Exploring The Shadows: 10 Games Like Hollow Knight

If you’re eagerly waiting for Hollow Knight: Silksong, you might be looking for other games like Hollow Knight that offer a similar experience. Hollow Knight set a high bar in the Metroidvania genre with its intricate world, challenging gameplay, and captivating mystery.

Table of Contents

10 Games Like Hollow Knight

Below is a list of 10 games that capture the essence of Hollow Knight through their unique storytelling, exploration, and challenging combat.

1. Metroid Dread

Initial release date: 8 October 2021

Developers: Nintendo, Mercury Steam, Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development

Platform: Nintendo Switch

Mode: Single-player video game

Metroid Dread brings you back to the roots of the Metroidvania genre. As Samus Aran, you explore a remote planet filled with hostile robots and alien creatures. The game combines side-scrolling action with stealth elements, providing a thrilling and immersive experience. While more linear than Hollow Knight, its tight gameplay and atmospheric exploration make it a must-play for fans of the genre.

2. Hades

Genres: Roguelike, Action role-playing game, Fighting game, Shooter Video Game

Initial release date: 6 December 2018

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, macOS

Developer: Supergiant Games

Mode: Single-player video game

Hades combines fast-paced combat with a captivating story based on Greek mythology. You play as Zagreus, fighting your way out of the underworld with the help of godly abilities. The game’s polished combat and evolving narrative make it an exciting choice for Hollow Knight fans. Its roguelike mechanics mean you’ll face new challenges with each attempt, keeping the gameplay fresh and engaging.

3. Dead Cells

Developers: Motion Twin, Evil Empire, Playdigious, Motion Twin Scop ARL

Platforms: Android, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4

Genres: Roguelike, Metroidvania, Fighting game

Initial release date: 10 May 2017

Mode: Single-player video game

Dead Cells stands out on this list for its rogue-like elements, where each run is a fresh start. While not as exploration-focused as Hollow Knight, the game’s fast-paced combat and evolving levels offer a different but exhilarating challenge. You unlock new gear and abilities as you progress, making each playthrough unique. The game’s fluid platforming and combat mechanics ensure that it remains a standout in the genre.

4. Steamworld Dig 2

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Developer: Image & Form Games

Mode: Single-player video game

Genres: Metroidvania, Adventure

Designer: Robert Olsén

Publishers: Image & Form Games, Thunderful Group, Rising Star Games

Initial release date: 21 September 2017

Steamworld Dig 2 gives you a pickaxe and tasks you with exploring a vast underground world in search of the protagonist from the first game. The game’s progression is designer-crafted, unlike its procedurally-generated predecessor, offering a more structured exploration experience. As you discover upgrades like a jetpack, new paths open up, making exploration satisfying and logical. The game’s tight controls and engaging digging mechanics create a unique and enjoyable adventure.

5. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

Developers: ArtPlay, NetEase Games, Dico Co., Ltd., Monobit

Designer: Koji Igarashi

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Android, PlayStation 4, iOS, Xbox One, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Microsoft Windows

Initial release date: 18 June 2019

Mode: Multiplayer video game

Composers: Michiru Yamane, Keisuke Ito, Ryusuke Fujioka

Genres: Metroidvania, Role-playing Video Game, Fighting game, Shooter Video Game

Developed by Koji Igarashi, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is a spiritual successor to the Castlevania series. It features a gothic castle full of enemies and secrets, much like the settings in Hollow Knight. You collect abilities from defeated enemies, adding their moves to your arsenal. This game is a homage to classic Metroidvania design, providing a nostalgic yet fresh experience for fans of the genre.

6. Salt and Sanctuary

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, GeForce Now

Developers: Ska Studios, Blitworks, Sickhead Games, Kakehashi Games

Mode: Multiplayer video game

Genres: Platform game, Action role-playing game, Indie game, Adventure game, Fighting game, Shooter Video Game

Publishers: Ska Studios, Leadman Games

Initial release date: 15 March 2016

Series: Ska Studios’ Salt

If you’re craving more of Hollow Knight’s challenging combat inspired by Dark Souls, Salt and Sanctuary is an excellent choice. This game features punishing melee combat with large bosses and a dark, atmospheric world. It incorporates elements like collectible souls and refillable flasks, similar to Dark Souls. The extensive customization options and exploration opportunities make it a compelling game for those who love tweaking their builds and battling formidable foes.

7. Guacamelee! 2

Developer: Drinkbox Studios

Initial release date: 21 August 2018

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows

Mode: Multiplayer video game

Genres: Platform game, Indie game, Adventure game, Fighting game, Adventure

Publisher: Drinkbox Studios

Series: Guacamelee!

Guacamelee! 2 is a vibrant platformer that combines arcade-style combat with thoughtful exploration. You play as a luchador who flips between the worlds of the living and the dead to uncover new paths and secrets. The game’s humor, colorful art, and engaging gameplay, including drop-in co-op mode, offer a lighter but equally enjoyable experience compared to the more somber tones of Hollow Knight.

8. Hyper Light Drifter

Platforms: Android, Nintendo Switch, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, Mac operating systems

Developers: Heart Machine, Abylight Studios, Abylight Studios S.A.

Engine: GameMaker

Genres: Platform game, Adventure game, Action role-playing game, Shooter Video Game, Fighting game

Initial release date: 31 March 2016

Mode: Multiplayer video game

Hyper Light Drifter diverges from Hollow Knight’s side-scrolling approach with its top-down perspective. However, it shares a similarly mysterious atmosphere and cryptic storytelling. You’ll navigate a visually striking world, battling numerous foes with no defensive skills, relying instead on an array of weapons and abilities. The absence of dialogue adds to the game’s enigmatic charm, making it a fascinating choice for those who enjoyed the lore and atmosphere of Hollow Knight.

9. Ori and the Blind Forest

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows

Developer: Moon Studios

Genres: Metroidvania, Fighting game

Initial release date: 10 March 2015

Mode: Single-player video game

Ori and the Blind Forest presents a more linear but equally beautiful world compared to Hollow Knight. You play as Ori, a guardian spirit on a mission to rejuvenate a dying forest. The game emphasizes platforming over combat, with abilities like wall jumps and dashes that make traversal a joy. While not as focused on secrets, Ori’s world is full of lush environments and clever puzzles that keep the gameplay fresh and engaging.

10. Axiom Verge

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Developers: Thomas Happ Games LLC, Sickhead Games, Blitworks

Initial release date: 31 March 2015

Mode: Single-player video game

Composer: Thomas Happ

Genres: Metroidvania, Shooter Video Game, Adventure

In Axiom Verge, you play as Trace, a scientist who awakens in a strange, high-tech world with a retro art style. Unlike Hollow Knight, you’ll be wielding guns instead of a blade. The game features a branching world with hidden areas that can only be accessed by finding specific items. While the story might not be the most memorable, the engaging gameplay and unique weapons, such as the Quantum Variegator and the Reverse Slicer, make exploring this alien landscape a thrilling adventure.

Conclusion

While waiting for Hollow Knight: Silksong, these 10 games offer a variety of experiences that capture the essence of what made Hollow Knight so beloved. Whether you’re looking for challenging combat, intricate exploration, or captivating storytelling, these games will keep you entertained and engaged.

FAQs

Q1. What is a Metroidvania game?
Ans: A Metroidvania game combines elements from the Metroid and Castlevania series, focusing on exploration, acquiring new abilities, and backtracking to access previously unreachable areas.

Q2. . What makes Dead Cells unique compared to other Metroidvania games?
Ans: Dead Cells features rogue-like mechanics where each run is unique due to randomly generated levels and permanent upgrades, differing from the static maps in traditional Metroidvania games.

Q3. Can Hyper Light Drifter appeal to fans of Hollow Knight despite its top-down view?
Ans: Yes, Hyper Light Drifter offers a similar sense of mystery and challenging combat, with an engaging world and cryptic storytelling that Hollow Knight fans will appreciate.

Q4. Why is Salt and Sanctuary compared to Dark Souls?
Ans: Salt and Sanctuary shares Dark Souls’ challenging combat, dark atmosphere, and mechanics like collecting souls and using flasks for healing, making it a 2D counterpart to the Dark Souls experience.

Q5. How does Ori and the Blind Forest differ from Hollow Knight?
Ans: Ori and the Blind Forest emphasizes platforming and a linear progression, with a focus on beautiful visuals and storytelling, whereas Hollow Knight offers more open-world exploration and challenging combat.