The Most Popular Metroidvania, Ranked

Ranking factors for popular Metroidvania

1. Gameplay and Controls
   The fluidity and responsiveness of the character's movement, combat mechanics, and the overall way the game feels as players navigate through the interconnected levels. This includes accessibility features, control customization, and how smoothly the game runs on various platforms.
2. Level Design and Exploration
   The quality of the game's environment, the interconnectedness of the levels, and the ability to revisit previous areas with new abilities. Metroidvania games heavily rely on backtracking and exploration, so varied and creative levels that encourage exploration are crucial.
3. Power-ups and Abilities
   The abilities and power-ups that the player character acquires throughout the game, how these abilities change gameplay, and the pacing of when these abilities are gained. They should be well-balanced and offer the player meaningful choices that affect their playstyle.
4. Art Style and Graphics
   The visual aspects of the game, including character design, background art, and general aesthetic. This should be a consistent and cohesive style that helps immerse the player in the game world.
5. Story and Characters
   The narrative and character development that occurs throughout the game. A compelling and well-told story, along with interesting and memorable characters, can deepen the player's engagement with the game world.
6. Music and Sound Design
   The quality of the game's soundtrack, sound effects, and general audio design. This should enhance the atmosphere and complement the game's mood and tone.
7. Innovation and Originality
   Many Metroidvania games can feel derivative of the original Metroid and Castlevania titles. A game should bring unique gameplay elements, story, or design choices that set it apart from other games in the genre.
8. Replayability
   The extent to which the game encourages repeated playthroughs, either through branching storylines, different difficulty settings, or challenges that require multiple attempts to overcome.
9. Challenge and Balance
   The game's difficulty should be well-balanced and offer a fair yet challenging experience for players of various skill levels. It should provide a sense of accomplishment without causing frustration.
10. Reception and Popularity
    Finally, the game's critical reception and overall popularity among players should be considered. Highly-rated and well-regarded games are more likely to be considered strong contenders for the best Metroidvania games.