Games Like Hollow Knight: 18 Incredible Options

If Hollow Knight left you wandering around your room like a tiny confused beetle, you are not alone. Team Cherry’s masterpiece is one of those games that quietly ruins your standards. Suddenly, you do not just want a platformer. You want a sprawling map, deliciously moody atmosphere, dangerous bosses, hidden pathways, elegant combat, and that magical feeling of getting lost on purpose. In other words, you want another game that understands the art of making you suffer beautifully.

The good news is that there are plenty of excellent games like Hollow Knight. The even better news is that they are not all clones wearing a bug costume. Some lean harder into punishing combat. Some go all-in on exploration and secrets. Others trade Hallownest’s melancholy for color, speed, or humor. Together, they make up a fantastic backlog for anyone chasing that same metroidvania high.

Quick Answer: The Best Games Like Hollow Knight

• Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
• Ori and the Blind Forest
• Ori and the Will of the Wisps
• Nine Sols
• Blasphemous 2
• Animal Well
• Metroid Dread
• The Messenger
• ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights
• ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist
• Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
• Axiom Verge
• Guacamelee! 2
• Islets
• Astalon: Tears of the Earth
• Salt and Sanctuary
• Afterimage
• Momodora: Moonlit Farewell

Why These Hollow Knight Alternatives Work So Well

The best games like Hollow Knight usually share at least three traits. First, they reward curiosity. You see a ledge, a suspicious wall, or a route you clearly cannot reach yet, and your brain immediately starts taking notes. Second, they make movement feel good enough that backtracking is not a chore. Third, they build a world that feels bigger than the map screen, whether through lore, art direction, or the simple joy of stumbling into an area you had no business surviving.

That does not mean every great recommendation needs to copy Hollow Knight move for move. Some of these games are more combat-heavy, some are more puzzle-driven, and some are friendlier to people who would rather not lose thirty minutes of progress because a flying nightmare tapped them on the shoulder. Variety is part of the fun.

18 Incredible Games Like Hollow Knight

1. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

If you loved the mobility and map design in Hollow Knight, start here. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is one of the smoothest modern metroidvanias around, with crisp combat, satisfying traversal, and platforming that feels like it was engineered in a lab by people who really respect your thumbs. It also has a wonderfully practical feature that lets you pin screenshots to your map, which means fewer “I know I saw something important around here” moments and fewer arguments with your own memory.

2. Ori and the Blind Forest

Ori and the Blind Forest is the recommendation for players who loved Hollow Knight’s atmosphere but want something more graceful than grim. The movement is gorgeous, the world is emotional without becoming syrupy, and the platforming frequently feels like a ballet performed over spikes. Combat is lighter than in Hollow Knight, but the sense of movement is so good that you may not care. Bring tissues. The game has a reputation for weaponizing feelings.

3. Ori and the Will of the Wisps

If the first Ori is graceful, Will of the Wisps is graceful with muscles. It adds stronger combat, more customization, tougher encounters, and a broader world that makes it an even better fit for fans of Hollow Knight. The result is one of the easiest recommendations on this list. It has the beauty, the exploration, the tight controls, and enough challenge to feel rewarding without making every checkpoint feel like a hostage negotiation.

4. Nine Sols

Nine Sols is for the player who looked at Hollow Knight and thought, “This is great, but what if I had to parry like my dignity depended on it?” Its combat leans heavily into deflections, timing, and aggressive boss design, which gives it a sharper, more duel-like feel than many metroidvanias. Add its striking hand-drawn art and Taopunk aesthetic, and you get a game that feels familiar in structure but refreshingly different in personality.

5. Blasphemous 2

If your favorite part of Hollow Knight was the oppressive atmosphere and cryptic lore, Blasphemous 2 deserves a spot on your list. It is brutal, stylish, weirdly poetic, and gloriously committed to its dark religious-horror imagery. Compared with the first game, the sequel feels more flexible and more fully metroidvania-shaped, with stronger navigation and ability-gated progression. It does not whisper. It dramatically chants in a candlelit cathedral while something terrible breathes nearby.

6. Animal Well

Animal Well is what happens when a metroidvania decides combat is optional but mystery is mandatory. This is less about beating up monsters and more about poking at a surreal labyrinth until it starts revealing its secrets. If you adored Hollow Knight for exploration, map memory, hidden layers, and the thrill of asking “Wait, what is this room doing here?” then Animal Well is a fantastic pick. It is creepy, clever, and exceptionally good at making you feel smart and unsettled at the same time.

7. Metroid Dread

You cannot talk about games like Hollow Knight without nodding to the genre’s royal family. Metroid Dread is fast, slick, and ruthlessly polished. Samus feels amazing to control, the map design is smart, and the boss fights are memorable without overstaying their welcome. It is generally more guided than Hollow Knight, but that is not a flaw. It makes for a sharper, more relentless experience, especially if you want less wandering and more “keep moving or the robot will absolutely ruin your day.”

8. The Messenger

The Messenger begins like a classic action platformer, then cheerfully kicks open the door into metroidvania territory. It is hilarious, fast, and far more self-aware than its pixel-art ninja look first suggests. Fans of Hollow Knight who value movement and strong level design will have a great time here. Also, the writing is legitimately funny, which makes it the perfect palate cleanser after spending dozens of hours in bug-themed existential collapse.

9. ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights

ENDER LILIES channels the same mournful, lonely energy that makes Hollow Knight so memorable. Its ruined kingdom is beautiful in that “everything has gone terribly wrong but at least the soundtrack is fantastic” sort of way. The standout twist is the combat system, where you summon fallen spirits to attack for you. That gives fights a different rhythm from Hollow Knight, but the melancholy tone, exploration, and boss encounters make it a natural recommendation.

10. ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist

If you like the idea of ENDER LILIES but want something newer and a bit more refined, ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist is an easy upgrade path. It expands on the summon-based combat ideas, delivers another moody world, and gives players a polished modern metroidvania with strong build variety. It feels a little more approachable than some harder entries on this list, while still scratching that same itch for discovery, upgrades, and stylish side-scrolling action.

11. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is one of the clearest “if you like this, try that” recommendations for metroidvania fans. It is more RPG-heavy than Hollow Knight, with loot, gear, crafting, and ability collection layered into its castle exploration. If you loved slowly building power and unlocking new routes, Bloodstained will feel like a generous buffet. It is less lonely and mysterious than Hollow Knight, but it is packed with content and deeply replayable.

12. Axiom Verge

Axiom Verge is for players who want the exploration and interconnected world design of Hollow Knight with a stronger retro sci-fi flavor. It leans harder into old-school vibes, but not in a dusty museum-piece way. The alien setting, glitch mechanics, and eerie atmosphere help it feel distinct even among a crowded genre. It is a great choice if you prefer unsettling mystery over emotional storytelling and enjoy discovering bizarre weapons and stranger places.

13. Guacamelee! 2

Guacamelee! 2 proves that not every game like Hollow Knight has to look like a funeral procession in a rainstorm. It is colorful, punchy, funny, and built around excellent melee combat and platforming. The movement upgrades are satisfying, the combat has real depth, and the whole thing has enough charm to power a small town. It is lighter in tone, sure, but the exploration loop is strong enough that metroidvania fans should not skip it.

14. Islets

If Hollow Knight was a little too punishing for your tastes, Islets is a lovely alternative. It still delivers exploration, bosses, and interconnected progression, but in a friendlier, more relaxed package. The hand-painted art is appealing, the world structure is clever, and the game never feels like it is trying to mug you in a dark alley. Think of it as comfort food for metroidvania fans, except the dessert still occasionally throws a sword at you.

15. Astalon: Tears of the Earth

Astalon: Tears of the Earth is a brilliant choice for players who enjoy intricate world design and a real sense of mastering space over time. Its central tower becomes a giant puzzle box as you unlock more routes and switch between three heroes with different abilities. That character-swapping gives it a distinct identity while preserving the essential metroidvania joy of “I could not do this an hour ago, but now I absolutely can.” It is old-school in presentation, but impressively modern in design.

16. Salt and Sanctuary

Salt and Sanctuary is what you play when you want the darker, harsher edge of Hollow Knight turned up with extra salt, extra suffering, and maybe a side of dread. It blends metroidvania exploration with soulslike brutality and RPG systems, creating a game that feels rougher and heavier than Team Cherry’s adventure. It is not as airy or graceful, but if you liked corpse runs, risk, and the general sensation of victory tasting better because it was hard-earned, this one delivers.

17. Afterimage

Afterimage offers a massive fantasy world, fast combat, and hand-drawn visuals that immediately make it relevant to anyone searching for the best games like Hollow Knight. It can be a little denser and more overwhelming than some other recommendations, but that is also part of its appeal. There is a lot to see, a lot to build around, and a lot to uncover. If you want another game that feels generous with scale, this one has plenty to chew on.

18. Momodora: Moonlit Farewell

Momodora: Moonlit Farewell is a terrific shorter recommendation for players who want quality over sheer size. It has responsive combat, a polished feel, strong bosses, and a moody fantasy tone that will feel instantly comfortable to Hollow Knight fans. It does not try to drown you in a gigantic map, which can actually be a blessing if your backlog already looks like a cry for help. Sometimes you want a feast. Sometimes you want an excellent, elegant meal.

How to Choose the Right Hollow Knight Alternative

Not every player loved the same thing about Hollow Knight, so your best follow-up depends on what hooked you most. If you want polished movement and excellent platforming, go with Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown or either Ori game. If you want hard combat and boss mastery, Nine Sols, Blasphemous 2, and Salt and Sanctuary are excellent bets. If you are here for secrets, atmosphere, and the joy of map exploration, Animal Well, Axiom Verge, and Astalon should jump straight to the front of the line.

And if your gaming schedule currently resembles a crowded airport terminal, shorter options like Islets and Momodora: Moonlit Farewell are great choices. They still deliver the metroidvania thrill without asking you to sign an emotional lease.

The Experience of Chasing the Hollow Knight Feeling

Part of what makes searching for games like Hollow Knight so interesting is that people are rarely looking for just one thing. They say they want another metroidvania, but what they often mean is something more personal. They want that first moment of dropping into an unfamiliar kingdom and realizing the map is bigger than expected. They want the rush of reaching a boss, getting flattened, coming back stronger, and finally winning with one sliver of health left. They want a world that feels haunted, lived-in, and just mysterious enough that every hallway seems to be hiding a secret or a terrible life choice.

That is why different players gravitate toward different recommendations. One person finishes Hollow Knight and immediately wants another difficult gauntlet, so Nine Sols or Blasphemous 2 becomes the perfect next stop. Another player mainly misses the atmosphere and the beauty of wandering through ruined places, which makes Ori, ENDER LILIES, or Afterimage a better fit. Someone else wants the thrill of discovery more than combat itself, and suddenly Animal Well becomes the obvious obsession. Same craving, different flavor.

There is also a very specific joy in learning a new game’s language. In Hollow Knight, that language might be a suspicious wall, a tricky jump, or the realization that the map always has one more secret than you thought. In a similar game, the vocabulary changes. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown teaches you to think with movement and memory. Metroid Dread teaches urgency. The Messenger teaches rhythm and surprise. Bloodstained teaches you that maybe hoarding every strange ability is not a problem, but a lifestyle.

And let us be honest, part of the experience is emotional. These games often create the wonderful illusion that you are lost, underpowered, and slightly doomed right up until the moment you realize you have quietly become excellent at them. Suddenly the room that once seemed impossible is trivial. The boss who treated you like a chew toy is now a timing exercise. The route that looked hopeless now feels like home. Few genres deliver that growth curve as elegantly as a great metroidvania.

So if you are hunting for the next great game after Hollow Knight, do not stress too much about finding a perfect replacement. There probably is not one, because Hollow Knight is doing its own weird, beautiful thing. The better approach is to find the next game that captures one of the feelings you loved most. Maybe that is wonder. Maybe it is challenge. Maybe it is atmosphere. Maybe it is simply the noble human desire to jump into a suspicious hole and see what happens. Fortunately, the 18 games above are all excellent places to start.

Final Thoughts

Hollow Knight set an absurdly high bar, but the metroidvania genre is in terrific shape. Whether you want punishing boss fights, gorgeous art, deeper combat systems, or worlds packed with secrets, there are plenty of incredible games like Hollow Knight worth playing next. The trick is not finding a clone. It is finding the game that matches the exact part of Hallownest that got under your skin and refused to leave.

If you want the safest all-around recommendations, start with Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Nine Sols, and Animal Well. From there, branch out based on your taste for challenge, mystery, humor, or gothic misery. There is no wrong answer here, only excellent excuses to ignore your backlog and disappear into another beautiful labyrinth.

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