To echo what some others have recommended:
- Ender Lilies - I played this one recently and quite enjoyed it. It has some clear Souls influences (dead world, longer attack animations, limited health recoveries that are replenished at save spots, etc) but eliminates the brutal punishment for dying. It's still quite challenging, but you have a ton of possible approaches for attacking (similar to Castlevania in that regard) that you can always re-check your strategy and always keeps things interesting. I know some people find the map annoying, but I personally thought it gave you enough information you needed without making it a crutch.
- Shantae - I love this series. Shantae is great to control, the atmosphere is bright, cute, and silly, and it just feels fun. They aren't hard or complex games, but that makes for wonderful palette cleansers. Pirate's curse (3rd one) is probably the best, but Seven Sirens (5th) is the most "traditional" Metroidvaniaish. Note that the structure tends to be more Zelda-esque: you need to go through a sequence to open up a "dungeon" area, which is where you find your power up and boss. Still, great fun to play.
- Touhou Luna Nights - If you are looking for Super Metroid-esque brilliant map layout and Metroidvania-style level design, this is not your game. It's quite basic in that regard. However, the game has some great synergy between its basic elements: 1) you can pause time, 2) your basic attack is sending out a gazillion knives, 3) if an enemy or projectile comes close to you but without hitting you, you replenish either time if your time is paused or health if time is not. Also, bosses are bullet hell bosses. Combat is crazy in this game, and the emphasis on throwing knives and stopping time makes it unique compared to the rest of them.
Some other recommendations, albeit neither of these I enjoyed quite as much as the ones above:
- Blaster Master Zero Trilogy - Blaster Master was an awesome idea. The basic concept is that you have sidescrolling levels in a mobile tank, but then you leave the tank, enter caves, and engage in top-down action. But it was on the NES held back by some NES-era flaws. The remake fixes those flaws, but ends up introducing others in the process (most notably making the top down action sections too easy). The second game then fixes those flaws, and is genuinely great. The third game just didn't feel as fun, more like going through the motions. So honestly, the second is the only one I recommend, but they are all cheap and short so you can try them all if you want.
- Alwa's Legacy - This is technically a sequel, but, eh, who cares about plot? It's an NES-style game, and not just in presentation. What I like about this one is it is so easy to get lost and confused. The typical signposting of modern games is heavily reduced, and it's not quite as obviously gated as some of the more strict, linear Metroidvanias. It led to a lot of aimless wandering around, which I enjoyed. It's not the greatest game, but notably pleasant.
And some cautionary tales on some other games mentioned:
- Gato Roboto is pretty fun, I won't deny that. However, it's status as a "mini-Metroidvania" means the exploration elements are seriously limited. If you just want a fun sidescroller starring a cat in a mech suit, play it. If you want to get lost exploring as a cat in a mech suit, this won't scratch that itch.
- Like others, I found Timespinners to be somewhat dull. There was nothing wrong with the gameplay, but nothing that stood out to me either. I doubt I will ever play it again. It may have been satisfying 15 years ago when MVs were more limited, but we have such a glut today that it is decidedly C-tier.
- The Messenger is weird in that it is a straightforward linear game for the first half, then switches to a Metroidvania afterwards. I was enjoying the game until the switch, but I don't think it worked well. It's probably a personal preference more than anything else, but it killed the pacing and killed my groove.
- I'm the only person in the world who didn't like Monster Boy. Movement is limited, especially early on. Combat wasn't fun, puzzles weren't fun, exploration wasn't fun. I'm in the minority here, so I could be wrong. But other than the presentation, nothing stood out to me. Maybe because I didn't grow up on Wonder Boy, who knows...
