With Hollow Knight: Silksong bringing the gaming world to its knees upon release, causing mass sleep deprivation in its players, and apparently taking over the indie games sphere at the moment, it’s safe to say this buggy little metroidvania has thrust the genre into the spotlight once again. 

With that said, I think it’s also fair that using that popularity and the unstoppable hype train that is Silksong to boost smaller indie metroidvanias is one trend that I’m willing to jump on. Team Cherry do not need more coverage, but there are many metroidvania developers out there whose games deserve your love. If I can borrow some of the Silksong adoration to get eyes on them, then I’m willing to break my rules for those developers. 

Here are 10 upcoming or already released indie metroidvanias that you should check out if Silksong is your idea of a good time, and you want some more metroidvania fun to prolong the brutal, 2D platforming party.

Layers Deep

Set in the delightfully Fall-centric world of Old Antrum, Layers Deep will see you take on the persona of an onion, just sprouted into a world of chaos and ruin, needing to fight your way to the surface to escape rotting without ever seeing the light of day. Layers Deep is entirely hand-drawn and hand-animated, so the vibes are utterly immaculate. 

There’s no release date for Layers Deep just yet, and no demo either (trust me, I’m eagerly awaiting the news that one is coming!) so we might be in for a bit of a wait for this one, but the developers are incredibly active on social media (and lovely, as a bonus), so regular updates are almost guaranteed as development progresses.

YesterSol

Gameplay in YesterSol revolves around your trusty SolSpear. Use it to navigate the corridors by turning it into a platform, throw it and then recall it, and use it as your weapon as you hop and slash through this gorgeous little metroidvania to save your people from the Culex threat. YesterSol is entirely created by a solo developer, too, so it really is a work of art and passion. 

Although there isn’t a release date for YesterSol yet, there is a demo available to download and play through Steam, and it’s well worth diving into if you’re looking for a new metroidvana fix. The developer is active on social media as well, so regular updates are incoming almost daily.

GIGASWORD

With plague and pestilence threatening the people of Thoenhart, there’s only one course of action left in GIGASWORD: A hero must enter the tower of Nestrium, battle their way through, and retrieve the ‘God crystal’ Gnosis. GIGASWORD is a throwback to the classic metroidvanias of old in both art style and sound design, and it’s a hugely enjoyable experience. 

Good news time: Not only does GIGASWORD have a release date that’s coming very soon (October 2), but there’s also a demo to play in the meantime, which is enough to whet the whistle and really get you excited for more of this 2D pixel, platforming good time. 

SHADE Protocol

Of all the apocalyptic scenarios that have ever been discussed, and there have been many, sentient metal taking over the world and turning against humanity isn’t one that I’ve heard, but it’s the exact story behind SHADE Protocol. This gorgeous metroidvania lets you shift between two modes (SHADE and DAWN), each of which has its own unique gameplay and mechanics to contend with. 

SHADE Protocol, sadly, does not have a release date or demo to get excited for just yet, but the developers are always active on social media, posting development updates, behind-the-scenes snippets of what’s to come, and Wendy’s memes, so there’s plenty to take note of while we wait.

LUCID

If you’re looking for a game that will challenge you as much as it makes you nostalgic for the classic games of old, LUCID is a solid bet. Of all the metroidvanias on the list, I’m looking forward to this one as much as I am dreading having to get through the boss fights, because it looks like it’s going to be hell on my aging fingers. You need to be on it, in LUCID, because tight movement and quick action are the name of the game. 

LUCID is still labeled as ‘coming soon’ on Steam, so there’s no release date to count down to at the moment, and there’s no demo available to whet your whistle either. However, if you want sneak peeks of what’s to come and some delightful conversation, follow the developers on social media.

Solateria

I’ve never been very good at parry-based combat; I can’t get the timing right, instead being reduced to wildly swinging whatever weapon I happen to be carrying at the time. Solateria focuses on parry-based combat, and for that reason, it might be one of the most brutal metroidvanias I’ve tried in the last few months. However, it has a gorgeous hand-drawn art style that I can’t help but love, so I keep going back for more. 

While Solateria doesn’t have a fixed release date just yet, it is due for release at some point in Q1 (Spring) 2026, so there isn’t too long to wait before you can get your hands on this stunning work of art. There’s also a demo available to try while you wait, so that’s a bonus. 

SOULGRAVE

SOULGRAVE is a cross between a roguelike and a metroidvania, with each run dropping you in a procedurally generated labyrinth of corridors and forcing you to fight your way out. While not a ‘pure’ metroidvania, it’s still utterly stunning, with a dark and almost gothic vibe that will always be worth a few more runs. Plus, you get to swing a scythe around, and that’s never a bad thing. 

With no demo or release date yet, SOULGRAVE is one of those games that has me staring longingly at the Steam page while I wait to see an update from the developers on social media, but it’s one that’s definitely worth watching for any fan of the genres it combines, or heavy metal, for that matter. 

Lone Fungus

Going back underground for this one, Lone Fungus has you playing as an adorable green mushroom who is far more deadly than he first appears to be. Navigating the maze of tunnels and spaces beneath the earth, you can use relics and spells to take out the enemy and progress, and countless difficulty tweaks make this metroidvania accessible to even the clumsiest of players (me, I’m talking about me).

Best of all, Lone Fungus is already fully released and available in its entirety through Steam, so you can dive straight into the action. I really want to make a ‘fun guy’ joke, but I can’t seem to fit it in. The thought was there, though.

Frogreign

From a fun guy (there it is!) to a frog whose tongue works as a grappling hook, Frogreign is a metroidvania that will have you hopping (sorry) for joy as you swing through the tight corridors of vegetation, trying to find your lost sister. You’re not alone, though, with a wisp as your companion who helps to guide and battle; there’s something so completely charming about this indie gem.

With a release date to be announced and no demo available to play as of yet, you’ll need to wishlist and follow Frogreign so that you get updated as development progresses. You can also follow the developers on socials to get behind-the-scenes sneak peeks of their work.

Dewborne Dawn

When it comes to metroidvanias, it can be difficult to manage the constant movement and battle with a story, but Dewborne Dawn is a hand-drawn example of a developer striking that balance to perfection. It’s all about finding your own way forward in this metroidvania, with no fixed paths and countless secret routes waiting to be discovered. And, if you’re unwilling to go alone, you can form a party of NPCs to aid you on your journey. 

If you’re excited for Dewborne Dawn (which you should be), you’ll need to wait a bit longer to find out when you can play. There’s no release date just yet, and there’s no demo to play, but the developers post frequent updates on social media, so you should definitely go and give them a follow.