We may be fast approaching the second half of the year, and we also may have already had several releases in contention for best in the genre for 2026, but one of the most prolific genres on the indie scene is far from finished. In fact, following the likes of Mio: Memories in Orbit, Little Nemo and the Guardians of Slumberland, Tombwater, Clockwork Ambrosia and Grime II, several games threw their hat in the ring and announced their release plans, meaning I can bring you this list of promising indie metroidvanias you can expect sooner rather than later.
Two ground rules. First: the game must have a release date listed for 2026 on Steam at the very least. Second: it must specifically call itself a metroidvania, be that in its description, an interview, etc., so as not to misrepresent the game’s goals. Who knows, maybe the titles missing from here will show up in an action/adventure list down the line? With that, let’s unlock a few exploration-based gems to add to your wishlist.
EMUUROM
We’ll start with a plenty unconventional game. EMUUROM from borbware is all about scanning creatures, and features zero combat. Each documented finding provides new opportunities to traverse the world, for example: scanning a cloud entity causes it to rain, which turns the flower below it into a bounce-pad to cross a gap. It prides itself on a lack of hand-holding or power-ups and a plethora of secrets.
What makes EMUUROM even more interesting is the fact that it’s built on the free, open-source TIC-80 engine: a sort of fantasy 8-bit console/computer that you can check out here. You may have played something similar if you’ve ever played Celeste, which includes a demake for a similar Pico-8 console. You can expect all the restrictions and friction of an old-school experience with fresh, inventive mechanics.
You won’t have to wait long for this one, as EMUUROM debuts on May 25 on Steam.
House Of Decay
A 3D action platformer that feels ripped straight out of the original PlayStation’s library from White Box and ice_cream44. Even though it features more platforming and boasts weightier combat, the exploration-combat flow, horror aesthetic and simple moveset brought me all the way back to Sony’s very own, often forgotten classic MediEvil. You’ll see PlayStation 1’s iconic platforms floating in the endless abyss, rail grinding, and all the wonderfully muddy textures that make up House of Decay’s version of Hell.
The demo, which you can play right now with progress moving over to the full version of the game, begins with the player character at their full power, with a bunch of platforming moves and an awesome weapon to boot. All that gets quickly taken away, so you’ll have to get them back alongside some brand new tricks and that’s presumably where the metroidvania aspects come into play. I did not get that far myself; I platformed a little, slashed some fools, did a few puzzles, admired the designs, took in the vibes, and said: “Yup, I know this will be awesome.”
House Of Decay is set to release in 2026 on Steam, currently without a specified date.
Well Dweller
A new game by the creator of Sheepo, Islets, and Crypt Custodian—Kyle Thompson continues to create silly worlds and expand on his skill set with what will now be his fourth metroidvania. If you were into his previous games, you are likely ready to grab it at the first opportunity, but, full transparency, I was skeptical. After playing the demo for Well Dweller, I’m fully changing my tune.
Kyle Thompson’s commitment to the genre is paying off big time. Combat is weightier than ever, and even during the very first boss fight I could already tell this is going to be one tough journey. New abilities feel immediately impactful, with alternative uses to boot. The main cast are a lovely bunch with a lot of personality and a strong presence, and the hook of playing as the last bird family in a kingdom where humans mercilessly hunt them down is so captivating.
Even if, like me, you bounced off some of the developers’ previous works, Well Dweller is well worth a try, set to release on Steam and Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026.
MONOMOON
Not unlike EMUUROM, this one’s more of a puzzle-oriented entry. You get to control not just a cute little guy, but also his guiding light: a literal moon you move around with the mouse cursor (or controller stick). Described as a “tiny metroidbrania,” MONOMOON from Gentle Giant hides more than meets the eye, with layers of puzzles and unexplained mechanics you’ll have to figure out by yourself.
The game makes brilliant use of its premise not just with its mechanics, but also visuals. The glowing moon makes for an excellent companion beneath the night’s sky and inside dark caves. The trailers feature a good mix of creative platforming challenges, enemies to dodge, and classic point-and-click adventure puzzles, including an item inventory. The relatively short completion time of a few hours, combined with its unique mechanic, suggests that MONOMOON will be chock-full of unique puzzles that, ideally, should never feel repetitive.
MONOMOON flies onto Steam sometime later this year.
Mira and the Legend of the Djinns
Here’s one for fans of the genre’s combat. Inspired by Moroccan culture, Mira and the Legend of the Djinns from littleknightgames features damage numbers, combo meters, air juggles, parries, and a set of unlockable moves. Flow between uppercuts, air dash thrusts, vertical spins and landing strikes as you rack up a nasty amount of damage. The bosses shown in the game’s trailer look plenty interesting too, with the developers promising “no filler, just the good stuff.” Clearly, the developers are putting in the effort to create unique combat scenarios that will also put your platforming to the test.
The same trailer features a little bit of platforming too. There’s the standard trio of dash, double jump, and wall-jump, but you can also catch glimpses of a super-dash that turns the player character Yuba yellow and damages enemies as he passes through them. On the exploration side, the game seems to feature an Ocarina of Time-like musical instrument mechanic where you can input songs with the directional input or one of two buttons. As a whole, it encompasses a lot of Moroccan and Amazigh cultures’ arts and traditions, between architecture, myths, music, and more!
There’s a whole lot still to discover in this one, so be sure to add Mira and the Legend of the Djinns to your wishlist to be ready for its release sometime in 2026 on Steam!
Tower of Tears
Welcome back to another batch of insanity. 3D platformer, check. Survival horror, check. 30-second trailers on the store page that are just absolute ridiculousness, check. Most importantly: metroidvania, check. Pop up the Steam page for Tower of Tears by xena-spectrale and the first thing you’ll see is a walking tear wearing awesome green sneakers going first person mode to shoot sawblades out of ribcage gun into a late-game jRPG demon, only to turn around and start sticking the blades to walls to platform on top of a destroyed tramcar. All this set inside what I can only describe as the place my nightmares go when I am particularly anxious about the effects my childhood had on my adult psyche.
The second trailer is slightly more comprehensible, featuring some chase scenes, boat-driving sections, and even a few NPCs. Thanks to that, it’s easier to paint a picture of a game where you face hellish monsters, but also unlock traversal abilities via gadgets that will help you escape their grasp. Or at least I hope they will. On a final note, the UI looks, similarly to everything else, wonderfully esoteric, with a heart rate monitor serving as a finishing touch on this slimy, drooping design.
Like everything else about it, the exact date for Tower of Tears remains a mystery, but it lists a 2026 release date on Steam.
Blighted
Let’s jump from one nightmare to another, why don’t we? When describing how Blighted differs from a lot of the modern Dark Souls-inspired games, the developer from Drinkbox Studios (Guacamelee, Nobody Saves the World) said they wanted to create a style that makes people uncomfortable, but doesn’t push them away, describing the game’s art as a “Psychedelic Western Nightmare.” The psychedelic part is meant to alleviate the otherwise horrific designs of mutated creatures and the story about consuming the brains of the dead to obtain their memories.
It’s certainly an incredible-looking game, where the bright colors help clarify its top-down action, which can also be enjoyed in co-op. One interesting fact about the game’s combat is that it’s meant to feature dynamic difficulty, meaning enemies can change their moves depending on how well you’re doing, which feels like a rarity nowadays. As for the metroidvania elements, the memories obtained from consuming the bosses unlock abilities that then unlock paths, but also help in battle, as seen on the game’s page, with the player character summoning a ghostly version of a spider-horse boss to slam its head into one of the other indescribable flesh monsters.
With a slightly more specified release window than most on this list, Blighted is aiming for a Fall 2026 release, and will debut on Steam and Nintendo Switch 2.
Mariachi Legends
Perhaps the easiest recommendation off the entire list, Mariachi Legends from Halberd Studios is a vision that’s impossible to pass by. Pablo Cruz, a detective, makes a deal with Death, obtaining powers to combat evil as the La Sombra alter-ego in the heart of Mexico in exchange for killing an immortal man—and so the stage is set for a beautiful, pixel-art, combat-focused metroidvania. A return to combo meters and damage numbers, but this time with brutal, hard-hitting finishers.
Though the trailers, backed by an enchanting rendition of the Mexican folk song La Llorona, focus on showcasing the nighttime action, the game will also focus on Pablo’s real identity and detective skillset. He’ll be able to visit the city during the day, share a drink with the townsfolk, and listen to their troubles. A third, full moon version of these locations is mentioned, meaning players will get intimately familiar with the town of Santa Mascota, where Pablo is chasing leads about a recent streak of deaths. A good hub that grounds the protagonist’s motivation and builds a sense of community you want to protect should help this story really thrive.
There’s little stopping you from trying out Mariachi Legends when it releases in the fourth quarter of 2026 on Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Moonbrella
Though the metroidvania structure has long outgrown its 2D roots, I often find myself thinking about how much of it was born out of one of the most iconic speedrun games of all time: Super Metroid. Because of that, I sometimes get too fixated on these expectations of unique, deliberate, skillful movement that aren’t necessarily required to make a great metroidvania. Still, I do love a rewarding movement system, and Moonbrella from Jett Williams is the first game on this list that seems to really scratch that itch.
It takes the idea of “What if Getting Over It with Bennet Foddy had unlockable abilities” and really hones in on speed. You’ll play a little robot on wheels with an umbrella that can serve as a stick, a hovering tool, a speed-up spinning top, or a hook to pull it up ledges or swing on chains. No jump button in this one; to launch yourself, you’ll have to push the robot off the ground or walls. This momentum-based system has so much potential for tricks and sequence-breaking, while the unlockable abilities seem to make it a unique, enjoyable experience on a casual playthrough.
If you’re at all interested, check out Moonbrella when it releases on Steam later in 2026.
Rover’s Tale
From one robot-led metroidvania to another, Rover’s Tale from Observer Interactive sounds like it’s going to tear my heart to pieces. Get this: you control a little space rover that actually contains the consciousness of a dog that reached the end of its life. After a human crash-lands on a planet and activates the player-controlled, long-dormant rover, they forge a bond and try to complete the human’s mission. I don’t know what corporate hellscape this game is set in for humans to be sending dead dogs to a fate of eternal galactic solitude and servitude, but I can only hope I’m emotionally ready for it.
Observer Interactive describes Rover’s Tale as a “creature-collecting metroidvania,” where obstacles are dealt with using the abilities of the planet’s wildlife. The metroidvania aspects take shape in the form of the titular rover’s own unlockable abilities, such as different arm tools like a catching net or a hammer. The trailer features a whole bunch of other rovers that our little guy is likely to meet on its journey, which all look pretty adorable. Though, in the back of my mind, there’s always that haunting realization of what they once were.
If you’re ready to get a bit emotional, check out Rover’s Tale when it launches this year on Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2.
Silver Pines
We leave that existential horror and move into the obviously much less threatening survival horror. That was a joke. I am very afraid. Silver Pines, a 2D side-scroller survival horror metroidvania about a private investigator slipping into a nightmare realm from the developers at Wych Elm, has me deeply anxious to say the least. Another connection between the two is that both are published by Team17. They seem to have this whole metroidvania thing figured out, huh?
Moving past attempts to mask my fear with comedy, I was always fascinated with 2D, side-scrolling horror games. They feel so limited in what they can show, and yet the few I experienced always left me shook, even if very few ever really broke into the public consciousness. I’m also curious as to whether the game will manage to truly feel like a metroidvania, considering just how similar survival horror games can be in their structure.
I suppose we’ll find out when Silver Pines launches later in 2026 on Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2.
Magical Blush
A top-down, fast action-adventure that hides plenty of secrets in its relatively smaller areas that require unlockable spells to progress, Magical Blush from Alkacer Game Studio gives off strong, very positive Game Boy Advance energy. The elemental magic, which you bind to four different buttons in whatever combinations you please, can be used offensively during combat, but also during exploration puzzles in its revisitable levels—you can get creative with both, freezing a fireplace, burning down bushes, and using whip magic to block projectiles. Unique upgrades will expand your toolset even further. The list here looks pretty substantial, with 25 unlockable spells, not counting any possible special moves or upgrades.
The trailer shows off the likes of floating skulls, a dragon head that spews fire, and giant drills that follow the protagonist around. Each spell also has the protagonist yell out its name, which may sound annoying, but the game has great sound design. Everything I got to play around with in the demo felt great—the combat was chaotic, and is likely to become even faster with each upgrade. Top-notch animations too; Magical Blush’s pixel art has very smooth motion, which gives it a strong identity in spite of its simple backgrounds. I love how the protagonist’s hair and cape flow behind her!
If you’re craving quality level-based exploration and old-school, fast-paced action combat, Magical Blush will provide that and more in the third quarter of 2026 on Steam, GOG, and at a later date on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2.
ALARIC
I tire of feeling weak and puny; it is time for some loud music and cool guns. ALARIC from Dominik Grigoras is a fantasy boomer shooter metroidvania with light platforming and RPG elements. We’ve got it all right here: a soundtrack mixing organs and chanting with heavy metal, a giant haunted castle, a whip that can serve as a grappling hook, the kick button, and waves of low-poly enemies to shred through.
The soundtrack here is a highlight; it’s not a shocking twist, but it just goes so hard, and the Steam description promises dynamism, meaning that as fights intensify, so will the music. It takes place inside one giant, mysterious castle, where the color palettes change drastically between locations. Classic shooters have always had some legendary secret areas, but I’ve still yet to find an indie game that really rocks FPS metroidvanias into motion. I hope ALARIC will be the one to do so.
If you want to help speed up that process, check out ALARIC when it releases on Steam on June 16.
Dewdrop Dynasty
There are so many bee puns out there in the world, and I will use none of them. I will, however, let you know that I greatly cherish all things that bumble, so I gotta show my support for Dewdrop Dynasty. A lighthearted metroidvania about a bee with a gun, it comes from the developer who also runs a gamedev YouTube channel by the name of Goodgis.
My main impetus for highlighting Dewdrop Dynasty is its gun jump mechanic. I absolutely love a metroidvania pogo, and the general heft and pushback on this little bee’s big shots, as seen on Goodgis’s YouTube channel, look like something I’d absolutely adore. It’s as if it’s built around that euphoria of being able to use an enemy for an extra bounce, getting to a ledge that seemed unreachable. Without a proper trailer featuring all the improvements made since its original Kickstarter teaser, it’s a bit hard to piece together the full vision of the Dewdrop Dynasty through the bits found on YouTube, but that’s perhaps one of the reasons why I’m so excited for it. It can still be a surprise in so many ways.
We’ll find out soon enough, as Dewdrop Dynasty is set to release this July on Steam.
Lost Call
Another title from someone many may be familiar with through YouTube, Lost Call by Skurry is a 2D, Zelda-inspired title with a metroidvania map. On their channel, Skurry primarily features metroidvanias, as well as cozy and puzzle games, and Lost Call feels like a combination of all these. With a unique monochromatic aesthetic that switches colors between areas, it caught my eye during the last Steam Next Fest.
What I found most captivating about Lost Call is its incredibly mellow atmosphere. No amount of combat, platforming, or runbacks can impact the calmness that permeates the entire experience. The colors, the music, the simple designs— everything plays a part in creating an ambiance that feels truly unique among all other entries on this list. Knock around some slimes with a phone, hit sick lines on a skateboard, and just take in the vibes.
If you want to see what this atmosphere is all about, keep checking the Steam page for Lost Call throughout the year for the exact release date.
RE:AKTOR
Focus. Speed. I am speed. Channel this feeling into RE:AKTOR from RE:BASE Studio, a metroidvania all about gaining and preserving momentum to speed past enemies and through timed gates, and you’ll be alright. You play as a robot that has the power to rewind time, and with a tool like that integrated directly into the gameplay loop, especially one based on movement, I think it’s safe to say that failure is just going to be a part of the process.
Not all things revert with you; some remain changed. So, of course, we do a little puzzling, and we do a little unlocking across a wide map full of rooms. Sounds like a metroidvania to me! RE:AKTOR is, frankly, an insanely ambitious game, one which lets you rewind through the entire game at any given time and take back control whenever you please. That sounds like a nightmare to get working, so it doesn’t surprise me that the game is set to launch in Early Access.
Right now, the date for RE:AKTOR’s Early Access release is set for August 28 on Steam, and considering the description mentions August as the original month for the full release date, we’re likely still a good bit away from that. Keep checking the page though; you don’t want to miss this one.
OTHERSIDE: Untamed Words
A game that wears its Hollow Knight inspiration on its sleeve, OTHERSIDE: Untamed Words from OthersideCraft (a two-developer team) is a title that I am unbelievably excited about. Unfortunately, back in September, the game failed to reach its Kickstarter goal. I must repent for my sin of not finding it back then by showing it to everyone I can because, I mean, just look at it. I know “hand-drawn” doesn’t carry the same weight it used to, but Mao the cat warrior has stolen my heart with his awesome stance and always-calm attitude. The music in the trailer is so wondrous, and the game has uniquely clean animations for its style.
There are a couple of things that differentiate OTHERSIDE from its peers. One of them is the physics interaction shown in the trailer, both in combat and in puzzles. Hollow Knight: Silksong played a little with deflecting projectiles, but here it seems to be a significant factor, with moving shelves crushing enemies and spiky balls that can be punched around to deal damage. Second is the language-deciphering mechanic, something that I’m always excited to see as a linguist, adding layers of deep immersion to the world’s lore. Finally, the platforming just looks so exciting here—I still don’t feel we’ve reached the peak of 2D platforming in the genre.
The 2026 date currently listed for OTHERSIDE: Untamed Words on Steam might not come to pass, but I’ll be sure to follow the project carefully from here on out, and so should you!
Near The Sun
This is my one cheat for the list, because Near The Sun does not call itself a metroidvania anywhere, but how else am I to call a 2D action-platformer game with unlockable abilities that widen the reach of exploration and a focus on non-linearity? Even the developer’s name is Nonlinear! I really did not want to miss out on this one either, because it seems like a real emotional gut-puncher.
You play as a boy in a post-apocalyptic world who will have to carry his sister on his back throughout the entire game. The pixel-art, though viewed from a distance, looks so expressive, and even the trailer had me worried about where the protagonist will end up, ending with a shot of him looking at the sky at a quiet flooded bus stop before clenching his fist. Though the game seems rather loud and dynamic based on the footage full of explosions and lasers, it interestingly describes itself as a “stylish 2D stealth action game.” Perhaps the focus lies on avoiding enemies then? Would make sense given the whole “sister on the back” part.
The mysterious trailer and an intriguing description have me anxious to get my hands on Near The Sun, but other than aiming to release on Steam this year, we do not have a specific release date quite yet.
Sandloop
I had to look around for this one, but on the developer’s itch.io page, Yoku Games does describe Sandloop as a “loop-platformer-metroidvania adventure.” That counts! So we now step into one of my other wheelhouses with a straight-up 3D platformer. Though back in 2023 Pseudoregalia took the indie world by storm, the humble 3D platformer metroidvania is still largely relegated to a niche. What Sandloop brings to the table is a strong identity, a unique setting, and well-realized level design.
The little I played of the demo was quite impressive. The pace at which the protagonist Hura was gaining abilities was fast, but each one combined into an interesting arsenal of moves. I really can see it combining into something special, even the glider, which, combined with a double jump, can usually provide quite the safety net, if only because the explorable zones get quite huge! Another part of the game that caught my eye was quests! Not only are characters other than Hura active participants, but they will also ask you to complete certain tasks, with a reward in tow.
A 3D platformer that might shake things up a bit, Sandloop is set for release in the second quarter of 2026 on Steam.
Little Ghost
For our final entry, let’s get weird once again! Little Ghost from Alan Abbadessa, Law Jun Yan, Eduardo Alexandrino, and Leaf Riifuneko is a metroidvania that’s a collage of physical media in a “surreal papercraft world.” Listen to over 20 bands or put on a podcast as you play. Like, in-game, don’t just pull up YouTube. Since you play as a pencil drawing of the titular small apparition, erasers are your biggest enemy. This one’s a real fever dream. In a good way!
The trailer features old live-action films. One of them has a rat pulling out a gun and shooting someone before dipping back into its hidey hole in the stairs. You collect tarot cards, because we need to get even more esoteric! They’re calling this a chill metroidvania? Maybe it is, given its lack of currency, checkpoints, or combat, but it certainly hit me with an uppercut of inspiration. It’s an overwhelming experience that just fills you with so much love for humanity and art. Perhaps we play as a paper ghost to better appreciate life itself.
A powerful first impression that leaves me wanting more, but I, and everyone else, will have to wait for Little Ghost’s release in Fall of 2026 on Steam.
What metroidvania from this list has captured your interest the most? Did I miss any that you’re particularly excited for? I’d love to say that I didn’t, but I know for a fact that I did. So, tell us in the comments! Despite how many are released each year, working on this list has proven to me that indie metroidvanias are nowhere near finished having their moment. Look forward to other lists of upcoming indies coming soon to GameObserver!
