Steam Scene Report: Metroidvanias Fight for the Spotlight, Plus This Week’s Chart Toppers!

Salaam, gamers! What’s the latest buzz in your Steam library? This past week on Steam has been quite a mixed bag, with some familiar faces dominating the charts while a beloved genre seems to be grappling for attention. We’re talking about Metroidvanias – those epic search-action platformers that give us such a satisfying sense of exploration and power progression.

Remember when games like Hollow Knight and Ori were the talk of the town? It feels like ages ago, doesn’t it? Nowadays, with the endless wait for Silksong, it almost feels like the genre has taken a backseat. Even with two high-quality Metroidvanias dropping last week, the limelight was hogged by the hype around Subnautica 2 and the buzz for Mixtape. But trust us, these new entries are worth a look!

Is the Metroidvania Magic Fading?

Among the new releases, we spotted two particularly interesting titles: Shattered Divinities, a cool fantasy game from Chinese developers, and Clockwork Ambrosia. We got our hands on Clockwork Ambrosia for a good five hours, and yaar, it’s a treat for the eyes! The pixel art is absolutely gorgeous, reminding us of the stunning visuals in games like Iconoclasts or Owlboy. Its unique blend of futuristic chrome sci-fi with a cheerful steampunk vibe is just a pleasure to experience. This one is top-tier stuff, no doubt.

When it comes to gameplay, Clockwork Ambrosia takes a page from Mega Man with its gun-focused combat, but then it adds a substantial modding system that really ramps up the fun. Each of your four main weapons can be extensively customized with mods you find throughout the world. Loot is abundant, and every chest feels rewarding. Imagine finding a mod that lets you fire missiles vertically instead of horizontally, or one that splits your pulse rifle projectiles into three! Even early on, we found ourselves constantly tweaking our loadout, especially before boss fights. In that sense, it almost gives off an Armored Core vibe.

We’d wholeheartedly recommend Clockwork Ambrosia. If this game had come out ten years ago, everyone would be raving about it. But now? The Metroidvania genre just doesn’t have the same pull it did when gems like Axiom Verge, Guacamelee, and Chasm were regularly hitting shelves. It’s a bit sad, because even visually stunning games like MIO: Memories in Orbit, or the fact that Grime got a sequel this year, often fly under the radar. These, along with Clockwork Ambrosia, are as good as anything released in the golden age of the genre.

Apart from the indie darling Animal Well which debuted strong at number 10, not many Metroidvanias have made a huge splash on Steam’s weekly charts this year. Even highly anticipated titles like Blasphemous 2 and Nine Sols, while excellent, didn’t quite hit the very top spots compared to other genres.

Steam’s Top Sellers: What’s Hot Right Now?

Let’s talk about what actually *did* make waves on Steam’s revenue charts from May 5th to 12th:

1. Counter-Strike 2: Still the king of competitive FPS, ruling the roost.
2. Forza Horizon 6: Making a massive entry! Pre-sales are through the roof, especially since the deluxe edition gives players five days of early access. Looks like those incentives really work, with player counts already soaring past its predecessor even before its official launch.
3. Apex Legends: Another free-to-play battle royale powerhouse holding strong.
4. Subnautica 2: Debuting at number 4, which is pretty solid for a highly anticipated sequel.
5. Diablo IV: Proving its staying power even after its initial launch hype.
6. Gamble With Your Friends: An interesting wildcard entry!
7. Far Far West: Making a surprisingly strong showing.
8. Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era: A classic strategy series still pulling in fans.
9. PUBG: Battlegrounds: Our very own battle royale legend, still a fan favorite.
10. Warframe: The ever-evolving free-to-play sci-fi action game continues to captivate.

Hidden Gems & Deep Cuts You Might Have Missed!

While the big names grab headlines, Steam is always brimming with unique indie titles. Here are some we found interesting:

• Besmirch (Released May 12): If you’re into survival horror mixed with farming (yes, you read that right!), this one’s for you. Its art style is super captivating, reminiscent of games like Skald: Against the Black Priory. Definitely a unique combo!
• Skigill (Released May 16): Okay, we know, another roguelike survivor game. But hear us out! While many of us might be experiencing “Vampire Survivors fatigue,” Skigill stands out with its stylish limited color palette and super crisp pixel art. If you’re going to try one more, this might be it.
• Moventure (Released May 16): Don’t let its simple looks fool you. This masocore platformer, from the creator of the quirky Reventure, packs a punch. Despite using only the D-pad and two buttons, your character has 100 “unique” movements. The challenge (and fun) is figuring out how to navigate its brutal levels.
• The Adventures of Sir Kicksalot (Released May 15): Another game that might not win awards for graphics but offers deep gameplay. Beneath its blocky, almost Minecraft-esque visuals lies a combat-focused immersive sim inspired by Dark Messiah. The goal? Eliminate enemies in the most creative ways possible – think kicking them into spikes or off cliffs!

Best Steam User Review of the Week!

Speaking of The Adventures of Sir Kicksalot, this review absolutely cracked us up:

“This game made me feel alive again. I’ve been kicking, burning, netting, stabbing, slashing, and most of all kicking, burning, netting, stabbing, slashing and most of all kicking, burning, netting, stabbing, slashing and most of all kicking, burning, netting, stabbing, slashing, and most of all…. you get the point. 10/10”
– Ikea Bean Cat

Haha! What a review! It just goes to show you, sometimes the simplest games provide the most fun. That’s all for this week’s Steam roundup. Keep exploring, keep gaming, and we’ll catch you next time with more exciting news from the gaming world!