Aeterna Noctis is a brand new Metroidvania 2D platform action-adventure game that released for all consoles on December 15, 2021. The hand-drawn side-scrolling platformer focuses far more on intense battle than exploration and traversal, where players are challenged to climb the ranks through 16 distinct territories en route to becoming the King of Darkness and attempting to regain his lost powers.
Of course, with the resurgence and remastering of 2D action-adventure platform games, Aeterna Noctis s a crowded subcategory of stellar games featuring similar themes, layouts, artwork, settings, graphics, gameplay, and a whole lot more.
Hollow Knight (2017)
Published by Team Cherry in 2017, most knowing gamers would agree that the most impressive 2D Metroidvania game currently on the market. The sprawling action-adventure also emphasizes an old-school hand-drawn animation style, tasking players with fighting through a ruinous kingdom of insects, monsters, and other harrowing baddies.
Aside from the aesthetic and thematic similarities, Hollow Knight has been praised for its enthralling story with nary a dull moment, its unparalleled artwork, excellent level designs, and battles that balance fun with difficulty in equal measure.
Axiom Verge (2015)
Created by Thomas Happ and released in 2015, Axiom Verge is another beloved Metroidvania action-adventure sure to appeal to Aeterna Noctis fans. However, rather than fighting through an ancient kingdom in ruins, players awake in a cryptic high-tech environment where they gather items, power up and take on the biggest biomechanical villains known to humankind.
Despite its disparate setting, the 2D side-scrolling action-adventure game follows Trace, a scientist who awakes in a mysterious environment and must overcome a bad injury and defeat evil bosses. Hailed for its excellent weaponry, brutal boss fights, fluid controls, and more, Axiom is also redolent of Metroid, Contra, Bionic Commando, and other all-time classics.
Ori And The Will Of The Wisps (2020)
While a shout-out to its predecessor Metroidvania platform action-adventure available on Switch tends to favor exploration over combat, but its open world is so sprawling that players can get lost for hours without getting bored.
Set in the forest of Niwen, the story concerns Ori, a spiritual guardian in search of a young owl with a broken wing. Fighting creatures of all types while running, jumping, climbing, gliding, and swimming through dazzling environments, the game has been extolled for its arresting visuals, enthralling chases, and upgraded combat engine.
Blasphemous (2019)
For Metroidvania fans more into the style Blasphemous, a hack-n-slash style 2D side-scrolling platformer released in 2019. The story is set in the medieval land of Cvstodia, where a fierce warrior known as The Penitent One marauds through the region with a sword called Mea Culpa in order to slay ghoulish foes.
Rated best for Xbox, Blasphemous has all the hallmarks of what makes Aeterna Noctis so promising. Namely, the game's visual style, interconnectivity, boss battles, and overall combat were all praised upon its release.
Salt And Sanctuary (2016)
Inspired by the mega-popular Souls series, Salt And Sanctuary is another beloved 2D action-adventure platformer that features stunning hand-drawn animation-style artwork. While it also features an ancient kingdom similar to that of Aeterna Noctis, the exciting Metroidvania game adds a few RPG concepts as well.
Published by Ska Studios in 2016, the game follows the player stowed away on a ship along with a kidnapped princess, whom he must protect at all costs by taking on brutally punishing combat in gore-sodden dungeons, ancient ruins, and long-forgotten cities. A sequel is currently in the works.
Foregone (2020)
With a strong emphasis on combat, traversal, and powerful upgrades, Foregone is an open-world 2D platformer lauded for its fast and furious gameplay and gorgeous hand-drawn pixel art. The side-scrolling Metroidvania game was published by Big Blue Bubble in 2020.
Tasked with saving the ancient kingdom of Calagan, players wander around the environment collecting weapons and fighting vicious throngs of deadly creatures and human villains while uncovering a vast conspiracy. The fluid gameplay and marvelous graphics are among the game's most common appraisals.
Tails Of Iron (2021)
Defined most by its relentless combat action and jaw-dropping 2D hand-drawn animation, 2021's Tails of Iron is another fan-favorite platform action-adventure RPG for beginners and gaming experts to enjoy.
The story tracks Redgi, the heir to the medieval Rat Throne who must endure a dangerous quest in a wartorn land to protect her kingdom at all costs. To achieve success and reclaim her kingdom, Redgi has to confront the evil Frog Clan and excommunicate their evil leader Greenwart before it's too late. For fans of Aeterna Noctis who want to take a deeper role-playing plunge while retaining excellent 2D combat, Tails of Iron is the place to be.
Ender Lilies: Quietus Of The Knights (2021)
Released in 2021 and lauded for its stunning artistic design and interactive ambiance, Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights is one of the most original and well-received 2D action-adventure platform games in recent memory. The story follows Lily, a priestess with amnesia, who must find the source of the never-ending rain that wiped out her family.
With a balanced focus on combat, problem-solving, and exploration for items necessary to survive, Lily can purify the souls of the dead to help her in the quest to find the source of rain. With fighting compared to Hollow Knight and artwork compared to Salt and Sanctuary, Quietus of the Knights is destination gaming for those anticipating Aeterna Noctis.
Skul: The Hero Slayer (2021)
Despite being a unique mix of Metroidvania and great Roguelite sensibilities, 2021's Skul: The Hero Slayer is still one of the most ensorcelling 2D action-adventure platform games to be recently released. The story follows Skul, a warrior who must defeat the Imperial Army and rescue the King from bondage.
With over 100 characters to choose from, the 2D side-scroller has been lauded for its hyper-immersive environments to go with its challenging level of difficulty. With an artistic style that is charming and endearing for all age groups, Skul: The Hero Slayer is where cuteness meets killer instinct.
Dead Cells (2018)
Published by Motion Twin in 2018, Dead Cells is another excellent Metroidvania and Roguelite hybrid with mass appeal. The 2D side-scrolling platform game concerns The Prisoner, an amorphous blob of deceased human cells that the player controls through a shape-shifting castle.
Ambling through dark caverns, creepy dungeons, and labyrinthine corridors, players collect weapons, skins, money, upgrades, and more while taking on plague-ridden zombie ghouls from a bygone kingdom. With a clear-cut emphasis on challenging combat, the game has drawn universal praise for overall presentation and visceral gameplay.