Games Like Hollow Knight Worth Exploring Next
Discover Metroidvania games with memorable exploration, demanding combat, and satisfying upgrades after Hollow Knight.
Games Like Hollow Knight Worth Exploring Next
Hollow Knight combines an interconnected map, precise 2D movement, challenging bosses, and a distinctive melancholy atmosphere. A game can resemble it in one dimension without matching all four. Start with the feature you want more of, then check what the alternative deliberately does differently.
For exploration and interconnected maps
Ori and the Will of the Wisps offers expressive movement and richly presented environments, with a stronger emphasis on traversal. Axiom Verge leans into alien exploration and tool-driven discovery. Blasphemous emphasizes grim imagery, deliberate combat, and revisiting new routes as abilities open up. Their sense of mystery may feel familiar, but the combat rhythm and storytelling differ.
For platforming and bosses
Celeste is a superb choice for precise platforming, but it is not a traditional interconnected combat-driven Metroidvania. Nine Sols places more weight on deflection and boss timing. Ender Lilies combines 2D exploration with a somber mood and different weapon options. Pick by the frustration you enjoy: missing a jump, missing a parry, or being unsure where to explore next.
Distinguish genre resemblance from identical systems
A Metroidvania usually asks you to revisit areas with newly acquired movement or combat abilities. Soulslike elements may include deliberate fights, recoverable resources, or punishing retries, but the labels overlap imperfectly. Hollow Knight's appeal is often the combination, not any single mechanic. Do not assume a game with a dark art style has the same exploration structure.
How to pick your next game
Choose Ori if motion and scenery lead your wishlist; Nine Sols if mastering attacks is the goal; Axiom Verge for obscure pathways; and Blasphemous for tone. Check platform and version on the store you actually use. Short gameplay clips that show normal traversal reveal more about fit than a dramatic boss trailer.
A five-minute test of whether a recommendation fits
Watch footage of the ordinary movement between fights. Can the player wall-jump, dash, return through earlier rooms, and discover new routes after an upgrade? Then watch one typical boss: is defense about dodging, deflecting, or avoiding environmental hazards? Finally, notice how the map communicates unexplored exits. These everyday systems predict whether a game scratches the Hollow Knight itch better than its art palette alone.
Related reading
If you want to narrow the shortlist from a different angle, compare how difficult Hollow Knight is, Silksong vs. Hollow Knight difficulty, and the best Soulslike games.
Frequently asked questions
Which game is closest to Hollow Knight's exploration?
Axiom Verge and Blasphemous are useful comparisons for interconnected areas and ability-gated progress.
What if I mainly enjoy Hollow Knight bosses?
Consider Nine Sols for a different but strongly timing-focused combat system.
Is Celeste a Metroidvania?
No. It is mainly a precision platformer; it is listed for people who value movement challenges.
Are these all available on Switch?
Availability differs by game, region, and edition; verify the current Nintendo storefront instead of assuming a blanket platform list.