The best next game depends on what you want more of from Hollow Knight: fluid platforming, a dark world to explore, demanding melee combat, or secrets that reward curiosity. No single alternative recreates all of it. This shortlist includes close metroidvania matches and a few looser picks whose strengths lie elsewhere.
How to choose your next game
Use the table to narrow the list by the part of Hollow Knight you most want to keep. “Closeness” describes the broad fit, not a claim that the games play alike in every respect.
| Game | Best fit | How it differs from Hollow Knight | Closeness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ori and the Will of the Wisps | Fluid movement, platforming, visual presentation | Recommended especially for its visual appeal and movement-oriented strengths; it is not a duplicate of Hollow Knight. | Close structural match |
| Blasphemous 2 | Dark fantasy and melee-focused action | A darker, tougher-feeling action choice rather than a promise of the same combat or world design. | Close genre match |
| Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights | Dark atmosphere and action | Shares the broad metroidvania setting, but its specific combat and exploration feel differ. | Close genre match |
| Metroid Dread | Map exploration and hostile encounters | A modern 2D exploration-action option with its own identity. | Close structural match |
| Axiom Verge 2 | Science-fiction exploration and secrets | Its science-fiction focus is a different tonal direction. | Close structural match |
| Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown | Action-platforming and metroidvania exploration | A polished option in the genre, but check that your platform and edition suit you. | Close genre match |
| Animal Well | Discovery and puzzle-minded exploration | Genre-adjacent and not a combat-first match. | Looser match |
| Nine Sols | Challenging combat and deflection | Its combat identity is distinct from Hollow Knight’s. | Adjacent action pick |
| Astalon: Tears of the Earth | Another metroidvania to explore | A worthwhile alternative, though it is not presented as a one-to-one substitute. | Close genre match |
| Dead Cells | Responsive combat and replayable action | Less like Hollow Knight in practice; choose it for action rather than the same exploration structure. | Looser match |
Best for movement and platforming
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Choose Ori and the Will of the Wisps if what you remember most fondly is moving through a beautiful 2D world. Recommendation coverage singles out its visual appeal as a reason a Hollow Knight fan might enjoy it, alongside its platforming and metroidvania structure. It is a strong fit when you want exploration and fluid movement, not a claim that its atmosphere or combat reproduces Team Cherry’s game. GamesRadar includes Ori among games like Hollow Knight, as does Just Like Games’ recommendation list.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
For a polished combination of action-platforming and metroidvania exploration, consider Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. It suits players looking for another substantial 2D action adventure, but its identity is its own. Verify the current platform and edition before buying: the recommendation coverage does not establish a complete, authoritative availability list for every region. It appears in Just Like Games’ list of recommendations.
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Best for a dark atmosphere and action
Blasphemous 2
Blasphemous 2 is a natural choice if you want a darker fantasy setting and tougher, melee-focused action. Approach it as a different take on the broad metroidvania-action appeal, rather than expecting Hollow Knight’s precise pacing or world. It appears in Just Like Games’ recommendations.
Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights
Ender Lilies also leans into a dark atmosphere, with action set in a metroidvania framework. It makes sense if mood and exploration matter as much as combat, but the shared genre label does not mean the games handle those elements identically. It is included in Just Like Games’ 2026 recommendation list.
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Nine Sols
Pick Nine Sols when the main thing you want is challenging combat built around deflection. That is a useful overlap in intensity, not a close match for every part of Hollow Knight; its combat has a distinct identity. GamesRadar lists it as an option for Hollow Knight fans.
Best for exploration and secrets
Metroid Dread
Metroid Dread is a strong option for map exploration and tense encounters with hostile threats. It shares the appeal of navigating a dangerous 2D environment, while remaining a Metroid game rather than a direct imitation of Hollow Knight. It is one of the alternatives in Just Like Games’ recommendation coverage.
Rank #3
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Axiom Verge 2
If you would rather trade gothic atmosphere for science-fiction discovery, try Axiom Verge 2. Its place on this list is about exploration and secrets, not matching the tone or exact structure of Hallownest. It appears in Just Like Games’ alternatives.
Animal Well
Animal Well is the pick for players who want to observe, experiment, and uncover secrets. It is deliberately a looser recommendation: think discovery and puzzle-minded exploration, not a combat-heavy substitute. Just Like Games includes it, and PC Gamer’s review provides context for its distinct appeal.
Rank #4
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More metroidvania and replayable-action options
Astalon: Tears of the Earth
Astalon: Tears of the Earth is worth considering if your priority is simply another metroidvania adventure. It is an editor-endorsed candidate in PC Gamer’s discussion of alternatives to Hollow Knight; treat it as a genre recommendation, not a guarantee of the same atmosphere or combat.
Dead Cells
Choose Dead Cells if responsive combat and replayable action matter more to you than a close match for Hollow Knight. The important distinction is that it is less similar in practice: it belongs here as an adjacent action pick, not as the closest metroidvania substitute. PC Gamer explicitly makes that distinction.
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Check platform and edition before you buy
Availability can differ by platform, edition, and region. The recommendation sources do not provide a complete authoritative platform check for every title and territory, so confirm the current store listing for your system before purchasing. This is especially useful for Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, whose platform fit should be checked against the system you own.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
