Due to the fact that most Metroidvanias tend to come from indie studios punching well above their weight, it’s not a super common occurrence to see a studio achieve success, and then produce a sequel.

However, if this does happen, due to the brilliance of the games that built the foundation to build on, these follow-ups tend to be absolutely world-beaters.

Of course, occasionally, you have a project like Silksong that dangles just out of reach for years on end. But there are plenty of other amazing sequels to tide you over until Team Cherry finally decides to slap a release date on that one.

So, if you’re looking for a Metroidvania franchise that can offer more than just a one-off experience, here are some incredible sequels that one-upped their predecessor.

9 Toki Tori 2

A Genuine Metroidbrainia

When it comes to hidden gems, deep cuts don’t get much deeper than Toki Tori. This series began life as a GBC puzzle platformer, and a pretty solid one at that, which provided some decent visuals for the time, some jaunty tunes, and some rather challenging puzzles.

However, it would take a shift to the Metroidvania genre, which was a decade in the making, to see Toki Tori truly shine.

This title, alongside Animal Well, is the only other Metroidbrainia I’m aware of that actually uses a Metroidvania format. It’s a truly unique experience that gives you all the tools you need to finish the game up front, but only through exploring and making sense of the world will you gain the knowledge to progress.

It’s a hard sell, as the sequel is far from a looker and features no-platforming or combat. But if you get a kick out of player freedom and sequence breaking, then Toki Tori is a must-play.

8 Steamworld Dig 2

Can You Dig It, Sucka?

When you think of Metroidvania games, you don’t usually picture a procedurally generated world, mainly because Metroidvanias tend to be designed in a very intentional manner. But, the Steamworld Dig series is proof that random isn’t a bad thing within the genre if done well.

The first game is a simple, short, but deeply replayable game where you dig into the dirt, gather resources to dig deeper, and eventually make sense of the underground society below. It’s wonderfully one-note and focused on mining, but the sequel is a more multi-faceted experience.

The sequel has a more fleshed-out story, more bosses and environmental hazards to overcome, better visuals, much stronger platforming sequences, and much better pacing due to the added gameplay variety that breaks up the loop of mining, surfacing, and depositing.

The original Steamworld Dig is still great, but the sequel has everything it does, but with all the bells and whistles it was missing. And for that reason, we think you’ll really dig it.

7 La Mulana 2

Brutal, But Not Quite As Brutal

This may be a little bit controversial, especially to the La Mulana die-hards, because you sadistic folks just love an obtuse and borderline unfair challenge. But, I’ll stick my neck out here and say that La Mulana 2 is a better game by a smidge, and the reason is purely down to accessibility.

The original La Mulana was all about offering super rewarding, but super complex exploration-based puzzles. However, I always felt that the experience was hampered by cheap deaths, needlessly obtuse design and puzzles where you would have more chance to stumble into the solution than actually have that ‘a-ha’ moment.

La Mulana 2 quashes this issue by maintaining the brutal, super-involved format. But equally, making each puzzle and sequence feel like a fair challenge.

Plus, the game is just a little more polished and handles better, which makes those challenging moments less likely to lead to a cheap and avoidable death. It’s a marmite game and series for sure, but it’s one I would still urge everyone to try.

6 Tevi

A Spiritual Successor

This may be cheating a little, as technically, this is the only entry on the list that isn’t a concrete sequel and more of a spiritual successor. But, considering how similar these two games are, and how unique their format is, I hope you can allow me this one wildcard.

Rabi Ribi was the original cute and kawaii Metroidvania with incredible non-linear exploration, awesome upgrades, and killer bosses.

But Tevi is a step up in just about every department with a wealth of quality-of-life changes, a much larger world, a more fleshed-out narrative, full voice acting, and double the amount of content before you even consider the replayability on offer.

It’s just a smoother, more polished, and accessible title. So, if you’re on the fence about which one to go with, Tevi is the clear winner.

5 Guacamelee 2

Off The Top Rope

As a huge wrestling fan with a deep love for the high-flying luchadors among the various rosters, I have a lot of time for Guacamelee as a series.

Thanks to its vibrant world, colorful characters, goofy writing, and satisfying combat, the game has remained one of my favorite Metroidvanias even after all of these years. But, thanks to one inclusion, the sequel is my favorite of the two.

The sequel is basically more of the same, with very small additions added to keep things lively. However, the reason why this one improves on the original is because it offers optional 4-player co-op, allowing you to take your pals along for the ride.

It’s a great beginner-friendly Metroidvania, and one that I still hold a special place in my heart to this day.

4 Axiom Verge 2

On The Verge Of Greatness

This one may be a little controversial, as many see Axiom Verge 2 as a bit of a disappointment due to the undisputably lesser combat when compared to the original.

However, as a Metroidvania experience, it’s undeniably the better of the two. This is because the second outing has the bravery to make combat almost optional, and instead forces the player to use cunning to survive.

Combat is still present, but the game is more focused on puzzle-solving, exploration, and world-building. It essentially takes the run and gun vibes of the original and tosses them aside for a more mindful experience.

It won’t be for everyone, but if you appreciate Metroidvania design, then you’ll probably find AV2 to be the far superior of the two.

3 Blasphemous 2

Play, Slay, Pray

As an Irishman, I have a connection to Catholicism through osmosis. I’m not saying we are all like Father Ted living over on Craggy Island, but the Catholic faith is a big deal around here.

So, to see a game take the subject of religion and craft something so unholy, so gritty and mature, and so addictively challenging was something I just couldn’t help but check out.

The morbid curiosity rewarded me with a brilliant Souls-Like Metroidvania that pulls no punches and tells an immaculate tale. However, despite the quality of the original, Blasphemous 2 is a step up in just about every way.

Thanks to the improved combat and platforming, the refined systems make the game more accessible to all skill levels, and the superior quests and boss battles. Blasphemous 2 cements itself as the definitive way to enjoy the series.

The only caveat to that would be that if you’re looking for a stiffer challenge, the original is the way to go. But if you just want to play the objectively better game, the sequel is a runaway winner.

2 Ender Magnolia: Bloom In The Mist

A Recent Metroidvania Wonder

Now for a title that has just released at the time of writing, but even with this short time to win over the fans, the sequel to the wonderful Ender Lilies has already cemented itself as the best of the pair.

Ender Lilies was actually recommended to me as a way to fill the Hollow Knight-shaped hole in my life. And while that may have been a poor comparison, as it feels more like a Salt and Sanctuary alternative to me, I’m glad the game came into my life, as it was a blast.

But, having also played its successor, I can say firsthand that the original has been outdone. Thanks to better platforming, combat, world design, navigation, build options, and more, Ender Magnolia comes out on top.

I’ll concede that the story is rather uninspired as it fails to tell its own tale and instead tries to live off the brilliance of the original. But aside from that, Ender Magnolia is a triumph and a very worthy sequel.

1 Ori and the Will of the Wisps

A Visual Masterpiece

I would be the first to argue that Ori and the Blind Forest is a rather underwhelming game when it comes to Metroidvania design.

It has some lovely visuals and set pieces, but there’s very little reason to diverge from the main path of progression, which is what these games are all about. However, all that changes if you choose to return to the series for the far superior Ori and the Will of the Wisps.

This title not only manages to raise the bar visually but also in terms of gut-wrenching storytelling. This one also introduces a vastly improved combat system, a bigger world with more player freedom to tackle things in an order that suits them.

Not to mention side content that actually warrants dipping out of the main quest for a little while. It’s a beautiful game and one that most definitely serves as the definitive Ori experience to date.