The List: Best Games to Play Before Hollow Knight: Silksong

With Hollow Knight: Silksong now suddenly just weeks away, it’s only ideal to get excited and let the time go by faster by playing similar games to keep the hype going. Maybe sharpen their skills or simply take in a similar atmosphere. Whatever the reason, if you’re looking for a game to keep you busy before Silksong’s September 4 release, I’ve listed the best metroidvanias, movement-focused indies, or atmospheric gems to keep you busy until Silksong arrives.

How This List Was Chosen

This list isn’t limited strictly to just Metroidvania titles as I do mention other titles like roguelikes and platformers. Instead, it’s divided into three sections:

• Essential Metroidvanias to revisit before Silksong

• Movement-focused games that would be ideal for your reflexes and combat mastery

• Atmospheric experiences that echo Hollow Knight’s mood and tone

The order doesn’t imply ranking, as every game here brings something worthwhile to the table.

Essential Metroidvanias to Revisit Before Hollow Knight: Silksong

Hollow Knight 

This one’s a no-brainer, so I’ll get this out of the way. Replaying Hollow Knight is the best way to prepare for Silksong. Period.

Start a fresh save, soak in the world of Hallownest, and remind yourself why the wait for a sequel has been so painful. 

Released in 2017, it still stands as one of the finest Metroidvania action-platformers ever made. With its fluid movement, challenging encounters, and strikingly dark art direction, it remains the gold standard of the genre for many. If you’ve never played it, now is the perfect time.

Metroid Dread

While it may not be the most innovative entry in the genre, Metroid Dread comes from the franchise that defined it, and it’s great that we get a modern Metroid platformer after so long, as it still delivered. Its fast-paced traversal, exploration-driven design, and tense boss fights keep players on their toes. Horror-inspired encounters with the E.M.M.I. robots add a unique sci-fi twist, making it a worthy primer for Silksong.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps 

Now, if you’ve done Hollow Knight multiple times, I can’t blame you. But if you’re looking for a good alternative, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a fantastic game to consider. The movement was butter smooth as it’s a sigh to see yourself flow through the game’s mesmerizing world design. It’s colorful and inviting. A game that I found myself spending hours exploring every nook and cranny that backtracking never felt like a chore thanks to the game’s movement. A similar testament to when I played Hollow Knight for the first time.

Castlevania Advance Collection

To understand the roots of Metroidvania, look no further than Castlevania. The Advance Collection brings together Circle of the Moon, Harmony of Dissonance, and the fan-favorite Aria of Sorrow. These games laid the groundwork that influenced modern titles like Hollow Knight, and they remain excellent experiences to this day.

If I was going to revisit a Castlevania title, it would be the classic Sympthony of the Night, but Aria of Sorrow would be a close second as I did enjoy the various weapons available.

Blasphemous 2

If you’re looking for a metroidvania game that has a dark setting with a good amount of challenge, I would look towards Blasphemous 2. It’s not as fluid or fast-paced as Hollow Knight, but it does give you a reasonable challenge in a soulslike kind of way. It’s still one of the best Metroidvania games you could play. Also, the pixel art design was done exceptionally well, making it a clear classic in the coming years.

The sequel has stronger platforming compared to the first game, making it a better choice for this list, as the first tends to be more grounded and focused on giving a soulslike combat experience. Doesn’t mean the second game isn’t capable of wiping the floor with you. It will be painful experience for sure.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

This was a shocker to us as we didn’t think it would turn out to be a fantastic Metroidvania action platformer. Its tone and visual design can be argued to be night and day compared to Hollow Knight, but you can’t dismiss its fast-paced traversal and challenging puzzle segments that really test a player’s mastery of the game’s movement and mechanics. Boss fights are challenging and fun to master, and just like any Metroidvania, you’re eager to find every secret room or backtrack to unlock more of the game.

Read our full review of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.

Games With Fluid Movement and Combat Like Hollow Knight: Silksong

Guacamelee! 2

Colorful, fast, and endlessly inventive, Guacamelee! 2 shines thanks to its responsive controls and clever level design. The combat is satisfying, and its world brims with puzzles that expertly utilize each move, with secrets that keep exploration fresh, making it a great Metroidvania title. Its humor and visual style make it one of the most entertaining picks on this list.

The Rogue Prince of Persia

Though technically a roguelike, The Rogue Prince of Persia excels in movement. Wall-running, air-dashing, and quick traversal make navigating its levels a thrill. Once you master the flow, it’s easy to lose hours dashing past enemies and traps in pursuit of the perfect run. It felt like I was zipping through each location as if I were chasing my personal best time. The fast movement felt second nature, and I felt in control.

There’s also a mechanic that allows all the traversal to build up a gauge that, when full, gives the prince a burst of speed, further encouraging faster movement, giving a clear benefit to those who were able to master the game’s traversal and use it to their advantage.

Dead Cells 

Yes, another game that is not a metroidvania game but is mainly a roguelik. Dead Cells captures the fast-paced combat and exploration that Metroidvania fans love. Its roguelite structure adds replayability, but at its core, it’s about slick traversal, creative combat, and sharp level design. It will definitely feel right at home if you put the roguelike elements to the side and appreciate the game’s other elements.

Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus

If movement is an important factor for you to scratch that Hollow Knight itch, Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus is a perfect game to consider as movement is everything about this game. You’ll be flying, gliding, double jumping, and more to survive the rather punishing terrain. It’s a platformer that can really test your mettle, and mastering how you move in the game will make every difficult encounter a satisfying one, thanks to your understanding of the best way to move for success.

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Also Read this List - 18 Best Video Game Remakes to Play in 2025

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Atmospheric Games Worth Exploring Like Hollow Knight: Silksong

Animal Well

This title encapsulates the essence of a metroidvania’s exploration and inviting atmosphere. It doesn’t have tough bosses or tight level design paired with slick movement, but it does have the essence of why one would love to explore the game map and backtrack to see more of what the game has to offer. It’s puzzle-heavy, but it's a nice choice if you want to have a similar but relaxing experience.

Grime

Dark, cryptic, and punishing, Grime leans heavily into atmosphere. Its surreal art direction and Soulslike storytelling style demand players piece the narrative together themselves. Combat and progression are inventive, with absorption mechanics that shape your character’s abilities. For fans of Hollow Knight’s tone and challenge, this is one of the best complements.

The game doesn’t look all that appealing on paper, but I highly recommend you give this a spin.

Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights

If ever you ask any fan of the subgenre, people will more likely mention Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights. This game is well known for its hauntingly rich world that sucks you in. The music is rather somber, fitting perfectly with the game’s visual style and animation. Progression in Ender Lilies leans heavily on the many bosses as it opens up to new powers and ways to play, giving a satisfying gameplay loop that encourages you to explore further.

Challenge isn’t the same as other entries in this list, but its tone, art style, game mechanics, and exploration make it a worthy Medroidvania to get your Hollow Knight itch.

What Games do you suggest before playing Hollow Knight: Silksong?

Whether you’re revisiting classics like Hollow Knight and Castlevania or trying fresh indies like Animal Well and Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus, these games capture the spirit of Hollow Knight one way or the other. Now, there are other titles out there that would be a perfect game to play as you count the days, so if you have any other game worth suggesting, we are all ears!

What’s great about this list is that it also serves as a good recommendation of games you should play after finishing Hollow Knight: Silksong. There’s a strong chance you’ll be itching to do another playthrough or play a game similar to it, as you’re likely in a Metroidvania high.

What will you be playing to prepare?

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About the Author - Carlos Hernandez

Carlos Hernandez is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Too Much Gaming, where he writes about video games, reviews, and industry news. A lifelong gamer, he would do anything to experience Final Fantasy Tactics for the first time again and has a love/hate relationship with games that require hunting for new gear to improve your character.