Games like Hollow Knight to play next
You explored every inch of Hallownest and you're not ready to leave. Here's where to go next.
Hollow Knight is a hard act to follow. It nailed a combination almost no other game manages: a vast, hand-drawn world that rewards curiosity, combat with real bite, and an atmosphere of melancholy beauty that lingers long after you've put it down. So "what's like Hollow Knight?" is a tall order — but the metroidvania genre is deep, and several games hit the same nerves.
We've grouped them by which part of Hollow Knight you loved most: the exploration, the challenge, or the mood. And yes — Silksong sits at the end, where it belongs.
For the exploration
If you loved peeling back Hallownest's map — the hidden rooms, the shortcuts that recontextualize a whole area — these scratch that itch hardest.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
The most beautiful metroidvania ever made, with movement so fluid it feels like dancing. Warmer and more guided than Hollow Knight, but every bit as lovingly built.
PC · Xbox · Switch
Blasphemous 2
A grim, gorgeous world dripping with Spanish-Catholic horror imagery. Dense, secret-laden, and unafraid to be strange.
PC · PlayStation · Xbox · Switch
For the challenge
If it was the white-knuckle boss fights and the platforming gauntlets you're missing, aim here.
Nine Sols
A "taopunk" action-platformer with a deflect-based combat system that feels like Sekiro in 2D. Sharp, stylish, and genuinely demanding.
PC · PlayStation · Xbox · Switch
Celeste
Not a metroidvania, but the same spirit of fair, brutal mastery — a precision platformer about climbing a mountain and your own anxiety. One of the kindest hard games ever made.
PC · PlayStation · Xbox · Switch
For the mood
Maybe what stayed with you was the loneliness and wonder of it — a quiet, ruined world that trusted you to feel your way through. These share that soul.
Hyper Light Drifter
A wordless, neon-drenched adventure about a dying wanderer. Cryptic and atmospheric, with a melancholy that echoes Hollow Knight's.
PC · PlayStation · Xbox · Switch
Hollow Knight: Silksong
The long-awaited sequel, and the obvious answer once you're ready. Faster, more aggressive, and built on everything that made the original a classic.
PC · PlayStation · Xbox · Switch
The bottom line
For the closest match to that exact feeling, Ori and the Will of the Wisps and Nine Sols are the two to beat — one for beauty and exploration, the other for combat and challenge. And when you want to go home again, Silksong is waiting.
Frequently asked questions
What game is most like Hollow Knight?
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is the closest in feel for exploration and atmosphere, while Nine Sols is the closest for challenging, skill-based combat. Both are widely recommended to Hollow Knight fans, and the direct sequel, Silksong, is the natural next step.
Is Hollow Knight: Silksong out?
Silksong is the sequel to Hollow Knight starring Hornet, with faster, more aggressive combat and an all-new kingdom. Check its page on Playshelf for the latest status and add it to your wishlist so you don't miss it.
Are there easier games like Hollow Knight?
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is more guided and forgiving than Hollow Knight while keeping the gorgeous exploration. Celeste, though a precision platformer rather than a metroidvania, offers extensive assist options for players who want the spirit without the steep difficulty.
Keep track of what you play
Playshelf is a free social game tracker — log the games from this guide, rate and rank them, and get AI recommendations tuned to your taste and what your friends are playing.
Keep reading
What to play after Elden Ring: the best soulslikes
You beat the hardest game of your life and now nothing else hits the same. Here's where to go next.
IndieUnderrated indie games that deserve a spot in your backlog
The big releases get the headlines. These are the small games that stay with you for years.
RoguelikeThe best roguelikes and roguelites to lose yourself in
"One more run" is the most dangerous phrase in gaming. These are the games that earn it.