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Hollow Knight is the best first choice if you want Metroid-style exploration with a large interconnected map and demanding combat. SteamWorld Dig 2 is the better fit for a shorter, more approachable digging-and-upgrade loop. Choose Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown if fluid combat, acrobatics, cinematic presentation, and time-manipulation puzzles matter most. All three are available on Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo lists Switch 2 compatibility or a Switch 2 edition for each title; check the individual product page for the exact regional label before buying.
Quick comparison: which Metroid-like game should you play?
These three games share Metroidvania fundamentals—side-scrolling exploration, areas that open after you gain new abilities, optional secrets, and backtracking—but they emphasize different parts of the formula.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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Hollow Knight - For Nintendo Switch | $42.20 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![Hollow Knight - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51nXCF+sf5L._SL160_.jpg)
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Hollow Knight - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code] | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Hollow Knight: Silksong Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51mOgOC8xEL._SL160_.jpg)
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Hollow Knight: Silksong Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code] | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![HOLLOW KNIGHT [E10]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51gHoLA9kNL._SL160_.jpg)
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HOLLOW KNIGHT [E10] | $33.39 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Shadow Labyrinth Nintendo Switch Standard Edition | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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| Game | Best for | World and backtracking | Combat and platforming | Progression style | Switch 2 status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollow Knight | Deep exploration, atmosphere, and a serious challenge | Large, interconnected world with discovery-driven return trips | Demanding fights with precise movement | Abilities and upgrades gradually open new routes | Nintendo lists a Hollow Knight – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition; verify the edition and regional listing |
| SteamWorld Dig 2 | A compact, approachable adventure built around mining | Digging creates much of the route; secrets and traps reward revisiting areas | More forgiving overall, with platforming tied to movement upgrades | Mining, treasure, and purchasable upgrades form a clear loop | Nintendo marks the game as supported on Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown | Acrobatic movement, cinematic action, and time-based puzzles | Biome-based exploration with quests and ability-gated paths | Fluid combat and highly mobile platforming | Abilities, quests, puzzles, and time-and-space mechanics | Nintendo marks the Switch version as supported on Nintendo Switch 2 |
There is no standardized completion-time figure in the official product descriptions for these games. Think in terms of structure rather than a promised number of hours: Hollow Knight is the broadest commitment, SteamWorld Dig 2 is the most compact, and The Lost Crown sits between them as a quest-driven action adventure.
What makes a game feel like Metroid?
A Metroid-like game is not defined only by a side-on camera or science-fiction setting. The key sensation is earned access: you see a blocked route, obtain a movement or combat ability elsewhere, then return with a new way to proceed. Good examples also make the map itself a puzzle. Landmarks, shortcuts, hidden rooms, and optional upgrades help you build a mental model of the world instead of following a straight sequence of levels.
#1 Best Overall
- Classic side-scrolling action, with all the modern trimmings. Dodge, dash and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries.
- Tightly tuned 2D controls. Dodge, dash and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries.
- Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward.
- An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation.
- Leap into minds with the Dream Nail. Uncover a whole other side to the characters you meet and the enemies you face.
The three recommendations distribute that formula differently:
- Exploration weight: Hollow Knight gives the most room to wander and make discoveries; SteamWorld Dig 2 turns excavation into exploration; The Lost Crown organizes exploration around biomes, quests, and traversal challenges.
- Combat weight: Hollow Knight asks you to learn enemy patterns and commit to precise attacks. The Lost Crown foregrounds flowing swordplay and acrobatics. SteamWorld Dig 2 keeps combat in service of its mining loop.
- Backtracking: In Hollow Knight, returning to a familiar region can reveal an entirely different route or secret. SteamWorld Dig 2 makes the act of digging through terrain the central reason to revisit. The Lost Crown uses newly acquired movement abilities and time mechanics to open previously unreachable spaces.
If you want the exact feeling of charting an unknown labyrinth, start with Hollow Knight. If you want a clear sequence of upgrades and rewards without a huge commitment, start with SteamWorld Dig 2. If your ideal Metroid-like game is an athletic action platformer with set-piece presentation, start with The Lost Crown.
Hollow Knight: the choice for depth, atmosphere, and challenge
Why it suits Metroid fans
Hollow Knight is the strongest recommendation for players who value a large interconnected world and discovery-driven backtracking. Its map is designed to make you curious: a sealed passage, a distant platform, or an unreachable ledge can remain in your memory until a later ability changes what is possible. Progress is therefore partly about character upgrades and partly about learning the geography of the kingdom.
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The game also trusts you to investigate. Instead of presenting every objective as a linear checklist, it lets landmarks and environmental clues guide your next decision. That freedom is rewarding if you enjoy making your own route, but it can feel opaque if you prefer constant waypoint directions.
Combat and platforming
Combat is the most demanding of the three recommendations. Enemies have distinct patterns, attacks punish careless positioning, and difficult encounters require you to read timing rather than simply increase damage. Movement precision matters in both fights and traversal, so players who enjoyed the exacting control of later Metroid titles will find a familiar kind of concentration here.
The challenge is part of the identity rather than an optional extra layer. Expect to revisit difficult rooms, adjust your approach, and use the environment and your growing ability set intelligently. If you want a gentler introduction to Metroidvania combat, choose SteamWorld Dig 2 first.
Progression and backtracking
Hollow Knight’s progression combines movement abilities, combat improvements, and discoveries that change how you interpret earlier areas. The result is a long-form loop: explore, hit a barrier, pursue another path, gain a capability, and return with more options. Optional rooms and upgrades make detours worthwhile even when they are not required to finish the main path.
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Rank #2
- Classic side-scrolling action, with all the modern trimmings.
- Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward.
- Evolve with powerful new skills and abilities! Gain spells, strength and speed. Leap to new heights on ethereal wings. Dash forward in a blazing flash. Blast foes with fiery Soul!
- Equip Charms! Ancient relics that offer bizarre new powers and abilities. Choose your favorites and make your journey unique!
- An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation.
Atmosphere and session style
Its visual and audio direction emphasizes isolation, ruins, and a melancholy sense of place. The mood is consistent across exploration and combat, so the game feels like one connected journey rather than a sequence of unrelated stages. Because the world is broad and secrets are numerous, it works best when you are comfortable committing to a continuing adventure over many sessions.
Official product descriptions do not enumerate a complete list of accessibility settings. Check the current in-game options and regional product information if you need specific controls, display, audio, or difficulty accommodations.
Switch 2 edition check
Nintendo lists a Hollow Knight – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. The exact contents, purchase path, and regional retail treatment can vary, so open the Nintendo product page for your region and confirm whether you are viewing the original Switch release, the Switch 2 edition, or an upgrade option.
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Why it suits Metroid fans
SteamWorld Dig 2 is built around a simple, satisfying premise: dig through a layered world, find treasure, survive hazards, and spend your gains on upgrades that let you reach deeper or move more effectively. Nintendo describes it as “a platform mining adventure forged in Metroidvania flames,” which captures its focus better than a generic label does.
Where Hollow Knight asks you to map a sprawling kingdom, SteamWorld Dig 2 gives you a more immediately readable objective. Every expedition can produce visible progress: a new tunnel, a discovered secret, a resource haul, or an upgrade that changes your next descent.
Mining, upgrades, and secrets
Terrain is not just scenery. Your route through the underground is part of the puzzle, and digging can expose shortcuts, traps, collectibles, and alternate approaches. Upgrades provide the classic Metroidvania payoff: a tool that once seemed like a convenience can become the key to a blocked chamber or a safer route through a dangerous section.
The loop is compact enough for players who prefer clear milestones. You can make progress in a shorter session, return later, and quickly understand what your next objective is. That makes it a practical choice after a long game when you want the exploration rhythm without another enormous commitment.
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Combat and platforming
Combat supports the mining adventure rather than dominating it. Hazards and enemies still require attention, but the main satisfaction comes from movement, excavation, resource management, and finding the next upgrade. Platforming becomes more capable as your equipment improves, turning previously awkward passages into routes you can navigate confidently.
Rank #3
- Discover the fallen insect kingdom of Pharloom! Explore mossy grottos, gilded cities and misted moors as you ascend to the shining citadel at the top of the world.
- Engage in lethal acrobatic action! Wield a huge suite of deadly moves as you dance between foes in swift, beautiful combat.
- Craft powerful tools! Master an ever-expanding arsenal of weapons, traps, and mechanisms to vanquish your enemies and explore new heights.
- Solve shocking quests! Hunt down rare beasts and solve ancient mysteries to grant the wishes of the downtrodden and restore the kingdom’s hope.
- Face over 200 ferocious foes! Beasts and hunters, monsters and knights. Defeat them all with bravery and skill!
If you want the hardest combat test in this group, Hollow Knight is the better match. If you want to learn Metroidvania conventions through a friendlier progression curve, SteamWorld Dig 2 is the safer starting point.
Atmosphere and session style
The SteamWorld setting uses a playful mechanical aesthetic and a brisker tone than Hollow Knight. Its compact progression loop suits short, repeatable play sessions: begin an expedition, gather what you can, return to improve your equipment, and push farther next time. The game still rewards thorough exploration, but it does not demand that you absorb a huge web of lore or remember a vast number of disconnected locations.
The official description used for this recommendation does not provide a complete accessibility-settings list. Review the current game menus and Nintendo listing if a particular accommodation is important to you.
Switch 2 compatibility
Nintendo marks SteamWorld Dig 2 as supported on Nintendo Switch 2. Compatibility labels apply to the specific listing you are viewing, so confirm the digital or physical edition and your region before purchase.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown: acrobatics, combat, and time manipulation
Why it suits Metroid fans
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is the pick for players who want Metroidvania structure delivered through fast traversal and cinematic action. Ubisoft describes it as a Metroidvania in which players “manipulate time and space,” master acrobatic combat, explore a mythological world, solve puzzles, and complete quests.
That combination changes the emphasis. You are still unlocking routes and returning to earlier spaces, but movement itself is a major attraction. Wall movement, leaps, dodges, and other acrobatic actions make the map feel like a sequence of physical problems to solve rather than a set of corridors between fights.
Combat and movement
Combat is fluid and performance-oriented. The design encourages you to link movement and attacks, respond quickly, and use your mobility to control encounters. Players who find Hollow Knight’s deliberate pattern-reading too austere may prefer this more kinetic approach.
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Rank #4
- Includes four giant bonus content packs: Hidden Dreams, The Grimm Troupe, Lifeblood, and Godmaster
- Classic side-scrolling action, with all modern trimmings
- Tightly tuned 2D controls. Dodge, dash, and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries
- Explore a vast interconnected world of forgotten highways, overgrown wilds, and ruined cities
- Forge your own path. The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face, and find your own way forward
Biomes, quests, and puzzles
The world is organized into distinct biomes connected by exploration routes and quest objectives. Time-and-space mechanics add another layer to navigation and puzzle solving: an obstacle may be overcome not by a conventional key, but by changing how an event or object behaves.
Quests provide more structure than Hollow Knight’s open-ended discovery. They can help you maintain direction while still leaving room for optional paths and secrets. Choose this game when you want a guided sense of purpose without giving up the ability-gated exploration that defines a Metroidvania.
Release and Switch 2 status
Nintendo lists January 18, 2024 as the Nintendo Switch release date for Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and marks the Switch version as supported on Nintendo Switch 2. Confirm the product page for your region, especially if you are choosing between a Switch release and any later edition or upgrade treatment.
As with the other two games, the official descriptions do not publish a standardized completion time or a comprehensive accessibility matrix. Check the current game settings and Nintendo listing for the options relevant to your hardware and needs.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the three games differ on the questions that matter
Map size and backtracking
Choose Hollow Knight for the most expansive, interconnected exploration and the greatest emphasis on remembering locations. Choose SteamWorld Dig 2 for a world whose geography is shaped directly by your excavation and upgrades. Choose The Lost Crown for biome-based exploration that combines ability gates with quests and traversal puzzles.
Combat difficulty
Hollow Knight is the clear choice for demanding fights and precise pattern learning. The Lost Crown emphasizes speed, combinations, and acrobatic responses. SteamWorld Dig 2 keeps combat subordinate to mining and progression, making it the most approachable option of the three.
Platforming precision
Hollow Knight uses precision as part of both combat and exploration. SteamWorld Dig 2 ties platforming capability closely to the tools you acquire. The Lost Crown makes acrobatics a headline feature, with movement challenges designed to showcase your expanding skill set.
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All three use upgrades to transform previously blocked routes. Hollow Knight spreads that process across a broad network of regions and optional discoveries. SteamWorld Dig 2 makes the cause-and-effect relationship especially clear: better equipment enables deeper or safer mining. The Lost Crown links abilities to traversal, quests, puzzles, and time-based interactions.
Best Value
- Includes Base Game
- Search the remnants of an age-old intergalactic conflict, started long before your arrival, and discover new powers and abilities
- Master the fluid combat and combine powerful skills to create a playstyle of your own
- Team up with PUCK, and dive deeper into the maze of a mysterious alien world
Atmosphere and art direction
Hollow Knight offers the most subdued and haunting atmosphere. SteamWorld Dig 2 is lighter, more playful, and mechanically themed. The Lost Crown aims for a cinematic mythological presentation, with action and spectacle integrated into its exploration.
Expected session length
None of the official listings gives a universal number of hours, and individual play time will vary with exploration, difficulty, and completion goals. In practical terms, SteamWorld Dig 2 is the easiest to divide into short expeditions, Hollow Knight is the most open-ended long-term journey, and The Lost Crown provides quest and biome objectives that create natural stopping points.
Accessibility and options
The cited Nintendo and Ubisoft descriptions do not provide a complete, standardized list of accessibility features for comparison. If you need a particular option—such as remappable controls, subtitle behavior, visual adjustments, or difficulty assistance—inspect the current product listing and the game’s settings menu before purchasing. Availability can differ by version and platform.
Which game should you play after Metroid Dread?
Pick Hollow Knight if you want a bigger mystery
After Metroid Dread, Hollow Knight is the natural follow-up when your priority is wandering through a connected world, marking mental landmarks, and surviving increasingly demanding encounters. It preserves the satisfaction of opening routes with new abilities while giving exploration more room to breathe.
Pick SteamWorld Dig 2 if you want a shorter reset
Choose SteamWorld Dig 2 when you want the familiar ability-gated loop without immediately starting another large-scale challenge. Its mining economy gives every run a concrete purpose, and its approachable structure makes it easy to pick up after a break.
Pick The Lost Crown if movement was your favorite part
If you remember Dread’s speed, evasive movement, and traversal puzzles more than its map, The Lost Crown is the closest match among these recommendations in spirit. Its acrobatics, fluid combat, and manipulation of time and space make movement the main event.
Nintendo Switch 2 compatibility: how to check before you buy
Nintendo states that Switch 2 can play compatible physical and digital Nintendo Switch games, but some titles may be unsupported or not fully compatible. Nintendo also notes that certain games receive free updates or paid upgrades for Switch 2. Compatibility is therefore a property of the specific game listing and edition, not a guarantee that every Switch title behaves identically.
- Open the individual Nintendo product page. Do this for the exact game and region you intend to purchase.
- Find the compatibility label. Check whether the page says the Switch version is supported, identifies a Switch 2 edition, or describes an upgrade.
- Match the label to your copy. Physical cartridges, digital purchases, and regional editions can have different listings or upgrade paths.
- Read update and upgrade notes. A free update and a paid upgrade are different entitlements; confirm which applies before assuming enhanced features are included.
- Check controller and accessory requirements. If the product page lists a special requirement or limitation, treat it as part of the compatibility decision.
For this shortlist, Nintendo lists a Switch 2 edition for Hollow Knight, marks SteamWorld Dig 2 as supported, and marks the Switch version of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown as supported. Those labels should still be rechecked at the time of purchase because storefront information and editions can change.
A practical buying checklist
- Decide your priority first: depth and challenge, a compact mining loop, or cinematic acrobatics.
- Confirm the platform listing: make sure the page is for Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2, not a different platform.
- Verify the edition: especially for Hollow Knight, where Nintendo lists a dedicated Switch 2 edition.
- Check your region: release dates, physical availability, language support, and upgrade treatment can vary by storefront.
- Review current settings: if accessibility or control customization is essential, confirm the exact options in the version you will play.
- Do not rely on a fixed playtime promise: exploration depth and completion goals make total time highly personal, and the official listings do not establish a universal figure.
Final recommendation
Start with Hollow Knight if you want the richest exploration and are comfortable with demanding combat. Choose SteamWorld Dig 2 for an approachable, compact adventure in which digging, treasure, upgrades, secrets, and traps are inseparable from progression. Choose Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown for the most acrobatic movement, fluid action, cinematic presentation, and time-and-space puzzles. Before buying for Switch 2, verify the compatibility label on the individual Nintendo product page for your region and edition.
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.
