It's never been a better time to be a Metroidvania fan. From Hollow Knight and Ori and the Blind Forest in the 2010s to the genre overload of the 2020s, any gamer who is looking for the next great Metroidvania won't have to look too far. Pretty much anything you pick up these days is going to be a good time.

However, there's "a good time," and then there's the best Metroidvanias of the decade. These games are a cut above, and not only perfectly capture what makes this 2D genre special, but innovate on it in surprising and wildly successful ways. From gorgeous visuals to crisp movement and addictive combat, these Metroidvanias are the best you'll find from the 2020 era.

We're only looking at true Metroidvanias here, so games with Metroidvania elements like God of War Ragnarok, Control Resonant, or Star Wars Jedi: Survivor ​​​​​​won't make the list, even though they're all great games.

It was a long time coming, but Hollow Knight: Silksong lived up to every bit of hype it generated in the years following its announcement. Whether it's better than the first Hollow Knight is up for debate, but it's certainly not far off. I personally think Silksong is vastly superior narratively, and equally as good from a gameplay perspective.

Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as possible.

Team Cherry's art is as gorgeous as ever, as is Christopher Larkin's musical score, but Silksong has so much more going for it.

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