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[Bonfires Down]

This is for relatively low profile games only, so no Hollow Knight or Bloodstained or Ori since there are limited poll slots. Let me know what you all think.


Some that didn't make the cut for various reasons:
Mirror of Fate
Environmental Station Alpha
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap
The Messenger
Rabi-Rabi
Mummy Demastered
Aquaria
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet
Chasm
Astalon
Carrion
Owlboy
Outland
Axiom Verge 2
Sundered

 

[teezzy]

It's cave story

I didn't even have to look at the list

Cave story slaps

 

[Paltheos]

I haven't touched allot of lower key metroidvanias. Only played a couple on that list.

Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth is the shit though. Gorgeous sprite work, metal soundtrack - I think in the OT thread I compared it to a cross between Yamane Michiru's Castlevania stuff and an arcade beat - and simple, fun gameplay. I've been singing the praises of this game to anyone that will listen. Definitely put Team Ladybug on the map for me as a developer (I should probably buy Touhou, huh).

I was pretty underwhelmed by Axiom Verge when I tried it a few years ago. One day I'll try Timespinner. It's sitting in my Steam library.

 

[rofif]

Read the title as low profile masturbation

 

[DerFuggler]

Cave Story is the GOAT but Valdis Story is something I come back to play once a year. Shame it's PC only. If Endless Fluff had put it out on PS and XBOX, it would have been huge.

 

[trikster40]

Love me some Guacamelee. Fantastic game, we’ll structured, and a joy to play.

 

[brian0057]

What's with the recent influx of Metroidvania threads?
There's like five new ones daily and almost all of them are basically the same.

 

[Cattlyst]

Not usually a player of these types of games but I enjoyed Iconoclasts on the Vita a few years back.

 

[Dr.Morris79]

Read the title as low profile masturbation

No nut November getting to you? You could always just try growing a moustache.

 

[SpiceRacz]

Axiom Verge and La Mulana are the best on that list.

 

[Aldric]

I really liked Yoku's Island Express. Very clever take on the genre with the addition of pinball mechanics and a great atmosphere that's a bit reminiscent of a Michel Ancel game.

 

[Xellos]

Gato Roboto is basically Metroid if Samus was a cat. Short but priced appropriately - usually under $10 and under $5 when on sale. Also it's entirely black and white (no color) but the sprites and animation are well done.

 

[ACESHIGH]

No love for The Messenger? One heck of a game.

 

[amigastar]

Wow, Guacamelee has the most votes? Awesome game.

 

[Bonfires Down]

No love for The Messenger? One heck of a game.

Was definitely considering including it but from what I've heard only half of it is metroidvania, that part is not that great and the metroidvania elements aren't very prominent.

 

[Wildebeest]

They say if you say La Mulana three times in the mirror, you are doomed to spending the rest of your life backtracking, scanning everything you can find with google image translate, trying to make sense of cryptic clues.

 

[Holammer]

Here are two unreleased metroidvania's you might wanna check out. I tried them during last Steam Next Fest.
Both show great promise. Transiruby got this great Cave Story feeling and Transmute is a metroidvania made by a single guy. I liked the demo more than Dread.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

adorable

 

[S0ULZB0URNE]

 

[Joelenheimer]

Deeldit in Wonderlabrinth, Momdora, Cave Story

 

[rofif]

No nut November getting to you? You could always just try growing a moustache.

I could try. I am 32 and no facial hair still

 

[NeoIkaruGAF]

Your definition of “lowkey” is a bit broad, OP. Guacamelee has made a good name for itself, and Cave Story is a classic, as is La-Mulana.

Among the true lowkey metroidvanias in that list, I’d say Touhou Luna Nights, Yoku’s Island Express and Gato Roboto were pleasant surprises for me.

 

[Dr.Morris79]

I could try. I am 32 and no facial hair still

Say no more, i've got you covered

 

[Icymanipulator]

Momodora and Touhou Luna Nights we’re both fantastic games. Short but sweet.

 

[gradient]

You're missing Kunai, OP.

Good game. Check it out.

 

[cireza]

I really enjoyed Cave Story and Momodora. They have very unique atmospheres.

Timespinner was also a great game, even though the visuals are too much like "late SNES RPGs" to my taste. Soundtrack was godlike.

 

[gradient]

You're also missing A Robot Named Fight.

Another decent one. This one is crossed with a rogue-lite - think Super Metroid with procedural level generation

 

[gradient]

Shit, you're also missing Dandara.

A very good one and quite unique in how you move and traverse the environments.

 

[bender]

Cave Story is wonderful as are La Mulana 1-2. Hard to pick between those two. I really enjoyed both of the Steamworld Dig games too. Shoutout to Yoku for a new spin on the Metroidvana formula.

 

[GymWolf]

Lately i really enjoyed fist and ender lilies.

 

[Patrick S.]

See, posts like these are completely worthless for me. Why not post the names of the games?

 

[Sethbacca]

At least this list actually has Guacamelee unlike the last attempt at this topic.

 

[Punished Miku]

Guacamelee's metroidvania elements are not that great.

Guacamelee's platorming though is top notch. They should just make an action platformer instead.

 

[The Cockatrice]

 

[Davey Cakes]

I'm loving Yoku's Island Express right now. The game is just cozy as heck, and the pinball gameplay is a nice change from your typical action/adventure Metroidvanias.

Gato Roboto is basically Metroid if Samus was a cat. Short but priced appropriately - usually under $10 and under $5 when on sale. Also it's entirely black and white (no color) but the sprites and animation are well done.

Yeah, I quite liked that one. Has some Metroid Fusion and Metroid II vibes. The very definition of a short-but-sweet game.

 

[HYDE]

I really liked Yoku's Island Express. Very clever take on the genre with the addition of pinball mechanics and a great atmosphere that's a bit reminiscent of a Michel Ancel game.

This is the correct answer!

 

[HYDE]

I'm loving Yoku's Island Express right now. The game is just cozy as heck, and the pinball gameplay is a nice change from your typical action/adventure Metroidvanias.


Yeah, I quite liked that one. Has some Metroid Fusion and Metroid II vibes. The very definition of a short-but-sweet game.

Yoku’s island music is contagious also!

 

[Hammerite Zealot]

Add Wuppo to the list. It's metroidvania crossed with adventure game and it's super charming.

 

[winjer]

Supraland is an amazingly good game.
Great puzzles and exploration. Also very well optimized and good looking graphics.

 

[tygertrip]

See, posts like these are completely worthless for me. Why not post the names of the games?

I don't know why people do that. Anyway, it is Bloodstained.

 

[SF Kosmo]

I'm not sure any of these are low profile but I voted Monster Boy because it's really one of the best and has such amazing level design.

 

[S0ULZB0URNE]

See, posts like these are completely worthless for me. Why not post the names of the games?

Oh my bad...

Bloodstained Ritual of the Night (top)

Salt and Sanctuary (bottom)

 

[chixdiggit]

Supraland is an amazingly good game.
Great puzzles and exploration. Also very well optimized and good looking graphics.

I agree with this. Game is criminally underrated.

 

[anonychus]

Seeing that list makes me appreciate just how many wonderful games in the genre we've gotten over the years.

 

[Soren01]

Ender Lilies

 

[Thief1987]

From this list Salt&Sanctuary is my favourite, but i also like both Guacamelee, Dust, F.I.S.T., Monster boy and Snantae.

 

[Mr Branding]

The mummy one really clicked with me

 

[Patrick S.]

I don't know why people do that. Anyway, it is Bloodstained.

Thanks

 

[Patrick S.]

Oh my bad...

Bloodstained Ritual of the Night (top)

Salt and Sanctuary (bottom)

Thank you kindly

 

[SuperGooey]

Blasphemous​