"Totally-Not-Metroid" / "Metroid-Like" Games

[FelixWright]

While yes there are a ton of "metroidvania" games out there, IMO It's actually pretty hard to come across games that truly play like Metroid. That's what this thread is for. What have you found? What are you making? Share some cool metroid-y stuff!

ARBITRARY RULES
__

1. SUBMISSIONS CANNOT BE GAMES PREVIOUSLY DMCA/C&D'd

2. Submissions must be GAMES, NO MODS, NO ROM HACKS.

3. Games must be very explicitly metroid-like: This is NOT a general metroidvania thread. Leave anything 'Vania,' 'Souls-like,' or 'Melee combat,' at the door.

4. Submissions must include screenshots and a way to play the game in some way

5. You can post "I remember this thing from this one time <no screenshots no link> " tangents and "Wow / this is so cool / can't wait to play" posts but please DO NOT LET THIS BE YOUR WHOLE POST. Try and still add to the thread in some way beyond just that.

6. Self Promo is acceptable, but keep it to one post per project / game. Don't use posts in this thread as opportunities to talk about how these other games compare to your project.

7. Discussion and reviews of these games are encouraged!

To talk about an already submitted game, Hit the quote button in the top right of the game's forum post- this will change the subject of your reply to match the game.
Delete the quoted text from the submission before posting your reply.

To submit a new game, you may quote posts in this thread to use as a template.

[FelixWright]

EXAMPLE / INTRODUCTORY POST

GENTRIEVE

https://youtu.be/Tnl-VQjumo4



Gentrieve v1.6.1 Website (WebArchive)


Gentrieve v1.90 Website (updates by TonyTheTGR) (itchio)
Gentrieve v1.90 Website (updates by TonyTheTGR) (WebArchive)


Download Gentrieve v1.6.1

Download Gentrieve v1.90 (updates by TonyTheTGR) (WebArchive)


Snags / Information
Gentrieve = Portmanteau of "Generator" and "Retrieve"

Procedurally Generated with lots of control. Can specify desired mission length and difficulty.
Don't be afraid to use easier settings. There are extreme difficulty spikes sometimes.
Personal Teleporter is your friend.

v1.6.1 is the last update by phr00t, if you're looking for the classic Gentrieve experience.
v1.90 is an update under a new author that makes the game feel even more "Metroidy."

Recommend setting 60FPS cap / monitor refresh rate.
More than 60FPS isn't too huge an impact but in some respects it makes the game harder

Controls can be rebound.
If you would rather not use mouse aim there is also 8 direction aim.

If you want to use a gamepad try something like Joy2Key.


Required dependencies:
Microsoft's .NET Framework v4.0+
Microsoft's XNA Runtime v3.1

Controls
Move: WASD
Aim: Mouse
Shoot: Mouse1
Alt fire: Mouse2
Switch Weapons: Mouse Wheel / Mouse1 or Mouse2 in top right corner
Pause / Map: M
Personal Portal: P
Teleport: T
Quit: X in top right corner

[FelixWright]

GENTRIEVE ²
https://youtu.be/1II9RrJBb-M





Gentrieve 2 Website
Gentrieve 2 Website (WebArchived)
Gentrieve 2 Blog (WebArchived)

IndieDB Page
IndieDB Page (WebArchived)


Download Demo (MediaFire)
Download Demo (WebArchive)

Download Gentrieve 2 Full Version (GDrive)
Download Gentrieve 2 Full Version (MediaFire)
Download Gentrieve 2 Full Version (MediaFire) (WebArchived)


Snags / Information
The year is 3080. Mass Generators are creating everything, everywhere.
However, thieves often steal Mass Generators in hopes of creating robot armies & fortresses.
Thieves are terrible programmers, though, and their creations become uncontrollably hostile & fortresses wildly convoluted.
It is your job to clear out these fortresses & return the faulty Mass Generators.
Be warned, when the Mass Generator is taken offline, the fortress will soon implode!

Requires a Java Runtime Environment 1.5.0
Adoptium's OpenJRE v8 LTS will work
(During the install you may have to install the feature "Install to $JAVA_HOME" so that Gentrieve2 can see it)

If you want to install to protected directories i.e. C:\Program Files
Open an admin command prompt and run java -jar Gentrieve2Installer.jar
Same thing for uninstalling

Controls
Move: WASD
Aim: Mouse
Shoot: Mouse1
Alt fire: Mouse2
Switch Weapons: Mouse Wheel / Shift + Mouse Wheel
Pause / Map: Esc

[FelixWright]

F P S
INFINITE




Download FPS Infinite on Steam (Free)

Snags / Information
Spiritual successor to Gentrieve and Gentrieve 2

Supports VR and traditional KB+M Play
(There is no controller support, but SteamInput will let you use one)

[FelixWright]

ENVIRONMENTAL
STATION      α

https://youtu.be/RTj_Sc5t1ZI





Buy Environmental Station Alpha on Steam ($7.99)

Snags / Information
It looks basic and bland, but [spoiler=Looks Can Be Deceptive......]https://youtu.be/Pkfl-fwnHTw[/spoiler]

Runs on the Clickteam Multimedia Fusion engine. Some jank with that.

Requires a fair amount of tweaking to run at its best on Steam Deck.
https://steamcommunity.com/app/350070/discussions/0/3389534247563287929/

Game is capped at 55 Frames Per Second.

Controller support is wonky.
Turn D-Pad Only On first, then switch controls to gamepad, then in steam controller settings make your D-Pad behave as a joystick.

The best place to buy the soundtrack is on bandcamp:
https://nnoby.bandcamp.com/album/music-for-an-imaginary-soundchip-environmental-station-alpha-soundtrack

[FelixWright]

MAPTROID
WORLDS

https://youtu.be/3WbrI3Jki90





Buy Maptroid Worlds on Steam ($2.99)

Snags / Information

What if Metroid but just the automap and exploration? That's basically what this is.

Also includes some fun extra gamemodes, including a coloring game

[FelixWright]

Delta
Manifold





Buy Delta Manifold on Steam ($9.99)

Snags / Information
Metroid Prime at home

[FelixWright]

ESCAPE ^{- FROM -} TETHYS

https://youtu.be/HukK9qaZgec





Buy Escape From Tethys on Steam ($4.99)

Snags / Information
Speedrunnable! Runs great on steam deck.

[FelixWright]

XEODRIFTER

https://youtu.be/S1jh-XaOd7c





Buy Xeodrifter on Steam ($9.99)
Also on Switch, Playstation

Snags / Information
Metroid-y platforming, item hunting and combat, but with some unique modular beam mechanics and background-hopping.

Tweaking required to configure controls: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3075992234

[FelixWright]

- A ROBOT NAMED -
FIGHT!

https://youtu.be/iLN4k2GBS9w





Buy A Robot Named Fight! on Steam ($12.99)
The game is also available in Nintendo Switch E-Shop.

Snags / Information
It's like a mishmash of a Super Metroid Room and Item Randomizer, The Binding of Isaac, and Megaman.

Has extra and special gamemodes like boss rush and split screen PvP.

Optional Meh Co-op.

The source code is now public:
https://github.com/BartMartner/OpenARNF

It's really fucking hard. You should probably read this.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3072751573

[FelixWright]

OUT    DX
BUDDIES

https://youtu.be/j-fLoRjoUmU





Buy OUTBUDDIES DX on Steam ($17.99)

Snags / Information
Made in Clickteam Fusion.

Lovecraftian Metroid. Scuba suit. Spider ball. Optional meh co-op.

[FelixWright]

T    H    E
MUMMY
DEMASTERED

https://youtu.be/u0rh4RcGXo8





Buy The Mummy Demastered on Steam ($19.99)
This game is also available on PlayStation 4/(5?)

Snags / Information
Logic tied to framerate. Cap monitor to 60hz.

Sequence breakable. Speedbooster. Shinesparking. Some boss designs are familiar.

Contra-esque shooting. Throwable explosives. Interesting death mechanic.

Milton Guasti is given special thanks in the credits.

[alexman25]

PSYCRON is pretty cool

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1368410/PSYCRON/





Very heavy Metroid Fusion inspiration, and made by M3D, I believe! Short and sweet; should kill a couple hours for ya'.

[FelixWright]

PSYCRON

is pretty cool
Very heavy Metroid Fusion inspiration, and made by M3D, I believe!
Short and sweet; should kill a couple hours for ya'.


Get PSYCRON on Steam ($6.99)
There is also a free demo

https://youtu.be/cHr534dBMh8

Psycron is very pog, can confirm. I reviewed it:

First run completion: 97% in 02:21:34
100% completion in 02:34:37

Psycron is a fairly short but incredibly fun metroid-like with a heavy emphasis on movement. By the time you grab all the major upgrades, moving through the areas is a breeze. This game is fairly easy to sequence break as well. The difficulty curve is very slight -- I died maybe 5 times in total. With that being said, the boss fights are incredible, with multiple phases that keep fights fresh. The environments are pretty with crisp pixel art, and an absolute banger of a soundtrack playing in the back. The sound effects are pretty satisfying, especially the one for picking up items. This game has multiple ending images based on time and items collected. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you try and go for 100% items. Currently achievements do not work, but once they are functional they will greatly increase the replayability of this game by rewarding sequence breaking, low % and speed running. For the low price of $7 USD when not on sale, this will keep you occupied and entertained for quite some time.

Finished.
Recommended.

[FelixWright]

Mannux

https://youtu.be/p15pEZaH0cQ




Get Mannux Demo on itch.io (Free)

Snags / Information
!!! THIS GAME IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS. !!!

[FelixWright]

ZORDAK

https://youtu.be/h_TK-vAwSxA





Get ZORDAK Demo on itch.io (Free)

Snags / Information
!!! THIS GAME IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS. !!!

[FelixWright]

Gato   Roboto

https://youtu.be/akZHaKCO7_8





Buy Gato Roboto on Steam ($7.99)
Also available on Nintendo Switch

Snags / Information
Monochrome. Collectible color filters.

Prime-style space jump. Rocket jumping. Mechs. Submarines. Turrets.

A couple friends.

Meow!

[Dinar87]

Don't make a sound. XGA is approaching.....

//itch.io Page
https://dinar87.itch.io/xga

https://youtu.be/-LucH8wsZ9c

[FelixWright]

T H I B A L R Y N

https://youtu.be/O_Ly9mHbG-U





Play Thibalryn on Steam (Free)

Snags / Information
This is like, "what if metroid, but only morph ball?" It's quite weird

[FelixWright]

Same here:

I have updated the subject of every game in this thread to encourage discussion.

To talk about an already submitted game, Hit the quote button in the top right of the game's forum post- this will change the subject of your reply to match the game.
Delete the quoted text from the submission before posting your reply.

To submit a new game, you may quote posts in this thread to use as a template.