as others have said, this series is outstanding, and always a highlight of my day when one comes out. it's too bad we can't clone you to get the episodes out more frequently, but thank you for all the time and effort you put into these. i appreciate your depth and thoroughness, even on games you've already discussed in other videos! makes this series work as a stand alone resource, which is valuable to us MV freaks.
Always excited when I see a new upload. This series is my favourite in particular. Love to hear u just talk bro. I just put on a video of yours while I'm doing something mundane like aim training
I really like how your tier list actually focues on the "Metroidvania" part. There's a few phenomenal games that rank quite low because of that and at a quick glance seeing "The Messenger" listed as a mid "C" might be controversial. But like you said, as great as that game is it really doesn't do the "Metroidvania" part all that well compared to games higher up in your list.
Youre channel should have more subs. You also bring great content and very good game analysis. I subbed a while ago,...and always watch ypure videos...keep up the good work
I may completely disagree on the positioning of some of these games which is fine, it’s not my list, but I love the videos for giving me new games to play.
Hey, great list! And Deaths gambit totally deserves to be up there. It's one of my favorite MVs (or games in general) and for good reason. Btw, have you played Valdis Story, I am curious about your opinion on this game. Haven't watched the rest of the list series so I am not sure if you have mentioned it in another video, but will do once I get home.
I completely agree with your analysis on Ori and the Blind Forest. The platforming was indeed superb, but the combat left much to be desired. In my opinion, the game could have benefited from a complete focus on platforming, eliminating combat altogether. The development time spent on creating enemies could have been used to further polish the already excellent platforming mechanics. While the set pieces were engaging, the regular enemies felt like a chore to fight due to the lackluster combat system. It’s a testament to how strong the platforming was that it still made for a great game despite the combat.
I consider myself a mv fan 99 percent more than most but you're 99.99 which is amazing. I'd never know about deaths gambit until this. S tier?? Gotta try it now. All love and keep doing greatness
Another great piece of work! Always thoughtful, entertaining an full of feeling..... I have on problem however! 3 more weeks to wait for the next one! 🤣 👍
There are generally 2 main ways to rank metroidvanias: how good of a video game is this MV, and how strong are the MV elements of this game? And every MV tier list has to begin by clarifying which metric is being ranked. But I think there’s a 3rd, underrepresented metric: how much better was this game made by making it an MV? Would curse of the Moon have been better as a classicvania? Would Mega Man ZX have been better as a traditional Mega Man? When I pose this question, there are 2 games whose places on my own personal tier list are most affected. Iconoclasts is a fantastic game with pretty lacking MV elements, but even as linear as it is, it would feel so much lesser and less lived in if I wasn’t encouraged to keep re-exploring past areas for collectibles. On the other end, if the first Ori game had been a level-based platformer like Tropical Freeze, I think it would’ve been just as good.
3:25 ("Mystik Belle") How funny, I just ordered a copy of this. I recently remembered about it after getting a copy of "Witchcrafy" due to them both being conceptually similar...on the surface anyway. But yeah, I'll probably end up playing them back-to-back. I've kind of gotten in the habit of doing that, getting and then playing similar seeming games just to see how different their takes on the same general ideas are. For instance, last time I did that was with "Bunny Must Die" and "Rabi-Ribi", two Bunnygirl-themed Metroidvanias with bullet hell elements. Both also being fairly difficult to beat...and very hard to complete. That was one rough week to say the least.
Been playing a game on PS5 called Dark Light, released recently. It's really good. Needs a bit of UI polish but so far it's very good. Would recommend.
@@MetroidvaniaGuru I'd like to see that as well. Was somewhat annoyed by a certain character at the beginning, but man did the characters and especially the story grow on me as I played further, not to mention that I really enjoyed the gameplay and all the MV elements.
Gumo revives Naru with the shimmering Light Vessel from the Forlorn Ruins because Ori is nice to him. Please repeat: it's only a game, it's only a game, it's only *quack* Sadly, there's likely never going to be a third game; unless its about tree hugging maybe? But Moon Studios is developing a new IP now anyway
@@justincider8892 i agree. Looks nice graphically and the musics nice, but i couldnt get into as other metroidvanias. Blasphemous was the same way for me
A few metroidvanias that I like that I don't see on your list: Hollow Knight Haiku, The Robot Lone Fungus Dust: An Elysian Tail I'm curious if you've played/heard of these games. This is the first video I've ever seen from you. So, I don't know your history.
I mean if your going to use that reasoning to lower the messenger, you should also lower blasphemous, because first part of the game isn't a Metroidvania and it opens up once you get to the second part of the game. Personally I would swap Ender Lilies and Blasphemous for that reason, don't get me wrong Blasphemous is a fantastic game, however its more souls like then Metroidvania, were on the other hand Ender Lilies is all Metroidvania. Now if this was best souls like list, I would put Blasphemous in S teir, but because its a Metroidvania list I would put it in A.
I don’t agree with that logic. Blasphemous’s first half IS open, allowing players to approach the three humiliations in any order they want with the option of gaining abilities to unlock other areas. The Messenger’s first half is unapologetically level based and linear.
@@MetroidvaniaGuru Yes you get a choice, but the game is still linear in a sense that you have only those three ways to go. Most Metroidvania give you access to the whole map, only limited by abilities you have, Blasphmous's doesn't do that until you open that door. You even said yourself that blasphemous is a disguise Metroidvania, because it opens up later, well why doesn't that apply to The Messenger, its a Platformer first then it opens up into a metroidvania. Just trying to see you logic on why one lowered and the other didn't.
@@CheddahSlammer “Most Metroidvanias give you access to the whole map” I have to disagree again. Rarely do MVs have their entire map open and only utility gated. Afterimage, Deedlit, Alice Escaped, Prince of Persia: Lost Crown, Hollow Knight. The list could go on and on. All these games block off chucks of the map that require some form of liner progression to unlock that doesn’t directly involve ability gating (typically a key or special item to unlock a door or something). “Blasphemous doesn’t do that until you open that door.” Blasphemous does give you abilities and alternate routes discoverable by these abilities before you open the Mother of Mothers. Blood Perpetuated in Sand and the Three Gnarled Tongues, I do believe. “Why doesn’t that apply to The Messenger” Because the first half of The Messenger is Level based; Blasphemous isn’t. Blasphemous starts with an open, interconnected world that allows backtracking. The Messenger doesn’t allow backtracking from level to level in its first half. You beat Autumn Hills and move to the Forlorn Temple, you can’t return to Autumn Hills until the latter half. There’s Zero interconnectivity. I hope this helps make sense of my logic.
@@MetroidvaniaGuru Ok, yeah that does make sense, just personally felt Blasphemous gated me more so then those other titles. Never got Blood Perpetuated in Sand and the Three Gnarled Tongues until after I got to the Mother of Mothers, and made my way back around to the Nun Covent. So for me the game felt more on rails then those other titles. However I can acknowledge that if someone found something before I did they had a different experience I had.
Have you played Inmost? That might be my pick for worst Metroidvania (that I've played, anyway.) Also can't wait til Prince of Persia makes it on this tier list, we all know where it's going!
its really not a metroidvania, inmost is a cinematic puzzle platformer that excels at telling a beautiful story with some of the best music and pixel art i've ever witnessed
it's true, but for some reason it gets listed in metroidvania recommends. it does have a nice art style but the story was one of its weak points for me, i don't know, it just kind of felt trite while trying to explore the subject of trauma.@@d00mnoodle24
Nah, I’m with you on the messenger. I liked it, but the metroidvania part dragged, with a ton of backtracking, and it’s the worst part of that game imo. Just could’ve been better executed
I played The Messenger lately. Great game, BAD metroidvania. Really, I don't get why this game gets so much praise as a MV. It's clunky, frustrating, doesn't respect your time at all and the exploration in the "mv" part feels BAD. I had a mv itch to scratch and this game just made it worse. IMO FIST was muuuuch better as a MV. tho it's been a while since I played it. The more you make this series, the more I start to think our tastes in MV are weirdly similar (at least when it comes to non-anime style games, I kind of have a problem with those, but it's just a me problem; and I'm talking about stuff like School or whatever the name is, I love the Afterimage aesthetic). I really need to add Death's Gambit: Afterlife to my backlog
as others have said, this series is outstanding, and always a highlight of my day when one comes out. it's too bad we can't clone you to get the episodes out more frequently, but thank you for all the time and effort you put into these. i appreciate your depth and thoroughness, even on games you've already discussed in other videos! makes this series work as a stand alone resource, which is valuable to us MV freaks.
I wish I could clone myself, too 😆
still the best channel about metroidvanias. Keep it up the great work!
Wow, thanks!
I love these tier list videos and your analysis. Keep it up man.
Glad you like them!
Great analysis. I am actually playing the Ori series now. Was kind of reluctant because I am a combat enthusiast. Thanks!
Hope you enjoy it!
Always excited when I see a new upload. This series is my favourite in particular. Love to hear u just talk bro. I just put on a video of yours while I'm doing something mundane like aim training
He does have a pleasant voice. Unintentional asmr?
New channel idea UNLOCKED
I really like how your tier list actually focues on the "Metroidvania" part. There's a few phenomenal games that rank quite low because of that and at a quick glance seeing "The Messenger" listed as a mid "C" might be controversial. But like you said, as great as that game is it really doesn't do the "Metroidvania" part all that well compared to games higher up in your list.
Youre channel should have more subs. You also bring great content and very good game analysis. I subbed a while ago,...and always watch ypure videos...keep up the good work
I'm not saying he's bad, but he's focusing on a niche video game genre. It makes sense that he's not a big channel.
Appreciate it! I’ll keep grinding till I’m huge 😆
I may completely disagree on the positioning of some of these games which is fine, it’s not my list, but I love the videos for giving me new games to play.
Hey, great list! And Deaths gambit totally deserves to be up there. It's one of my favorite MVs (or games in general) and for good reason. Btw, have you played Valdis Story, I am curious about your opinion on this game. Haven't watched the rest of the list series so I am not sure if you have mentioned it in another video, but will do once I get home.
Valdis Story is great. I need to replay and talk about it.
Kudos for having the patience to finish Two parsecs!
It hurt so much…
I completely agree with your analysis on Ori and the Blind Forest. The platforming was indeed superb, but the combat left much to be desired. In my opinion, the game could have benefited from a complete focus on platforming, eliminating combat altogether. The development time spent on creating enemies could have been used to further polish the already excellent platforming mechanics. While the set pieces were engaging, the regular enemies felt like a chore to fight due to the lackluster combat system. It’s a testament to how strong the platforming was that it still made for a great game despite the combat.
Messenger deserves C tier based on the fact that you can't strangle the lil jerk who keeps sassing you when you die.
I consider myself a mv fan 99 percent more than most but you're 99.99 which is amazing. I'd never know about deaths gambit until this. S tier?? Gotta try it now. All love and keep doing greatness
Appreciate it! DG:A is a Soulsvania, so keep that in mind. I hope you like it 😊
What about the new Prince of Persia that you just reviewed in your previous video?
Don’t know yet. Still thinking…
Another great piece of work! Always thoughtful, entertaining an full of feeling..... I have on problem however! 3 more weeks to wait for the next one! 🤣 👍
Oh no!
Metroid Dread is in my S Tier for sure
There are generally 2 main ways to rank metroidvanias: how good of a video game is this MV, and how strong are the MV elements of this game? And every MV tier list has to begin by clarifying which metric is being ranked.
But I think there’s a 3rd, underrepresented metric: how much better was this game made by making it an MV? Would curse of the Moon have been better as a classicvania? Would Mega Man ZX have been better as a traditional Mega Man?
When I pose this question, there are 2 games whose places on my own personal tier list are most affected. Iconoclasts is a fantastic game with pretty lacking MV elements, but even as linear as it is, it would feel so much lesser and less lived in if I wasn’t encouraged to keep re-exploring past areas for collectibles. On the other end, if the first Ori game had been a level-based platformer like Tropical Freeze, I think it would’ve been just as good.
3:25 ("Mystik Belle")
How funny, I just ordered a copy of this. I recently remembered about it after getting a copy of "Witchcrafy" due to them both being conceptually similar...on the surface anyway.
But yeah, I'll probably end up playing them back-to-back. I've kind of gotten in the habit of doing that, getting and then playing similar seeming games just to see how different their takes on the same general ideas are. For instance, last time I did that was with "Bunny Must Die" and "Rabi-Ribi", two Bunnygirl-themed Metroidvanias with bullet hell elements. Both also being fairly difficult to beat...and very hard to complete. That was one rough week to say the least.
Been playing a game on PS5 called Dark Light, released recently. It's really good. Needs a bit of UI polish but so far it's very good. Would recommend.
I’ll check it. Thanks!
Hey I've been playing Eiydian Chronicles Rising and it actually checks all the Metroidvania boxes. Could you give that one a try?
Sure thing!
What about "Dust: An Elysian Tail"? It's more than 10 years old, but it's one of my favorite Metoidvanias.
It’s a really solid game. I’d like to do a video on it real soon
@@MetroidvaniaGuru I'd like to see that as well. Was somewhat annoyed by a certain character at the beginning, but man did the characters and especially the story grow on me as I played further, not to mention that I really enjoyed the gameplay and all the MV elements.
Gumo revives Naru with the shimmering Light Vessel from the Forlorn Ruins because Ori is nice to him. Please repeat: it's only a game, it's only a game, it's only *quack*
Sadly, there's likely never going to be a third game; unless its about tree hugging maybe? But Moon Studios is developing a new IP now anyway
Their new game looks pretty sweet, though
If Ori and the Will o the Wisps isnt S-tier, youre insane.
I played that game after hearing so many good things about the game and thought it was just alright. I don't really get the praise it receives.
@@justincider8892 i agree. Looks nice graphically and the musics nice, but i couldnt get into as other metroidvanias. Blasphemous was the same way for me
It’s a good ‘un
It's pretty.
It's much better than the first one. The combat was revamped quite a bit
A few metroidvanias that I like that I don't see on your list:
Hollow Knight
Haiku, The Robot
Lone Fungus
Dust: An Elysian Tail
I'm curious if you've played/heard of these games. This is the first video I've ever seen from you. So, I don't know your history.
Welcome! And I’ve played all of those. Each is a fine MV 👍
Blasphemous 2 beats Blasphemous 1, imo. Solid list tho man
I can see that. B2’s definitely a more traditional MV and has better gameplay.
@@MetroidvaniaGuru yeah. The gameplay just hit home for me. So much improved.
I remember i cried after the beginning of ori,
Same. It’s a very effective and sad opening
Valdis Story waiting room
I mean if your going to use that reasoning to lower the messenger, you should also lower blasphemous, because first part of the game isn't a Metroidvania and it opens up once you get to the second part of the game. Personally I would swap Ender Lilies and Blasphemous for that reason, don't get me wrong Blasphemous is a fantastic game, however its more souls like then Metroidvania, were on the other hand Ender Lilies is all Metroidvania. Now if this was best souls like list, I would put Blasphemous in S teir, but because its a Metroidvania list I would put it in A.
I don’t agree with that logic. Blasphemous’s first half IS open, allowing players to approach the three humiliations in any order they want with the option of gaining abilities to unlock other areas. The Messenger’s first half is unapologetically level based and linear.
@@MetroidvaniaGuru Yes you get a choice, but the game is still linear in a sense that you have only those three ways to go. Most Metroidvania give you access to the whole map, only limited by abilities you have, Blasphmous's doesn't do that until you open that door. You even said yourself that blasphemous is a disguise Metroidvania, because it opens up later, well why doesn't that apply to The Messenger, its a Platformer first then it opens up into a metroidvania. Just trying to see you logic on why one lowered and the other didn't.
@@CheddahSlammer
“Most Metroidvanias give you access to the whole map”
I have to disagree again. Rarely do MVs have their entire map open and only utility gated. Afterimage, Deedlit, Alice Escaped, Prince of Persia: Lost Crown, Hollow Knight. The list could go on and on. All these games block off chucks of the map that require some form of liner progression to unlock that doesn’t directly involve ability gating (typically a key or special item to unlock a door or something).
“Blasphemous doesn’t do that until you open that door.”
Blasphemous does give you abilities and alternate routes discoverable by these abilities before you open the Mother of Mothers. Blood Perpetuated in Sand and the Three Gnarled Tongues, I do believe.
“Why doesn’t that apply to The Messenger”
Because the first half of The Messenger is Level based; Blasphemous isn’t. Blasphemous starts with an open, interconnected world that allows backtracking. The Messenger doesn’t allow backtracking from level to level in its first half. You beat Autumn Hills and move to the Forlorn Temple, you can’t return to Autumn Hills until the latter half. There’s Zero interconnectivity.
I hope this helps make sense of my logic.
@@MetroidvaniaGuru Ok, yeah that does make sense, just personally felt Blasphemous gated me more so then those other titles. Never got Blood Perpetuated in Sand and the Three Gnarled Tongues until after I got to the Mother of Mothers, and made my way back around to the Nun Covent. So for me the game felt more on rails then those other titles. However I can acknowledge that if someone found something before I did they had a different experience I had.
Where is Grime?
Have you played Inmost? That might be my pick for worst Metroidvania (that I've played, anyway.)
Also can't wait til Prince of Persia makes it on this tier list, we all know where it's going!
its really not a metroidvania, inmost is a cinematic puzzle platformer that excels at telling a beautiful story with some of the best music and pixel art i've ever witnessed
it's true, but for some reason it gets listed in metroidvania recommends. it does have a nice art style but the story was one of its weak points for me, i don't know, it just kind of felt trite while trying to explore the subject of trauma.@@d00mnoodle24
I don't know, dawg. I feel like the original Axiom Verge is better than Ori & the Blind Forest. AV even has some awesome memorable boss fights.
You might be right. I’ll have to take a look at AV, to be honest
What ori , dawn of sorrow and simphony of the night must be out of range
Nah, I’m with you on the messenger. I liked it, but the metroidvania part dragged, with a ton of backtracking, and it’s the worst part of that game imo. Just could’ve been better executed
I played The Messenger lately. Great game, BAD metroidvania. Really, I don't get why this game gets so much praise as a MV. It's clunky, frustrating, doesn't respect your time at all and the exploration in the "mv" part feels BAD. I had a mv itch to scratch and this game just made it worse.
IMO FIST was muuuuch better as a MV. tho it's been a while since I played it.
The more you make this series, the more I start to think our tastes in MV are weirdly similar (at least when it comes to non-anime style games, I kind of have a problem with those, but it's just a me problem; and I'm talking about stuff like School or whatever the name is, I love the Afterimage aesthetic). I really need to add Death's Gambit: Afterlife to my backlog
Definitely try Death’s Gambit Afterlife
I am sleepy but I still need to write a comment so...
I bet tevi is in s tier
Probably not… 😬
May be i missed something but where is hollow knight?
It hasn't come up yet. He selects the games at random
Soon as the randomized picker I use selects it, I’ll be all over it 😆
Why don't you play GRIME It's amazing game
Soon…