I'm a big fan of these kinda games where you explore an area collect items/level up to fight bosses.
My favorite is Order of Ecclesia for the DS. It was just great gameplay, a decent story, and great art.
I'm kinda unfamiliar with the new games in the genre, so I'd appreciate any suggestions. And is there a community of people who design those games?
In recent years, I really enjoyed Yoku's Island Express, Iconoclasts, Bloodstained, Hollow Knight, and Metroid Dread. If you never played them, there's the Castlevania Advanced Collection (Aria of Sorrow was REALLY good).