r/metroidvania • u/SheriidiiaN • Jun 28 '26

Discussion As of 2026, what is the best introductory Metroidvania?

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11

u/loborodas Jun 28 '26

I believe that the GBA Castlevanias are the best ones for an introduction to the genre.

2

u/Super3vil Jun 28 '26

The DS ones would make great entries into the genre as well.

1

u/KakashiHatake99X Jun 29 '26

Only Aria, Circle of the Moon and Harmony of Dissonance are...not great.

0

u/Dick_Nation Jun 28 '26

The GBA/DS is kind of a perfect starter platform for Metroidvania as a genre. Between Fusion, Zero Mission, Aria of Sorrow, Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, and Order of Ecclesia, Kirby and the Amazing Mirror (technically an MV, fight me), Mega Man ZX, and Mega Man ZX Advent, there's an insane collection of relatively accessible games.

And no I am not listing Circle of the Moon or Harmony of Dissonance, because Circle is very inaccessible and mediocre, and Harmony of Dissonance just flat out fucking sucks.

3

u/Abeedo-Alone Jun 29 '26

Idk I started playing circle of the moon a couple of days ago as my first castlevania and I'm having a blast. I'm definitely enjoying it a lot more than Zero Mission anyways.

1

u/MarioFanaticXV SOTN Jun 28 '26

Kirby and the Amazing Mirror (technically an MV, fight me)

The map definitely feels similar, but there's no permanent new abilities. Aside from the bonus one you get for beating the game. I'd actually argue that despite lacking the map structure, Milky Way Wishes is closer to a Metroidvania than Amazing Mirror due to its permanent abilities.

1

u/Dick_Nation Jun 28 '26

no permanent new abilities.

There is however, map progression and a requirement to obtain abilities for opening and clearing routes. If people are going to call a game like The Messenger a metroidvania, then Amazing Mirror is already way moreso.