Owlboy is definitely not a metroidvania, it's a pretty linear game from start to finish. Nice game, but not what the OP seems to look for :)

what about waking mars? :O

Ah ok, my mistake. I haven't played it, but I have it on my wishlist and thought it was a MV.

Kinda sorta not really, but close enough and certainly a game I would recommend.

Castlevania 2 would qualify as a Metroidvania by this definition. It has non-linear exploration as well as XP-based leveling. The game *is* on GOG as part of that Castlevania & Contra collection, so it does technically count.

(This is assuming that you allow melee-focused games, as Metroid is ranged-focused; however, this requirement would exclude too many games (including most of the ones listed in this topic) that are generally considered to fall in the genre.)

I'm entitled to my opinion mate.

Feudal Alloy

Dex

Batman Arkham something?
looks like it is a perfect candidate

Both good games, but more what I'd call an adventure platformer.

EDIT: I see Panaias already said the same thing.

This Metroidvania search lets you pick and chose between all kinds of variables. Even by store so to speak:

https://metroidvaniareview.com/category/article/review/?_sfm_review_score=0+5&_sfm_time_to_beat=1+50&_sft_platforms=gog&_sft_metroidvania-ness=perfect-fit&_sfm_story_score=0+5&_sfm_combat_score=0+5&_sfm_platforming_score=0+5&_sfm_exploration_score=0+5&_sfm_puzzle_score=0+5&_sfm_replay_value_score=0+5

I don't see it recommended, but Cathedral is a really underrated metroidvania. It's not on the same level of the best ones, but it's IMO better than many other popular ones.

Thanks anyway for the recommendation. :)
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Thanks everyone for the kind recommendations.

Blasphemous, it is the first game since Castlevania: Symphony of the Night that fills me with the same wholesome joy of playing a game of this genre since 1997.

I'll +1 Valdis Story. Amazing game, though it really rewards close to perfectly done boss battles so it may not be everyone's cup of tea. Each character has multiple weapons (Some need to be unlocked), each weapon has a unique play style. This gives great replay value. I still load it up for a playthrough every so often.
https://www.gog.com/game/valdis_story_abyssal_city

Monster boy has already been mentioned, but the Wonderboy Dragon's trap remake is still a fantastic classic.
https://www.gog.com/game/wonder_boy_the_dragons_trap

Another item based progression game, La - Mulana 2 is an amazing experience with plenty of traps, areas, secrets and monsters. In my opinion it's a great improvement over the first one and can actually be played without a guide if you're careful. (Not that you can't play the original without a guide, but the majority of people won't) Note that you can play the second without playing the first and only miss a few references as the game does a fairly good job explaining the first game's plot.
https://www.gog.com/game/la_mulana_2

Closer to a GBA Metroid than SOTN, The Mummy Demastered is a surprisingly good game.
https://www.gog.com/game/the_mummy_demastered

Reventure isn't the classic idea of a metroidvania. I'm throwing it on the list anyways. Item based progression (Though you're limited to how many item's you can use each play through), multiple zones, secrets and endings. I personally found many of the endings hilarious and the world does keep the changes that the endings unlock. Can be completed in a weekend if you have the time.
https://www.gog.com/game/reventure