Best Games Like Hollow Knight in 2026

If you’re looking for games like Hollow Knight, we have compiled the best indie titles that mimic are dark fantasy, metroidvania elements.

How We Selected the Games

To curate this list, I focused on titles that echo Hollow Knight’s design philosophy while also evolving the genre in their own ways.

• Atmospheric Worldbuilding: Each game immerses players in mysterious, layered environments full of secrets to uncover.
• Combat & Challenge: These games deliver satisfying action, whether punishing or approachable,
• Genre Innovation: These picks push the Metroidvania formula forward.

Best Games Similar to Hollow Knight

1. Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist: Best for World-building and Lore

If Ender Lilies scratches your Hollow Knight itch, Ender Magnolia takes a fresh stab with improved mechanics and a new steampunk-infused aesthetic. You play as Lilac, an “Attuner” who awakens in a ruined underground lab and ventures out into the Land of Fumes to uncover lost memories and help the Homunculi reclaim what was lost. It shares Hollow Knight’s eerie worldbuilding and somber tone, with an emphasis on emotional storytelling.

Combat here feels more fluid and forgiving than its predecessor thanks to the addition of adjustable difficulty. While the haunting tone of Ender Lilies was a highlight for many, Ender Magnolia leans into a more mechanical world. Exploration remains rewarding, even if one too many detours lead to useless gear, but the polish and variety in enemy design keep things engaging.

This one’s for fans who love methodical action and mood-heavy platforming but don’t necessarily want to get crushed in every boss encounter. If you’re into worldbuilding and layered lore without constantly dying, this is a more balanced and evolved experience.

2. Nine Sols: Best for Cultural Depth

Few games fuse myth and mayhem as well as Nine Sols. On the surface, it feels like a 2D Sekiro smashed into a Hollow Knight shell. You control Yi, a vengeful warrior hellbent on destroying the nine rulers of this forgotten realm, set in the mysterious world of New Kunlun. The blend of Taoist cyberpunk (or “Taopunk”) and ancient alien ruins creates a world as mysterious as Hallownest, but with a distinctly East Asian flair.

The combat is where Nine Sols stands out. Precision deflection is the key here, and it forces you to play smart instead of spammy button smash. And if you have reaction times like mine, prepare for a learning curve. The narrative is rich, until it starts rushing in the final act, but by that point, you’re probably hooked on the fight choreography and stellar soundtrack anyway.

Perfect for players craving a true challenge. If you’re into lore-heavy worlds with high-stakes boss fights and cultural depth, this one will pull you in and dare you to keep up.

3. Ori and the Will of the Wisps: Best for Newcomers & Strong Emotional Core

While not as dark or cryptic as Hollow Knight, Ori and the Will of the Wisps shares its DNA: gorgeous visuals, fluid platforming, and a sprawling interconnected world. You play as Ori once more, navigating a hand-painted forest to uncover your destiny and save those you love. It’s a more emotional, less oppressive take on the Metroidvania formula.

Its strength lies in smooth traversal where you unlock and chain together moves that make you feel like you’re dancing through the environment. Combat is serviceable, but it’s not as deep or varied as Hollow Knight. While it doesn’t always land with depth, the journey is consistently beautiful.

This one’s a great pick for players who want that Metroidvania feel without the punishing difficulty or cryptic lore. It’s more linear and less intimidating, thus ideal for newcomers or anyone craving pure platforming bliss with a strong emotional core.

4. Dead Cells: Best for Roguelite Experience

While Dead Cells doesn’t quite replicate Hollow Knight’s environmental storytelling, it nails the sense of constant progress and experimentation. You play as a headless experiment gone wrong, navigating a cursed island that changes with every run. Players can expect punishing difficulty, frantic action, and a roguelite loop where death is just part of learning.

The main appeal is how replayable it is. Whether you want a quick 20-minute run or a longer session, Dead Cells fits your playstyle. Unlocking new weapons, finding hidden rooms, and mastering bosses feels incredibly satisfying, even after dozens of hours. It’s less emotional and more mechanical, but still scratches that Metroidvania itch.

Best for players who love fluid combat and don’t mind dying a lot. If Hollow Knight’s pacing felt too slow, Dead Cells might be your speed.

5. Blasphemous 2: Best for Mature Theme

Few games match Hollow Knight’s art and agony formula quite like Blasphemous 2. You return as The Penitent One, exploring a grotesque and spiritually tormented world while battling twisted foes and diving deeper into surreal lore. In a sense, it’s like Hollow Knight on a medieval-Catholic theme or influenced by Berserk.

The sequel improves on the original with better traversal, a more readable map, and polished combat. Yet, despite being more refined, it feels a bit less raw and unforgiving. Boss fights are easier, lore is clearer, and while that may appeal to some, others might miss the overwhelming weight of its predecessor’s mystery.

Great for players who want something more mature and disturbing than Hollow Knight, but with smoother design. If you’re into religious horror, elegant pixel art, and cryptic worldbuilding, this one delivers in spades.

6. Shadow Labyrinth: Best for Unique Pac-Man Experience

Who would’ve guessed a PAC-MAN spin-off could go this hard? Shadow Labyrinth turns classic arcade nostalgia into a maze-like action platformer. As Swordsman No. 8, you explore a forgotten alien world while consuming enemies and unraveling the motives of your eerie companion, PUCK. And if I were to be honest, there are a lot of Berserk references, and they’re definitely not a coincidence.

At first, it’s punishing and opaque, until it clicks. The learning curve is real, but once you adapt, the payoff is immense. It’s clearly inspired by Hollow Knight’s sense of isolation and progression, with combat and exploration that feel deep and satisfying.

This is the pick for players who like to be dropped into a world with zero hand-holding. Our Shadow Labyrinth review rated it as one of the underrated platformer games.

7. Biomorph: Best for Traversal Accessibility

Biomorph takes the core of Hollow Knight: tight platforming, interconnected maps, layered combat, and throws in a shape-shifting twist. You defeat enemies, take their forms, and use their abilities to explore and fight. There’s a deep skill customization system, and the world of Blightmoor is bursting with secrets to uncover.

Where it differs is in pacing and tone. It’s brighter, a bit more user-friendly, and has one of the most intuitive maps in recent memory. Exploration is a highlight, but boss fights feel slightly undercooked, occasionally frustrating due to limited upgrades early on.

Perfect for Metroidvania fans who prioritize traversal and discovery over punishing combat. If you like having flexible builds and gradually uncovering secrets, this one will keep you busy for a while.

Honorable Mentions

• Animal Well (2024): Dense with secrets, great for puzzle-loving explorers.
• Ori and the Blind Forest (2015): A more emotional but simpler prequel to Will of the Wisps.
• Cuphead (2017): Not a Metroidvania, but delivers top-tier 2D boss fights.
• Rain World (2017): Brutal, cryptic, and unforgettable.
• Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights (2021): The predecessor to Ender Magnolia.
• Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus (2024): Vibrant visuals with Japanese mythology flair.

Final Thoughts

The best games like Hollow Knights are Nine Sols and Blasphemous 2, delivering similar dark and intense experience. For something more approachable, Ender Magnolia and Ori and the Will of the Wisps offer emotional journeys.

If you prefer something fast-paced or experimental, Dead Cells and Shadow Labyrinth bring unique twists to the genre, while Biomorph adds flexible mechanics that keep things fresh.

Whether you’re here for the challenge, the atmosphere, or the thrill of uncovering hidden paths, these games prove just how deep and varied the Metroidvania genre has become.

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