The anticipated DLC expansion for Hollow Knight: Silksong, titled Sea of Sorrows, is now slated for a 2026 release. Given the significant delay and the continued silence from developer Team Cherry, players may need to find ways to occupy their time. Fortunately, a variety of games share similarities with Silksong and its predecessor, Hollow Knight, offering compelling experiences to bridge the waiting period.
Blue Fire
Available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, and Xbox One, Blue Fire is a 3D metroidvania platformer that demands precision similar to Silksong. Often described as "Hollow Knight but 3D," the game features a silent, masked protagonist named Umbra, whose design echoes Hollow Knight's enigmatic hero. Blue Fire boasts fast-paced platforming with dashes and wall climbs, alongside a spirit system akin to Hollow Knight's charms. Its unique 3D mechanics, including Z-targeting and blocking, may also resonate with players familiar with 3D Zelda titles.
Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link
Accessible via the Nintendo Switch Online NES library, Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link is cited as a significant inspiration for Hollow Knight. This entry in The Legend of Zelda series deviates from the franchise's typical overhead perspective, adopting a side-scrolling view with RPG elements reminiscent of Castlevania. Known for its considerable difficulty, the game features fast enemies, limited lives, and a harsh penalty for death, sending players back to the start of the game, a feature that could remind players of challenging boss runbacks.
Cuphead
Cuphead, available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, and Xbox One, presents a stark visual contrast to Silksong with its 1920s rubber hose animation style and its focus on run-and-gun boss rushes. Despite these differences, both games share a high level of difficulty and demand mastery of dodging and attack patterns. Cuphead's intense, multi-phase boss battles, requiring precise movement and timing, will appeal to players who enjoyed Silksong's most challenging encounters.
Tunic
This isometric action-adventure metroidvania, playable on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, and Xbox One, features a unique narrative device: players collect pages of the game's instruction manual as they progress. Assembling these pages gradually reveals the overarching story, though much of the manual is written in an indecipherable script, requiring fan translations for full comprehension. Players control a fox protagonist in a green tunic, exploring a visually appealing world filled with hidden passages and unlockable areas, emphasizing exploration akin to Silksong.
Mina the Hollower
For those seeking a significant challenge, Mina the Hollower, available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, and Xbox One, offers a demanding experience. The game's difficulty curve is steep, requiring patience with its rigid combat and punishing enemies. Optional modifiers can adjust the challenge for players. Mina the Hollower pays homage to the Game Boy Color era, particularly Zelda titles like Link's Awakening, and features a world rich with secrets and a map that encourages exploration, much like Silksong and Hollow Knight.
Rain World
Rain World, available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, and Xbox One, places players in the role of a "slugcat" surviving in a harsh, post-apocalyptic world with minimal guidance. Unlike the upgrade-focused progression of Silksong, Rain World emphasizes survival within a believable ecosystem. Players must scavenge for food, find shelter from environmental hazards like rainstorms, and evade deadly predators, creating a unique and challenging experience.
Yoku’s Island Express
This distinctive title, available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, and Xbox One, blends metroidvania exploration with pinball mechanics. Players control Yoku, a dung beetle tasked with delivering mail on Mokumana Island. Instead of a traditional jump button, Yoku is launched using pinball paddles, navigating the map through various chutes and tracks. Yoku’s Island Express offers a metroidvania experience unlike any other, appealing to those looking for novel gameplay mechanics.