Metroidvania Archives

AppWizard

May 28, 2025

Metroidvania game Bolt & Wahlington announced for PC

Publisher OKJOY and developer Team Orca have announced the Metroidvania action-adventure game, Bolt & Wahlington, featuring a Siamese cat protagonist navigating floating ruins. The game will launch on PC via Steam, with a beta test scheduled for June. Players will pilot a mech aboard the mobile fortress Whalington, utilizing unique gameplay mechanics such as transforming into a mouse, exchanging health points for keys, and morphing the mech into different forms. The game encourages exploration in a non-linear world filled with hidden areas and secrets. It features a hand-drawn 2D comic aesthetic and includes cat-centric elements, such as saving progress in cardboard boxes and encountering quirky feline characters.

AppWizard

May 26, 2025

SHADE Protocol Announced For PC Release In 2026

Little Legendary is developing a 2D cyber-fantasy Metroidvania game titled SHADE Protocol, set to launch on PC in 2026. Players will control Zura, a Replica with the ability to rewrite reality, in a world affected by Elythium, a sentient metal. The game features two modes, DAWN and SHADE, allowing for adaptable combat styles. Players will use musical weapons called Instruments, which have unique capabilities for combat and exploration. The UNISON System enables players to manipulate events and influence outcomes, while a dynamic combat system allows for precision melee combat and the restoration of Echo through parries and counters. The initial trailer highlights the game's artistic style and mechanics.

AppWizard

May 19, 2025

This week in PC games: Deliver At All Costs, Onimusha 2 reborn, more Monster Train and a touch of cat racing

New PC game releases this week include: - Champions Tactics Reforged: A turn-based PvP battler with nostalgic tabletop figurines. - S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Enhanced Editions: Enhanced versions of the beloved series, including Shadow Of Chornobyl, Clear Sky, and Call Of Prypiat. - The Siege and the Sandfox: A sidescrolling stealth metroidvania with enchanting pixel art visuals. - Jumping Jazz Cats: A whimsical racing game featuring feline competitors. - Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer: A point-and-click adventure involving a serial killer and a biker detective. - Monster Train 2: A sequel combining tower defense and roguelite deck-building. - FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time: An RPG focused on life simulation and restoring a neglected island. - City Tales - Medieval Era: An early access title encouraging creative construction. - Deliver At All Costs: A 1950s toy-town game offering a GTA-style experience. - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Tactics RPG: A tactical gameplay title in the beloved franchise. - Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny: A remastered version with updated controls and HD visuals. - 9 Kings: A strategic card game for building kingdoms and engaging in combat. - Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping: A detective game with a quirky narrative. Additionally, the Treehouse team is preparing for Computex 2025 and the Summer Games Fest, while managing various review commitments and projects.

AppWizard

May 12, 2025

Get Ori, Wasteland 3, and six more amazing PC games in the latest Humble Xbox Games Studio Bundle

The Xbox Games Studio Bundle offers a selection of Steam codes for eight notable titles from Xbox Game Studios, organized into two pricing tiers. The first tier, priced at £3.90 / 4.67€, includes three games: Sunset Overdrive, Battletoads, and Broken Age. The second tier, priced at £7.80 / 9.35€, includes As Dusk Falls, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, and Wasteland 3. The bundle supports the Gameheads initiative, with 20% of each purchase going to the cause. The bundle is available until May 24, 2025.

AppWizard

May 11, 2025

Xbox is giving away $214 worth of its PC games for just $10, including a Metroidvania banger and the best game from Marvel’s Spider-Man devs

A new Humble Bundle offers a collection of Xbox Game Studios titles valued at approximately £161 for £8. The bundle includes games such as Wasteland 3, As Dusk Falls, Age of Empires: Definitive Edition, Broken Age, Battletoads, and Quantum Break. It will be available for 12 days, and each purchase supports Gameheads, an organization that promotes diversity in the tech industry through video game design and development training for youth of color.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

Peak Sekiro-like Nine Sols gets a 40% price cut ahead of its 1-year anniversary, and if you’ve ever liked parrying in a videogame, you need to play this thing

Nine Sols is an indie game developed by Red Candle Games, released in May 2024. It combines metroidvania elements with parry-timing combat inspired by Sekiro. The game is currently available at a 40% discount until May 12. Players are encouraged to experience the gameplay before exploring supplementary materials like the prelude manga.

AppWizard

May 6, 2025

Revenge of the Savage Planet review

The game is a comedy co-op metroidvania titled "Revenge of the Savage Planet," developed and published by Raccoon Logic Studios, set to release on May 8, 2025, priced at £33. It features a whimsical gait for characters, a vibrant ecosystem, and elements of survival and exploration across four distinct planets. The game includes color-coded goo that affects gameplay, allowing for creative interactions and traps in co-op play. It shifts from a first-person to a third-person perspective and emphasizes player expression and fun over grindy mechanics. The game is designed for cooperative enjoyment rather than solitary play, although solo players will still find engaging elements.

AppWizard

April 30, 2025

The Best PC Games of 2025 So Far (Spring Edition)

Spring 2025 has seen the release of several notable PC games, including: - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: Released on April 24, 2025, by Sandfall Interactive, it sold over 1 million copies in three days and features a blend of French art nouveau aesthetics and JRPG combat mechanics. - Monster Hunter Wilds: Released on February 28, 2025, by Capcom, it introduces full narrative integration and dynamic monster interactions. - The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered: Released on April 22, 2025, by Bethesda Game Studios, it attracted over 4 million players shortly after launch and features enhanced visuals and gameplay updates. Other early 2025 releases include: - Blue Prince (April 10, 2025) - Split Fiction (March 6, 2025) - Atomfall (March 27, 2025) - Assassin’s Creed Shadows (March 20, 2025) - Two Point Museum (March 5, 2025) - Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (January 23, 2025) - Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist (January 22, 2025) - Ninja Gaiden II Black (January 23, 2025) - The Talos Principle: Reawakened (April 10, 2025) Highly anticipated titles for later in 2025 include: - Grand Theft Auto VI (Late 2025) - Doom: The Dark Ages (May 15, 2025) - Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (August 28, 2025) - The Outer Worlds 2 (Expected 2025) - Borderlands 4 (September 12, 2025) - Marvel’s Blade (TBA 2025) - Hades II (Full Release later 2025) - Frostpunk 2 (Summer 2025) - Slay the Spire 2 (Early Access Expected 2025) - Anno 117: Pax Romana (Expected 2025) - Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 (October 2025) - Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (Expected 2025) - Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl (Expected 2025) In 2024, top-rated PC games included: 1. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree 2. Metaphor: ReFantazio 3. UFO 50 4. Tekken 8 5. Caves of Qud 6. Animal Well 7. Satisfactory 8. Balatro 9. Thank Goodness You’re Here! 10. The Last of Us Part II Remastered The PC gaming landscape in 2024 was characterized by significant hardware advancements, improved game integration and compatibility, and thriving online communities.

AppWizard

April 20, 2025

Weekend PC Game Deals: Cooperative free events, Metroidvania bundles, and more

The Epic Games Store is giving away the game Botanicula, a point-and-click adventure by Amanita Design, until Thursday, April 24. Humble has launched the Return to Metroidvania bundle, which includes titles like Monster Sanctuary and Gato Roboto, with various pricing tiers, available for two weeks. This weekend features free-to-play promotions for Ubisoft's Skull and Bones, No More Room in Hell 2, and Barotrauma. Significant discounts are available on franchises like Metro and Dying Light, and the GOG store has DRM-free offers including action titles and publisher specials. Availability and pricing may vary by region.

AppWizard

April 18, 2025

Get 8 Metroidvanias For Just $14 With This Great PC Game Bundle Deal

Humble Bundle has launched the Return to Metroidvanias Bundle, allowing players to pay what they want for up to eight acclaimed PC titles. Starting at a minimum price, buyers receive two games: Gato Roboto and Monster Sanctuary. At a higher tier, players can access three additional titles: Shantae and the Seven Sirens, Islets, and Astalon: Tears of the Earth. The complete bundle, available at the highest tier, includes all previously mentioned games plus Grime, Berserk Boy, and BioGun. All games are provided as official Steam keys, with most playable on the Steam Deck, although BioGun may have performance issues. The bundle is available until April 30.