Guacamelee

Guacamelee is an absolutely stellar metroidvania. Imagine if Metroid had the combat of Super Smash Bros. The combat system is exactly the kind of freeform combo/dodge game that never gets old. The game constantly throws new challenges at you with new combinations of simple enemies, or new platforming challenges.

You're never getting lost, and there's lots of side challenges for 100%ers. It does a fantastic job of never getting stale. The game is incredibly tightly designed, there’s no annoying backtracking or anything.

The story is absurd in its Mexican-ness. You play a Luchador on the Day of the Dead fighting against an undead Charro. Somehow the second game is even more absurd where you're traveling through dimensions trying to find the Sacred Guacamole. But don’t let the silliness fool you: the mechanics and game design are some of the best out there.

The sequel mostly refines and expands things, like giving a full moveset for your chicken form. Of note is the new Eagle Boost move, which is a tweaked and limited version of Bash from Ori and the Blind Forest. This move massively complicates the platforming and gives the sequel a fresh feel with new interesting challenges.

The style is great, art reminiscent of Samurai Jack, with a fun mariachi-themed soundtrack.

Guacamelee and its sequel are excellent. If you like Metroidvanias, it’s one of the best. And in my opinion, it does Metroid better than Metroid ever has.