The Xbox platform may house classic shooters and fighting games spanning generations in video game history, but the Microsoft behemoth also holds a trove of titles from the Castlevania/Metroid hybrid Metroidvania niche – and there are several hidden gems in the catalog waiting to be discovered.
Beautiful pixel art, wholesome stories, unforgiving combat, and more await in this subgenre, which is why we’ve put together a list of titles for fans of the category and modern newcomers rocking Microsoft’s current-gen system. Here’s 10 of the best Metroidvania games for under $30 on Xbox Series X/S.
10 Best Metroidvania Games On PS5 For Under $25
The PS5 catalog is stacked with a variety of titles – old and new – including a bundle of Metroidvania titles for cheap.
10. Redo!
REDO!
A bite of something wholesome
This 2019 action-adventure Metroidvania by Robson Paiva sees you control a girl navigating a dystopian environment governed by machines to connect with another person. As an underrated gem across multiple platforms, REDO! is a no-brainer purchase to pick up for only $9.99 on the Xbox Games Store and it’s a relatively short story to soak up with plenty of atmosphere.
- Released
- February 11, 2019
- Developer
- Robson Paiva
The first of three female-driven Metroidvania games on this list is the indie game REDO! and this post-apocalyptic adventure with powerful level designs is available to experience for cheap. If you want to start devising sound strategies within an atmospheric expanse, REDO! is the title for you, and gameplay even rewards players for thinking outside the box during the semi-punishing combat.
9. Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection
A Japanese classic
Capcom’s iconic platformer hero, Mega Man, returns in the Legacy Collection compiling six games in one: Mega Man Zero 1, 2, 3, and 4, as well as Mega Man ZX and ZX Advent. Owning six games for half the price of one triple-A game is a good deal in our book, so grab your copy of this collection for only $29.99 on the Xbox Games Store today.
- Released
- February 25, 2020
Mega Man is an iconic Japanese hero cemented into the video games Hall of Fame, and the Legacy Collection compiles the top-tier games in the franchise for cheap, instead of having to buy them all individually. Stacked with nostalgia accompanied by an energetic score and vibrant graphics, the Xbox Games Store is offering a great deal with this six-games-in-one purchase. Anime fans and mecha aficionados will want to check out this series, and instead of filing through the greater Mega Man catalog to find what to play first, the collection compiles the best in order.
Dark Fantasy Metroidvania Games
8. Grime
Destroy…Absorb…Grow
Playing in the Souls-like subgenre alongside the Metroidvania camp, Grime is a punishing action-adventure RPG that has you using a living weapon to conquer nightmarish enemies and consume their remains with your black hole. Grime is sitting on the pricier end of this list at $24.99 on the Xbox Games Store, but the Lovecraftian game is well worth the cost.
- Released
- August 2, 2021
- Developer
- Clover Bite
Set within an expanse of anatomical horror, similar to 2022’s Scorn, Grime has a fascinating premise at its core with haunting surrealism in a beautifully crafted alien world. Grime makes weapons out of living organisms to bring your arsenal to life, including clawing swords and centipede whips, and your task is to battle your way through this dystopian setting while thwarting grotesque monsters.
7. The Last Case of Benedict Fox
Dive deeper into Lovecraftian horror
Play as the titular detective, accompanied by his demonic companion, as he investigates a limbo realm within an abandoned mansion. Battle demons, traverse the subconscious, and solve a labyrinth of puzzles alongside a jazz score. The Xbox Games Store has this compelling dark fantasy for $24.99, which is a small price to pay for such a spectacle.
- Released
- April 27, 2023
- Developer
- Plot Twist
There’s a sinister story at the heart of this Metroidvania with challenging puzzles and polished visuals. It’s a wildly different style from pixel art, but the graphics and lighting are smooth and vibrant, making every scene something to gaze upon. Channeling otherworldly adventure from movies like Color Out of Space, the imagination behind this title is impressive with a compelling story and mystical elements to keep you engaged for hours.
6. Beholgar
Inspired by classic B-movie heroes
Serkan Bakar presents this 2022 classic-styled Metroidvania where you assume the role of a beefy barbarian to explore the kingdom’s expanse, conquer castles, and defeat creepy creatures. This pixel fantasy is another game that’s popping up for cheap across multiple platforms, and for $9.99 on the Xbox Games Store, you should experience it for yourself.
- Released
- February 4, 2022
- Developer
- Serkan Bakar
Inspired by Conan the Barbarian, Hercules, and Jason and the Argonauts, this Metroidvania is a steal for only $9.99, and a striking fantasy awaits in a vintage style where destroying ancient monsters and roaming the kingdom are your priorities. Despite being a bite-sized adventure, Beholgar’s memorable environments and eye-catching pixel art are hard to pass on, and the difficulty has become a notable feature because it’s not all about fairytale endings here.
5. Vernal Edge
The Kingdom of Haricot needs saving!
This 2D action-packed title sees young protagonist Vernal navigate the sky islands to uncover the secrets of the Kingdom ruled by the Church of Aloe. The fast-paced exploration and dynamic combat will keep this revenge mission engaging, alongside the beautiful pixel art design to make every scene picturesque. Grab your copy from the Xbox Games Store for $21.99.
- Released
- March 14, 2023
- Developer
- Hello Penguin Team
Joining the vibrant kingdom, you will also be challenged by a host of creatures to defeat and a world of secrets to uncover as you explore the land. Applauded for its movement technology and its satisfactory combination of platforming with energetic action perks, Vernal Edge also uses an immersive ambiance to its advantage with a score to keep immersion high. The pleasing graphics emphasize the beauty of pixel art games, and this style choice has become common in the Metroidvania category.
4. Axiom Verge
There’s a thin line between reality, nightmares, and the afterlife
This retro side-scroller pits you, the scientist, against an alien world full of native creatures after a lab accident. With a host of weapons, items, and abilities to discover, you also need to uncover the secrets of the fallout. Axiom Verge is available for $19.99 on the Xbox Games Store, so you can experience this classic Metroidvania for yourself.
On the surface, Axiom Verge is another Metroidvania with dazzling pixel graphics dabbling within an intriguing sci-fi theme. However, the game harbors several hidden locations and items to discover that will take you deeper into the narrative and your exploration. Leaning more into the Metroid side of the genre, this title also carries a stellar score alongside gameplay, which is often a sound hook for these titles and a great perk to encourage replayability.
Modern Metroidvania Games
3. Ori And The Will Of The Wisps
A truly mesmerizing sequel
$9.88 $29.99 Save $20.11
Moon Studios’ predecessor reached critical acclaim for its breathtaking graphics and level design alongside its inventive combat, and the Will of the Wisps sequel continues those accolades. Accompanied by a wonderful, bittersweet score, the narrative introduces you to adorable creatures and nightmarish monsters along the way and the platformer can be yours for only $9.89 on the Xbox Games Store. After returning to full price, the cost will still be under $30.
Proven in this list, Metroidvania games don’t need to be gothic, pixel-art platformers or sci-fi-bound stories. The genre’s exploration and puzzle-solving blueprint can exist in games with a polar-opposite style and the Ori series is one of the best examples. Aside from being breathtaking to look at and listen to, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is packed full of emotion, formidable foes, and creative landscapes and the sequel also introduces new abilities to keep the franchise fresh.
2. Control
Will you regain control?
$7.48 $29.99 Save $22.51
Control is a third-person action-adventure that takes place after a foreboding enemy has infiltrated the Federal Bureau of Control, boasting incalculable environments and clever combat. Winning over 80 awards for its ingenious gameplay, you can bag your copy for only $7.48 on the Xbox Games Store but don’t worry, the game’s full price is still under $30.
Emerging as a game of the year nod in 2019, Control is likely not the kind of title you’d think of when discussing Metroidvania games. However, gathering new abilities and items to explore undiscovered territories, the presence of a female protagonist, and a morphing map safely put this 3D adventure in the subgenre. With stunning graphics combined with an engaging main campaign and game-changing physics in combat, Control should be at the top of your Metroidvania list – and a sequel is confirmed to be on the way.
1. Dead Cells
Kill, die, learn, repeat.
Motion Twin’s rogue-lite Metroidvania has you exploring an ever-changing castle and defeating the fort’s keepers in thrilling Souls-like combat. Updated with regular free content, Dead Cells helped coin the genre, RogueVania, and promises hours of exploration within interconnected levels and colorful gameplay. Experience Dead Cells for yourself for only $24.99 on the Xbox Games Store.
Similar to Souls-like games, Dead Cells pushes you to improve your skills with each failed attempt or boss fight, giving you an irreplaceable sense of pride when you finally do conquer it. With 17 levels, over 150 weapons and skills, and the promise of several rage-quits, this Metroidvania is praised for its smooth gameplay, packed DLC content, and variety in your arsenal. This is a solid example of the subgenre presented in a vibrant, fun, and chaotic adventure with plenty of satisfying action.
10 Best Metroidvania Games For Under $15
Striking graphics with challenging combat await in these 10 Metroidvania games available to buy for under $15.
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