plytvania

Plytvania is a term used in indie game discourse to describe a subgenre of action-platformers that combines exploration-driven progression with tightly tuned platforming sequences. The label purposefully echoes metroidvania, drawing on its emphasis on non-linear maps and ability-based progression, while foregrounding platforming precision and responsive controls as core pillars.

Origin and usage: The term is not part of a formal classification and has appeared mainly in discussions and roundups among developers and critics in the 2010s and beyond. There is no official spectrum or canonical definition, and some users treat plytvania as a subset or a stylistic variant of metroidvanias rather than a distinct genre.

Characteristics: Typical plytvanias feature interconnected or semi-open maps, with new areas opening after acquiring specific abilities or tools. They prioritize tight platforming, vertical traversal, and sequences that reward timing and movement mastery. Puzzles, combat encounters, and environmental storytelling are common, but speed and fluidity of movement are often emphasized over heavy RPG systems. Level design tends to encourage backtracking with shortcuts or fast-travel options.

Examples and reception: Since plytvania is an informal category, concrete examples are debated among players; some titles are occasionally categorized as plytvanias by fans or critics when they emphasize platforming as the primary hook alongside metroidvania-style exploration. Critics generally view the label as descriptive but informal.

See also: Metroidvania, platformer, action-adventure, game design terminology.