may have overlooked.
Hollow Knight: Silksong is in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
