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Hollow Knight: Silksong is available now, so the wait is for its announced expansion, Sea of Sorrows. Team Cherry has said it plans to release the expansion in 2026 but has not announced a specific date. If you want another game or two in the meantime, these seven picks offer different parts of the Silksong appeal—from precise platforming and demanding bosses to exploration, survival, and unconventional movement.
The recommendations and comparisons below reflect the roundup’s editorial judgments, not a hands-on test or measured ranking. Check your regional storefront for current platform availability before buying or downloading.
Choose by the kind of experience you want
| Game | Best fit if you want… | Platforms listed in the roundup |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Fire | Precision platforming in a 3D metroidvania | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Xbox One |
| Zelda II: The Adventure of Link | Side-scrolling action with RPG elements | Nintendo Switch via the Nintendo Switch Online NES library |
| Cuphead | Learning and dodging through demanding boss fights | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Xbox One |
| Tunic | Exploration, hidden routes, and gradual discovery | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Xbox One |
| Mina the Hollower | Retro-inspired action, secrets, and a challenge you can adjust | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Xbox One |
| Rain World | Survival in a dangerous, unfamiliar world | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Xbox One |
| Yoku’s Island Express | Metroidvania exploration with pinball-style movement | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Xbox One |
Seven games to try
Blue Fire — for precision platforming
Blue Fire takes the metroidvania idea into 3D. Its appeal for a Silksong fan is the focus on precise movement: dashes and wall climbing help you negotiate platforming challenges while combat adds a different feel, including Z-targeting and blocking. Pick it if movement challenges are more important to you than matching Silksong’s side-on presentation or combat.
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link — for side-scrolling action and RPG elements
This older Zelda stands out for its side-scrolling action, RPG elements, and difficulty. It is also a useful choice if you are curious about the inspirations associated with Hollow Knight. The roundup lists it on Nintendo Switch through the Nintendo Switch Online NES library; check the current service catalogue and your region’s access before counting on that option.
#1 Best Overall
- Classic side-scrolling action, with all the modern trimmings.
- Tightly tuned 2D controls. Dodge, dash and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries.
- Explore a vast interconnected world of forgotten highways, overgrown wilds and ruined cities.
- Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward.
- Evolve with powerful new skills and abilities! Gain spells, strength and speed. Leap to new heights on ethereal wings. Dash forward in a blazing flash. Blast foes with fiery Soul!.Equip Charms! Ancient relics that offer bizarre new powers and abilities. Choose your favourites and make your journey unique!.An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation..
Cuphead — for tough, multi-phase boss fights
If your favorite part of Silksong is studying an opponent, avoiding attacks, and improving through repeated attempts, Cuphead is the most direct match here. Its focus is run-and-gun action and boss battles rather than Silksong-style exploration, so choose it for the fight-by-fight challenge, not for a similar world to roam.
Tunic — for exploration and hidden routes
Tunic is an isometric action-adventure built around discovery. Finding pages from its instruction manual gradually gives you clues about the world and how to understand it; hidden routes add to the pleasure of exploring carefully. It suits players who want the feeling of uncovering a place’s secrets, even though its viewpoint and presentation differ from Silksong’s.
Rank #2
![Hollow Knight - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51nXCF+sf5L._SL160_.jpg)
- Classic side-scrolling action, with all the modern trimmings.
- Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward.
- Evolve with powerful new skills and abilities! Gain spells, strength and speed. Leap to new heights on ethereal wings. Dash forward in a blazing flash. Blast foes with fiery Soul!
- Equip Charms! Ancient relics that offer bizarre new powers and abilities. Choose your favorites and make your journey unique!
- An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation.
Mina the Hollower — for retro-inspired challenge and secrets
This retro-inspired action-adventure is aimed at players looking for a challenge and secrets, with optional modifiers described as a way to make it more manageable. Its release status is not established here, so check the game’s current regional storefront listing before treating it as available to play.
Rain World — for survival rather than upgrade-driven progression
Rain World offers a more unusual alternative: survive in a dangerous ecosystem by scavenging, finding shelter, and navigating predators. Its world is presented as if it has an ecosystem operating beyond the player’s immediate needs. Unlike the equipment-upgrade progression attributed to Silksong in the roundup, its appeal is the pressure of surviving in an unfamiliar environment.
Rank #3
![Hollow Knight: Silksong Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51mOgOC8xEL._SL160_.jpg)
- Discover the fallen insect kingdom of Pharloom! Explore mossy grottos, gilded cities and misted moors as you ascend to the shining citadel at the top of the world.
- Engage in lethal acrobatic action! Wield a huge suite of deadly moves as you dance between foes in swift, beautiful combat.
- Craft powerful tools! Master an ever-expanding arsenal of weapons, traps, and mechanisms to vanquish your enemies and explore new heights.
- Solve shocking quests! Hunt down rare beasts and solve ancient mysteries to grant the wishes of the downtrodden and restore the kingdom’s hope.
- Face over 200 ferocious foes! Beasts and hunters, monsters and knights. Defeat them all with bravery and skill!
Yoku’s Island Express — for an unconventional movement system
This metroidvania replaces conventional jumping with pinball-style paddles and a ball. That makes it the most mechanically unusual pick: exploration remains central, but getting around works very differently from Silksong. Try it if you want a connected world to explore without another game built around the same kind of platforming.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to know about the wait for Sea of Sorrows
Team Cherry’s official Hollow Knight: Silksong page says the game is available now. In its December 2025 announcement, the studio named Sea of Sorrows as a forthcoming expansion planned for 2026, without giving a day or month. That is a plan, not a fixed release date, and timing can change. Team Cherry said it would keep further details secret for now and share additional information shortly before the expansion releases.
Rank #4
- Classic side-scrolling action, with all the modern trimmings. Dodge, dash and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries.
- Tightly tuned 2D controls. Dodge, dash and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries.
- Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward.
- An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation.
- Leap into minds with the Dream Nail. Uncover a whole other side to the characters you meet and the enemies you face.
The recommendations in the September 2, 2026 roundup are secondary editorial suggestions, not official descriptions or firsthand test results. The platform names above reflect what that roundup lists; they do not confirm current regional stock, storefront access, editions, or prices.
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Best Value
- Classic side-scrolling action, with all the modern trimmings. Dodge, dash and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries.
- Tightly tuned 2D controls. Dodge, dash and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries.
- Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward.
- An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation.
- Leap into minds with the Dream Nail. Uncover a whole other side to the characters you meet and the enemies you face.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
