of the recent ones i can think of, i liked blasphemous the most, probably because it plays more like a metroid game than anything else. it legit gve me big super metroid flashbacks

i can't play more than two hours of hollow knight without feeling bored to death

I don't play many nowadays but I prefer them to be similar to Super Metroid.

This is a genre I always seem interested in, but then when I pick up the games I don't seem to like them. I think maybe I will use this forum to try some new ones to see if I can find any I like, or if this is just not my genre.

just play super metroid, the genre started from that and every subsequent game is more or less a copy. the whole idea of the "metroidvania" started because they changed castlevania's gameplay to mirror super metroid's

There's stil plenty of differences between them. For example, Castlevania: SotN (and the GBA/DS installments) also added levels and experience points, as well as significant inventories, random loot drops, and (except in Circle of the Moon) a shop in each game where you can spend that money. Furthermore, your regular attack is typically a melee attack. Meanwhile, Super Metroid gives you ranged projectile attacks right from the start, doesn't have XP/levels or a shop, and the enemies only drop refills; instead, the way you get stronger is by exploration and finding upgrades in the game world. These are two very different styles; one rewards killing the same enemies over and over again, and the other does not (unless you need a refill, which happens in some low% (sometimes any%) speedruns of these games.

Hey there. I have been eyeing Blasphemous for some time now but hesitated to buy because the trailers make it look more combat focused, e.g. timed dodging parrying etc. I want to avoid such games because I don't like that kind of combat. Is that the case or is it more metroid-like as you say?

YT playlists of retro MVs and forerunners:
Metroidvania/Platform Adventure Forerunners (1983-1988)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLznWdSFQxsPumUUVUhulL6ohg4ntu1yFq

​Metroidvania/Platform Adventure Games Part 1: 1986-1993
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLznWdSFQxsPvDefo1bjeRaJy7iDfRfPxA

Metroidvania/Platform Adventure Games Part 2: 1994-2001
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLznWdSFQxsPv5FFFifRNvKurL7dPYsAPE

Metroidvania/Platform Adventure Games Part 3: 2002-20XX
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLznWdSFQxsPsI05yh-dmj-7JX0Wq6fMg3

I really dislike when Metroidvanias are confused or listed together with Platformers in general.
If I'm interested in Metroidvanias, I want Metroidvanias.
Metroidvanias are a form of platformer game, but platformer games are not Metroidvanias.

How is is this relevant to my post?

I like them with minimal forced backtracking but lots of optional areas which can only be accessed if you chose to backtrack later. I am very very fond of Igarashi's work and consider Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night the perfect examples of very good Metroidvanias. Ironically, my favorite Metroidvania (Castlevania: Circle of the Moon) was harshly criticised by Igarashi.

Because you posted youtube vids which does exactly what I mentioned maybe?
Or are you saying Arkham asylum and Dead Space are Metroidvanias?

As I recommended to someone else earlier, if you like the Igavanias, you should play Timespinner; it's very similar in style.

So those two are added based on comments at r/metroidvania. Dead Space I haven't played yet, Arkham Asylum I beat just the other day. The playlists are roughly ordered by how well the games fit into the genre with better fitting games ranking higher, as explained in the descriptions. You can click the link to the site for entries on each game with further info, as well as my definition of the genre and subgenres/spinoffs of it on the main page and subgenres key page.

Arkham Asylum is certainly not a standard platformer but also not a "pure" MV in my view, being almost completely linear and having the platforming mechanics of a 3D Zelda. Edit: But it's ranked quite low already while still having some clear MV elements in its ability gating, exp point leveling and an interconnected world besides the hub and spokes structure so I see no reason to change its position.

Thanks for the suggestion, but i already beat Timespinner. I think i played through the overwhelming majority of relatively well known Metroidvanias by now.