Recently, video games have started using multiple endings to give players a reason to play again, and Metroidvanias have really taken the lead in using this technique.
I’m a big fan of games where exploring and finding connections is key, and I’ve noticed something that really keeps me hooked. Developers will often hint that what you’ve seen isn’t the ending, just part of it. It’s a brilliant way to make you feel like you have to explore every nook and cranny to get the full story. It’s like they’re saying, ‘You think you’ve seen it all? Think again!’ and honestly, it works every time.
I know some people might find this frustrating, but honestly, as a fan of this kind of story, I don’t mind it at all! It’s actually a big part of why I enjoy getting completely absorbed in these worlds. It just adds to the experience for me.
So, I’ve been thinking about games that really grow on you, the ones that seem simple at first but explode with content as you get further in. That’s why I wanted to share ten Metroidvanias that start off small, but become absolutely huge by the time you finally roll credits – and see the real ending!
10. Aeterna Noctis
A Single and Challenging Finale
Let’s start with something a little unexpected: Aeterna Noctis technically has only one ending. However, what’s truly remarkable is how surprising and complex the journey to reach it is.
The game quickly reveals its flaws, but you’re willing to ignore them thanks to its strong points – particularly the fun of exploring and jumping around. These strengths ultimately make the game enjoyable from start to finish.
Initially, it feels like the game will be short. But then you quickly discover lots of different areas all needing improvements you haven’t unlocked yet, and you realize there’s a lot more to play than you thought.
What starts as a simple adventure quickly turns into an unpredictable, epic quest across dimensions and planets, ultimately involving a battle against gods. It’s a story that goes far beyond what you might expect, with surprises at every turn and plenty of unexpected content.
If you’re like me and struggle with Aeterna Noctis, you can expect to spend around 100 hours completing everything the game has to offer – all the levels, challenges, and collectibles.
9. Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights
Struggling for a True Solution
Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights is a truly engaging game, largely due to its touching story. Reaching the first two endings is a particularly emotional experience, leaving players with a mix of happiness and sadness.
There are two key moments in the game: one happens very early on, almost immediately, and the other leads to a really impactful outcome. This outcome makes getting the ‘true’ ending feel essential to fully appreciate the story.
To succeed, you’ll need to do a lot of exploring and revisiting earlier areas to find important items. These items are essential to unlock the final boss’s second, much more difficult, phase.
Despite the hard work, the payoff is significant. The story takes a genuinely uplifting turn that feels right for Lily’s path, and it makes the long and difficult search completely worthwhile.
8. Blasphemous 2
The Desire for Mortality
I was initially impressed by Blasphemous 2 – it was a big step up from the first game. However, I also felt it lacked a large amount of content to really sink your teeth into.
It took me just over ten hours to finish, and I was surprised by how quickly it was over – I really enjoyed it! Then I realized I hadn’t explored everything the game had to offer.
I mostly missed out on new features like upgrades, abilities, and challenges, which made the game much more varied than anything I’d played before. But the truly crucial part was collecting items that determined the main character’s destiny.
With its downloadable content, which introduces a new ending and expands the game with areas and bosses you won’t find in the original, Blasphemous 2 can easily triple your playtime – especially if you enjoy collecting everything.
7. Nine Sols
Forming Bonds in the Face of the Inevitable
I absolutely loved Nine Sols – it’s such a well-designed game! But I have a feeling a lot of people probably ended up with the really bad ending, not because the game is unfair, but because it takes a lot of effort to really understand how everything works. You have to really get into the systems to succeed, and I think some players might not have bothered.
To truly finish Red Candle Games’ Metroidvania, you’ll need to explore the world completely. This means finding essential items and building strong relationships with all the characters you meet back at the central hub. You’ll do this by defeating bosses and mini-bosses, mastering difficult platforming challenges, and discovering hidden secrets along the way.
Achieving these goals feels rewarding for two reasons. First, it lets you fully experience everything the game has to offer. Second, it helps you build a deeper relationship with the memorable characters who join you on your journey – they’re much more than just helpers providing upgrades or clues.
So, I finally got to the last boss, and wow, it was brutal! Seriously, this fight is up there with the hardest I’ve ever faced in an indie game. It really just proves how amazing Nine Sols is overall – it’s a total masterpiece.
6. MIO: Memories in Orbit
Reality Hides More Than It Shows
In the game MIO: Memories in Orbit, the idea of ‘size’ feels completely different. You play as a very small being exploring huge environments clearly built for a much larger species.
The game is designed to progress slowly, emphasizing how small you are compared to the vast world around you. This feeling continues even after the first ending, leaving you with a sense of both satisfaction and a lingering feeling that there’s still more to discover.
Even if you think you’ve seen everything, MIO: Memories in Orbit cleverly lures you towards a disappointing conclusion, then suggests there’s a deeper story to uncover, encouraging you to continue playing.
With diverse areas, challenging bosses, interesting documents, helpful upgrades, and engaging quests, there’s plenty to motivate you to keep playing. Choosing not to pursue the true ending means you’ll only experience a fraction of what this amazing game has to offer.
5. Environmental Station Alpha
A Labyrinthine Destiny
| Release Date | April 22, 2015 |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Arvi Teikari, Roope Mäkinen |
| Publisher(s) | Hempuli Oy |
| Platform(s) | PC |
Environmental Station Alpha is a short but fascinating Metroidvania game. While it doesn’t always perfectly deliver on its ideas, its bold and creative premise is definitely worth appreciating.
Finishing one part is only the beginning. What follows is a challenging journey where you’re left to figure things out while exploring new places, navigating some really difficult platforming challenges, and hunting down incredibly hidden secrets – though it’s possible I’m just not very good at finding them!
Beyond just being a charming retro game, Environmental Station Alpha explores what it means to be aware when confronted with powerful, ancient mysteries – and it does so in surprisingly complex and ambitious ways.
Even though the actual ending is fairly brief, the game surprisingly becomes much longer – and that’s what makes it stand out. It’s more interesting than a long game getting only a small extension.
4. Dead Cells
A Grind for the Select Few
While Dead Cells doesn’t fully embrace the traditional Metroidvania style, it still uses elements of that genre. It’s built more around a roguelike experience, but with a cool addition: beating the game isn’t the final goal – there’s still plenty more to do afterward.
Despite the game appearing to be a seamless, connected world, it’s actually broken up into sections you unlock by gaining new abilities. This means you’ll need to play through the game many times to experience everything it offers – all the bosses, areas, weapons, and powers.
No matter what, you’ll experience all of this before the credits roll. But reaching those credits in Dead Cells requires mastering the game’s incredibly challenging difficulty, where a hidden, powerful final boss is waiting to give you a real fight.
The game isn’t ranked higher because it requires a huge time commitment even after you’ve completed the main exploration and platforming. It’s a very repetitive experience that demands a lot of grinding.
3. Animal Well
Masterfully Hidden Layers
One of the most impressive games I’ve played recently is Animal Well. It’s a puzzle-focused Metroidvania that uniquely avoids combat altogether, and the result is fantastic.
The game isn’t just a good idea – it’s brilliantly made. It creates a vibrant, detailed world that’s full of secrets and keeps you hooked with every new thing you find.
Most players can finish the game relatively quickly and enjoy it, but there’s a huge difference between that initial ending and the more meaningful, personalized goal some players pursue, which drastically changes how they experience the game.
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Animal Well transforms dramatically as you progress. Initially a delightful puzzle game, it evolves into a deeply intricate world that will constantly surprise you. And after that, reaching the final endings feels like a journey from being human to becoming something beyond – a truly transcendent experience.
Most fans seem to agree that the second ending is excellent, easily making it worthy of inclusion on this list. However, if you consider the very last ending – particularly if you experience it without using a guide – it would easily be number one.
2. Hollow Knight: Silksong
An Unexpected Act
Even though Hollow Knight: Silksong offers more direction than the first game, it still manages to surprise players, even those who are expecting the unexpected.
Players who finished the main story of Hallownest likely figured beating the last boss was just the beginning, but almost no one anticipated what followed.
It’s a shame when players stop after completing the initial goals and even unlocking the path to the next stage, because the game truly transforms in a surprising final act.
After hours of exploration, collecting tons of items, and overcoming challenging bosses, Team Cherry rewards players with a final stretch of gameplay that delivers even more of what makes the game great.
If you strive for the true ending of Hollow Knight: Silksong, you’ll discover even more challenging platforming, unforgettable boss battles, stunning music, gorgeous environments, and emotionally impactful stories. The game consistently surprises you, right up to the very end.
1. La-Mulana
A Relentless Hunt for Objectives
La-Mulana is a challenging game that will really push your problem-solving skills and patience, but it’s also one of the most thrilling and innovative games in the Metroidvania style.
This game is really hard to suggest to most people because it’s so challenging. However, that’s exactly what makes it so rewarding for players who enjoy a tough and thorough experience.
Although the main game takes a typical amount of time to finish, La-Mulana has a truly difficult ending. To see the complete ending credits with all the characters, you’ll need to complete a huge number of challenging tasks.
Okay, so changing the number of characters doesn’t shake things up too much, but the real test, the thing that really makes this game amazing, is trying to perfect it. It’s all about pushing yourself to really master everything the game throws at you and proving you can handle anything. It’s a huge challenge, but that’s what makes it so rewarding!
Completing all the optional content in La-Mulana can extend the game from a 20-hour experience to 100 hours, or even longer. This makes it a remarkably large Metroidvania, especially considering its relatively humble beginnings.
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2026-05-30 01:42