Steam Summer Sale 2023: best Metroidvania-style games to grab

Slice, dice, and explore in these Steam Summer Sale 2023 highlights

Exploring the Steam Summer Sale 2023 is possible until July 13, 2023, and one particularly well represented genre with great discounts is the Metroidvania-style game – one of those genre names derived from a specific series, but is otherwise not very descriptive if you don’t already know what it’s all about. What you can expect from these titles is a lot of exploration mixed with combat. As you get deeper into the game, you return to areas you’ve already combed through and will find additional paths or secrets, looking at everything with a new perspective.

Find the best Steam Summer Sale 2023 Metroidvania-style games below – and no worries, we won’t add any superior deals later on just to have you come back.

Tunic

Tunic Team

• 30% off

Tunic is an outlier of this list, since it’s the only 3D game on it – otherwise this genre is very much focused on 2D worlds. Featuring both challenging combat and puzzles as well as an incredibly beautiful and simple art style, this was one of last year’s indie hits. Tunic contains a unique in-game manual you’ll have to piece together as you explore the world, revealing more and more mechanics and allowing you to find more secrets and powers.

Hollow Knight

Team Cherry

• 50% off

Challenging you to explore a vast underground world, Hollow Knight is one of the best games coming out of this genre in the last years. It features explosive boss battles that definitely pose a challenge, but aren’t too punishing, and very rewarding discovery mechanics. There is so much hidden stuff in this game, you’ll be finding new things all the time.

Dead Cells

Motion Twin

• 50% off

Combining Metroidvania and roguelike together, Dead Cells allows you to earn permanent boosts and upgrades that carry over to your next playthrough. Bosses are tough to crack and you’ll need to do some pattern-learning to get the hang of it, but once you do you’re in for some satisfying combat. A procedurally generated castle full of dangers and secrets is waiting for you.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Moon Studios

• 75% off

The sequel to the acclaimed Ori and The Blind Forest, this game isn’t just a visual treat: The platforming feels better than in the original and the scope is larger, providing you with many areas to explore and powers to use – an all-around fantastic sequel improving on the base game. That one’s also on sale, by the way, so it’s a good time to grab the entire series.

Salt and Sanctuary

Ska Studios

• 75% off

Sometimes called a 2D Dark Souls, Salt and Sanctuary mixes platforming with tough combat and a focus on challenging boss battles. Keep an eye out for those life-saving checkpoints at all times, as they’re hard to find and reach. Even if you’re not totally into soulslikes, this genre-mix might be just the thing to give you the little taste you crave.

Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights

Live Wire, Adglobe

• 50% off

Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights shifts the focus and rewards a careful approach to combat. Those analyzing their enemies and coming up with efficient weapon synergies will triumph more easily than those trying to force their way through with brute force. Keep experimenting with your character build until you find something satisfying and then unleash your power.

Scourgebringer

Flying Oak Games, E-Studio

• 65% off

Scourgebringer allows you to pull off some slick movements on the ground and in the air by timing your attacks correctly, enabling you to let one move flow into another one – it’s like an orchestra of 2D violence. That also makes it probably the most challenging title on the list, since you’ll need to be good on the controls to extract the most out of this system. The developers have provided players with some difficulty customization options, though, to assist.

SteamWorld Dig 1 + 2

Image & Form Games

• 82% off

It’s less about obtaining more and more power in SteamWorld Dig – in fact, you’re not digging down to find new abilities, you’re on the lookout for new levels to complete. It’s focusing more on puzzle-solving than boss battles as well, allowing you to create your own platforms from scratch by using the resources you find. It’s a fantastic pick for novices to the genre.

Timespinner

Lunar Ray Games

• 70% off

In a similar vein to Ender Lilies, Timespinner rewards you for adapting your playstyle to the challenge at hand, making for a varied gameplay experience. You can combine two different weapons and bring a familiar into battle, giving you lots of options to choose from. It’s another solid entry point into the genre as it’s not too difficult.

The Messenger

Sabotage

• 75% off

Truly a retro-style game, The Messenger comes with a good shade of Ninja Gaiden. It never fails to surprise you with new bosses and cool level designs as well as a change of pace around the halfway point. Don’t let yourself be spoiled and enjoy the journey.

For more excellent offers from Steam Summer Sale 2023, check out the best strategy games or best Steam Deck-verified games on a discount.