# Metroidvania

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌmɛtɹɔɪdˈveɪni.ə/

## Definitions
1. A (genre of) platform game with role-playing game elements and inventory items, involving more exploration than a traditional linear platform game, particularly revisiting previously explored areas.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *méh₂tēr
Proto-Hellenic *mā́tēr
Ancient Greek μήτηρ (mḗtēr)
Proto-Indo-European *tpelH-
Proto-Hellenic *ptólis
Ancient Greek πόλῐς (pólĭs)
Ancient Greek μητρόπολις (mētrópolis)bor.
Latin metropolis
Latin mētropolītānuslbor.
French métropolitain
French métrobor.
English metro
Proto-Indo-European *h₂nḗr
Proto-Hellenic *anḗr
Ancient Greek ἀνήρ (anḗr)
Proto-Indo-European *weyd-der.
Ancient Greek εἶδος (eîdos)
Proto-Indo-European *-os
Proto-Indo-European *-ēs
Ancient Greek -ης (-ēs)
Ancient Greek -ειδής (-eidḗs)
Ancient Greek ἀνδροειδής (androeidḗs)bor.
New Latin androideslbor.
English android
blend
English Metroid
Proto-Indo-European *ḱes-der.
Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr
Proto-Indo-European *-tromder.
Proto-Italic *kastrom
Latin castrum
Proto-Indo-European *-lós
Proto-Italic *-elos
Latin -lum
Latin castellumbor.
Proto-West Germanic *kastell
Old English castel
Middle English castel
English castle
Proto-Indo-European *terh₂-der.
Proto-Italic *trānts
Medieval Latin trāns
Medieval Latin trans-
Medieval Latin silva
Proto-Indo-European *-nós
Proto-Italic *-nos
Medieval Latin -nus
Medieval Latin silvānus
Proto-Indo-European *-yós
Proto-Italic *-ios
Old Latin -ios
Medieval Latin -ius
Medieval Latin -ia
▲
Old Hungarian Erdeuelucalq.
Medieval Latin Trānsylvānialbor.
English Transylvania
blend
English Castlevania
blend
English Metroidvania
Blend of Metroid + Castlevania, two influential games of this type.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/metroidvania