The indie gaming landscape in 2024 is a treasure trove for fans of Hollow Knight, Ori, and Celeste. This year, a wave of meticulously crafted metroidvanias and challenging platformers has captured the attention of players seeking atmospheric worlds, tight controls, and deep exploration. Whether you crave intricate combat, evocative art direction, or demanding platforming, these standout titles deliver experiences reminiscent of those genre-defining classics.
Nine Sols: Taopunk Precision and Deflection Mastery
Nine Sols stands out as one of the most ambitious 2D action-platformers released in recent memory. Set in a visually arresting taopunk world, a fusion of Taoist philosophy and cyberpunk aesthetics, Nine Sols emphasizes skillful deflection mechanics over traditional hack-and-slash combat. Every encounter demands timing and precision as you parry enemy attacks to build up energy for devastating special abilities. The hand-drawn animation breathes life into the game’s mysterious environments, while its nonlinear structure rewards exploration much like Hollow Knight. Fans who appreciate methodical combat systems and layered world-building will find Nine Sols especially compelling.
Animal Well: Environmental Puzzles Meet Atmospheric Platforming
Animal Well takes a different approach, focusing on environmental puzzles and discovery within a surreal pixel-art labyrinth. This game forgoes direct combat in favor of clever item-based progression and atmospheric storytelling, echoing the sense of mystery found in Ori’s forests or Celeste’s mountain. Each area is densely packed with secrets that reward experimentation and creative thinking. Animal Well’s minimalist design belies its depth; it’s an ideal pick for players who enjoy unraveling interconnected worlds at their own pace.
Ultros and Blasphemous 2: Psychedelic Artistry vs Gothic Brutality
Ultros is arguably one of the most visually distinctive metroidvanias of 2024. Its psychedelic color palette and organic environments set it apart from more traditional entries in the genre. Exploration is non-linear, with each biome offering new tools that encourage backtracking, mirroring the design philosophies at the heart of Hollow Knight and Ori. Ultros also experiments with narrative delivery, weaving existential themes into its gameplay through cryptic encounters and environmental storytelling.
If you prefer your platformers darker and more punishing, Blasphemous 2 delivers relentless gothic action steeped in religious iconography. Building on its predecessor’s reputation for challenging boss battles, Blasphemous 2 refines its combat system with new weapons, enhanced mobility options, and even deeper lore. The game’s grotesque yet beautiful pixel art style complements its haunting soundtrack, creating an atmosphere that is both oppressive and captivating, a must-play for those who crave difficulty alongside rich world-building.
Comparing 2024’s Top Indie Metroidvanias & Platformers
-
Nine Sols: Features a striking hand-drawn ‘taopunk’ art style blending Taoist and cyberpunk influences. The core gameplay loop revolves around precise parrying and counter-attacks, rewarding mastery of enemy patterns. Expect a high difficulty curve, with challenging bosses and tight platforming.
-
Animal Well: Distinctive for its pixel-art visuals and atmospheric lighting. Gameplay focuses on exploration and puzzle-solving in a mysterious, interconnected world. The difficulty is moderate, emphasizing cleverness and observation over combat.
-
Ultros: Boasts vibrant, psychedelic hand-drawn visuals inspired by surrealism. The gameplay loop mixes exploration, combat, and environmental puzzles, with a unique time-loop mechanic. Difficulty is variable, with some demanding platforming and strategic combat.
-
Blasphemous 2: Showcases dark, detailed pixel art steeped in religious iconography. Core gameplay is combat-heavy Metroidvania, with punishing bosses and intricate platforming. Difficulty is high, catering to players who enjoy tough, methodical challenges.
-
Have a Nice Death: Features stylish, hand-drawn, monochromatic visuals with fluid animation. The core loop is a roguelike action-platformer with fast-paced combat and randomized runs. Difficulty is challenging, especially in later stages and boss fights.
-
Laika: Aged Through Blood: Unique hand-painted visuals with a post-apocalyptic Western flair. Gameplay combines motorbike-based traversal and combat in a ‘motorvania’ structure. Difficulty is moderate to high, with skill-based movement and shooting.
-
Afterimage: Features lush, hand-drawn environments and character designs. The gameplay loop emphasizes exploration, ability upgrades, and fast-paced combat. Difficulty is balanced, with spikes in boss encounters.
-
Moonscars: Dark, painterly pixel art reminiscent of classic oil paintings. The core gameplay is a soulslike Metroidvania with a focus on parries and risk-reward mechanics. Difficulty is very high, demanding precision and patience.
-
The Last Faith: Gothic pixel art with detailed animations and atmospheric environments. The gameplay loop blends Metroidvania exploration with soulslike combat. Difficulty is high, with challenging enemies and intricate level design.
-
Grime: Colors of Rot: Striking 3D art with surreal, grotesque character designs. The core gameplay is a blend of action-platforming and RPG mechanics, with absorption-based combat. Difficulty is high, requiring adaptability and quick reflexes.
Have a Nice Death and Laika: Aged Through Blood, Unique Twists on Classic Formulae
Have a Nice Death injects humor into the roguelike-metroidvania formula by casting players as Death himself navigating the bureaucratic chaos of the afterlife. Its fluid scythe-based combat is reminiscent of Hollow Knight’s precision but adds randomized upgrades to keep each run fresh. The hand-drawn animations are expressive, lending charm to even the grimmest corridors.
Laika: Aged Through Blood, meanwhile, reimagines traversal by combining motorcycle physics with classic side-scrolling action, a rare blend that feels surprisingly intuitive once mastered. Set in a post-apocalyptic desert where anthropomorphic animals fight for survival, Laika balances high-speed stunts with tense shootouts. Its unique movement system encourages creative approaches to both exploration and combat, making it stand out among this year’s best indie releases.
Afterimage, Moonscars, and The Last Faith: Atmospheric Mastery and Artistic Depth
Afterimage is a hand-drawn metroidvania that dazzles with its watercolor visuals and sprawling interconnected world. Drawing inspiration from both Ori’s ethereal landscapes and Hollow Knight’s labyrinthine design, Afterimage invites players to uncover its secrets through fluid movement, dynamic combat, and a robust upgrade system. Its narrative, woven through environmental cues and cryptic dialogue, rewards attentive exploration and appeals to those who appreciate subtle storytelling.
Moonscars takes a darker turn, plunging players into a bleak realm defined by claymation-inspired art and relentless challenge. The game’s Soulslike influences are clear, expect punishing combat where every encounter tests timing and resource management. Moonscars’ unique visual identity sets it apart from other indies in the genre; its shadowy palette and haunting character designs evoke a sense of dread similar to Blasphemous 2 but with its own artistic flair.
The Last Faith merges gothic horror with metroidvania structure, offering tight melee combat alongside ranged spellcasting. Its pixel art environments are lush with detail, echoing the atmospheric density of classic Castlevania titles while introducing modern mechanics such as parries, combo attacks, and nonlinear progression. The Last Faith’s commitment to mature themes and intricate boss fights makes it an essential pick for players seeking depth in both gameplay and narrative.
Grime: Colors of Rot: Evolution of a Cult Classic
The original Grime earned a cult following for its surreal world-building and absorption-based combat system. With Grime: Colors of Rot, the developers expand on this foundation by introducing new biomes, transformative abilities, and even more grotesque enemies. The game’s signature mechanic, absorbing foes to gain powers, returns with added complexity, making each playthrough feel distinct. Its atmospheric score and nightmarish visuals will resonate with fans who loved Hollow Knight’s sense of unease or Celeste’s emotional undertones.
What Makes These 2024 Indie Standouts Unique
-
Afterimage: A visually stunning hand-drawn metroidvania, Afterimage stands out for its lush, painterly environments and deep lore inspired by Eastern mythology. Its intricate upgrade system and non-linear exploration offer a rewarding challenge for players who crave discovery and atmospheric storytelling.
-
Moonscars: Moonscars distinguishes itself with its dark, oil-paint-inspired visuals and a mature, philosophical narrative. The game’s punishing soulslike combat and resurrection mechanic encourage experimentation and mastery, making it ideal for those who appreciate challenging, atmospheric experiences.
-
The Last Faith: Blending gothic horror with metroidvania structure, The Last Faith is notable for its brutal, blood-soaked combat and intricate pixel art. Its blend of melee and ranged weaponry, along with a mysterious, lore-rich world, appeals to fans of both action and exploration.
-
Grime: Colors of Rot: An evolution of the original, Grime: Colors of Rot introduces new biomes, enemies, and abilities within its surreal, shifting world. Its unique absorption mechanic and abstract art direction set it apart, offering a fresh take on metroidvania progression.
-
Nine Sols: Nine Sols fuses Taoist mythology with a ‘taopunk’ aesthetic, featuring precise parry-based combat and hand-drawn animation. Its distinctive setting and focus on deflection mechanics provide a unique twist on traditional action-platformers.
-
Animal Well: Animal Well offers a mysterious pixel-art labyrinth filled with secrets and environmental puzzles. Its non-linear progression and emphasis on curiosity-driven exploration create a sense of wonder reminiscent of classic adventure games.
-
Ultros: Known for its psychedelic visuals and looping world design, Ultros challenges players with environmental puzzles and combat that evolve with each cycle. Its vibrant color palette and unique approach to world-building make it a standout.
-
Blasphemous 2: Blasphemous 2 expands on its predecessor’s brutal combat and religious iconography, offering refined platforming and a deeper narrative. Its grotesque, hand-drawn art and challenging bosses continue to set the standard for dark metroidvanias.
-
Have a Nice Death: This roguelike action-platformer puts players in the role of Death, navigating procedurally generated departments of the underworld. Have a Nice Death is celebrated for its fast-paced combat, dark humor, and expressive animation.
-
Laika: Aged Through Blood: Laika: Aged Through Blood innovates with its motorvania gameplay—combining motorcycle traversal with metroidvania exploration. Its post-apocalyptic western setting and skill-based combat make it a fresh entry in the genre.
Why These Stand Out for Fans of Hollow Knight, Ori and Celeste
This year’s crop of indie games demonstrates just how far the metroidvania genre has come since the days of Hollow Knight’s initial release. Each title on this list brings something fresh, whether it’s Nine Sols’ taopunk precision mechanics or Laika’s inventive traversal, while remaining true to the core values that define great platformers: tight controls, atmospheric world-building, challenging gameplay loops, and a deep sense of discovery.
If you’re searching for your next obsession after conquering Hallownest or scaling Celeste Mountain, these games promise hours of exploration, and plenty of surprises along the way. For more recommendations or in-depth reviews tailored to your playstyle preferences, check out our curated picks on B3Daily. com.
About the Author
