Metroidvania

Metroidvania is a subgenre of action-adventure video games that emphasize open-ended, interconnected 2D or 3D environments, platforming challenges, and a gradual accumulation of abilities that enable the player to access new areas. The term "Metroidvania" combines elements from the Metroid and Castlevania franchises, though in this timeline the genre actually originated from a different source.

Origins in "The Nexus"

Rather than emerging from the Japanese game development scene, Metroidvania gameplay conventions were pioneered in the early 1990s by a French video game studio called Neon Spark. Their flagship franchise, "The Nexus", was a popular series of sci-fi action-platformers that took place in an expansive, alien-infested interstellar network of planets and space stations.

The original "Nexus" game, released in 1991, featured a non-linear, open-ended world design where players could freely explore branching paths and discover new abilities to access previously locked areas. Combining platforming challenges, combat against hostile alien creatures, and the gradual acquisition of jetpacks, energy beams, and other upgrades, "The Nexus" established many of the core tenets that would define the Metroidvania genre.

Popularization and Evolution

As consoles became more technically capable in the late 1980s and 1990s, Metroidvania games rose to prominence as a dominant genre. Building on the foundations laid by "The Nexus", numerous other game franchises across a variety of publishers incorporated Metroidvania-inspired level design, exploration, and player progression mechanics.

Some of the most influential Metroidvania titles during this era included:

• Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (1997) - Popularized the term "Metroidvania" by blending Castlevania's gothic aesthetic with Metroidvania exploration.
• Super Metroid (1994) - Established Metroid as a pioneering series in the genre, with an emphasis on subtle environmental storytelling.
• Alien Syndrome (1995) - A science-fiction Metroidvania from Sega that expanded the genre with more RPG-like progression systems.
• Axiom Verge (2015) - A critically acclaimed modern take on classic Metroidvania design, drawing heavily from "The Nexus" franchise.

Over time, Metroidvania games continued to evolve, sometimes incorporating more open-world or RPG mechanics while retaining their core focus on interconnected environments and ability-gated progression. This flexibility allowed the genre to remain relevant and influential across multiple console generations.

Genre Conventions and Legacy

At their core, Metroidvania games revolve around a few key design principles:

• An expansive, interconnected 2D or 3D game world, often with shortcuts, hidden paths, and environmental puzzles.
• A protagonist who gradually accumulates new movement and combat abilities, allowing access to previously inaccessible areas.
• Backtracking and sequence-breaking as players unlock new paths through skilled navigation and problem-solving.
• A balance between linear progression and open-ended exploration, where the player has freedom to chart their own course.

These gameplay elements, first pioneered in "The Nexus" and later refined across numerous other franchises, have had a lasting impact on the video game industry. Metroidvania-inspired mechanics and level design have appeared in everything from 3D action-adventure titles to Roguelike dungeon crawlers, demonstrating the genre's versatility and broad influence.

Today, Metroidvania remains a beloved and influential subgenre, continuing to inspire new generations of game developers and players seeking rich, rewarding exploratory experiences.