10 Best Bullet Hell Metroidvanias (2025)

I wasn't an immediate fan when I first played a mixture of the Bullet Hell and Metroidvania genres. I like the gradual progression of Metroidvanias, and worried the frenetic nature of Bullet Hell couldn't coexist in that environment.

But over the years, I slowly became more convinced that this mashup could work. Which is why I decided to write this list of the best Bullet Hell Metroidvanias.

Admittedly, there aren't many examples of the mixture, with many of them being purer Metroidvania with some light Bullet Hell thrown in, but regardless, these are all fun and inventive adventures.

Get your dodging boots ready, and let's dive in.

10 A Robot Named Fight

Down With the Flesh!

A Robot Named Fight is many things in one surprisingly cohesive package. It's a rogue-like, a Metroidania, and occasionally, it becomes something of a Bullet Hell as well.

Sometimes that's due to the minions of the Megabeast arrayed against you, but with the right upgrades, you can become a stampeding engine of Bullet Hell.

Some of the bosses that go all out in true Bullet Hell fashion include the White Wyrm, Metal Patriarch, and the devastatingly powerful Megabeast Core.

9 Gestalt: Steam & Cinder

Steampunk Mayhem

While the last game does a reasonable job of including Bullet Hell, this next game isn't a rogue-like. Meaning there's nothing random about it, including the handful of Bullet Hell bosses.

The first boss of Gestalt: Steam & Cinder, a gigantic mechanical arachnid, throws annoying electrical balls at you. But later on, there are some absurdly powerful examples of Bullet Hell gone wild.

One that comes to mind is the furious rage of the transformed Indra, who teleports around and harries you with lasers.

The biggest problem is the final boss, which not only attacks you in a giant mecha, but does so while you're dodging bullets from a secondary source.

Unfortunately, the Bullet Hell here isn't as well-balanced as I'd like, but there are plenty of better examples on this list.

8 Minoria

Witches and Heretics

Even if you've heard of an indie Metroidvania series called Momodora, you might have missed Minoria. It's by the same team, but it's more of a spiritual successor published by DANGEN Entertainment.

While the adventure wasn't perfect, it featured a captivating story about witches and religion, as well as some truly harrowing boss battles—most of which involved more than a little Bullet Hell mechanics.

Some of the best examples include the first boss, Blossoming Witch Lissette, as well as the flora fiend, Witch Deity Saora.

There's also the ruthless battle against Harina, which forces you to dodge through streams of indestructible spheres.

All truly challenging examples of what makes Bullet Hell so fulfilling, but also so intimidating.

7 Absence of Light

I Hope You Love Bullets!

Whereas the past couple of games were primarily Metroidvania with a little Bullet Hell thrown in, Absence of Light flips that pattern on its head.

It's styled primarily around Bullet Hell mechanics, though it does feature exploration and basic Metroidvania functionality.

It shows how much of a Bullet Hell it is whenever you face a boss. Expect complex, overwhelming streams of bullets you'll need to weave between.

While the game is fun once you get the hang of things, it's a bit of a bummer that this adventure is only available on PC.

6 Islets

Iko's Floating Islands

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In many ways, Islets is the best of both worlds. It has pure Metroidvania sections, complete with Bullet Hell-styled bosses.

But it also has sections where you'll soar through the sky in your rickety aerial contraption, defeating dangerous pirates to progress.

As you make your way through the game, you'll tether the floating islands together while uncovering a dangerous plot.

Some of the best examples of the Bullet Hell nature of the game are the bosses Tomb of 1000 Spirits, Buried Beast, and The Stone Witch. A charming little hybrid adventure.

5 Laika: Aged Through Blood

Racing Into the Apocalypse

In the midst of this discussion of one crazy genre hybrid, enter another—the Motorvania.

That's what Laika: Aged Through Blood calls itself, and it's a fitting moniker for this post-apocalyptic adventure.

What's unique about this Metroidvania is that you're not running around on foot. Instead, you're constantly jetting around on a motorbike.

This allows for unique methods of combat, as you're dodging bullets and responding in midair with your gun. It's more than a bit challenging, but a worthwhile attempt.

4 Rabi-Ribi

The OG Bunnyvania

By all rights, I should enjoy Rabi-Ribi more. It's a sort of relic of a time when Japanese games were more about reveling in their fandom and silliness.

It's also a Metroidvania that goes wild in the boss battles, throwing streams of bullets your way.

Most rabbits couldn't handle it, but a rabbit transformed into a human? That's another story entirely.

While I could mention the bosses, there are too many to cover. This game features more than 40, which is an insane number.

The only thing holding this Bullet Hell Metroidvania back from a higher placement is how unbalanced it tends to be. But outside of that, it's a fun time.

3 Minishoot' Adventures

The Surprise Challenger

I hadn't actually heard of Minishoot' Adventures until very recently. But after familiarizing myself with the game, I was happy to include it.

The game is sort of what would happen if a Shmup were thrown into a top-down world like that in The Legend of Zelda. This sounds utterly bizarre, but it works well.

As you progress, you'll come across new Primoridal Powers, which not only empower you, but also allow you to open up new areas to explore.

Much like with Absence of Light, this is a really neat game that would benefit from being on consoles.

2 Touhou Luna Nights

Lovely Team Ladybug

The mad geniuses at Team Ladybug have given us many amazing adventures over the years, from Record of Lodoss War - Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth - to Drainus, and even the recently released BLADECHIMERA.

But one of the very best of them is a Bullet Hell Metroidvania called Touhou Luna Nights. And even if you're not that familiar with the Touhou universe, this is a super-challenging and stylish adventure worth checking out.

Sakuya may be a maid, but she's one able to manipulate time itself. This is an amazing ability, and one you'll need to survive the waves of bullets coming her way.

There may not be a ton of bosses in Touhou Luna Nights, but they're all bursting with enough power to reduce you to a pile of ash. And did I mention you'll get rewarded if you let the bullets graze you?

A wonderful and hard Bullet Hell Metroidvania, but we've saved the best for last!

1 The Knight Witch

Nighty Knight

In many ways, this list wouldn't have existed without The Knight Witch. So it's perhaps not that surprising that it took top honors.

This is a game that mixes Metroidvania and Bullet Hell into every aspect of the game, from the twin-stick controls to the upgrades Rayne will get as you progress.

One especially neat element about The Knight Witch is how you assemble a deck of magical cards that empower you.

The main challenge is keeping everything running smoothly while dodging all sorts of mayhem.

Still, nobody said a Bullet Hell Metroidvania would be easy, and this is a game that truly embraces both genres in this unique adventure.