Games Like La-Mulana

The long-awaited sequel to La-Mulana, La-Mulana 2 follows Lumisa Kosugi as she explores the ancient ruins of La-Mulana. Desperate to find the cause of the recent slew of monsters appearing from the ruins, Lumisa discovers the "other" La-Mulana: the ruins known as Eg-Lana.

Why similar: Metroidvania 42.4%, Difficult 18.4%, Platformer 11.3%, Exploration 5.5%, Puzzle 5.1%

Why You'll Like It: The direct sequel offers the same level of cryptic, puzzle-heavy exploration and punishing difficulty as the original.

Explore a dense, interconnected labyrinth, and unravel its many secrets. Collect items to manipulate your environment in surprising and meaningful ways. Encounter beautiful and unsettling creatures, as you attempt to survive what lurks in the dark. There is more than what you see.

Why similar: Metroidvania 55%, Platformer 12.3%, Exploration 7.9%, Puzzle 6.7%, Puzzle Platformer 3.6%

Why You'll Like It: A dense, atmosphere-rich puzzle-Metroidvania that emphasizes exploration and non-linear discovery over hand-holding.

Explore an abandoned space station in this retro-themed explorative action platformer.

Why similar: Metroidvania 57%, Platformer 10.6%, Difficult 8.4%, Great Soundtrack 7.2%, Pixel Graphics 3.5%

Why You'll Like It: A challenging Metroidvania that rewards players for finding obscure, hidden secrets within a retro-inspired world.

Explore and uncover the mystery of a surreal alien world by blasting aliens and glitching your environment in this intense retro side-scrolling action/adventure.

Why similar: Metroidvania 60.7%, Great Soundtrack 10.8%, Platformer 10.1%, Difficult 3.4%, Pixel Graphics 2.5%

Why You'll Like It: Captures the classic, alien-world exploration feel of the genre with unique, game-breaking tools.

Explore a land filled with lost legends, ancient powers, and ferocious monsters in TUNIC, an isometric action game about a small fox on a big adventure.

Why similar: Metroidvania 52.7%, Difficult 21.8%, Exploration 11.2%, Puzzle 9.4%, Indie 1.8%

Why You'll Like It: It shares the same philosophy of knowledge-based progression, where the player must decipher a mysterious world to unlock its secrets.

Run, jump, shoot, fly and explore your way through a massive action-adventure reminiscent of classic 8- and 16-bit games.

Why similar: Metroidvania 45.2%, Platformer 15.9%, Great Soundtrack 15%, Difficult 5.5%, Indie 2.8%

Why You'll Like It: A foundational indie classic that perfectly balances platforming, exploration, and a memorable soundtrack.

Forge your own path in Hollow Knight! An epic action adventure through a vast ruined kingdom of insects and heroes. Explore twisting caverns, battle tainted creatures and befriend bizarre bugs, all in a classic, hand-drawn 2D style.

Why similar: Metroidvania 47.1%, Difficult 15.9%, Great Soundtrack 13.6%, Platformer 11.4%, Exploration 4%

Why You'll Like It: Features a vast, interconnected world with challenging combat and deep, environmental storytelling.

Assume the role of Wyatt in this Action/Exploration Platformer as you explore the ruins of a holy city that was lost many years ago. Battle various types of demons, angels, and a new threat known only as the “Ferals”, using swordsmanship, martial arts, and sorcery.

Why similar: Metroidvania 65.2%, Platformer 11.6%, Difficult 7.8%, Great Soundtrack 6.3%, Exploration 2.1%

Why You'll Like It: Features deep combat mechanics and a large, non-linear world to explore.

Castle In The Darkness is a fun and challenging shout out to the early days of video games! It's an action exploration platformer with some RPG elements, much like games from the Castlevania or Metroid series. It's super fast-paced, challenging, and full of secrets!

Why similar: Metroidvania 52.4%, Difficult 15.5%, Platformer 12.9%, Great Soundtrack 5.2%, Retro 2.8%

Why You'll Like It: A fast-paced, retro-inspired action-platformer that is intentionally difficult and full of secrets.

A journey begins... A treacherous tower... Unravel its mysteries!Discover the secrets kept in the long abandoned Tesla Tower!Magnetism and other electromagnetic powers will help you explore a non-linear world of beautiful hand-drawn environments, in a steampunk-inspired vision of old Europe.

Why similar: Metroidvania 40.7%, Platformer 21.1%, Difficult 10.3%, Puzzle 6.9%, Great Soundtrack 4.7%

Why You'll Like It: Focuses heavily on physics-based puzzles and platforming rather than just combat.

Join renegade mechanic Robin and uncover the secrets of a dying planet. Explore a big world filled with intricate puzzles, interesting characters and menacing bosses in a beautiful platform adventure that tells a personal story about faith, purpose and the challenge of helping people.

Why similar: Metroidvania 55.1%, Platformer 11.7%, Great Soundtrack 9.5%, Adventure 4.2%, Pixel Graphics 4.2%

Why You'll Like It: Combines tight platforming with intricate puzzle-solving and a strong narrative focus.

You are a nomadic slugcat, both predator and prey in a broken ecosystem. Grab your spear and brave the industrial wastes, hunting enough food to survive, but be wary— other, bigger creatures have the same plan... and slugcats look delicious.

Why similar: Metroidvania 32.2%, Difficult 30.3%, Platformer 15.3%, Exploration 8%, Pixel Graphics 3.6%

Why You'll Like It: An incredibly difficult and atmospheric game that forces players to learn complex, cryptic systems to survive.

Explore a haunting, punishing island in this stylized 2D action RPG. Salt and Sanctuary combines fast and brutal 2D combat with richly developed RPG mechanics in a cursed realm of forgotten cities, blood-soaked dungeons, and desecrated monuments.

Why similar: Metroidvania 58%, Difficult 21.8%, Platformer 10.8%, 2D 2.9%, Action 1.8%

Why You'll Like It: Combines punishing, Souls-like combat with a sprawling, interconnected 2D world.

As a demon army besieges his village, a young ninja ventures through a cursed world, to deliver a scroll paramount to his clan’s survival. What begins as a classic action platformer soon unravels into an expansive time-traveling adventure full of thrills, surprises, and humor.

Why similar: Metroidvania 44.3%, Great Soundtrack 14.9%, Platformer 14.4%, Difficult 8.7%, Retro 5.4%

Why You'll Like It: Features excellent movement mechanics and a clever world-shifting design that rewards exploration.

Blasphemous is a brutal action-platformer with skilled hack’n slash combat set in the nightmare world of Cvstodia. Explore, upgrade your abilities, and perform savage executions on the hordes of enemies that stand between you and your quest to break eternal damnation.

Why similar: Metroidvania 62.2%, Difficult 12.3%, Platformer 7.8%, Great Soundtrack 6%, Pixel Graphics 3.7%

Why You'll Like It: Offers brutal combat and a dark, cryptic world filled with lore and challenging platforming.

Touhou Luna Nights is a Metroidvania title with a heavy emphasis on exploration and action. Developed by Team Ladybug, creators of multiple fantastic action games thus far.

Why similar: Metroidvania 42.1%, Difficult 18.3%, Platformer 11.5%, Great Soundtrack 9%, Exploration 5.6%

Why You'll Like It: Introduces unique time-manipulation mechanics that make for challenging boss fights and exploration.

Use your magic staff and progress through a large interconnected world where you'll solve puzzles, fight enemies and defeat bosses in order to help free the land of Alwa. Explore and uncover the secrets by using your platforming skills in this challenging and charming 8-bit adventure game.

Why similar: Metroidvania 56.8%, Platformer 13.4%, Great Soundtrack 6.4%, Difficult 5.3%, Retro 4.3%

Why You'll Like It: A love letter to 8-bit classics that emphasizes puzzle-platforming and non-linear exploration.

Battle with swords and whips in this retro-style action game brought to you by game creator Koji Igarashi and Inti Creates! Play as Zangetsu, a demon slayer bearing a deep grudge, who must travel through perilous lands to defeat a powerful demon lurking in a dark castle.

Why similar: Metroidvania 37.9%, Platformer 14.6%, Difficult 14.5%, Great Soundtrack 10.6%, Retro 5.5%

Why You'll Like It: A retro-styled action game that captures the difficulty and feel of classic 8-bit platformers.

A legendary series returns with a grand new adventure! Enjoy a colorful action-adventure game made alongside Ryuichi Nishizawa, creator of the original Wonder Boy in Monster World series.

Why similar: Metroidvania 51.4%, Platformer 15%, Great Soundtrack 9.1%, Adventure 5.2%, Exploration 4.2%

Why You'll Like It: Features a beautiful world where transformation mechanics are used to solve intricate puzzles.

Pounce inside of your cozy armored mech and set off on a dangerous trek through an alien underworld full of irritable creatures and treacherous obstacles in a valiant effort to save your stranded captain and his crashed spaceship.

Why similar: Metroidvania 59.5%, Platformer 11.1%, Difficult 5.5%, Indie 3.8%, Retro 3.8%

Why You'll Like It: A tight, retro-styled action game that focuses on exploration and clever boss encounters.

SteamWorld Dig is back! Dig deep, gain riches and unearth the terrors of the underworld in this platform mining adventure influenced by classic Metroidvania style games.

Why similar: Metroidvania 58.8%, Platformer 16.2%, Great Soundtrack 7.5%, Adventure 5.1%, Indie 3.5%

Why You'll Like It: Polished exploration and mining mechanics that make uncovering the map feel incredibly satisfying.

A powerful ancient evil has arisen, and the war to save humanity has begun! As an elite agent in the monster-hunting Prodigium organization, you must use a variety of weapons, upgrades, and mysterious artifacts to defend mankind against the supernatural hordes of Princess Ahmanet.

Why similar: Metroidvania 64.5%, Great Soundtrack 10.6%, Platformer 7.7%, Adventure 4.8%, Action 3.6%

Why You'll Like It: A brutal, retro-inspired action game with a punishing death mechanic that forces careful play.

Momodora: Reverie Under The Moonlight is the fourth installment in the beloved Momodora series of 2D platformers. Unleash ravaging combos against a variety of formidable monsters and deftly dodge your way through a cursed land to seek audience with the Queen and dispel the evil that threatens all life.

Why similar: Metroidvania 49.5%, Difficult 19.7%, Platformer 13.6%, Exploration 6.7%, Pixel Graphics 3.3%

Why You'll Like It: A polished, difficult action-platformer with a dark, atmospheric aesthetic.

Fight for your freedom in a sprawling fantasy world caught between the living and the fallen. Hone your skills in a retro epic featuring puzzle platforming, metroidvania exploration and crunchy soulslike combat.

Why similar: Metroidvania 66.9%, Difficult 17.4%, Pixel Graphics 4.4%, Platformer 2.6%, Action 2.4%

Why You'll Like It: Offers a challenging, expansive world with deep combat and exploration elements.

Make your way through more than 600 rooms, and unravel the secrets of your past by finding the five elemental orbs. Cathedral features a vast world, meant for exploring!

Why similar: Metroidvania 60.4%, Difficult 10.1%, Platformer 10%, Adventure 4.8%, Retro 3.9%

Why You'll Like It: A challenging, retro-styled Metroidvania that emphasizes exploration and difficult boss fights.

Alwa’s Legacy is a modern retro game full of dangerous dungeons, mystic items and ancient secrets. Upgrade your magic and choose your own path in this non-linear adventure game brimming with exploration.

Why similar: Metroidvania 54.6%, Platformer 15.2%, Exploration 7.3%, Retro 5%, Puzzle Platformer 3.9%

Why You'll Like It: Expands on its predecessor with more non-linear exploration and creative puzzle-solving.

Boasting beautiful, hand-drawn animations and a re-orchestrated soundtrack, the cult classic returns with a unique blend of exploration, action, and adventure!

Why similar: Metroidvania 40%, Platformer 18.9%, Great Soundtrack 12.4%, Difficult 8.9%, Adventure 4.3%

Why You'll Like It: A classic adventure with unique transformation mechanics that change how you interact with the world.

Mutant scum never learn! Blaster Master Zero makes its Steam debut! Blaster Master Zero is a 8-bit style top-down & sideview 2D action-adventure game that hearkens back to the golden age of the NES. The game features new gameplay elements such as improved gameplay, and a more robust scenario.

Why similar: Metroidvania 65.1%, Platformer 16.5%, Retro 6.6%, Action 5.5%, Pixel Graphics 4.4%

Why You'll Like It: Combines side-scrolling action with top-down exploration for a varied and challenging experience.

Immerse yourself in a gorgeous hand-painted world on a search for your true identity. As the mysterious warrior, Dust, your action-packed journey will take you from peaceful glades to snowy mountaintops and beyond.

Why similar: Metroidvania 52.9%, Platformer 18.5%, Great Soundtrack 11.6%, Adventure 3.5%, Indie 3.2%

Why You'll Like It: Features fluid, fast-paced combat and a beautiful, hand-drawn world to explore.

You Have to Win the Game is a free exploration platformer with a retro 1980s PC aesthetic.

Why similar: Metroidvania 60.3%, Platformer 12.5%, Difficult 10.6%, Retro 5%, Indie 2.2%

Spelunky is a unique platformer with randomized levels that offer a challenging new experience each time you play. Journey deep underground and explore fantastic places filled with all manner of monsters, traps, and treasure.

Why similar: Platformer 42.9%, Difficult 35.9%, Great Soundtrack 6.5%, Indie 6.4%, 2D 4.1%

Aquaria is an award-winning action-adventure game set in a massive underwater world teeming with life and filled with ancient secrets. Join Naija, a lone underwater adventurer, as she travels from hidden caves shrouded in darkness, to beautiful, sunlit oases in search of her past.

Why similar: Metroidvania 62.8%, Great Soundtrack 16.9%, Exploration 7.6%, Adventure 3.3%, Indie 3.3%

Why You'll Like It: An atmospheric, deep-sea exploration game that focuses on discovery and learning the secrets of a lost civilization.

Momodora III is a classic action platform game with a variety of items and secrets. It's the third installment of the Momodora series, although playing the previous titles is not necessary to enjoy the game!

Why similar: Metroidvania 50.4%, Platformer 24.9%, Great Soundtrack 6.1%, Pixel Graphics 5.3%, Indie 5.2%

Explore a beautiful, vast and ruined world riddled with dangers and lost technologies.

Why similar: Difficult 26.1%, Great Soundtrack 24.5%, Metroidvania 23.9%, Pixel Graphics 6.2%, Exploration 5.4%

SteamWorld Dig is an action-adventure puzzler with strong Metroidvanian influences set in the SteamWorld Universe. You’ll need to dig deep into the earth, gather resources to upgrade your tools and abilities, take on enemies, solve challenging puzzles and uncover the secrets to save a dying town.

Why similar: Metroidvania 57.6%, Platformer 23%, Adventure 4.3%, Exploration 3.6%, Indie 3.4%

Throw on your nostalgia goggles and travel back in time with Super Win the Game, a retro-core explosion of exploration and platforming action!!

Why similar: Metroidvania 47.2%, Difficult 18.6%, Platformer 12.6%, Exploration 6.4%, Retro 3.2%

An ancient evil has been set loose, and Jonathan cursed in the process. Jonathan must now collect seven holy grails from around all of Egypt to cleanse himself of the curse of Sehur the First. Be delighted by the quirky humor, charming characters, and the beautifully designed world, in Pharaoh Rebirth+!

Why similar: Metroidvania 55.4%, Platformer 15.8%, Adventure 10.6%, Indie 7.9%, Action 6.8%

You play an explorer stranded on a dangerous alien planet. Low on fuel, your only hope for escape is to find the planet’s core in this incredibly clever action-puzzle-platformer.

Why similar: Platformer 24.9%, Metroidvania 17.7%, Great Soundtrack 16.8%, Difficult 9.2%, Puzzle 7%

In this pixel-perfect homage to the classic action platformers, you play as Sydney Hunter - an explorer who gets trapped inside a Mayan pyramid while he's out exploring!

Why similar: Metroidvania 27.3%, Platformer 15.2%, Difficult 11.4%, Great Soundtrack 10.7%, Adventure 8.4%

8Doors is a story-driven Metroidvania-style action platformer heavily influenced by Korean folktales. Play as ‘Arum’, a brave girl that has entered the realm of the afterlife in search of her father’s soul and guide her through the '8 Doors of Purgatory' to solve the mysteries that lie deep within.

Why similar: Metroidvania 57.3%, Platformer 12.7%, Difficult 7.3%, Adventure 5.3%, Great Soundtrack 4.4%

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is an exploration-focused, side-scroller action RPG by Koji Igarashi. Play as Miriam, an orphan scarred by an alchemist's curse that slowly crystallizes her body. Battle through a demon-infested castle and defeat its master to save yourself, and all of humanity!

Why similar: Metroidvania 69.8%, Great Soundtrack 8.7%, Platformer 7.4%, Difficult 3.6%, Exploration 2.6%

Fight your way through the dungeons of the Alchemist's Castle, collect power ups and take back what is rightfully yours from the Alchemist himself in this old-school metroidvania!

Why similar: Metroidvania 54%, Great Soundtrack 14.4%, Retro 5.7%, Indie 5.3%, Adventure 4.8%

Run, gun and explore an open undercity in this otherworldly non-linear Metroidvania adventure about the Old Gods, strange creatures and the remnants of a lost world!

Why similar: Metroidvania 46.4%, Difficult 14.5%, Platformer 10.9%, Great Soundtrack 9.4%, Exploration 4.1%

An Action RPG driven by fast-paced combat and paired with an intricate puzzle-filled world.

Why similar: Great Soundtrack 46.9%, Difficult 35.9%, Adventure 7.1%, Action 6.3%, Classic 1.7% ★

Inspired by the retro glory days of 8-bit games, Rex Rocket is a traditional 2D platformer brought into the 21st century. Paying tribute to classic NES games like Mario, Mega Man, and Metroid, old-school platformer fans will find Rex Rocket a breath of fresh air.

Why similar: Metroidvania 48%, Platformer 14.2%, Difficult 12.3%, Great Soundtrack 7.5%, Adventure 4.1%

Explore unearthly ruins, solve arcane riddles and pick up your sword against the indescribable horrors that lurk amidst the forgotten depths of our world. Beware the creeping grip of madness as you uncover secrets not meant for the eyes of men!

Why similar: Metroidvania 44.1%, Difficult 19.5%, Platformer 13.4%, Exploration 6.1%, Puzzle 5.2%

A 2D Metroidvania-style game developed under the supervision of Ryo Mizuno, depicting the story of Deedlit and the events leading up to Record of Lodoss War: Diadem of the Covenant. Use a variety of weapons and spirit powers to unravel the mystery of the labyrinth.

Why similar: Metroidvania 56.5%, Platformer 16.2%, Exploration 7.6%, Pixel Graphics 3.6%, Adventure 3.5%

Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove is the complete Shovel Knight collection, containing all 5 games in the epic saga! Dig, blast, slash, and bash your way through a fantastical, 8-bit inspired world of pixel-perfect platforming, memorable characters, and world-class action-adventure gameplay.

Why similar: Platformer 29.7%, Great Soundtrack 26.9%, Difficult 13.8%, Retro 8.3%, Pixel Graphics 5.6%

Explore the depths below a remote mountain town in this procedurally-generated Adventure Platformer. Taking inspiration from hack 'n slash dungeon crawlers and Metroidvania-style platformers, Chasm will immerse you in a fantasy world full of exciting treasure, deadly enemies, and abundant secrets.

Why similar: Metroidvania 69.3%, Platformer 11.9%, Pixel Graphics 4%, Adventure 4%, Indie 3.4%

Explore an interconnected world full of platforming challenges in this short metroidvania. Reach new areas by swinging from ceilings, throwing bombs, bouncing off spikes, and more. Examine dozens of artifacts, commune with forgotten gods, and piece together what happened to Auridia.

Why similar: Metroidvania 59.8%, Platformer 13.2%, Exploration 8.6%, Puzzle 4.9%, Adventure 4.5%

In a bizarre universe where the oppressed are on the brink of oblivion, Dandara has awoken to reshape the world.

Why similar: Metroidvania 56.1%, Platformer 12.9%, Difficult 8.4%, Great Soundtrack 7.9%, Indie 5.9%

Discover the lost treasures of Ukampa in South America as Aban Hawkins searches for his estranged father, world-famous archeaologist, Jim Hawkins. Aban Hawkins races into the frozen tundra of the antarctic, undiscovered temple ruins and the vast caverns of South America in search of his father and the legendary treasure rumored to lie...

Why similar: Platformer 31.5%, Difficult 30.2%, Great Soundtrack 10.4%, Retro 5.9%, Indie 5.2%

Dash into a stylish and thrilling action-adventure platformer set in a mythological Persian world where the boundaries of time and space are yours to manipulate.

Why similar: Metroidvania 71.3%, Exploration 8.8%, Difficult 3.9%, Platformer 3.5%, Adventure 3.4%

Critically-acclaimed action-RPG that takes the template laid down by classics like Wonder Boy, nails the 16-Bit aesthetics for nostalgia fans, but updates the mechanics to feel fresh and modern. Explore a beautiful open world and plunder dungeons, caves and forests to help take down epic bosses!

Why similar: Metroidvania 60.4%, Platformer 11.3%, Adventure 8%, Indie 6.2%, Retro 4.2%

Embark on a heartfelt Mushroomvania adventure through a vast and dense interconnected world! It's like a mix of retro and modern classics!

Why similar: Metroidvania 62.5%, Platformer 13.5%, Exploration 8.2%, Adventure 6.1%, 2D 2%

Downwell is a curious game about a young person venturing down a well in search of untold treasures with only his Gunboots to protect him.

Why similar: Difficult 34.4%, Platformer 28.8%, Great Soundtrack 7%, Pixel Graphics 7%, Indie 5.9%

Spelunky 2 builds upon the unique, randomized challenges that made the original a roguelike classic, offering a huge adventure designed to satisfy players old and new. Meet the next generation of explorers as they find themselves on the Moon, searching for treasure and missing family.

Why similar: Difficult 45.6%, Platformer 37.4%, Indie 5.6%, 2D 4.4%, Action 3.7%

Return to the Golden Age of arcades with a hardcore action platformer that pulls no punches! Possesses all the hallmarks of true classics like Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts (SNES), Rastan Saga (Arcade), Castlevania (NES) and more with precise controls, high challenge, and meticulous design.

Why similar: Difficult 41.7%, Platformer 31.7%, Retro 7%, Indie 4.5%, Adventure 3.9%

Embark on an all-new adventure with Shantae, the hair-whipping belly dancing genie. After losing her magic, Shantae teams up with the nefarious pirate Risky Boots in order to save Sequin Land from a curse.

Why similar: Metroidvania 52.3%, Platformer 18.3%, Great Soundtrack 15.1%, Pixel Graphics 2.6%, Difficult 2.5%

After Death is a platform / exploration game in a dark and hostile world. With the help from lost souls, you will have to find a way to open a gate which seems to be the only exit from this mysterious world infected by monsters.

Why similar: Metroidvania 51.8%, Great Soundtrack 18.2%, Platformer 8.9%, Adventure 4.9%, Indie 3.9%