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Faxanadu
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Faxanadu

198780/100
PlatformRole-playing (RPG)Adventure

Fantasy · Metroidvania · Sandbox

A side-scrolling action RPG, Faxanadu casts a long shadow with its unique blend of platforming and stat-driven combat. The game's unforgiving difficulty, coupled with its sprawling interconnected world, demands careful resource management and a willingness to grind for experience. Its lasting appeal lies in the atmosphere of a dying world, where every encounter feels impactful and the player's progression is earned, not given.

About Faxanadu

Details
The player-controlled protagonist of is an unidentified wanderer. He has no name, though the Japanese version allows the player to choose one. The game begins when he approaches Eolis, his hometown, after an absence to find it in disrepair and virtually abandoned. Worse still, the town is under attack by Dwarves.The Elven king explains that the Elf fountain water, their life source, has stopped and provides the protagonist with 1500 golds, the games currency, to prepare for his journey to uncover the cause.As the story unfolds, it is revealed that Elves and Dwarfs lived in harmony among the World Tree until The Evil One emerged from a fallen meteorite. The Evil One then transformed the Dwarves into monsters against their will and set them against the Elves. The Dwarf King, Grieve, swallowed his magical sword before he was transformed, hiding it in his own body to prevent The Evil One from acquiring it. It is only with this sword that The Evil One can be destroyed.His journey takes him to four overworld areas: The tree's buttress, the inside of the trunk, the tree's branches and finally the Dwarves' mountain stronghold.

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Top 4 Alternatives to Faxanadu

1
Rating
Critic & community
93
Match
Recommendation strength
89%

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

1997 · Platform

Like Faxanadu, this game offers a sprawling, interconnected world to explore from a side-scrolling perspective, but with a deeper focus on character progression and a rich, gothic atmosphere.

Why recommended

  • Features extensive backtracking and exploration of a large, interconnected castle, reminiscent of Faxanadu's world design and sense of discovery.
  • Criteria — Strong Story is conveyed through character interactions, lore, and a clear narrative arc involving Alucard's quest to stop Dracula.
  • Engaging side-scrolling Action combat with a wide array of weapons, spells, and character abilities, rewarding player skill and strategic use of powers.
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2
Rating
Critic & community
90
Match
Recommendation strength
87%

Dive into a vast, melancholic insectoid kingdom that echoes Faxanadu's sense of mystery and challenge, offering deep exploration and demanding combat in a beautifully crafted side-scrolling world.

Why recommended

  • Features an expansive, non-linear world with numerous hidden paths, secrets, and challenging boss encounters that reward thorough exploration and skill.
  • Criteria — Strong Story is expertly woven into the world through environmental storytelling, character dialogues, and lore, creating a rich and mysterious narrative.
  • Demanding and precise side-scrolling Action combat, requiring mastery of movement, parrying, and spell usage to overcome formidable foes.
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3
Rating
Critic & community
88
Match
Recommendation strength
85%

While visually distinct, Ori shares Faxanadu's emphasis on platforming and exploration within a fantastical world, but with a more emotionally driven narrative and fluid movement mechanics.

Why recommended

  • Masterful side-scrolling platforming combined with Metroidvania-style exploration, requiring players to acquire new abilities to access previously unreachable areas.
  • Criteria — Strong Story is at the heart of the experience, telling a poignant tale of sacrifice and family through beautiful animation and a compelling narrative.
  • Fluid and responsive Action gameplay, combining precise platforming with engaging combat encounters against various creatures in the forest.
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4
Rating
Critic & community
84
Match
Recommendation strength
78%

This vibrant remake captures the spirit of classic side-scrolling adventure with RPG elements, offering a similar sense of progression through acquiring new forms and abilities to overcome obstacles.

Why recommended

  • Classic side-scrolling Adventure gameplay where players transform into different animal forms, each with unique abilities, to traverse the world and solve environmental puzzles.
  • Criteria — Strong Story is present through the curse that transforms the protagonist and the quest to find a cure, driving the player's journey.
  • Engaging Action platforming and combat that feels both retro and modern, with satisfying enemy encounters and boss battles.
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