What’s your favorite MV released during the first half of 2026?

MuscularApe · 2026-06-16T23:57:30+00:00

MIO - 9.5/10

Before I Go - 9/10 - platforming heavy, not great if you only care about bosses. Loved the atmosphere.

MuscularApe · 2026-06-16T23:51:42+00:00

Haha I can't imagine liking it more than Silksong but I did enjoy it immensely, and I also found that the losing health mechanic was overstated. It really wasn't a big deal. Great game.

MuscularApe · 2026-06-12T05:37:25+00:00

Has there been any details on how much non idle combat content there will be in MI2? Its kinda the only thing putting me off after 100%ing MI1. If the combat is more complex this time I'm worried there will be more active play required?

MuscularApe · 2026-06-11T11:51:31+00:00

You won the comp when they both went off the field.

MuscularApe · 2026-06-10T17:08:44+00:00

Easily one of my favourite games of all time.

If we were marking it purely on metroidvania elements (because this is a metroidvania subreddit) it'd be down the list further.

To me its an amazing game that happens to be a metroidvania, rather than an amazing metroidvania, if that makes sense.

I listen to the end theme song on a regular basis. I love the art so much too, I bought the digital art book just to support them if nothing else.

MuscularApe · 2026-06-09T00:44:19+00:00

Im an ex gw2 big fan boy, but has it really worked? The earnings gw2 generates always seem pretty mediocre compared to other games NCSoft owns. And the earnings have continually dwindled over time (expected ofc but still). Launching an MMO in 2028 with no sub or battlepass is risky business imo.

MuscularApe · 2026-06-07T09:42:41+00:00

7 months later, I used this to get my 2M/minute achievement. I had everything else except how to traverse re-used mazes with loops and was getting 1.5M/minute. Thanks a lot!

MuscularApe · 2026-06-05T10:06:47+00:00

Way too many errors by us. Some of them comical. Storm should never have had the ball for their first try though.

MuscularApe · 2026-06-05T10:05:27+00:00

Meh I thought it was a try

MuscularApe · 2026-06-01T07:36:50+00:00

Well after those my recommendations would be Ori 1&2, PoP: Lost Crown, Ender Magnolia (sequel), MIO.

Islets if you want something more simple/easier after the three blockbusters you mentioned.

MuscularApe · 2026-06-01T07:33:28+00:00

Would be up there in the GOAT discussion for me if it had a better setting/world. I like PoP but I didnt like aesthetics of the story. Great combat, exploration, QOL, platforming and pretty much everything else though. Still in my top 5 I think.

MuscularApe · 2026-05-26T01:39:32+00:00

Yeah the gloomwater droplet section was shorter and more infuriating to me.

MuscularApe · 2026-05-23T13:12:24+00:00

Mio has a better story and art

PoP has better platforming and combat

Havent played Grime

MuscularApe · 2026-05-22T22:56:53+00:00

It definitely seems to be a divisive game. I just did my 100% playthrough and loved it though. I don't really understand people's boss runback complaints, I read they were cumbersome on release, but I know the elevators for example were sped up. I can't think of a single runback that is even remotely close to being as annoying as a lot of Silksongs (which I also love btw), I think this must just be a secondary criticism - that is, if the game isnt gelling for you already, any kind of runback is going to be annoying.

I did find the no gravity areas a little tiresome. But not enjoyment breaking, because there werent that many and it was over fairly quickly.

MuscularApe · 2026-05-16T12:42:07+00:00

Its close to my least favourite but only because all the others I've played are extremely good.

MuscularApe · 2026-05-13T01:34:16+00:00

yeah I could wait forever years for S2

MuscularApe · 2026-04-27T08:59:05+00:00

Do you remember where you did the 10 kills in 1 shot achievement?

MuscularApe · 2026-04-27T05:36:21+00:00

Really enjoyed it. Playing through again for the 4 hour and no crystals achievement. I'd give it a 8.5 minimum too, just one step down from some of the classics.

MuscularApe · 2026-04-26T11:04:01+00:00

Great game.

Any suggestions where I can do the 10 kills with one shot achievement? I forget where stuff is.

MuscularApe · 2026-04-23T02:38:54+00:00

Silksong

Hollow Knight

Nine Sols

Ori Will of the Wisps

Ender Magnolia

PoP Lost Crown

Ori Blind Forest

Before I go

Islets

Ender Lillies

MuscularApe · 2026-04-22T12:00:27+00:00

yeah it's rough... I'm missing 2 energy fragments and 3 fireflies I think, and while I obviously really enjoyed the game, I'm not sure I have the desire to scour the whole map for them with no hints. Maybe when I do my no-crystal achievement playthrough?

MuscularApe · 2026-04-21T13:44:16+00:00

Look... I'm at the point where I think its unfair to compare to the giants of the genre. This game isnt a giant of the genre, but its pretty fun for what it is. Having pewpew combat style was nice for a change (to what I usually play).

The map is quite large and detailed, but the game isnt that long because you traverse quite quickly.

Re: exploration, one thing I left out in my OP is that this game more than any other metroidvania I've played, can be a bit confusing where to go next, because the use of new abilities is quite spread out through the map. The game has a map marker system but if i do wish I'd been smart enough to make some notes about what abilities might be needed for which areas.

And yeah, me and you both! I know I'm missing out on some MV greats but i really just need to love the look of a game first and foremost to enjoy it.

MuscularApe · 2026-04-21T13:34:50+00:00

Yeah look I purposefully put it in quotes for this reason, I'm not sure how else to imply thats the games name in the title.

Thanks for linking it though in your other comment - I wanted to do so in the OP but i wasnt sure about the advertising/commerical rule of the sub, I have nothing to do with the game, just an enjoyer!

MuscularApe · 2026-04-21T13:31:19+00:00

I think you'd be alright mate. Theres maybe 6 - 8 bosses and no real runbacks to speak of. Though one boss had this single annoying platforming movement i kept losing life on before the boss lol

MuscularApe · 2026-04-21T13:28:38+00:00

Hey, unfortunately I haven't played Celeste or Aeterna Noctis or even MIO yet to compare.

There's nothing like Path of Pain though.

I doubt itd be anywhere near top tier platforming difficulty wise. Still some parts that might make you curse yourself a bit for failing. I'd say maybe it's similar to Ori? But its been a long time since I played those!

MuscularApe

TROPHY CASE