Best 12 Games Like Hollow Knight (2026) — Metroidvania Picks

**Quick Answer:** The best games like Hollow Knight in 2026 are Hollow Knight: Silksong, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Blasphemous 2, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, Metroid Dread, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Axiom Verge 2, Dead Cells, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Death's Door, Ender Lilies, and Animal Well. Each captures Team Cherry's mix of moody atmosphere, tight platforming, and rewarding exploration on Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Hollow Knight launched in 2017 and spent eight years as the metroidvania to beat. With Silksong finally out in 2025, the genre is in its golden age. Here are the 12 best follow-ups.

Quick Comparison Table

| Game | Platforms | Why it's like Hollow Knight | Best for | |------|-----------|----------------------------|----------| | Silksong | Everything | The official sequel | HK fans | | Ori: Will of the Wisps | Xbox, Switch, PC | Beautiful + tight platforming | Visual fans | | Blasphemous 2 | PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC | Brutal pixel-art metroidvania | Souls fans | | Bloodstained: ROTN | Everything | Iga's Castlevania successor | Classic SOTN fans | | Metroid Dread | Switch | Modern 2D Metroid | Core metroidvania | | SOTN | Everything | The genre's grandfather | Retro fans | | Axiom Verge 2 | PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC | Sci-fi exploration | Lore + secrets | | Dead Cells | Everything | Roguelite hybrid | Combat focus | | Prince of Persia: TLC | PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC | AAA metroidvania | Newcomers | | Death's Door | Everything | Top-down "metroidlite" | Story fans | | Ender Lilies | Everything | Dark soulsy metroidvania | Atmosphere fans | | Animal Well | PS5, Switch, PC | Tiny + brilliant puzzle-vania | Secret hunters |

1. Hollow Knight: Silksong (PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC)

The actual sequel. Silksong launched in 2025 after seven years of development. You play Hornet — faster, more acrobatic combat, a brand-new kingdom (Pharloom), and Team Cherry's signature melancholy intact. **Buy on Amazon, eBay, or Kinguin.**

2. Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Xbox, Switch, PC)

Moon Studios' visually stunning metroidvania. Smoother platforming than HK, more directed story, and one of the best soundtracks in gaming. Definitive Edition is the version to play.

3. Blasphemous 2 (PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC)

The Game Kitchen's gothic Spanish-Catholic metroidvania. Three weapon classes, multiple endings, brutal bosses. The Wounds of Eventide free DLC for the original is required first.

4. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC)

Koji Igarashi's spiritual successor to Symphony of the Night. Hundreds of items, shards, and weapons. Multiple post-launch updates added Roguelike, Boss Rush, and new playable characters.

5. Metroid Dread (Switch, Switch 2)

Mercury Steam's modern 2D Metroid. Tight movement, aggressive E.M.M.I. stalker enemies, and the most polished entry in the franchise's 2D line.

6. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC, mobile)

The 1997 game that defined the genre. Available everywhere via the Castlevania Anniversary Collection or as a standalone.

7. Axiom Verge 2 (PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC)

Tom Happ's sequel to the cult classic. Two protagonists, dual worlds, and the densest secret-hunting in the genre.

8. Dead Cells (Everything)

Metroidvania + roguelite hybrid. The Castlevania DLC literally bridges the two genres.

9. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC)

Ubisoft Montpellier's 2024 hit. The most accessible AAA metroidvania in years — gorgeous animation, generous accessibility options, deep combat.

10. Death's Door (PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC)

Top-down rather than side-scrolling, but the same soul: melancholy world, tight combat, secret-stuffed map. Acid Nerve nailed it.

11. Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights (Everything)

Dark, gorgeous, and brutal. Ender Lilies leans into atmosphere and a truly haunting soundtrack. The 2024 sequel Ender Magnolia is also worth playing.

12. Animal Well (PS5, Switch, PC)

Solo dev Billy Basso's puzzle-vania. Tiny on the surface (~6 hours), but the post-game secret rabbit hole goes 50+ hours deep.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the closest game to Hollow Knight? **Hollow Knight: Silksong** — literally the sequel. After that, **Blasphemous 2** is the closest in tone and challenge.

Are there any free games like Hollow Knight? Most metroidvanias are paid, but cycle through Epic free games and PlayStation Plus monthly libraries — Dead Cells, Ori, and Death's Door have all appeared.

Can I play Hollow Knight on Switch 2? Yes — Hollow Knight and Silksong both run great on Switch 2 with improved load times.

Is Silksong worth waiting for? It's already out (2025). Yes, it was worth the wait.

What's the best metroidvania for beginners? **Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown** — generous accessibility, exploration markers, and combat depth that scales with player skill.

Continue exploring

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