Games Like Hollow Knight: 8 Metroidvanias to Explore Next

The best games like Hollow Knight are Hollow Knight: Silksong, Nine Sols and Blasphemous: the same 2D exploration, the same bosses that make you retry ten times, the same joy of finding a hidden shortcut. Here are 8 metroidvanias sorted by what they do best. For reference, according to players on IGDB, Hollow Knight takes about 15.5 hours for the story and 71.5 hours for 100%.

What makes Hollow Knight special

Hollow Knight drops you into Hallownest, a ruined insect kingdom, with a nail and almost no instructions. You get lost, buy an incomplete map, find a wall that crumbles, and the whole kingdom rearranges itself in your head. Team Cherry built a world where every area has its own mood, its own music and its own slightly sad inhabitants.

Combat is easy to read and hard to master. Bosses punish your mistakes, charms change your playstyle, and each new movement ability opens paths you spotted hours earlier. Around 15.5 hours for the story and 36 hours with side content is huge for an indie game, which is exactly why finding something as good afterwards takes a while.

How to choose your next metroidvania

If the bosses were what hooked you, go for Nine Sols, Blasphemous or Salt and Sanctuary. If it was the beauty and flow of movement, Ori and the Blind Forest and Metroid Dread are for you. And if you want shorter sessions, Dead Cells mixes metroidvania and roguelite. You will find more ideas in our metroidvania guide.

1. 

   1. Hollow Knight: Silksong

   2025 · Main story 17 h

   The sequel everyone waited for, from Team Cherry. You play Hornet, faster and more acrobatic than the Knight, in a new kingdom full of secrets. Fights are snappier and movement is quicker. If you loved Hollow Knight, this is simply the next game to boot up, no further thinking required.

   Add to my pile →
2. 

   2. Nine Sols

   2024 · Main story 19 h

   A hand-drawn action metroidvania set in a world that mixes Asian mythology and science fiction. Combat is built around parrying: you deflect attacks at the right moment, a bit like Sekiro. Its bosses are among the hardest and best-looking in the genre. Made for players who loved the Pantheon fights.

   Add to my pile →
3. 

   3. Blasphemous

   2019 · Main story 13 h

   A dark 2D world inspired by Spanish religious imagery, where you play the Penitent One and his sword. Combat feels heavier than in Hollow Knight and the atmosphere is openly macabre. Exploration stays at the core, with secrets everywhere. If it clicks, Blasphemous II continues the journey with more weapons.

   Add to my pile →
4. 

   4. Ori and the Blind Forest

   2015 · Main story 7 h

   Here the star is movement. Moon Studios built a gorgeous forest where every jump flows into the next with rare smoothness. It is less about combat, but its escape sequences demand real reflexes. Ideal if you preferred exploring Hallownest to fighting its bosses, and you want something beautiful to look at.

   Add to my pile →
5. 

   5. Dead Cells

   2018 · Main story 5 h

   The metroidvania as a roguelite: every death sends you back to the start, but you keep upgrades and new paths open up. Combat is fast, with dozens of weapons to try. Perfect if you love Hollow Knight's sharp combat but want short sessions you can fit into any evening.

   Add to my pile →
6. 

   6. Metroid Dread

   2021 · Main story 10 h

   A genre benchmark on Switch. Samus explores a hostile planet while being hunted by robots you can barely fight back, which creates real tension. Controls are tight, bosses are demanding and the pace never drops. A great way to discover the series that gave the genre half its name.

   Add to my pile →
7. 

   7. Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights

   2021 · Main story 12.5 h

   A melancholic metroidvania where a young girl, Lily, summons the spirits of knights she has defeated to fight for her. The mood is soft and sad, and the music is superb. Bosses are tough without feeling unfair. For players who loved the quiet sadness of Hallownest as much as its combat.

   Add to my pile →
8. 

   8. Salt and Sanctuary

   2016 · Main story 32 h

   A 2D Souls-like with a massive skill tree, tons of weapons and bosses that forgive nothing. The exploration recalls Hollow Knight, but the progression system comes straight from FromSoftware's games. For players who want difficulty and build freedom at the same time, and do not mind dying a lot.

   Add to my pile →

FAQ

What game is most like Hollow Knight?

Hollow Knight: Silksong, its direct sequel, is naturally the closest. Right after come Nine Sols for its demanding combat and Ender Lilies for its melancholic mood. If you want a dark 2D world with tough bosses, Blasphemous is another excellent pick.

How long does it take to beat Hollow Knight?

According to players on IGDB, the main story takes about 15.5 hours. With exploration and side quests, plan for around 36 hours. For 100%, with every boss and the Pantheon, it takes about 71.5 hours. We break it all down in our Hollow Knight length guide.

Is Hollow Knight a Soulslike?

Partly. It borrows ideas from the Souls games, like recovering what you lost where you died and fighting punishing bosses. But it is first and foremost a metroidvania: exploration and movement upgrades matter as much as combat. Salt and Sanctuary is much closer to the Souls formula.