If you want a complete metroidvania rather than a demo or a paid game with a free add-on, start with Eldritchvania or Thibalryn. Steam lists both as free and gives both the Metroidvania tag. Eldritchvania is the stronger fit for Lovecraft-inspired atmosphere, riddles, upgrades, and boss fights; Thibalryn is aimed at players who prefer a retro NES-style maze full of secrets and challenge.
This is a focused shortlist based on the games’ Steam store listings, not a claim that they are the only free metroidvanias on Steam or a hands-on ranking. Store availability and user-review summaries can change, so check the live listing before installing.
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The two free Steam metroidvanias at a glance
The table separates the evidence shown on each store page from the editorial fit you can infer from that description. Neither game has a published completion-time estimate in the available material, and no controlled performance or quality test was conducted.
| Game | Steam status and release | What the listing emphasizes | Best fit | Review label shown on October 13, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eldritchvania | Listed as free; released February 9, 2024 | Unearthly ruins, arcane riddles, bosses, upgrades, and a story inspired by H. P. Lovecraft | Puzzle-led exploration with an eldritch tone | “Very Positive” user-review summary; a changing Steam snapshot |
| Thibalryn | Listed as Free to Play; released June 13, 2019 | An expanding challenging maze, secrets, enemies, and skills that unlock new possibilities; described as a love letter to classic NES games | Retro-style nonlinear exploration and challenge | “Positive” user-review summary; a changing Steam snapshot |
Steam’s Metroidvania tag establishes how each game is categorized on the platform. It does not, by itself, guarantee a particular map size, difficulty curve, control scheme, or amount of content. Those details should be confirmed on the current product page before you download.
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Eldritchvania: choose it for puzzles and Lovecraftian exploration
What the store description promises
Eldritchvania places you in unearthly ruins and frames progression around exploration, arcane riddles, combat, bosses, and collectible upgrades. Its story is inspired by H. P. Lovecraft, so the intended identity is more than a generic castle or cave adventure: the setting is built around the unease and mystery associated with eldritch fiction.
The listing’s combination of riddles and upgrades points to a loop in which you investigate unfamiliar spaces, solve a problem, gain a new capability, and use that progress to reach more of the ruins. That is the familiar metroidvania rhythm, but the page explicitly gives puzzles a prominent role rather than presenting the game as combat-only.
Why it may be your best match
- You want exploration with a reason to stop and think. Arcane riddles are called out directly, making puzzle-solving a central part of the advertised experience.
- You like a strong atmosphere. Unearthly ruins and Lovecraft-inspired storytelling establish a darker, stranger tone than a straightforward heroic fantasy adventure.
- You expect combat to support exploration. Boss encounters and upgrades are part of the store description, so the game is not presented as a pure puzzle walk.
- You prefer a newer release among these two options. Eldritchvania arrived on February 9, 2024, several years after Thibalryn.
What is not established by the listing
The available Steam evidence does not establish a campaign length, number of areas, exact upgrade tree, accessibility options, minimum hardware, controller support, or whether puzzles have alternate solutions. Do not treat the “Very Positive” label as a measured review score or as proof that every player will enjoy the difficulty. It is a user-review summary that Steam displayed when checked on October 13, 2026, and the label can change as new reviews arrive.
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Who should start elsewhere
If you specifically want a bright, arcade-like presentation or a game whose main appeal is speed and reflex combat, Eldritchvania’s advertised emphasis may not match your priorities. The store copy puts the weight on ruins, riddles, story, bosses, and upgrades; use that description as the deciding signal rather than assuming the Metroidvania tag tells you the whole experience.
Thibalryn: choose it for a retro maze and secrets
What the store description promises
Thibalryn calls itself a love letter to classic NES games. Its central structure is an expanding, challenging maze containing secrets and enemies, with skills that unlock new possibilities. That wording suggests a deliberately old-school approach: progress comes from learning the layout, noticing hidden routes, and returning with abilities that change where you can go.
The listing foregrounds exploration, challenge, and secrets rather than riddles or a detailed narrative. If you enjoy drawing your own mental map, testing unfamiliar passages, and being rewarded for searching beyond the obvious path, those are the clearest reasons to choose it.
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Why it may be your best match
- You want a maze-first structure. The expanding maze is the defining feature in the store description, so navigation and discovery are the expected focus.
- You enjoy retro design cues. The NES inspiration signals an intentionally classic presentation and design philosophy rather than a modern cinematic approach.
- You like secrets as a reason to explore. Hidden discoveries are explicitly mentioned alongside enemies and skills.
- You are comfortable with challenge. Steam describes the maze as challenging, which is useful context if you prefer demanding exploration over a guided route.
What is not established by the listing
The page does not specify the maze’s total size, the number of skills, a completion time, save-system details, or how punishing failure is. Steam showed a “Positive” user-review summary on October 13, 2026; that is a platform snapshot, not an independently verified score, and it may look different later.
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Who should start elsewhere
If you want puzzles explicitly described as riddles, a Lovecraft-inspired story, or a newer presentation, Eldritchvania is the closer match of these two. Thibalryn’s advertised identity is an old-school maze with secrets and challenge, so its appeal depends on enjoying discovery that may be less tightly signposted.
Eldritchvania vs. Thibalryn: the practical differences
Both entries satisfy the basic filter—Steam lists them as free and tags them Metroidvania—but they target different reasons for playing. Use the comparison below instead of treating the review labels as a definitive ranking.
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| Decision point | Eldritchvania | Thibalryn |
|---|---|---|
| Exploration style | Investigation of unearthly ruins, with secrets, riddles, upgrades, and boss encounters in the advertised loop | Navigation of an expanding maze where secrets and newly unlocked skills open further possibilities |
| Puzzle emphasis | Arcane riddles and puzzles are explicitly foregrounded | The listing emphasizes exploration, challenge, and secrets rather than named puzzle systems |
| Tone and presentation | Eldritch horror and a Lovecraft-inspired story | Retro, NES-inspired design described as a love letter to classic games |
| Combat signals | Enemies and bosses are part of the description | Enemies are mentioned; the listing does not specifically highlight bosses |
| Progression signals | Collect upgrades while solving problems and exploring | Acquire skills that unlock new possibilities in the maze |
| Release date | February 9, 2024 | June 13, 2019 |
| Steam review snapshot retrieved October 13, 2026 | “Very Positive” | “Positive” |
The last row should be read narrowly: these are the labels Steam displayed at that time, based on user reviews. They are not a laboratory test, critic aggregate, or guarantee of suitability for your tastes.
Which one should you download first?
- Pick Eldritchvania if puzzles are the deciding factor. Its store description directly names arcane riddles and puzzles, while the setting supplies a distinctive Lovecraft-inspired mood.
- Pick Thibalryn if maze navigation is the deciding factor. Its expanding, challenging maze and emphasis on secrets are the clearest match for old-school exploration.
- Choose by tone. Eldritchvania points toward eldritch ruins and story; Thibalryn points toward retro NES-inspired presentation.
- Choose by the kind of progression you enjoy. Eldritchvania advertises collectible upgrades in an exploration-and-boss loop. Thibalryn advertises skills that reveal new possibilities in its maze.
- If both sound appealing, install the one whose central verb you prefer. “Solve and investigate” describes Eldritchvania’s pitch; “map, search, and push farther” describes Thibalryn’s.
What “free” means in this shortlist
For this article, “free” means the Steam listing identifies the game itself as free or Free to Play—not that a paid game happens to receive additional content at no charge. That distinction prevents three common false positives.
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Hollow Knight is a paid Steam game. Its listing describes multiple free content updates, but those updates do not change the price of the base game to zero. It therefore does not belong in a list of full games you can claim for free.
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Aestik’s free expansion is not the base game
Aestik is also sold as a paid game. A free expansion adds content for owners, but an expansion is not the same thing as a free copy of the original game.
HAAK’s demo is not the full game
HAAK offers a free demo while the full game remains paid. A demo is useful for trying a title, but it does not meet the requirement of a complete free metroidvania.
These distinctions matter because Steam pages can place a demo, downloadable content, and the main product close together. Read the purchase panel for the base entry you intend to install, not only the promotional text about updates or trial content.
How to verify the listing before you install
Prices, availability, regional store status, and review summaries are volatile. A quick check protects you from relying on an outdated result.
- Search Steam for the exact title. Use “Eldritchvania” or “Thibalryn” rather than a broad metroidvania search if you already know which candidate you want.
- Confirm the product identity. Check that the page title matches the game and that the genre tags include Metroidvania.
- Read the base-game price panel. It should identify Eldritchvania as free or Thibalryn as Free to Play. Do not substitute a demo, expansion, soundtrack, or bundle.
- Check your region. Store pricing and availability can differ by country, and a listing can change after this article’s October 13, 2026 snapshot.
- Treat review labels as current signals only. Steam may show a different sentiment label or review total when you visit.
- Review the current system requirements and features. The material used for this shortlist does not establish hardware requirements, input support, language coverage, or accessibility features.
What this shortlist does—and does not—claim
This is a discovery guide built from the official Steam descriptions for two specific candidates. It does not claim that Eldritchvania and Thibalryn are the only free metroidvanias on Steam, that one is objectively better, or that either has a particular completion time. No hands-on play session, benchmark, or independent review was used to create a ranking.
The recommendations are therefore best understood as fit-based choices. Eldritchvania is the clear description-led pick for puzzles, Lovecraft-inspired atmosphere, ruins, bosses, and upgrades. Thibalryn is the description-led pick for an expanding retro maze, secrets, and challenge. If either listing changes its price, tags, or availability, verify the live Steam page before treating the recommendation as current.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
