Iconoclasts

Iconoclasts is not a metroidvania. It's a puzzle platformer with action elements. If you're looking for something more puzzle-solving, exploration, narrative-driven, with some fun boss fights thrown in there for good measure... then I would recommend it

This game has the best story ever deliaered within the medium. Had this been a movie, it would have become a timeless classic.
Don't let the bright cute graphics fool you. This game is very dark with tragic characters that are so very lifelike, it's amazing it came from the mind of a smalltime solitary developer. Even the antagonists are fascinating.
The gameplay is fun. It plays like a platformer with some Metroidvania ellements. But some of the Metroidvania ellements can be completelty ignored and you can beat the game without fighting any of the optional bosses or collecting the extra curricular upgrade resources.
I think the most compelling character in this game is "Royal". Whe you first meet him, he's in a sad mood, complaining about life, how everyone treats him, and how that creates his role in life. I've never seen a character as... truly... lifelike. I think about this character, from time to time, especially when running into hyper ellite religious individuals. I beat the game years and years ago, and still think about it.
The way Religion seems to work in society, is very much like what's portrayed in this game. I wish I could explain further, but there are some catagorical differences. Religions aren't always a theocratic government bent on punnishing the wicked, but where the similarity resides is in the culture, the role we play, the storys we tell ourselves about the play by play of our lives. Our motives and how it determines our motives, and the legitimacy or maybe lack of legitimacy those stories and motives have on reality.
There's a silent sitori (Zen Bhudist term. Look it up), that's found in this game, and it lingers with you for months after completing it. And it just... becomes a part of you.
The developer even made the music to the game, though I hear he doesn't consider himself a composer. I wouldn't say that the music is masterful, but it's successful at getting you to feel what's intended.
I'd give this game a 10/10

I knew that it was going to be a solid game when I first got it. But it was the story that really surprised and impacted me. It really got me...

Great game, nice story too, personally i loved it. If you're a metroidvania enjoyer, this one is a no-brainer, get it.

I really, really love Iconoclasts. It is such a well-crafted game and is a truly fun experience in terms of story and gameplay. And man, is it a hell of a story. This is one of those games I recommend players go in blind into, as much of the enjoyment comes from figuring out the puzzles (within both the narrative and gameplay) on your own. For fans of classic metroid, and for fans of any puzzle games, this is definitely one I would recommend picking up. Also I think it is best to try this game on a more difficult setting, as figuring out the bosses across multiple encounters really sold me when I first tried it. Also be warned that this game has profound emotion in its narrative, there are definitely moments that have stuck with me for years after, which I still think about in moments of contemplation. For pursuers of secrets there are definitely many to uncover, secrets laden into the story and world, and hidden mechanics within the gameplay as well, there is much to uncover behind its mechanics (haha!). It is games like these that give me hope for the future, and the developer Joakim Sandberg did a fantastic job, especially considering he somehow developed all this game on his own, definitely give it a chance, I promise you will find it interesting!

this is a great game with fun mechanics, memorable characters, and intriguing lore with the tone of the story being able to seamlessly switch between comedic and goofy to dark and dramatic without it feeling jarring and the game play feels rewarding when you finally figure out a map puzzle or how to fight a boss

A hidden gem with deep and unique worldbuilding, emotive characters with distinct motivations and a funny and engaging narrative, with beautiful pixel art to boot.
The gameplay offers unique mechanics and ways of interacting with the world, secrets and puzzles that are the right amount of challenging and interesting bosses, each with its own distinctive patterns and mechanics.