GamesAdventureTwo of my all-time favorite Metroidvania games launched in the last year – and I’ve hardly understood a word of their storiesWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesAdventureTwo of my all-time favorite Metroidvania games launched in the last year – and I’ve hardly understood a word of their storiesWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: The Game Kitchen)
Don’t get me wrong, narrative games can be great. I’m a sucker for big-budget, cut-scene-heavy hand-holders such asMarvel’s Spider-Man 2andGod of War. I’ve lost hundreds of hours to the masterful adventure games of Wadjet Eye, and have thrived and survived in Larian’s most-acclaimed story-driven outings, not leastBaldur’s Gate 3and Divinity: Original Sin 2. But, for me, there’s something about the Metroidvania genre that just screams:less is more.
And while I’ve asenseof what their overarching stories are about, their narratives had my head spinning from start to finish. Truth be told, I’ve recently learned, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Say what?
(Image credit: Team17)
READ BETWEEN THE LINES(Image credit: Team17)Blasphemous 2 review: “A Soulslike sequel that’s as unsettling as it is unpredictable”
READ BETWEEN THE LINES
(Image credit: Team17)Blasphemous 2 review: “A Soulslike sequel that’s as unsettling as it is unpredictable”
(Image credit: Team17)
Blasphemous 2 review: “A Soulslike sequel that’s as unsettling as it is unpredictable”
In the same wayFromSoftware’s games leverage light-touch narratives in the action-RPG space – not least across its Dark Souls series, Bloodborne andElden Ring– much of what Blasphemous 2 and Ultros offer in story terms is up for interpretation. Lore and plot points are rarely spelled out, instead gleaned in snippets from item descriptions, off-hand conversations with innocuous NPCs, or via the vague but deliberate placement of enemies and bosses around the world map.
(Image credit: Hadoque)
“Ultros, on the other hand, is such a vibe”
“Ultros, on the other hand, is such a vibe”
Ultros, on the other hand, is such a vibe. Despite having published myUltros reviewearlier this week, I’m still not convinced I understand its story beats – but that doesn’t matter when everything else falls so neatly into place. A quick overview? The game unfolds in a “cosmic uterus holding an ancient, demonic being” named The Sarcophagus. You fill the high-top sneaks of a bright red duster-wearing insect being, who slaughters other bugs and harvests their organs to: a) gain nutrition, and b) learn new abilities that help you traverse the world. You also learn gardening to help your pursuit and will kill loads of Shaman in order to awaken the aforementioned demonic being and escape the aforementioned cosmic uterus.
If you can make sense of any of that, you’re more clever than I. But, again, narrative understanding invariably takes a backseat in my enjoyment of these games. Both Blasphemous 2 and Ultros have jumped straight to the top of my favorite games lists despite the fact I couldn’t really tell you what they’re about. That’s totally fine with me because, mechanically, these games are top-tier Metroidvania games, engaging, intuitive, clever and tonally spot on. Truth be told, I’ve long been left puzzled with the intricacies of FromSoftware games – from Demon’s Souls all the way through to Elden Ring – and yet these games are likewise among my absolute favorites of all time.
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Detailed cut scenes have their place, as do hand-holding narratives. But storytelling takes many forms, and Ultros and Blasphemous 2 are among the very best in less obvious ways.
Check out thebest Metroidvania gamesto explore to absolute completion
PRODUCTSUltrosBlasphemous 2
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”