Metroidvania

About the game

Metroidvania is an action platformer you can play in the browser, where you explore a map of 29 rooms split across five zones: Roots, Ruins, Abyss, Ice and Volcano. You play a blue-helmeted knight who starts at the Crystal Sanctuary and must find the way to the Dragon's Throne.

The map is closed off by doors that only open with the right ability: dash, double jump, wall grip, iron key, arcane orb and ember blade. You often spot a door early and only come back once you find the item, which is the heart of this kind of game. Two bosses mark the journey, the Crystal Guardian and the Ember Dragon.

There are no points: the score is the time it takes you to defeat the dragon, and lower is better. At the end the game also shows the percentage of the map you explored. If you prefer simpler jumping, try the platformer about coins and a flag.

How to play

1. Use the left and right arrow keys (or A and D) to walk. Jump with the up arrow, Space or Z.
2. Attack with X. Once you have the arcane orb, F throws an orb at range.
3. Jump again in mid-air once you have the double jump. With the glider cape, hold jump in the air to glide.
4. Dash forward with C or Shift after picking up the dash. On thin platforms, down arrow plus jump drops through them.
5. On the ladder shafts between rooms, use the up and down arrows.
6. Get close to a crystal and press E to save. If your health runs out, you return to the last saved crystal with full health.
7. Press M to open the map and see visited rooms, the percentage explored and the abilities you own.

Game modes

• 1 player. A single-player adventure: explore, gain abilities, defeat both bosses and finish as fast as you can. Your result is the time to the Ember Dragon.

Tips

• You start with 5 health. Hearts scattered around the map and defeating the Crystal Guardian each raise your maximum health by 1.
• The sharp blade doubles the damage of your hits and the ember blade triples it. They are worth hunting for before the bosses.
• The iron amulet keeps you invulnerable for longer after taking a hit, and the swift boots give you 25% more speed.
• Locked doors tell you which ability is missing. If you cannot get through, make a mental note and explore another path.
• Save at the crystals before facing a boss: falling or losing all your health sends you back to the last saved point.

Hero, enemies and bosses

Frequently asked questions