Waiting for Sea of Sorrows? 7 Games to Bridge the Gap
Team Cherry’s Hollow Knight and its sequel, Silksong, have carved out a unique space in the gaming landscape. While fans eagerly await the release of Sea of Sorrows, the upcoming DLC expansion for Silksong, anticipation can be tough. With only four months left in the year, it’s possible we won’t see Sea of Sorrows anytime soon. For those looking to scratch that metroidvania itch or simply enjoy a challenging and rewarding experience, here are seven games that capture the spirit of Team Cherry’s masterpiece.
Blue Fire
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Available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, and Xbox One, Blue Fire is a 3D metroidvania platformer that demands precision. Often described as “Hollow Knight but 3D,” it shares many similarities with Team Cherry’s celebrated duology. The game features fast-paced platforming, including dashes and wall climbs, and a spirit system analogous to the crests and charms of Silksong and Hollow Knight. What sets Blue Fire apart is its unique 3D mechanics, like Z-targeting and blocking, which may remind players of their favorite 3D Zelda titles. Learn more about Sea of Sorrows.
Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link
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Available via Nintendo Switch Online NES library, Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link heavily influenced Team Cherry. This side-scrolling RPG is unlike any other Zelda game, with fast enemies and limited lives. Talk about a runback! Play Zelda 2.
Cuphead
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At first glance, Cuphead and Silksong seem different. One is a run-and-gun boss rusher with stylish graphics, the other an immersive metroidvania. But they share one key element: being really, really hard. Grasping attack patterns are key to both games. In Cuphead, you run, jump, and duck your way around enemy projectiles, with occasional platforming. If you loved Silksong’s tense boss battles, long runbacks and all, you’ll love Cuphead’s intense, multi-phase fights.
Tunic
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Available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, and Xbox One, Tunic is an isometric action-adventure metroidvania with a unique storytelling gimmick. As you progress, you collect pages of the game’s instruction manual, slowly revealing the overarching story. You play as an extremely cute fox, clad in a green tunic, who wakes up on the shore of the game’s world. Like Silksong, Tunic emphasizes exploration. Hidden passageways are tucked all across Tunic’s gorgeous overworld, and new abilities or items can unlock even more areas.
Mina the Hollower
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If you loved Hollow Knight enough to enjoy its even-harder sequel, you probably love a challenge. Mina the Hollower is that challenge. The difficulty curve is front-loaded, so you’ll have to be patient as you get used to rigid combat limitations. Where Silksong and Hollow Knight are love letters to their NES-era inspirations, Mina the Hollower pays homage to the Game Boy Color, particularly Zelda games like Link’s Awakening. With both a story and a map teeming with secrets, Mina the Hollower has a lot to offer Silksong fans.
Rain World
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Like Hollow Knight and Silksong, Rain World plops a weird little creature with big dark eyes into an unfamiliar world with minimal guidance. You play as a “slugcat,” trying to survive in a hostile post-apocalypse. This survival platformer’s unique focus on creating a believable ecosystem stands out from the pack. You’ll need to scavenge for food and seek shelter from intermittent rainstorms, all while evading deadly predators.
Yoku’s Island Express
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Metroidvania pinball. That’s it, that’s the description. In Yoku’s Island Express, you play as a dung beetle postman tasked with saving Mokumana Island. If you thought Hornet’s diagonal pogo was hard to pick up, get ready for a platformer with no jump button! Instead, Yoku is attached to a ball that you launch using pinball paddles, sending him careening through chutes and tracks all over the map. If you’re looking for a metroidvania truly unlike any other, Yoku’s Island Express is a safe bet.
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