The Most Captivating “Metroidvania” of 2025 Might Defy the Genre

2025 is poised to be a thrilling year for Metroidvania enthusiasts. After much anticipation, “Hollow Knight: Silksong” is finally releasing, “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond” is making its grand entrance on the Nintendo Switch 2, and the intriguing “Pac-Man” spin-off, “Shadow Labyrinth,” is slated for launch in the coming months. The indie scene is buzzing too, with titles like the crowdfunded gothic action game “Crowsworn,” the hand-drawn adventure “The Eternal Life of Goldman,” and the sci-fi platformer “MIO: Memories in Orbit,” all eyeing a 2025 release.

But there’s another captivating Metroidvania arriving, crafted by an unexpected name. Heart Machine—the studio behind the acclaimed “Hyper Light Drifter”—has teamed up with Devolver Digital to develop “Possessor(s).” This new venture diverges from their usual style, featuring action side-scrolling gameplay with combat reminiscent of “Super Smash Bros.” While it echoes familiar Metroidvania elements, the creators insist “Possessor(s)” defies conventional genre labels.

### The Hyper Light Drifter Devs Are Making a New Game Called Possessor(s)

#### Possessor(s) is Being Described as a Search Action Game, Not a Metroidvania

In an interview with Gamesradar at GDC 2025, Heart Machine founder Alx Preston shared his frustration with the label “Metroidvania,” feeling it doesn’t quite capture the essence of “Possessor(s).” Originally, Metroidvania combined elements from the iconic 1980s games “Metroid” and “Castlevania,” known for their side-scrolling and nonlinear levels. Yet, Preston criticizes how loosely the term is applied nowadays, noting that most games labeled as Metroidvanias resemble Metroid but lack the Vania flair. Hence, he prefers the Japanese term “search action game” for “Possessor(s).”

#### Possessor(s) Has a Lot of Metroidvania Elements, But It Also Incorporates Features from Other Genres

“Possessor(s)” carries many classic Metroidvania traits: a nonlinear level structure, an interconnected world, abundant backtracking, anime-inspired visuals, and fast-paced 2D platforming. However, its narrative depth distinguishes it from traditional Metroidvanias—offering different endings based on player choices and weaving a story infused with sci-fi and horror through visual novel-like segments.

Unlike Heart Machine’s earlier works like “Solar Ash” and “Hyper Light Drifter,” which relied on imagery to tell their tales, “Possessor(s)” ventures into a more narrative-driven approach. This reflects its unique design philosophy, blending open-world exploration, platform fighter combat, and branching RPG narratives. As Alx Preston might argue, it’s packed with Metroid spirit, though light on Vania.