Dive Into More Immersive & Action-Oriented Titles
Hollow Knight is an incredible indie title with mesmerizing 2D graphics, colorful characters, and a compelling storyline. It gained an impressive following over the years. Many fans are eagerly waiting for its sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong, to arrive, and for good reason. It’s looking like it’ll become an amazing follow-up to the original game.
Likewise, if you’ve finished playing Hollow Knight, you may be wondering what to play next. If you are looking for alternatives – fret not! We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle with our top 8 picks.
Of course, for all the games we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link, so you can check out our full thoughts on that and see if it’s something you want to invest your time with.
So without further ado, we present 8 games to check out if you’re looking for a game like Hollow Knight.
Mega Man Zero
Mega Man is one of Capcom’s beloved icons. Throughout his journeys, he went on to make new allies and enemies. One of his former enemies turned hero was Zero. Despite being designed as Dr. Albert Wily’s formidable creation with a cold-like appearance, he harbors a soul filled with grave wounds.
Thus, Zero’s character went on to become a fan favorite amongst Capcom and Mega Man fans. So much so, that Zero ended up getting a set of games dedicated to his adventures, titled Mega Man Zero. These games take place 100 years after the events of Mega Man X’s story.
It follows a newly designed version of Zero, who is fighting in the middle of a war between self-aware human robots (Reploids) and humans. Coming from a robotic background himself, Zero decides to side with the Reploid resistance group while also fighting off evil Reploids created by evil scientists. Like Hollow Knight, this is a game that features many twists that spiral into something more horrifying later in the game.
Mega Man Zero delivers incredible platforming gameplay with some ounces of difficulty thrown in the mix. As with Hollow Knight, the gameplay itself is fun and immersive. You’ll find yourself taking down multitudes of enemies while traversing the game’s many levels. There are also some epic boss fights for fans of grandiose action.
Considering Hollow Knight: Silksong’s going down a similar route by allowing players to take control of Hollow Knight’s adversary Hornet, Mega Man Zero should capture a similar vibe.
Hyper Light Drifter
Hyper Light Drifter is an action-adventure RPG that’s seeping in tranquility and mystery. With its colorful pixel art graphics and unbelievable atmospheric tension, fans will find themselves immersed in the world Hyper Light Drifter offers.
This world takes place in a savage land filled with hidden treasure and bloodshed. Players take control of a Drifter, whose goal is to collect the forgotten artifacts of this world. Unfortunately, they’re met with a terrible disease that’s slowing them down. As the player, you must help the Drifter find a way to recover from their disease before it’s too late.
Hyper Life Drifter is a game’s that difficult to master and will feature incredible fights that will delight and challenge you. It also offers ways for you to upgrade your character’s abilities and learn new skills, like Hollow Knight. Therefore, it’s a game worth playing for its offerings and atmosphere.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Knight was a love letter to the classic Castlevania titles that were released during the NES-era of video games. It started off as a Kickstarter project that received enough funding to become a real project.
At the helm of this project was Koji Igarashi. He was a programmer for some classic Castlevania titles and found himself in the producer’s chair for its last few entries. Anyway, Hollow Knight and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Knight owes a lot to Igarashi for helping to create the world that inspired theirs.
Furthermore, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Knight offers the same degree of exploration as Hollow Knight. You’ll travel and come across strange and powerful foes. These foes will provide a nice degree of challenge. Both games have a unique art style that gives off dreadful emotions.
If you’re looking for another title that gives off a dreadful tone, but wonderful action, check out Bloodstained: Ritual of the Knight.
Metroid Dread
Metroid Dread sought the return of one of Nintendo’s most-beloved bounty hunters, Samus Aran. While it’s nowhere near as grand as her 3D adventures, Metroid Droid offers enough spooks and thrills that will keep any gamer up at night.
Like Hollow Knight, this game offers an immersive and darkened world that’ll send shivers down your spine. As Samus progresses in each area, she’ll encounter a murderous robot named E.M.M.I. who plans to hunt her down and exterminate her. As the player, you must guide Samus to safety while trying to uncover the mystery surrounding Planet ZDR’s transmission and E.M.M.I.
Throughout the game, Samus will acquire power-ups to help her fight aliens and E.M.M.I. Some will also help Samus uncover secrets hidden within the areas she explores. Like Hollow Knight, Metroid Dread wants to make its players feel tense and paranoid during their journey.
Metroid Dread cranks the paranoia up a bit higher with its intense gameplay and sound gimmicks, though. So if you’re looking for a game that’ll spook and delight, check out Metroid Dread.
Celeste
Celeste is a precision platformer game that looks cute but delves into darker topics. Hollow Knights fans will adore Celeste’s eye-catching visuals, incredible story beats, and handling of mature themes. It’s a game that’s a bit more difficult than Hollow Knight, but it has enough charm to warrant a long play session.
In Celeste, you must guide Madeline through many dangerous environments while helping her defeat her inner demons. Her goal is to reach Celeste Mountain, and the reasons for said location are shrouded in mystery. Like Hollow Knight’s journey through Hallownest, you’ll gradually receive intel as to why that location is important to Madeline.
The gameplay is rigorous and difficult. You’ll find yourself failing time and again. The game also offers a more-challenging mode, but be warned, you probably won’t survive five seconds. The music in the game is as atmospheric and breathtaking as the tracks you’d find in Hollow Knight.
Rain World
Rain World is an atmospheric 2D platformer game about a lone slug cat who wanders past dangerous and cruel lands searching for the family they lost in a flood accident. It’s a tale drenched in sadness and one where despair runs rampant.
Hollow Knight fans will adore Rain World’s beautiful details and visuals. Each world this slug cat explores will feature secrets, cruel enemies, and terrifying and sad scenarios. These scenarios will make a grown man cry. This is all thanks to the game’s phenomenal use of its soundtrack and visuals.
Unfortunately, Rain World’s difficulty can be a bit overbearing for most fans. You’ll encounter dangerous enemies who’ll continuously chase you down and some who will kill you in a single attack. The weather also serves as a threat to the slug cat.
However, if you can stick it out for the long haul, you’re in for a worthwhile experience.
Shovel Knight
While Hollow Knight borrowed some tropes depicted from classic SNES platformer titles, Shovel Knight aimed to replicate them. It’s a visually remarkable indie title that captures the same tone, experience and feels as the games that inspired it.
Similarly, Hollow Knight and Shovel Knight feature share silent protagonists, a colorful world, and many elements of classic Metroidvania titles. Both games involve knights exploring worlds unfamiliar to them for multiple reasons. These titles allow players to explore their worlds at their leisure and offer enough secrets and hidden areas to keep players invested.
Hollow Knight and Shovel Knight both fight incredibly challenging bosses. These bosses gradually get difficult as you progress through each game. To assist you with those battles, Shovel Knight will need to acquire various power-ups. Each spark new different abilities and weaknesses for our heroic metallic warrior.
If you’re looking for another title with an intriguing world and fun boss fights, Shovel Knight’s worth playing.
Cave Story
Claimed by many as the grandfather of indie games, Cave Story offers players a creative setting, fast-paced gameplay, and wonderful characters. As with Hollow Knight, Cave Story did a fine job at changing the ways people perceived indie titles for its time.
Its tale follows Quote, an android who explores many dangerous areas to find a way back to his home world. Unfortunately, his amnesia caused him to forget where he came from. So, the game also focuses on Quote’s journey to discovering who he was and why he looks the way he does.
He’ll encounter heartwarming islanders and cruel scientists along the way, but nothing will stop him from achieving his goals. The areas in Cave Story give off a wondrous atmosphere and are full of secret locations.
As with Hollow Knight, people must utilize different attacks and methods to locate these hidden locales. Quote attains these abilities gradually through the game. This game also offers many emotional moments full of empowering dialogue that will make you cry.
So there we have it, our 8 video game picks to keep you busy after playing Hollow Knight!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
Hi Carl, I wasn’t aware of its existence, but I’ll be sure to check it out when I get the chance.
It’s really disappointing that Blasphemous wasn’t on your list.