Yoku's Island Express
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The Metroidvania Is Decades Old, But One Year In Particular Is The Undisputed King
The Metroidvania genre, while decades old, experienced its peak in 2018 with a diverse slate of innovative titles. This year saw games like Hollow Knight, Dead Cells, and Yoku's Island Express push the genre's boundaries by incorporating elements from souls-likes, roguelikes, and even pinball, making it an ideal year for both newcomers and veterans.
How 40 Years of Metroid Have Impacted The Biggest Metroidvania Developers
This article explores the profound impact of the Metroid series, particularly Super Metroid, on the development of the Metroidvania genre. Developers from various studios discuss how Metroid's interconnected worlds, exploration mechanics, and atmospheric design have inspired their own games, shaping core design philosophies and influencing everything from level design to player agency.
Deckbuilding pinball roguelike PinKeep gets demo
The deckbuilding pinball roguelike PinKeep, developed by Okomotive, has released a free demo for PC. The game combines pinball mechanics with deck-building elements to defend a kingdom from intruders. A full release is planned for 2026.
I'm tired of everything getting turned into a roguelite, but I'll make an exception for pinball
The author expresses fatigue with the oversaturation of the roguelite genre in game development, citing the rapid release of similar titles on Steam. However, an exception is made for the upcoming game Pin-Crawl, which blends dungeon crawling with pinball mechanics, appealing to the author's love for both genres.
Silver Pines is an unorthodox and dread-inducing follow-up to Yoku's Island Express
Developers Mattias Snygg and Linus Larsson discuss their new project, Silver Pines, highlighting its departure from the pinball mechanics of Yoku's Island Express to a more dread-inducing Pacific Northwest setting. The discussion focuses on the creative transition between the two distinct game concepts.
As ex-Helldivers 2 devs prepare to launch a Resident Evil-inspired horror game, they reminisce on their past Metroidvania that was too "happy": "'I need to get to blow someone's head off with a shotgun in the next game'"
Former Helldivers 2 developers, who previously worked on the Metroidvania Yoku's Island Express, are developing a new horror game called Silver Pines. The developers expressed a desire to move from the cheerful aesthetic of their previous work to something more violent and horror-inspired, drawing parallels to Resident Evil and Silent Hill.
The solution to staleness in modern gaming is cross-pollination - Reader's Feature
A reader proposes that cross-pollination of ideas between different genres and franchises is the key to combating staleness in modern gaming. The article provides numerous examples of successful genre blends, such as Castlevania becoming an RPG or Zelda incorporating rhythm mechanics, suggesting this approach can revitalize long-running series and create fresh experiences.
Silver Pines gameplay trailer shows off mystery, action and relentless horror
Team17 and Wych Elm have released a new gameplay trailer for the upcoming survival horror game Silver Pines. Players will step into the role of PI Red Walker to investigate the mysterious town, managing scarce resources and battling nightmarish terrors. Silver Pines is set to release in 2026 for PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation.
Best Metroidvania Games To Play In 2026
This guide highlights some of the best Metroidvania games available to play, offering a sampling of great titles rather than a definitive all-time list. The selections are presented in alphabetical order and cover a range of acclaimed indie and AAA titles with diverse mechanics and settings.
The Best Nintendo Switch Platformers
This guide rounds up the best platforming games available on the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. It includes a variety of titles, from classic 2D side-scrollers to modern 3D adventures, featuring both first-party Nintendo franchises and popular third-party releases.