Super Metroid Animal well Castlevania: SOTN

I haven’t seen it mentioned and granted I’ve not played it but I’ve watched both be played and Blasphemy 1 and 2 seems really, really good.

Castlevanias: Aria of Sorrow, Order of Eclessia, Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin (no, no Symphony on my top-top list, it’s awesome, but not that awesome);

Ori and the Blind Forest mentioned already;

Axiom Verge 1 and 2;

Some call it heresy, but… Dark Souls! bit harder, bit turn-based (combat, aye, heresy x2, but stamina system makes it turn based for me, thats wild)… but running all around, having maze with many options, each boss unlocks new paths and parts of map… 200% metroidvania to me.

Ori series, specifically Ori and the Will of the Wisps. It’s my absolute favorite game of all time. It’s got the amazing visuals and insanely good OST, crisp and satisfying platforming and combat, engaging and unique bossfights, incredibly gripping story, good difficulty settings and going for 100% is rewarding and not nearly as annoying as in many other games. While it may stray a tiny bit from the classic Metroidvania formula I think it still does it incredibly well.

Supraland

So many solid suggestions here already. I have a soft spot for the more retro styled games, and despite being short Gato Roboto is one of my favourites. It just feels so good to play.

Super Metroid will always be my favourite. I also enjoyed Axiom Verge and Bloodstained ROTN.

I generally like shorter Metroidvania like Iconoclasts and some of the Shantae series or even Yoku’s Island Express which has some backtracking.

The Metroidvania tag is a bit like Dubstep in music, a lot of those Dubstep tracks aren’t Dubstep but they can still be fun for some people.

Guacomelee should get more love, it’s a really stylish game and there is even coop if you want to play together with someone.

Ghost Song is one of my favorites that doesn’t look like its been mentioned yet.

La mulana 1 and 2, animal well for puzzles.

Metroid dread, highly recommend for combat.

Dead cells and rouge legacy two for rouge lite bits

terraria for minecraft + metroidvania

time spinner, bloodsworn for more typical metroidvania

the old castlevania games are on steam, so there is that

almost metroidvania suggestion is Outer wilds. Progression based learning. just not in a 2d plane and no fighting.

Just so it’s not forgotten to time I want to recommend AM2R (Another Metroid 2 Remake). It’s basically what if Metroid 2 was made in the Super Metroid engine.

I’d recommend any of the 2D Metroids, but if you’re going to play Metroid 2, that’s the version to play.

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow

I was shocked to see no mention of Ori in any of the comments here before I realized you had already recommended it in the OP. I have no issues with seconding that, the Ori series is really good.

I don’t know if it’s “favorite”, but an old classic was Aquaria. It had a surprising amount of content, even to the point of several secret bosses, and an absolutely excellent soundtrack. Sadly, the main guy behind it is dead now. Ori was also fantastic.

Aria of Sorrow