Castlevania Recommendations: 10 Indie Metroidvanias to Play

To select your next indie game after finishing Castlevania, determine which core mechanic you want to focus on: RPG progression, precise combat, atmospheric world design, or traversal puzzles.

Matching Games to Your Playstyle

If you enjoy specific elements of the Castlevania formula, use the table below to select a title that targets those mechanics directly.

Primary Preference	Recommended Title	Core Feature
RPG Customization	Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night	Shard collection, gear crafting, and stat leveling
Atmospheric Exploration	Blasphemous	Gothic religious themes, brutal execution, pattern recognition
Ethereal Atmosphere	Ender Lilies	Melancholic tone, ability-gated progression, summoning system
Precision Combat	Hollow Knight	Strict movement timing, dash/double-jump mastery, rhythm fights
Soulslike Systems	Salt and Sanctuary	Weapon variety, character builds, stamina management
Time-Stop Puzzles	Touhou Luna Nights	High-speed traversal altering platforming puzzles
Linear Shift to Exploration	The Messenger	Action platformer evolving into non-linear exploration
Surreal Aesthetics	Grime	Biomechanical world design paired with platforming
High-Difficulty Platforming	Aeterna Noctis	Strict physical movement demands and precision platforming
Action & Rogue-lite Fusion	Dead Cells	Fluid combat mixed with randomized run progression

RPG Depth and Gear Progression

If your favorite aspect of Castlevania is accumulating equipment, stats, and abilities, pick Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. As a direct spiritual successor, it mirrors Symphony of the Night by prioritizing shard crafting, gear collection, and character customization.

For a faster-paced alternative focused on mechanics over raw stats, choose Touhou Luna Nights. It replaces heavy inventory management with a time-manipulation system that turns combat and platforming into high-speed puzzles.

Atmospheric Exploration and Storytelling

Players who want dark, immersive environments structured like Dracula's castle should start with Blasphemous or Ender Lilies.

Blasphemous: Choose this title for a heavy gothic tone, dark religious iconography, and parry-focused combat that punishes poor timing.
Ender Lilies: Choose this title if you prefer an ethereal, melancholic world where combat abilities are expanded through a spirit-summoning mechanic.
The Last Faith: Select this game if you want a pixel-art aesthetic paired with somber, gothic exploration.

Combat Precision and Stamina Management

If you prefer challenging boss battles that require precise timing over gear scaling, focus on skill-based platformers.

Hollow Knight: Start here for tight controls where movement abilities like dashes and double jumps are mandatory for surviving long boss encounters.
Salt and Sanctuary: Pick this title if you want stamina management, equipment weight, and distinct class builds integrated into 2D map traversal.
Dead Cells: Opt for this title if you prefer fluid movement combined with rogue-lite structure to keep combat encounters fresh across multiple runs.