There is arguably no more idiosyncratic descriptor in the entirety of gaming than “Metroidvania.”

A portmanteau of the beloved Metroid and Castlevania franchises, the term refers primarily, though not exclusively, to a subgenre of side-scrolling action-adventure games that emphasize nonlinear exploration and utility-based progression. Over the last two decades, Metroidvanias have undergone a renaissance in popularity beyond its namesakes with the advent of a wave of critically acclaimed games led by independent developers.