Summary
- Check out Blasphemous 2 for disturbing imagery, gorgeous pixel art, and excellent combat.
- Explore Dead Cells for roguelike progression and fantastic gameplay.
- Dive into Nine Sols for charming art and Sekiro-inspired combat.
The wait for Hollow Knight: Silksong has become agonizing at this point. It doesn't matter what console players enjoy this game on — as long as they can finally get their hands on a copy of what is probably one of the most hyped video game sequels of all time.
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If you find Team Cherry's Hollow Knight to be a masterpiece, these 2D Metroidvanias and RPGs are worth checking out.
Fans of Hollow Knight can bide their time by checking out several amazing titles in the same vein. It helps that Hollow Knight' s inspirations and vibes are so varied that several quality titles can fit the bill for this recommendation. For players looking for similar experiences on the PlayStation 5, this list delves into some excellent games to explore, from familiar metroidvanias to heart-pounding action RPGs, each game on this list features something that Hollow Knight fans should enjoy.
8 Blasphemous 2
A Side-Scrolling Metroidvania Set In A World Chock-Full Of Disturbing Religious Imagery
Blasphemous 2
- Released
- August 24, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- The Game Kitchen
- Publisher(s)
- Team17
- Genre(s)
- Soulslike, Metroidvania, Platformer
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
The original Blasphemous was an interesting look at a dark world with disturbing religious imagery. Fans who enjoyed the first title were overjoyed to see that the sequel was more than worthy of carrying forward this series' legacy.
The incredible pixel art and tense 2D sides-crolling combat feel better than ever, and the game does a good job incorporating more metroidvania elements for fans of the genre. Fans of Hollow Knight love its immersive world and excellent combat, and these two points can be used to describe Blasphemous 2 as well.
7 Dead Cells
The Roguelike Progression And Excellent Gameplay Makes This An Excellent Title
Dead Cells
- Released
- August 7, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Motion Twin
- Publisher(s)
- Motion Twin
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike
- Platform(s)
- Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
If there's one positive thing about the Dead Cells review plagiarism controversy, it's that more eyes were drawn toward what is easily one of the best 2D roguelike action games players can get their hands on. By emulating elements of the Metroidvania and Soulslike genres, Dead Cells becomes a captivating experience that more fans of tough indie games should check out.
Progression is infinitely rewarding in Dead Cells as players finally make it past a challenging boss that had stopped them in their tracks over and over again. Just like Hollow Knight, exploration is an integral facet of Dead Cells. The procedural generation ensures that no run feels quite the same as players find more buffs to help them deal with larger-than-life threats.
6 Nine Sols
The Charming Art Style And Sekiro-Inspired Combat Is A Winning Combination
Nine Sols
- Released
- May 29, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- RedCandleGames
- Publisher(s)
- RedCandleGames
- Genre(s)
- Action, Platformer, Metroidvania, Soulslike
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
If Hollow Knight can be reductively described as a 2D Bloodborne with bugs, then Nine Sols is a 2D Sekiro with anthropomorphic characters. Combat relies on deflections to build up a special meter that can be used to attach talismans on enemies and deal severe damage.
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It seems like a simple combat loop, only for Nine Sols to open up as battles become breakneck affairs where a single mistake can lead to the player's demise. Just like Hollow Knight, Nine Sols also released an update later on that added a boss rush mode to the game, letting players make the most of this tantalizing combat system.
5 Demon's Souls
A Remake Of An Underappreciated FromSoftware Game That Birthed A Genre
Demon's Souls
- Released
- November 12, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Bluepoint Games
- Publisher(s)
- Sony
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Before Dark Souls, there was a PS3 exclusive that not many people got their hands on. This is why the Demon's Souls remake interested many fans who grew to love FromSoftware after checking out their later popular offerings.
Given that Hollow Knight shares quite a bit of design philosophy with soulslikes, it's easy to see why Demon's Souls would be perfect for fans of this title. Just like Hallownest, this game also takes place in the wasting land of Boletaria that is full of unknown horrors and maddened foes.
4 Animal Well
One Of The Most Innovative Metroidvanias Players Can Get Their Hands On
Animal Well
- Released
- May 9, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Shared Memory
- Publisher(s)
- Bigmode
- Genre(s)
- Metroidvania, Puzzle
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Players who want to get their hands on an ingenious metroidvania will find Animal Well to be right up their alley. This game prioritizes exploration and features so many secrets that it can be downright mind-boggling.
From community puzzles to solutions that require players to print things out, it's easy to see why Animal Well is an easy recommendation for fans of ingenious metroidvanias. It lacks the combat gameplay of Hollow Knight, but players who love the act of exploring and finding secrets in Hallownest will find Animal Well to be right up their alley.
3 Hades
The Challenging Combat Will Feel Right At Home For Hollow Knight Fans
Hades
- Released
- September 17, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Supergiant Games
- Publisher(s)
- Supergiant Games
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Roguelite
- Platform(s)
- PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Another indie game that burst onto the scene and wowed fans was Hades, a game that combined its roguelike mechanics with story progression deftly. Many players welcome a failed run since it lets them interact with several characters in the House of Hades to further their stories before trying to escape the Underworld once again.
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The game's challenging boss fights and excellent voice performances make it clear why Hades is such a gem of an indie game. It may be a brighter and more cheerful game compared to Hollow Knight, but players who love challenging combat will develop a soft spot for both titles.
2 Carrion
A Reverse-Horror Metroidvania Where Players Control A Ravenous Monster
Carrion
- Released
- July 23, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Phobia Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Devolver Digital
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Action, Indie Games, Puzzle
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
There aren't many games where players can control a monster and terrorize humans, which is why Carrion is so special. Players must stalk their foes and pick them off one by one, trapping humans in a horror movie where they wildly shoot at a wriggling mass of flesh that's out for their blood.
These hit-and-run tactics must be mastered if players don't want to be shot up and killed in no time. For the power fantasy that this game provides at times, Carrion is deceptively hard, putting a huge emphasis on evasion in most encounters, much like Hollow Knight. Players also spend much of their time searching for a myriad of upgrades that transform and evolve gameplay scenarios throughout the game's ~5-hour runtime.
1 Elden Ring
An Open-World FromSoftware Game Boasting A Framework That Inspired Games Like Hollow Knight
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, From Software
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
The most popular FromSoftware game ever made, numerous players were introduced to FromSoftware's tantalizing action combat and lore-building when Elden Ring came out in 2022. The open-world approach provides similar exploration to Hollow Knight, emphasizing the joys of discovery.
Fans of Hollow Knight's many tough encounters will find a similarly rewarding challenge in Elden Ring. While Elden Ring is perhaps easier than other FromSoftware games (pending a number of intense boss fights), that shouldn't deter players from exploring The Lands Between and enjoying an epic adventure that can hit many of the same highs as Hollow Knight.
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