Tools: What's Hot In Retro Metroidvania? A Deep Dive Into Recent Hn And...

If you're into retro gaming, you've probably noticed that metroidvanias are having a moment. From timeless NES classics to beloved SNES titles, these games continue to captivate players decades after their release. But what are gamers actually talking about right now? I dug into recent discussions on Hacker News and Reddit to find out.

Three major themes are dominating the conversation:

Super Metroid's legendary status — A simple question about what it must have been like to play Super Metroid in 1994 sparked over 1,100 upvotes and 350+ comments on r/retrogaming. People are still in awe of its atmosphere, non-linear design, and storytelling through environment alone.

Industry loss and legacy — The passing of Shutaro Ida (52), longtime Castlevania developer and Creative Director on Bloodstained, hit the community hard. Ida's work on Dawn of Sorrow and Bloodstained helped define the modern metroidvania. Tributes poured in from Koji Igarashi and fans worldwide.

Obscure gems getting love — Games like Faxanadu (NES, 1989) and Tomba! (PS1) are having their moment in the sun. These titles showcase how the metroidvania formula evolved before the genre even had a name.

Here are the most engaging recent discussions I found:

Source: r/retrogaming | Upvotes: 1,124 | Comments: 356

"Super Metroid must have been an incredible experience in 1994"

The thread is a love letter to one of gaming's greatest achievements. Commenters reminisce about the sense of isolation, the thrill of discovering new abilities, and the way the world gradually opens up. It's not just nostalgia—it's recognition that Super Metroid set the template for an entire genre.

Source: Dexerto article (discussed on Hacker News) | Posted: Feb 16, 2026

Source: Dev.to