13 Best Metroidvania Games Switch has to Offer in 2026

There are plenty of Metroidvania titles out there, but when it comes to the absolute best ones on the Nintendo Switch, only a select few truly stand out. With so many choices, narrowing them down was a challenge, but, don’t worry, I did it.

I’ve put together a list of the very best Metroidvania games available on Switch today, each offering an unforgettable adventure and a perfect showcase of what makes the genre such a fan favorite.

Our Top Picks for Metroidvania Games on Switch

Now, some titles will stand out, even when placed among the best. For Switch Metroidvania games, these are on the “especially great” list:

Hollow Knight

METROIDVANIA

A fantastic indie game that’s grown to become one of the icons of modern Metroidvanias.

Metroid Prime Remastered

ACTION-ADVENTURE

It’s said you can’t improve on perfection, but this remaster manages just that.

Metroid Dread

METROIDVANIA

Features a masterful mix of nail-biting stealth and Metroid action.

But while these games are the best of the best, every game on this list is absolutely worth a look. Keep reading to explore the full lineup and discover which Metroidvania worlds are waiting for you on the Nintendo Switch.

13 Best Metroidvania Games for Switch That Every Gamer Should Try

It’s easy to see why the Metroidvania genre is popular – mechanically simple, lots of story approaches, and the incorporation of RPG elements make for a solid foundation for a really good game.

But while many games manage to get this addictive loop just right, some go above and beyond, especially on the Switch.

Now, let’s get to the list of incredible Switch Metroidvania:

Hollow Knight

Most Iconic Metroidvania on Nintendo Switch

• Our Score
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• PC, Linux, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
• Creator
• Team Cherry
• Average Playtime
• ~45 hours
• Metacritic Score
• Let’s start with one of the most defining Metroidvanias of the past decade –

Hollow Knight

.

In spite of the rather crowded genre,

Hollow Knight

managed to rise head and shoulders above its peers. The best part?

• Team Cherry
• did everything well, from outlandish yet
• unforgettable characters to tight, punchy combat
• , as well as its own take on the Soulslike storytelling method – making this incredible game one of the
• best Metroidvania games

ever.

Why we chose it

Hollow Knight

stands out for its masterful combination of tight, challenging combat, expansive exploration, and unforgettable world design. This game perfectly captures the essence of a Metroidvania while adding its own unique style, making it essential for any Switch collection.

In

Hollow Knight

, you’ll play as a nameless (and rather cute) warrior. Before you stands the kingdom of Hallownest, empty and nearly devoid of life. To figure out who you are and what you must do, you must embark on a dangerous adventure through the ruins of this kingdom, and ultimately decide its fate.

When it comes to gameplay,

Hollow Knight

has more in common with retro-style NES games than its RPG-leaning peers. With only five masks of health at the start and few ways of recovering them, you’ll need to master

Hollow Knight

’s fast, brutal, and engaging combat. Both normal enemies and bosses make for formidable foes, so prepare to be truly tested.

What might surprise you most of all, however, is

Hollow Knight

’s style. While the setting and combat could make it feel dark and moody, it instead offers a hauntingly beautiful and almost whimsical exploration into a world of bugs, backed by a fantastic soundtrack, which remains a benchmark for good Metroidvanias.

My Verdict:

Hollow Knight

is a rare game that does everything right – and it’s an easy must-get for Metroidvania players.

What do players say?

Sixdayworkday ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Hands down one of the best Metroidvanias I’ve ever played.

Metroid Prime Remastered [Best Original Metroidvania Reborn on Nintendo Switch]

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• Nintendo Switch
• Creators
• Retro Studios, with assistance from Iron Galaxy Studios and several others
• Average Playtime
• ~15 hours
• Metacritic Score
• Quick history lesson – the last
• Metroid
• game before
• Metroid Prime
• was

Super Metroid

• . Nobody could figure out how to make the
• N64
• work with the genre, and topping

Super Metroid

was seen as unfeasible.

This, however, gave people lots of time to cook, and when Metroid Prime finally came out, it was a massive success – so massive, in fact, that not only did Nintendo seek to replicate its success with a remaster, but people also won’t stop playing it. Unsurprisingly, it’s also one of the best games on the Nintendo Switch.

Why we chose it

Metroid Prime Remastered

preserves everything that made the original a classic while enhancing it with modern visuals, improved controls, and subtle gameplay tweaks. This makes it not only a must-play for longtime Metroid fans but also one of the best Metroidvania experiences on the Nintendo Switch.

Metroid Prime Remastered

is, in many ways, almost identical to its original. It’s still the same FPS romp through Tallon IV, and barely anything has changed. It’s still the same action-packed Metroidvania where you’ll shoot and blast your way through an alien planet while collecting mobility tools and exploring the latest dead end.

What is different, however, are the multiple visual and audio enhancements the game has received.

Metroid Prime Remastered

gives you a full visual overhaul and much better sound effect s (thanks to modern hardware), but has received a ton of quality of life tools such as better controls, weapon tweaks, and minute details to give the world even more life.

My Verdict:

Even if you aren’t interested in Metroid, this one’s definitely worth playing just for the FPS experience.

What do players say?

RenaissanceSucks ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Gets almost everything right - I just wish the story was more engaging but the gameplay does make up for it.

Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist [Best Moody and Meaty Switch Metroidvania]

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• PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
• Creators
• Adglobe, Live Wire, Binary Haze Interactive
• Average Playtime
• ~25 hours
• Metacritic Score
• Last, but definitely not least, is

Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist

• . As with prior game
• Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights
• , this one’s a
• dark, moody, and melancholic Metroidvania
• – which also makes it one of the
• best games like

Hollow Knight

.

Why we chose it You can really see how the devs learned from Ender Lilies. These lessons were taken to heart in building

Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist

– it’s not just mechanically amazing, but also unquestionably distinct while expounding upon the Ender universe.

In this sequel, you’ll play as Lilac, an Attuner with the power to save Homunculi, powerful artificial life forms that serve as Magnolia’s counterpart to Lilies’ spirits. As an RPG-leaning Metroidvania, Lilac has the ability to level up and equip gear, though do keep in mind that most of your stats come from your gear.

A lot of the minor annoyances in Lilies have been smoothed out, and Magnolia takes Lilies one step further, not just in gameplay, but also story-wise. With a powerful, moving narrative, Magnolia is a Metroidvania that scores big not just in the action department, but also in emotional impact.

My Verdict:

Even if you haven’t played the first game, Magnolia’s melancholic world, tight gameplay, and strong narrative make it easy to love.