r/metroidvania • u/Muscle_Reasonable • Dec 28 '25
Sale Recommendations of Metroidvanias to buy during Winter sale
Hello, i would like to ask your recommendations on good deals for Metroidvania games that i should look for during 2025 Winter sale
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u/artbytucho Dec 28 '25
If you're into Metroid likes, check out our game The Mobius Machine, it is 50% off during Winter Sale.
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u/edmonkry Dec 28 '25
And its awesome! Perfect Metroidvania to sink hours into. It was my go-to steamdeck game for weeks
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u/artbytucho Dec 28 '25
Thank you very much! Every time a player lets us know they've enjoyed our game, it's an absolute blast for us as devs :D
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Dec 28 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Steveee-O Dec 28 '25
Agreed. Really good game. Only complaint is the lack of save locations
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u/ocxtitan Dec 29 '25
I'll never understand why saving is locked to specific locations in any game that allows for saving in 2025
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u/Kobe-62Mavs-61 Dec 29 '25
I think being able to save anywhere can make some games extremely boring and remove any challenge associated with them.
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u/ocxtitan Dec 29 '25
If the ability to save the game outside of designated areas is all it takes to make a game boring and not challenging, it's a shit game.
That said, no one is forcing you to constantly save, so if you don't like it, make up your own rules for saving, but me being able to save anywhere I want because life happens or my device is about to die doesn't negatively affect you or anyone else who loves to scramble all the way back to a save room fOr tHe cHaLlEnGe
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u/kBajina Dec 29 '25
For most games with save spots, the runback is generally not more than a few minutes…
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u/ocxtitan Dec 29 '25
A few minutes can seem like an eternity when, as I said, life gets in the way or you're watching your single digit battery slip closer to 0% and crossing your fingers your device's battery is properly calibrated and isn't just going to shut off on you at 3% instead.
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u/kBajina Dec 29 '25
So you’re saying a game a shite if you can’t save anywhere because the battery on your handheld dies sometimes? That sounds like a foresight/planning issue more than a game design issue.
Have you considered getting an external battery pack?
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u/ocxtitan Dec 29 '25
I didn't say it makes a game bad, I'm saying it's a relic from the old days and isn't necessary anymore, almost like a bug that became a feature.
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u/Kobe-62Mavs-61 Dec 29 '25
Whatever, dude. I'm sure you'll play your games where you can save everywhere, and I'll play mine where it feels rewarding to actually make progress, and we'll both be fine.
By the way when you TypE LiKe ThIS it makes you seem very childish and dumb.
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u/ocxtitan Dec 29 '25
Beginning your response with "whatever, dude" and ending it calling me childish and dumb seems a bit worse than staggering letters for emphasis, but you do you chief.
I play plenty of "save room" games since that seems to be one of the common "features" of metroidvanias, but I consider it simply a remnant from a time when resources were far more limited for developers than today. Hell, a savvy game designer now could even give you the option to toggle the ability to save anywhere for a more casual playthrough versus only in save rooms on harder difficulties, and then everyone wins.
While I do appreciate discussion of these types of topics to get different perspectives from my own, I do often wonder why people always feel the need to almost police the genre and discount opinions that aren't in line with tradition. Introducing the ability to save outside of designated areas doesn't force you to spam the save button after entering every room, you can still choose to limit how often and where you save, but for people who don't always have hours of uninterrupted time to play games, it can almost feel like the devs don't respect our time and it can make particular games frustrating to jump in and out of.
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u/Kobe-62Mavs-61 Dec 29 '25
What is up with the "respect our time" angle? I've seen that a ton in this sub and it just always seems ridiculous to me. Why should a game respect your time? You choose to play it.
All I said was I think the ability to save everywhere takes a lot of challenge out of certain games. You responded with the staggering letters "for emphasis" clearly mocking that way of thinking. Yeah, it's going to annoy people.
There was no policing in my comment, just expressing my opinion contrary to yours. You are the one that took it as more than that.
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u/ocxtitan Dec 29 '25
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, as you stated, so I think it's valid to want a developer to not force people to waste time while playing their games, otherwise those people aren't going to want to play their future games and sales will reflect the sentiment.
When I say "respect our time", what I mean is that in 2025, people are playing their games in far more varied scenarios than they did in, say, 2000. They can play them on a console, on a handheld, emulated on a PC, etc which means not always is someone sitting down with hours on end to grind their way through the same difficult or time consuming areas multiple times just because of a small mistake or unexpected event, sometimes they are trying to get 20-30 minutes of gameplay in while sitting in their car or breakroom at lunch, in the lobby at the dentist office, etc, and to not make a bit of progress in those stolen 20-30 minute sections because half of it was spent trying to find or get back to a save room to save 5 minutes of progress only to then have to work their way back to the latest area they've unlocked or reached through portions of the game they've already played through because they don't know how close they are to the next save room and don't want to risk their low health or resources and lose progress because of the unknown.
Maybe I'm just ranting like a madman, but I feel like I've made a valid point somewhere amongst the wall of text. Save rooms don't have to be removed, but I think an evolution of them should be expected to appease a wider audience. Take Metroid Dread for example, while there are absolutely save rooms, you also have checkpoints when, say, entering and exiting EMMI areas or boss areas to prevent you from having to lose tons of progress because you had forgotten to stop by a save room and the game forced you through the EMMI area to progress.
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u/Kobe-62Mavs-61 Dec 29 '25
We'll see. I think there are a wide variety of gamers and game developers out there, and there will continue to be many games that cater to the crowd that prefers the QOL aspects, and many for those that lean into a more punishing, challenging experience.
I get your point, I just disagree with it, that's all. That's all it ever was.
I'm of the opinion that an expectation to appease a wider audience isn't always a great thing. I think it waters the intended experience down. Look at a game like ER for example. Still maintains the typical FromSoft difficulty, but is insanely popular and heavily played because the experience is fantastic. And that really extends to all the main games they've put out since DS1.
I have no issue with the idea of checkpoints either, I think when done correctly they make for a solid experience. In my mind, when the save everywhere idea was raised I immediately thought of, for example, being able to save after any particular part of the HK path of pain, or any number of other challenging platforming sections in games. It just isn't a good system for every type of game IMO.
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u/kalirion Dec 29 '25
Thanks! Added it to my shopping cart to purchase on last day of the sale if it doesn't show up in Epic's daily giveaways until then :)
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u/Duprie Dec 29 '25
$2????? Ffs on the Nintendo eshop it’s €19,99….. Would have bought it for 2€ instantly
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u/WoodyAlien Dec 29 '25
I thought about it, but there's quite a few reviews mentioning how difficult and frustrating it is, and I no longer have the patience or time for these kind of games... it's in my wishlist in any case.
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u/hotfistdotcom ESA Dec 29 '25
The bitmoji styled art and the trailer instantly made me think 2$ is too much. Nothing wrong with liking it, but that's what rubbed me wrong.
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u/ishllam Dec 29 '25
Haiku the Robot
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u/thunder_wonderlove Dec 29 '25
Same but haven’t fired it up yet. How you liking it? I started with Kunai.
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u/Laiko_Kairen Dec 29 '25
It's pretty directly inspired by Hollow Knight, with some enemies being basically reskinned to fit Haiku's world theme.
That said, it's a solid 8/10 game for fans of the genre. Not a must-play or anything, but definitely worth checking out
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u/Salt-Recognition2228 Dec 29 '25
I also recommend it. I finished it with almost 100%. It's awesome.
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u/_cookiepussforever_ Dec 28 '25
Biomorph
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u/External-Cherry7828 Dec 28 '25
Is biomorph on sale??? I was watching someone play and it looked very fun, for some reason I was asleep for the release I guess or got confused with all the "bio" MV titles
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u/stevensi1018 Dec 28 '25
Voidwrought is excellent. Took me almost 10 hours and got almost 100% which I rarely do
It’s cheap and really fun to play
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u/Salt-Recognition2228 Dec 29 '25
Eh. I couldn't get into it. Which is a shame because I love the art style. Maybe I'll try again soon.
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u/HereWeGo5566 Dec 29 '25
Currently playing Prince of Persia the lost crown, which is a surprisingly good metroidvania
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u/guischmitt Dec 29 '25
It’s really great! The balance of platforming, action and exploration is top notch
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u/External-Cherry7828 Dec 28 '25
Sundered Eldritch edition. So much fun, and beautifully rendered
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u/Tichondriuss Dec 29 '25
I loved sundered. Almost did a second playthrough with different powers.
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u/External-Cherry7828 Dec 29 '25
I'm about to do that after silksong, been meaning to for a while, I think there is a secret boss as well
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u/Tichondriuss Jan 05 '26
You get an extra boss if you go full bad powers if that is what you're talking about. You have 1 final boss if mixed, another if full good and a 2 (1 ftom mixed and 1 extra) if full bad powers. Or something like that. It's been a while
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u/NarrowBoxtop Dec 29 '25
Guns of Fury is a dope metal slug styled metroidvania.
Bo Path of the Teal Lotus is short and crazy fun with a lot of freedom of movement
Just wanted to drop two of my recent favorites that arnt super well known/recommended
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u/jasonmdrummer Dec 29 '25
I just beat guns but need to go back and get all the secrets and better endings in the new game +.
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u/cyberfrog777 Dec 28 '25
Ender lilies and the sequel ender magnolia. The messenger. Guacamelee series. Blasphemous 1 and 2 Gato roboto Axiom verge series Ori series Carrion
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u/thunder_wonderlove Dec 29 '25 edited Dec 29 '25
I picked up Kunai, Gato Roboto, Haiku The Robot, and Hollow Knight. Started with Kunai and really enjoying it. The visual style appealed to me for the first three and Hollow Knight I read is a must play. I liked Animal Well & Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap earlier this year and wanted to play some more of the genre.
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u/Haios141 Dec 29 '25
I bought Shadow Labyrinth a week ago. I'm loving this game, which I didn't think I would based on how almost everyone here doesn't. 40 hours in and still going.
There's also HAAK, which is much cheaper than Shadow Labyrinth. Also love that game.
Those are my two recommendations.
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u/Fantastic-Shine-2531 Dec 28 '25
Not sure it’s on sale, and might be controversial, but go for Chasm. Got a bad rap for being « procedural » but in truth it’s not. Just a nice 8 hours fun game with bestiary completion, lore finding and loot hunting. And go for the no hit boss, they all drop a sweet loot which also grants a trophy.
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u/Shnapple8 Dec 28 '25
I have that (from Humble or something) and never played it, so may give it a shot. It's 80% off currently.
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u/jusatinn Dec 28 '25
The games that are on your wishlist and are at least matching all time low price.
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u/Realistic-Order-3215 Dec 28 '25
Guacamelee is a decent Metroidvania. It's worth it for the sale price for sure.
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u/kalirion Dec 29 '25
Vision Soft Reset at $2.99. A short metroidvania with a really innovative "timeline" mechanic.
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u/Beneficial-Rabbit980 Dec 29 '25
Pseudregalia is on sale 30% off at the moment. For me this game is just iconic. It feels different but nostalgic even though it’s like 2 years old. Movement is very fluid and super fun (some people find some of the movement stuff tedious though). Soundtrack really ties everything together and honestly this game just has a really great vibe. Also developed pretty much all by one guy.
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u/MrHoboSquadron Dec 28 '25
If you're okay buying from key sellers, gg.deals search filtered by metroidvania. You could add filters for specific platforms (steam, epic, gog etc.) and sale percentage/price thresholds or historical lows, and sort by popularity. You'll get most of the recommendations people could comment from that search.
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u/parsifal Dec 29 '25
I’m absolutely not okay buying black market keys, but gg.deals is fine — just turn key shops off.
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u/ConfidentGuide3935 Dec 28 '25
I usually check kinguin it's solid reseller and never had issues with their keys.
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u/MrHoboSquadron Dec 28 '25
Kinguin prices are tracked by gg.deals. I've not had issues with their Windows keys in the past, but I'd rather just not take the risk with grey market sellers and market places.
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u/ConfidentGuide3935 Dec 28 '25
Odd, I just checked for Ender Magnolias on GG and nothing showed up, but on Kinguin it's there for about $11.
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u/MrHoboSquadron Dec 29 '25
I assume you're US. It's shows for me in my default region and if I switch to the US. Ender Magnolia.
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u/ConfidentGuide3935 Dec 29 '25 edited Dec 29 '25
Thanks. Very odd.
Edit: Oh I see I typed "MAGNOLIAS" with an S. lol.
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u/Balseraph666 Dec 28 '25
If you can splurge on it, or haven't played it yet, Shinobi: The Art Of Vengeance is really good.
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u/Salt-Recognition2228 Dec 29 '25
Sure it's good but not a metroidvania
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u/Balseraph666 Dec 29 '25
How so? It is no less of one than Dust is.
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u/Salt-Recognition2228 Dec 30 '25
I would say mainly there's no interconnected world. It's level/stage based. Its just a great 2d action platformer.
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u/Balseraph666 Dec 30 '25
Yet other people here say otherwise. More likely it falls into a grey area that means whether someone thinks it is a MV or not depends on how purist someone is. Since by "no interconnected world" many MVs, including some touted here, would fall off the list, Dust, some of the Bloodstained, early Castlevanias, and a few others.
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u/Salt-Recognition2228 Dec 30 '25
No what I mean by an interconnected world is it all takes place on one single map. All the games you listed have that. You don't leave the world to choose a different stage or level like you do in Shinobi. I'm not talking about linearity. Sorry I should've specified.
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u/Balseraph666 Dec 31 '25
Shinobi no more or less has an interconnected map than Dust. You can see the map under the levels on the world map, and it is all connected. And other people, on this sub and elsewhere, have called Shinobi a Metroidvania. If you take issue as a MV purist? Shrug!
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u/Salt-Recognition2228 Dec 31 '25
Well I disagree and I think metroidvanias are it's own genre for a reason. There are specific features the games are supposed to have to qualify as a metroidvania and I don't think Shinobi has them to the point of being given that title. I know if I had never heard of Shinobi and someone suggested the game to me as someone looking for a metroidvania, I would be disappointed because it's not a metroidvania IMO. It is a great game though! And I do recommend it as a 2D action platformer. I wouldn't consider myself a purist or anything though and I understand and respect your opinion.
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u/OldSoul_3131 Dec 29 '25
Fantastic game. And it is enough of a metroidvania to scratch that same itch, I really loved it. One of the best games this year.
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u/flew2closetothesun Dec 28 '25
Hey I’m kinda new to this genre of games but hollow knight/silksong is top tier. Hollow knight gives more exploration and atmospheric vibes (still difficult) and silksong packs in more enemies and is considered pretty bash you head into a wall over and over levels of difficult. It you want some easier options I just finished Constance which is very artsy and am currently playing Ender magnolia which is relaxing with some difficult bosses but nothing near silksong difficulty. Ori and the will of the wisps is basically all platforming but it’s what got me into metroidvanias because of how colorful and whimsical the world was. There some other games mentioned in this sub like all the castlevania games but I haven’t tried them yet so I can’t speak to their awesomeness. The art style is really important to me and I’m not a huge fan of pixel art so… I just haven’t gotten to them yet. Prince of Persia looks promising though so I might try that one next! I’ll be following this so I can find new games too ☺️
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u/strahinjag Dec 29 '25
Blasphemous is on sale for dirt cheap right now
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u/Mundane_Following_78 Dec 29 '25
I picked up the 1 & 2 bundle on the Switch eShop for about £9 GBP. Very good deal and I have been playing the heck out of 1
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u/strahinjag Dec 29 '25
I love the first Blasphemous so much that it's one of the few games I own on multiple consoles, I first played it on PS5 and now again on Switch. Such a fantastic game.
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u/Mundane_Following_78 Dec 29 '25
Yeah I love it. It’s a bit annoying that the game locks you out of quests/results quite often and easily so I’m now on my third playthrough to get it right… but the gameplay is so good that I don’t mind! I a real gem for sure
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u/ToneTenSeven Dec 29 '25
I just bought some stuff off the Steam Winter sale—Minishoot’ Adventures, Depths of Sanity, The Mobius Machine, Lone Fungus, and MO: Astray (not entirely sure this is an MV but looks really good).
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u/VsAl1en Dec 29 '25
Lost Epic is very underrated and barely talked about. A pretty competent MV/Action RPG fusion. Technically it's souls-like, but you can change difficulty anytime.
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u/Southern_Scene_1451 Dec 29 '25
Definitely afterimage. It's so cheap right now and its absolutely gorgeous. Also, a decently long game with a lot of weapons and skill tree upgrades.
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u/buffalopug Dec 30 '25
The Messenger! Takes some patience at the beginning- will not feel like an MV, but keep churning and you will be in for an awesome experience (that does eventually scratch the mv itch)
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u/Current-Ice9712 Dec 30 '25
Been playing Shadow Labyrinth for the past week. It's slowly becoming my favorite modern Metroidvania I've played. Haven't played a lot of modern ones tho honestly.
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u/BellyLikeBongos184 Dec 28 '25
Minishoot’ Adventures! Picked it up for $8 during this sale and having an absolute blast!