Surprised it hasn’t been mentioned yet but Aeterna Noctis is one of my favorites and I have played a LOT of metroidvanias. Some of the platforming sections are quite difficult but there is an easier mode with easier enemies and platforming. It has a huge map and some really cool mechanics I haven’t seen before.
Edit: a couple more I thought of that aren’t listed. HAAK is a fun one, another one with some interesting mechanics and a fun story too. Souldiers is more of a 2d RPG game but it still has some Metroid mechanics. Four classes you can play as with a good story.
I love this style of game. I always have one on the go. Some times they scratch the itch, others they miss just a bit. I found that the blasphemous series more dark souls than Metroidvania. Biogun, chasm, bloodstained, any of the ori games, haiku, the mummy demastered, turnip boy commits tax evasion, dust an Elysian tale… I have more but that’s a solid chunk. I’d love to hear from others if they do or don’t consider these in the same family.
Do you consider Zelda64 a MetroidVania? If so then Darksiders has that action, similarly control, soul reaver 1 and 2, and blood omen 2.
I was shocked to see no mention of Ori in any of the comments here before I realized you had already recommended it in the OP. I have no issues with seconding that, the Ori series is really good.
I don’t know if it’s “favorite”, but an old classic was Aquaria. It had a surprising amount of content, even to the point of several secret bosses, and an absolutely excellent soundtrack. Sadly, the main guy behind it is dead now. Ori was also fantastic.
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