Hollow Knight: Silksong is tearing up the review charts, message boards, and sales charts. This will be THE game of September that most gameers will be playing through in one big collective. It’s been a helpful community so far, but like any game, there will be an end to the zeitgeist.
Things Silksong Does Better Than Hollow Knight
It’s not a huge improvement as both games are great, but there are some things Hollow Knight: Silksong does better.
If players are craving more games like Hollow Knight: Silksong, but with 3D visuals, then there are some good options out there. The qualities of Hollow Knight follow the Soulslike, Metroidvania, and action-adventure genres, but it’s also a game about bugs and animals. So, that’s what these 3D games will incorporate, with some choices being a bit out there, but still worth recommending.
Metroid Prime Remastered
A Classic Is Still A Classic
Metroid Prime Remastered
- Released
- February 8, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Animated Blood, Violence
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Metroidvania
Metroid Prime is one of the best Metroid games of all time, and it’s become more available thanks to the remaster on Switch. Metroid is a classic Metroidvania series, if the genre name didn’t give it away, and the Hollow Knight series owes a lot to it.
Like most Metroid entries, Samus is given a vague objective to accomplish, and she does it without much complaint. Players travel through sprawling dungeons, unlock powers, fight insect monsters, and so forth, all on an unsettling alien planet.
Another Crab’s Treasure
A Shells-like
Another Crab's Treasure
- Released
- April 25, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
Another Crab’s Treasure is a Soulslike with a cute edge to it, as it takes place underwater and stars a crustacean. A hermit crab, Kril, loses its shell and is trying to get it back, but unfortunately, most of the seabed has gone wild with some sort of violent disease.
Fight enemies, earn points toward progressing through a skill tree, unlock new ways to get around, and most importantly, find new shells. From pop cans to old tennis balls, Kril can equip them all to gain new benefits as he explores a crumbling undersea kingdom.
Tunic
A World Full Of Mystery
Tunic
- Released
- March 16, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Tunic is a perfect little top-down adventure for fans who miss older Zelda games and who want to get lost in a strange new world. Not just the in-game world either, as the meta-narrative will suck players in. They will have to decipher hidden meanings within the lore to progress past certain parts of the game and unlock new content.
Silksong: The Best Changes From Hollow Knight
From tiny fixes to big improvements, these are Hollow Knight: Silksong’s biggest gameplay changes.
It’s a big-brain type of experience. Even though it seems like a cute Zelda homage on the surface, there’s a lot more to it, but giving specifics would spoil things. Let’s just say Hollow Knight: Silksong fans will like the map layout.
Bloodborne
A Beastly Nightmare
Bloodborne
- Released
- March 24, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
The Hollow Knight franchise undoubtedly pays homage to the Soulslike genre and FromSoftware, who helped create the genre’s identity. Among their many games, Hollow Knight: Silksong players will probably like Bloodborne the most.
Bloodborne's gothic city is interconnected through gates and waterways, and depending on the choices made, the world can change, revealing new terrors and hidden pathways. Plus, there is a pivotal moment that is not unlike what happens to Hornet in Hollow Knight: Silksong regarding The Slab. Saying anything more about either would be a spoiler, but let’s just say Bloodborne is a challenging action RPG wrapped in a haunting horror shell.
Cocoon
A Buggy Puzzler
Cocoon
- Released
- September 29, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle, Adventure
Cocoon is a top-down puzzle game without much context to its story. Players control a bug-like creature that is attuned to a strange ball. Players can use that to solve physics-based and multidimensional puzzles to move on in this labyrinthine dungeon.
While there’s not much in the way of combat (although there are boss battles), Hollow Knight: Silksong fans will appreciate the atmosphere and the bug protagonist. It’s different, but it invokes the same vibes of exploring a foreign land without much help.
Hell Is Us
No Map, No Problem
Hell Is Us
- Released
- September 4, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, Open-World
Hell is Us was released alongside Hollow Knight: Silksong, and it unfortunately isn’t getting as much attention, even though the two share a lot in common. Unlike most games out there, Hell is Us does not use quest markers or contain a visually accurate map.
Best Characters In Silksong
Whether they’re in the game for a long time or leave after a quick introduction, these NPCs stand out in Hollow Knight: Silksong.
Players instead have to navigate this post-apocalyptic world by reading notes and paying attention to context clues, like what playing old-school adventure games was like. It’s like the original The Legend of Zelda on the NES with some light Soulslike and Metroidvania elements, and its perfect for players who wish to get lost in a strange world.
Crypt Custodian
Clean Up The Afterlife
Crypt Custodian
- Released
- August 27, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
Crypt Custodian takes place in the afterlife, wherein an ordinary house cat becomes a more anthropomorphic creature. After causing some damage to some godly structures, players are then punished and forced to become a janitor. However that’s not where this Zelda-like adventure ends.
In this game, brooms are as strong as swords, and players will learn to wield them well. While not fully 3D, the animations help the art pop out more, and overall, it is a game that Hollow Knight: Silksong fans will enjoy.
The Plucky Squire
Swap Between Realities
The Plucky Squire
- Released
- September 17, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
The Plucky Squire is the best of both worlds, with stellar hand-drawn animations and stunning 3D visuals. The narrative is about a character from a book who soon gains the power to leave his story.
As the titular hero, players will have to climb around a child’s desk and interact with the real world to progress back into the storybook world. It’s another example of an action-adventure game, but one with an interesting puzzle structure. It also often tips the genre on its head with oddball gameplay surprises, from a boxing game to a turn-based RPG.
Upcoming Games Like Zelda
Nintendo hasn’t announced a new mainline Zelda yet, but these similar upcoming action-adventure games should help fans get by.