The Metroidvania genre is a subgenre of action-adventure video games that combines elements of the Metroid and Castlevania series. Metroidvania games typically feature a large, interconnected world that the player can explore at their own pace. The player must use a variety of abilities to overcome obstacles and progress through the game. Metroidvania games are known for their challenging gameplay, intricate level design, and focus on exploration.
The Metroidvania genre has been around for decades, but it has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years. This is due in part to the release of several critically acclaimed Metroidvania games, such as Hollow Knight, Ori and the Blind Forest, and Axiom Verge. These games have helped to introduce the genre to a new generation of gamers and have shown that Metroidvania games can be just as challenging and rewarding as other genres of action-adventure games.