Metroidvanias are generally quite short experiences, mainly due to the lack of AAA options in the genre, and the open-ended progression system that allows for more skilled players to steamroll through the content.
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However, despite the fact that you can get through a lot of ten stories in record time, that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing left to do when the credits roll.
There is a cavalcade of Metroidvania titles that go out of their way to backload the experience with oodles of end-game content. Which is always appreciated, as you never want to leave a beautiful Metroidvania world without squeezing every last bit of enjoyment out of it.
So, in the spirit of getting your money’s worth, here are some Metroidvania titles with extensive end-game content.
Alongside games that offer a wealth of optional side content, we will also be considering games that have great NG+ modes.
10Animal Well
A Mysterious Menagerie
Animal Well
We kick off with a recent Metroidvania hit that may not be the longest game by any stretch. But, when it comes to additional content that isn’t required to roll credits, Animal Well has a bounty of secrets and mysteries for players to uncover.
Which more or less all revolve around collecting the various eggs dotted around the mysterious menagerie you find yourself in.
Thanks to the more sandbox feel to the world after the credits roll, the tougher puzzles courtesy of the bunnies,and the Metroidbrainia elementsthat make each discovery so damn rewarding, I would argue that Animal Well really only truly begins to show its quality when you’re technically done.
I will concede that if you’re just looking for satisfying end-game backtracking and clean-up, this ain’t it, as it’s much more taxing. But that’s what makes this process so memorable and special.
So Good, You’ll Do It Again
As mentioned, we will be considering games that offer rewarding and worthwhile NG+ modes, and GRIME is certainly a game that offers that, and then some.
You get all the NG+ staples, like harder boss fights with new attack patterns and the ability to upgrade your skills to their maximum, but that would be selling this NG+ mode short.
This challenging Souls-like ups the ante with new bosses, new interactions that add to the game’s overall lore, and, obviously, every boss has a massively spongy health bar.
It’s everything you would want when taking another laparound a punishing Souls-Like world, and it’s one you should absolutely take on when the credits roll.
8Blasphemous
No Gods, No Masters
Blasphemous
If you’re in any way connected to or know how Catholicism works, you’ll know that mass can be a long and dreary affair. When it comes to Blasphemous, the religious themes and length of the experience remain, but thankfully, this gritty Souls-Like Metroidvania is far from dreary.
The main game of Blasphemous is a game you’ll likely roll credits on within 10 hours, or maybe a little longer if you’re a Souls novice. However, the game’s extras extend this runtime significantly with side quest content and collectibles.
The side quests are tough nuts to crack, and you’ll spend quite some time finding all the Bile Vessels, optional bosses, and upgrades. Then, when you’re done, you can get started on the sequel.
7Afterimage
The Land of Goliaths
Afterimage
If you’re a fan of how Nier: Automata handled storytelling by having you play the game over and over again for new endings, then you’ll love Afterimage.
It’s a competent Metroidvania that feels like a lovechild of Ender Lillies and Hollow Knight, albeit with an art style that is a lot more bright and fantastical than those two inspirations.
However, despite not pushing the boat out with core mechanics, the End-Game content certainly does.
This game offers ten unique endings, allows you to play as new characters in the NG+, and ties up loose threads in the story perfectly; even if you don’t fancy another loop around, there is a wealth of secrets and collectibles within this huge map that will keep you occupied for hours on end.
It’s a game that certainly doesn’t get the love it deserves, and if you’re at a loose end, I would suggest jumping into this one and experiencing this indie gem for yourself.
6Monster Sanctuary
Pokémon Eat Your Heart Out
Monster Sanctuary
Creature Tamers tend to be pretty good valuefor optional and End-Game content. Mainly because there are usually so many monsters to tame that you couldn’t possibly collect them all during your standard playthrough.
This is true of Monster Sanctuary, which is admittedly pretty light on Metroidvania design choices, but there’s just enough to sate the appetite of Metroidvania and creature-tamer fans alike.
The main story will likely take around fifteen hours, but you could easily double this runtime by pushing for max level with all your monsters, participating in the Infinity Arena, finding all the secrets in this expansive world, and finding all outfits and upgrades.
It’s not quite Pokemon levels of End-Game content, as the roster isn’t that stacked, but it’s more than enough to keep you hooked long after the mandatory stuff is done and dusted.
5Salt and Sanctuary
2D Dark Souls
Salt and Sanctuary
Anyone who has played a game like Dark Souls will know that beating the final boss is a wonderful achievement worth celebrating. But it doesn’t mean you’ve conqueredall the challenges the game has to offer.
Mainly due to the fact that a lot of the optional bosses and areas in these games are even tougher than the streamlined path of progression to the end.
This is something that the 2D Souls-Like Salt and Sanctuary understands all too well, and throws players into a Dark Souls-inspired adventure where there are a wealth of optional bosses to fight, weapons and items to find, and secrets to be uncovered.
Plus, alongside this optional content, there is also a typical Souls game NG+ mode, where every boss grows stronger, the world gets tougher to navigate, and you get the option to try out new classes and playstyles to keep things feeling fresh.
In short, it’s as close to 2D Dark Souls as we will likely ever get. But that’s okay, because Salt and Sanctuary is a masterpiece in its own right.
4Rabi Ribi
Deceptively Cute & Colorful
It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Rabi Ribi offers such an extensive end-game that it actually supersedes the main game content by some distance.
To paint a picture, you’re able to complete the main game in about 10 hours, but you’ll need to commit to three times as long if you want to be labeled a completionist, and that’s being conservative.
The NG+ offers an alternative rules playthrough, which is much harder than the first time around. There are a wealth of difficulty modes, and challenge runs that players need to take on.
And even if you don’t fancy any of that, the standard post-game still offers a wealth of content regardless.
Provided you get a kick out of masochistic difficulty runs, sequence breaking, and colorful, pastel visuals, you’re sure to have a blast with this one for a long time before you need to freshen up with a new game to play.
3Environmental Station Alpha
NES-Era-Inspired Punishment
I was torn between including La Mulana or ESA here, as both have rather similar end game experiences, but in the end, I think ESA deserves the spot, as it’s a little more accessiblewithout being any less demonically frustrating.
It’s a game that really gets a kick out of being unnecessarily obtuse, but this makes actually solving a puzzle or deciphering an alien code feel all the sweeter.
The main game is no walk in the park with tough boss fights, labyrinthian map design, and more. But the end-game is where this is dialed up to eleven, and the game shows you its teeth.
It’s one where you need to enjoy punishing difficulty to get anything out of. But if you’re into hard-as-nails Metroidvanias, then ESA is truly an unmissable experience.
2Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Modern Indie Castlevania
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
If you’re a fan of Castlevania, then you’ll likely be very familiar with Bloodstained, as it leans very heavily into the Vania side of the equation. Effectively serving as a modern successor to Symphony of the Night.
And much like its inspiration, you can play this one as a casual fan and get a lot out of the experience, or go for broke and squeeze every ounce of enjoyment out of this indie Castlevania-inspired gem.
If you want to get the most out of this modern Metroidvania classic, you’ll want to check out the NG+ Mode, as well as the built-in speedrun and boss rush modes. You can unlock the secret boss fight against OD, get all the shards, explore the huge map, and then you can check out classic and bloodless mode.
In short, there’s a lot of replay value here, so if you’re still waiting for the next good Castlevania game, as it turns out, it already exists.
1Hollow Knight
An Obvious Winner
Hollow Knight
When it comes to End-Game content in abundance, you just cannot compete with Hollow Knight. It’s a game that offers a solid main game, but truthfully, the real challenge begins when you finally beat the Hollow Knight.
This begins your quest to collect all the Mask Shards, acquire all the charms, speak to Mr Mushroom in all his haunts, deal with the Grimm Troupe, and clamber up the devastatingly difficult White Palace.
But, even if you do all of that, this will only serve as an appetizer for the devastatingly difficult Pantheons found in Godhome, which will have you face off against every boss in the game, including some new and altered bosses back to back.
It demands absolute mastery and perfection. And then, if you think you have combat down to a tee, you can always take on the platforming hell that is the Path of Pain.
There simply is no match for the sheer amount of things to do in Hallownest. So, if you still somehow haven’t experienced this epic adventure, grab your nail and be the bravest little knight you can be.
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Hollow Knight is great and all, but there’s life beyond Hallownest, I assure you.
