Your favorite Metroidvania games

[Gairon_EX]

Shantae is the first thing that comes to mind. It has lots of charm, is surprisingly challenging, and overall fun to play.

[Bkstunt]

Good question!

Probably Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow. The story and art style are hard to beat... although I'm a pretty big fan of all the Castlevania Metroidvanias...

Also immensely enjoyed Cave Story. Have to play Valdis Story still. Tried Guacamelee but it really hasn't stuck with me for some reason.

[Jarno]

i would say my favorite is metroid prime 1, but since its 3d. i gues i doesnt count so ill say Super Metroid

[Nathan]

Like Bkstunt my favorite Metroidvania is also Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow on the GBA. That game really 'clicked' for me for one reason or another. I loved the story and the soul collecting. I also think the overall flow of the game is amazing and well tuned.

I highly recommend it to all lovers of Metroidvania-style games. Don't be put off by the fact that this is on the humble GBA... it's epic!

[SHODANFreeman]

i would say my favorite is metroid prime 1, but since its 3d. i gues i doesnt count so ill say Super Metroid

If we wanted to count 3D ones, I'd say the Batman Arkham games are pretty stellar.

[Kein]

Well, the first ever actual "metroidvania" games i played were Castlevania 2: SQ (thanks to that game - whole term "metroidvanai" exist) and Blaster Master 2. Both were absolutely fun with amazing OST and both still in my favs. I never personally got around playing Metroid much, wasn't my kind of game for some reason.

Then there were a lot of games people for some reason did put into "metroidvania" category, while most of them weren't, actually. Having the ability to backtrack or revisit levels does not really make a game "metroidvania". Skipping most of these I can mention (no particular order):

Symphony of the Night
The follow-up Castlevania games on GBA/DS
Cave Story
Valdis Story
Aquaria

I didn't like La-Mulana because of horrible level design and too simplistic gameplay/battle system. I don't consider Dust: AET metroidvania, but I loved it. Not sure what to think about FEZ ad Full Bore since they are very puzzle-oriented game with little to none platforming but I guess they counts (???). Never got around playing Eternal Daughter, not sure why. Also, very sad we will never see "Nothing" ever being made.

Upcoming games:

Iconoclasts
Deer God
Legend of Iya
Timespinner
Bezel
Owlboy (so much for 2012 promised release huh)

[MorningStar]

It's a really fun game, but does it really qualify as a metroidvania game?

I've always assumed it needs the following to qualify:
- one huge (theoretically) always accessible world
- key items that have you run back and forth
- 2D platformer
- Bosses

No idea if there is an official list out there. o.ô

[inclining]

No idea if there is an official list out there. o.ô

Official, no, since there's no Metroidvania governing body. But this site is probably about as close as you'll get:

http://www.metroidvania.com/2014/07/11/welcome-to-metroidvania-com/

[SHODANFreeman]

No idea if there is an official list out there. o.ô

Official, no, since there's no Metroidvania governing body. But this site is probably about as close as you'll get:

http://www.metroidvania.com/2014/07/11/welcome-to-metroidvania-com/

Can we elect officials to some kind of Metroidvania Committee?

[MaxwellDemonic]

Upcoming games:

Iconoclasts
Deer God
Legend of Iya
Timespinner
Bezel
Owlboy (so much for 2012 promised release huh)

I'm surprised you didn't mention Axiom Verge. That game looks like it's going to be fantastic. It won one of the ten IGN E3 "Best in Show" awards.