6 Best Areas In Metroidvania Games

One of the selling points of any Metroidvania is the diversity of the areas featured while experiencing the game. The best Metroidvania games usually feature a set of areas that incorporate mechanics, lore, and music to perfection. Areas are the life essence of Metroidvanias. They bring the world alive and give purpose for a player to keep exploring and returning to discover any secrets they missed.

Over the years, there have been plenty of standout areas across a variety of Metroidvania titles. This article lists the six best areas in Metroidvania games that every player will appreciate and enjoy when they explore it for the first time.

1 The Mother Of Mothers (Blasphemous 2)

The Abandoned Church

Blasphemous 2 sees the Penitent One return to the Mother of Mothers. However, the church is completely ruined after the events of Blasphemous. The area perfectly captures the remnants of the original game’s Mother of Mothers.

For instance, the Giant Censer and the Knot of Three Words have been completely destroyed in Blasphemous 2, while they were important landmarks in the original game. The area also has a somber and captivating soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere of the destroyed church.

Blasphemous 2 improves upon the original Mother of Mothers by incorporating some of its best elements from the first game while adding a little bit extra to fit right in place with the sequel.

2 Ginso Tree (Ori And The Blind Forest)

The Source Of Nibel’s Waters

Ginso Tree in Ori and the Blind Forest is one of the best designed areas in any Metroidvania game. The area perfectly depicts the decrepit state of the Ginso Tree and serves as the first real challenge for the player in the game. After acquiring the Bash ability halfway through the area, Ori’s movement becomes even more fluid and satisfying to control.

The creme de la creme of this area is the iconic escape after cleansing the heart of the Ginso Tree. It is arguably one of the best sequences in gaming history, accompanied by a soundtrack worthy of being called the best music in the game.

3 City Of Tears (Hollow Knight)

The Capital Of Hallownest

The City of Tears is the biggest and most iconic area in Hollow Knight. It is the commercial center and capital of Hallownest. The area is designed in such a way that it showcases the grandeur of Hallownest at its peak, and its current state after the spread of the Infection. The never-ending rain, thanks to the water seeping out of the Blue Lake located above the area, gives the area a melancholic feel which is further boosted by Marissa’s song being the primary soundtrack of the area.

City of Tears also connects to plenty of other areas in the game, such as the Royal Waterways, Forgotten Crossroads, Kingdom’s Edge, Fungal Wastes, and Resting Grounds. Therefore, it acts as a safe spot for players to rest and continue their journey. The Soul Sanctum, Watcher’s Spire, and the Tower of Love are also some of the best sub-areas in the game, featuring bosses such as Soul Master, Watcher Knights, and The Collector.

4 The Big Tree (Laika: Aged Through Blood)

The Religious Epicenter Of The Birds

The Big Tree inLaika: Aged Through Blood is the largest area in the game. It is the grand reveal of the atrocities committed within the Birds’ cult and the functioning of their religion. The Big Tree is essentially a giant maze, which requires the player to tear down the building built on the Big Tree to weaken the morale of the Bird army.

The area is filled with various types of Birds and features unique combat and platforming challenges. The sheer scale of the area alone makes it the best location in the game. The culmination of the area requires players scale to the peak of The Big Tree to fight and kill Pope Melva VIII. Overall, The Big Tree brings forth the very best that Laika: Aged Through Blood has to offer, combining story and gameplay in a satisfying and thought-provoking mission.

5 Mouldwood Depths (Ori And The Will Of The Wisps)

The Darkness Of Niwen

The Mouldwood Depths in Ori and The Will of the Wisps houses the Eyes of the Forest, one of the four fragments needed to reform Seir. This area is easily the scariest in the entire game. It features long stretches of complete darkness that can engulf Ori and kill them in an instant.

Players will have to carefully navigate through the pitch-black environment, which is riddled with spikes and spiders. The ambiance, soundtrack, and atmosphere of the area make it very immersive, and encourage players to keep exploring and unearth the secrets behind the veil of darkness.

Eventually, players will have to face the boss of this area, Mora. It is one of the best boss fights in the entire Ori series. Mouldwood Depths has a bit of everything, which makes it one of the best areas in Metroidvania games.

6 Olrox’s Quarters (Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night)

The Domain Of Olrox

It is quite hard to pick one area to stand out among the rest in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. However, Olrox’s Quarters can be easily agreed upon as one of the finest areas in the game. The majestic yet haunting soundtrack paints an incredible atmosphere for the whole area.

While Olrox’s Quarters is an easily missable and small area, it is brilliant in what it aims to offer for the players. To top it all off, the area features the titular character, Olrox, who is one of the best bosses in the game.