5. Axiom Verge (PS4)

Players may not be able to enjoy a certain intergalactic bounty hunter’s back-and-forth adventure on PS4, so the next closest thing is this one-man effort to replicate the original Metroidvania. Axiom Verge is about as dense as this genre ever becomes, focussing on making mild protagonist Trace feel overwhelmed and dumbfounded by the unknown universe around him. Luckily, his huge roster of weapons makes discovering more of it an exciting 2D affair.

4. Guacamelee! 2 (PS4)

Drinkbox Studios’ superpowered sequel follows former luchador Juan as he is forced out of retirement. Whereas before he rescued his own reality through tight action-platforming, only by punching, kicking, and grappling even harder can he hope to save the rest of the vibrant Mexiverse. Guacamelee! 2 is a great modernisation of the Metroidvania format that knows exactly when to poke fun at itself. And now it has 100% more chicken combat!

3. Castlevania Requiem (PS4)

What’s better than one of the greatest Metroidvania games of all time? How about two bundled together in one neat PS4 package? Castlevania Requiem is exactly that, bringing the joys of both Symphony of the Night and Rondo of Blood to modern platforms to see players travel and fight through one epic connected tale. Symphony of the Night, as one of the most intricately designed Metroidvanias ever, would have been enough on its own to make this list. That said, consider slaying more vampires in the preceding entry a nice bonus.

2. SteamWorld Dig 2 (PS4)

Whereas the original SteamWorld Dig boasted randomised subterranean environments, Image and Form’s 2017 sequel takes a more authored approach. It’s much better for it. You play as steamboat Dot, continuously digging in search of the original game’s main hero. Being successful means knowing when to stop and venture back up top in order to source more powerful gear and upgrades. This results in a gameplay loop far more addictive than in your standard Metroidvania, infused with the franchise’s charming steampunk style.

1. Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition (PS4)

Merging Metroidvania with select Souls-like elements, Hollow Knight quickly became a beloved indie darling due to its hand-drawn art style and mysterious characters. Backing those up, however, is the moody world of Hallownest, filled with several windy caverns and enemy-laden tunnels sure to test your combat and traversal skills to the max. Armed with a trusty nail sword and your preferred choice of customisable charms, Hollow Knight is one of the most haunting but beautifully designed Metroidvanias on PS4.

Do you agree with our picks for the best PS4 Metroidvania games? There sure were a lot to choose from, but these are just the ones we think represent the cream of the crop. Do you agree with are picks or think there's something vital that only just failed to make the cut? Leave a comment below.