It seems with every passing month there is a new videogame entry into the ever expanding contemporary ‘retro-aesthetic’ collection. It has been an emergent sub-genre that has inflated in a short space of time and already feels dangerously close to cheapening the 8-bit era. Within this emergent trend are attempts to either pay homage or to try and add a spin on the Metroidvania genre, a true staple of a bygone era. Again these entries can at times feel mostly serviceable but never essential to the overall landscape of gaming. Axiom Verge arrives as the latest contender in the 8-bit arena, and while not perfect it is perhaps the best example of capturing authentic 8-bit gaming in recent memory.
There are countless great Metroidvania games available on the Steam Deck — Max Wright for overkill runs through some of the very best.
There’s a lot to love about Metroidvania games, from the original Metroid and Castlevania entries to some of the subgenre’s more compelling entries on PS4 and other more recent systems. While there…
Love the newest Strider! Definitely underrated.
Love these lists as i now want to check out Momodora (on PS extra) and Ender Lillies.
Welcome to another Nindie Spotlight here on Nintendo Link where we bring to light some of the best indie games on the Switch. This week we are focusing on Axiom Verge, a brilliant sci-fi metroidvania title by Thomas Happ.