The Best Metroidvania Games for Mac OS

Update : The Doors That Led to Nowhere added at rank #45.
1

Hollow Knight (2017)

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96
Review score
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Xbox One Linux Mac OS PC Windows

Explore the depths of a forgotten kingdom teeming with cute but creepy creatures and epic adventure in the classic side-scrolling action game, Hollow Knight. Tightly tuned controls allow you to dash, dodge and slash your way through ferocious beasts and ancient knights. With over 130 enemies, 30 epic bosses and a vast interconnected world to explore, every playthrough is unique. Top it off with hauntingly beautiful visuals and an evocative soundtrack, and you've found your new go-to game.


What we like:
  • Beautiful and breathtaking visuals and soundtrack
  • Non-linear gameplay with exploration and challenging platforming
  • Rich lore and vast world with secrets
  • Difficulty offers a satisfying challenge
  • Remarkable amount of content for the price
What could be improved:
  • Difficulty, not for everyone

  • metroidvania
  • boss
  • boss-fight
  • platform
  • exploration
  • hand-drawn
  • difficult
  • cute
  • bug
  • action-adventure
  • 2d
  • frame-by-frame
  • souls
  • fight
  • difficult-to-pull-off

2

Monster Sanctuary (2020)

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84
Review score
Logo of Monster Sanctuary Screenshot of Monster Sanctuary Screenshot of Monster Sanctuary Screenshot of Monster Sanctuary

PC Windows Nintendo Switch Playstation 4 Xbox One Mac OS Linux

Monster Sanctuary is a retro-inspired RPG where you collect over 100 unique monsters to fight alongside you in strategic turn-based combat. The game offers a huge world to explore and highly customizable equipment for each monster. With free DLCs and alternate music tracks, there's always something new to experience. Jump in and start your journey as a Monster Keeper now!


What we like:
  • Intricate teambuilding and turn-based gameplay
  • Huge map with many secret locations and over 100 monsters
  • No required grind, relies mostly on monster synergy and tactics
  • Highly customizable equipment and skill trees for each monster
  • Generous amount of content, including free DLCs and alternate music tracks
What could be improved:
  • Game may be too difficult for players expecting a Pokemon-like experience
  • Story and general progression may not do a great job of directing players towards building monster synergies
  • Sudden difficulty spike relative to the rest of the story may turn some players off
  • Plot is basic and nothing breathtaking

  • turn-based
  • metroidvania
  • rpg
  • battle
  • japanese
  • pixel
  • exploration
  • collector
  • creature
  • jrpg
  • combat
  • platform
  • fight
  • tactical
  • 2d

3

GRIME (2021)

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87
Review score
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PC Windows j Mac OS Nintendo Switch Xbox One Xbox Series X Playstation 5 Playstation 4 stadia

Dive into the twisted world of GRIME, a challenging yet rewarding action-adventure RPG. Absorb your enemies, use their traits against them, and explore surreal environments. Face the unknown, unlock new abilities, and indulge in death-defying combat. Are you ready to conquer this world of anatomical horror and intrigue?


What we like:
  • Compelling and twisted world
  • Satisfying and responsive combat
  • Engaging exploration and movement
  • Unique parry and absorption mechanics
  • Generous progression system
What could be improved:
  • Lacks a strong narrative
  • Map functionality could be improved
  • Occasional sound glitches during boss battles

  • souls
  • surreal
  • boss
  • metroidvania
  • dark
  • platform
  • action-adventure
  • 2.5d
  • combat
  • boss-fight
  • exploration
  • rpg
  • scroller
  • cinematic
  • action

4

La-Mulana 2 (2018)

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82
Review score
Logo of La-Mulana 2 Screenshot of La-Mulana 2 Screenshot of La-Mulana 2 Screenshot of La-Mulana 2

vita wii Linux Nintendo Switch Playstation 4 Xbox One PC Windows Mac OS

Explore sprawling ancient ruins filled with mind-boggling mysteries, items, and monsters in La-Mulana 2. With no tutorial or sidekick to hold your hand, it's up to you to uncover the truth of the ruins' ancient civilization while fighting off challenging guardians. This indie game offers tremendous replayability, new weapons, widescreen support, and a beautifully rendered world. Will you be the one to uncover the secrets of Eg-Lana?


What we like:
  • Fair puzzles
  • Great pacing and challenge
  • Fantastic pixel art
  • Beginner friendly
  • Packed with puzzles and obstacles
What could be improved:
  • Encourages note-taking outside of the game
  • Starting maps offer almost no information

  • platform
  • metroidvania
  • puzzle
  • 2d
  • exploration
  • souls
  • remake
  • precision
  • retro
  • difficult
  • action-adventure
  • pixel
  • platform-adventure
  • controller-support
  • mythology

5

Astalon: Tears Of The Earth (2021)

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86
Review score
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Xbox One Linux Mac OS PC Windows

Astalon: Tears of the Earth is a post-apocalyptic action-adventure game full of challenging platforming, epic bosses, and captivating storytelling. Control a party of three heroes with unique skills and abilities, explore a tower full of secrets and hidden artifacts, and embrace death as an opportunity to upgrade your characters and progress further. With retro graphics and music that nail the 8-bit vibe, Astalon delivers an unforgettable journey that will appeal to fans of classic NES-era games and modern side-scrollers alike.


What we like:
  • Smooth gameplay
  • Retro graphic style and music
  • Interesting map full of shortcuts and secrets
  • Fun to switch between different characters
  • Captivating story
What could be improved:
  • Forced backtracking every time you die
  • QOL upgrades earned too late in the game
  • Items in shop have no description
  • Dungeons feel repetitive
  • Bosses are mostly easy

  • platform
  • retro
  • metroidvania
  • fantasy
  • exploration
  • 2d
  • pixel
  • boss
  • post-apocalyptic
  • chiptune
  • action-adventure
  • old-school
  • anime
  • magic
  • demons

6

Haiku, the Robot (2022)

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81
Review score
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Mac OS PC Windows Nintendo Switch

Haiku is a captivating 2D post-apocalyptic adventure game where you play as a little robot. Your mission is to save the world from the virus that has corrupted your fellow robots by exploring and gathering new abilities, bopping baddies, and chatting with locals. Enjoy simple combat and puzzle-forward platforming with occasional boss fights, plus subtle tweaks that make for a satisfying experience.

Buy

What we like:
  • Familiar combination of simple combat and puzzle-forward platforming
  • Boss fights well balanced
  • Excellent music and pixel animation
  • Deeply satisfying movement
  • Non-invasive yet worthwhile story
What could be improved:
  • Not challenging enough for those who crave Souls-like difficulty
  • Level design may not compare to Hollow Knight

  • metroidvania
  • platform
  • 2d
  • pixel
  • nonlinear
  • lore
  • scroller
  • dark
  • atmospheric
  • exploration
  • open-world
  • retro
  • cute
  • build-up
  • fantasy

7

Blasphemous (2019)

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88
Review score
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PC Windows Playstation 4 Linux Mac OS Xbox One Nintendo Switch

"Blasphemous" is a gripping game that transports you to a twisted world of religion and horror. You play as The Penitent One, the last survivor of the massacre of the 'Silent Sorrow', and must use devastating combos and brutal executions to smite grotesque monsters and titanic bosses. With non-linear gameplay and a variety of different landscapes to explore, you must uncover the many secrets hidden deep inside this nightmarish world to find redemption and break your eternal damnation.


What we like:
  • Great graphics and artistic design
  • Challenging and rewarding combat
  • Immersive and gruesome enemy character design
What could be improved:
  • Obscure and difficult progression
  • Hieroglyphic map design
  • Unpractical fast travel system
  • Alleviating penalty for dying required to hunt out each individual location at which you died and recover all of your corpses

  • metroidvania
  • souls
  • gore
  • pixel
  • platform
  • gothic
  • non-linear
  • dark
  • fantasy
  • violent
  • fast-paced
  • blood
  • 2d
  • boss

8

Phoenotopia: Awakening (2020)

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87
Review score
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Nintendo Switch PC Windows Mac OS Playstation 4 Xbox One Xbox Series X

Embark on a grand adventure in Phoenotopia! An action-adventure puzzle platformer inspired by the great classics. Meet charming townsfolk, brave the dungeons, and thwart evil in your quest to save your family.


  • japanese
  • metroidvania
  • fishing
  • rpg
  • platform
  • adventure
  • jrpg
  • dungeon
  • pixel
  • action-adventure
  • single-player
  • puzzle
  • typical
  • tale
  • 2d

9

Dark Light (2022)

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78
Review score
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Xbox One Xbox Series X Playstation 5 Playstation 4 PC Windows Mac OS

Mio is a young girl surrounded by death, and after an unexpected accident, she finds out where people go after they die. Maybe Heaven, or Hell...or an Underworld full of demons and mysteries.


  • souls
  • metroidvania
  • platform
  • cyberpunk
  • dark
  • gore
  • post-apocalyptic
  • horror
  • sci-fi
  • atmospheric
  • 3d
  • violent
  • zombies
  • puzzle
  • adventure

10

Fearmonium (2021)

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86
Review score
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Playstation 4 Playstation 5 Xbox Series X Xbox One Nintendo Switch Mac OS PC Windows m

Fearmonium is a psychedelic metroidvania where suspense intertwines with humour. Beginning the game as an unpleasant memory, you must progress and become a true phobia by breaking through all boundaries to uncover the most hidden corners of Max's mind.

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  • metroidvania
  • 2d
  • narration
  • multiple-endings
  • story
  • character
  • atmospheric
  • psychedelic
  • historical
  • action-adventure

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