[METROIDVANIA] A Communal History Of Metroidvania Video Games Explores 50 Years of Genre Evolution in New Communal History Project 🕹️📖

A new deep‑dive into one of gaming’s most beloved genres is on the way, as [METROIDVANIA] sets out to chart the winding, interconnected history of non‑linear exploration games—from their 1970s origins to today’s modern masterpieces.

The book examines the defining traits of the “Metroidvania” genre, known for its branching paths, gated progression, and the thrill of unlocking new abilities that reshape the world. Through incisive retrospectives and personal essays, the project retraces five decades of experimentation, breakthroughs, and dead ends that shaped the genre’s identity.

Led by Derrick Bitner, the writing team brings together more than 15 contributors, each exploring how Metroidvanias resonate with players on both mechanical and emotional levels. Essays range from placing Castlevania alongside classical art to reflecting on how games like Animal Well can reframe life experiences for new parents. The book also features striking illustrations by Luan Tie.

Across its 250+ pages, readers will revisit early genre touchstones such as Below the Root and Xanadu, explore unconventional interpretations like La‑Mulana and Tomba, and uncover overlooked gems from Japan’s indie scene, including Hack9 and Pharaoh Rebirth+. Naturally, the evolution of Metroid and Castlevania—from their foundational entries to their modern classics—forms a central pillar of the book.

With [METROIDVANIA], The Communal History of Video Games aims to offer multiple entry points for readers, whether they’re long‑time fans or newcomers curious about the genre’s legacy. It’s an invitation to discover a new favourite, revisit a forgotten classic, or redefine your personal canon.

A Communal History of Metroidvania Video Games — Lost In Cult

Rage of the Dragons NEO Brings the 2002 Fighter Back to Life 🐉 #Retrogaming

Rage of the Dragons NEO brings back the cult-classic Rage of the Dragons, originally released in 2002 for the Neo Geo. This new version revitalises the beloved gameplay while adding modern features like Online and Training Modes, providing an ultimate experience for both long-time fans and newcomers. 

The game is available NOW on Steam, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.

About QUByte Interactive:
QUByte is a Brazilian Game Developer and the largest Latin American Publisher on consoles. Our mission is to support the growth of the industry through Porting and Publishing partnerships, ensuring that games reach a broader audience across all major platforms.

About Piko Interactive:
Piko Interactive is a leading content provider for retro video game consoles, plug-and-play consoles, and digital distribution platforms. With a catalogue of over 180 titles, we are committed to delivering the highest quality retro gaming experiences, from physical cartridges to digital distribution channels like Steam, GOG, and more.

Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor Xbox Review 6.5/10 "A beautifully realised license frustratingly hampered by technical issues and design choices" 🚂 @dovetailgames #IndieGame #GameDev

I grew up with Thomas the Tank Engine, and now – a full generation down the line – my son has taken up the mantle of enjoying Thomas and his cast of friends making their way around the gentle island of Sodor. 

Developed by Dovetail Games – the folks behind the Train Sim World series of games, they know their way around a caboose! - this is a wonderfully realised world in which the characters are absolutely TV perfect and the voice actor from the show also appears to add class to the game.

There are several modes, with exploration (free roam) mode, and a more mission-centric being the main focus. I was intrigued as to how they would make a game in which you can effectively just go forwards and backwards interesting, especially when the sim element is removed or heavily simplified, but Dovetail Games have really worked some magic here with the chapter stories, voice work, and overall presentation being spot-on.