I still remember the moment the credits rolled on Hollow Knight: Silksong. After years of waiting, it was finally over—and I already missed it. You know that feeling, don’t you? A hollow ache where Hornet’s needle-sharp grace used to be. Pharloom’s haunting kingdom had left its mark, and I needed more. But what could possibly follow an experience that fuses tight platforming, cryptic lore, and boss battles that feel like dances with death? I set out on a personal quest: to find games that could scratch that very specific itch. Some held a mirror to Silksong’s best bits; others twisted them into something entirely new. Here’s where my search took me in 2026.

First, I craved a classic Metroidvania that paid homage to the genre’s roots. That led me to Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. From the mind behind Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, this game wraps you in a familiar but exquisitely detailed world. It doesn’t have Pharloom’s fluid worldbuilding or Hornet’s acrobatic combat, but the exploration is just as compelling. Every new ability opens up the map like a beautiful puzzle, and the abundance of RPG mechanics let me craft my own playstyle. Was it exactly Silksong? No—and that was the point. It reminded me why I fell in love with the genre in the first place.

Next, I stumbled into the grimly hilarious corridors of Have a Nice Death. Imagine playing as an overworked Death, slicing through unruly employees in a hand-drawn underworld. The roguelike loop is a sharp turn from Pharloom’s interconnected map, yet the combat feels eerily familiar—tight, responsive, and punishing. My first encounter with a bantering subordinate felt like a twisted echo of meeting Hornet in Greenpath. There’s even a direct nod to the Knight himself, which made me chuckle out loud. Could a game about corporate burnout really ease my post-Silksong blues? Absolutely.

But what if I wanted to dive deeper into the oppressive loneliness Silksong does so well? Enter Rain World. Here, you’re not a warrior; you’re prey. Scuttling through a vine-choked wasteland while predators loom and rain pounds down, I felt a vulnerability I hadn’t known since my first hours in Pharloom. The atmosphere is almost suffocating, but it’s also unforgettable. Do you dare to survive in a world that doesn’t care about you? Rain World asks that question with every downpour, and I couldn’t look away.

Of course, no pilgrimage would be complete without revisiting Supergiant’s masterpiece, Hades. I had played it before, but after Silksong, the character-driven storytelling hit differently. Even though it’s an isometric roguelite, the endless dialogue paths and supremely satisfying combat loop gave me the same buzz as unlocking a new tool in Silksong. Plus, with Hades II already out in 2025, there’s double the content to lose yourself in. Why settle for one escape from the underworld when you can have two?

Back to platforming I went, this time with Ori and the Will of the Wisps. If Silksong sharpened my combat instincts, Ori reminded me how to cry. The emotional gut-punches are just as powerful as the precision parkour, and the improved combat over the first Ori makes it a genuine Metroidvania must-play. The painting-like visuals and uplifting score offered a gentle contrast to Pharloom’s melancholy. Sometimes, you need a world that heals you after one that breaks you.

I wasn’t done with darkness, though. Blasphemous pulled me into its gruesome, religious-nightmare realm. The combat is heavier, the secrets more obtuse, and the art style drips with gore-soaked iconography. Yet underneath, I found the same DNA: sprawling interconnected areas, cryptic lore fragments, and bosses that demand absolute mastery. The sequel released in 2023, so there’s never been a better time to repent.

Then came the obvious, looming influence: the Dark Souls trilogy. I had danced around it long enough. Stepping into Lordran felt like stepping into Pharloom’s grim cousin—bonfires are benches, retrieving lost currency is identical, and the decaying kingdoms share a sorrowful soul. The 3D combat forced me to adapt, but that same thrill of learning a boss’s rhythm was there in abundance. And let’s not forget Elden Ring, which takes that formula to a whole new level. If you haven’t walked this path yet, what are you waiting for?

Seeking something closer to Silksong’s parry-heavy finesse, I discovered Nine Sols. This indie gem trades an open world for a linear tale, but the combat—oh, the combat. Parrying is a religion here, and the bosses test your timing like a cruel metronome. Its fusion of sci-fi and Eastern mythology felt fresh, yet carried the same cryptic weight as Hallownest’s lore. Every victory felt earned, every secret a gift.

Finally, I needed pure, unadulterated combat. Dead Cells answered that call. The story is threadbare, but the fluidity of movement and the sheer variety of weapons keep you glued for hundreds of runs. There’s even crossover content with Silksong’s own universe—a cheeky nod that made my pilgrimage feel worth it. Could I survive on a build without a shield? The struggle was real, and I loved every second.

And yet, after all this wandering, I realized the truest remedy was waiting for me all along: the original Hollow Knight. Maybe you’re one of the many who picked up Silksong first. If so, do yourself a favor and descend into Hallownest. It’s slightly stiffer, yes, but the world is every bit as interconnected and majestic as Pharloom. The post-launch content alone makes it a treasure chest of discovery. In 2026, it still stands as one of the greatest games ever made—and the perfect way to understand where Hornet came from.

So here I am, back where I started, but fuller than before. My post-Silksong pilgrimage taught me that no single game could replace that experience—but many could embrace its spirit. Which of these will you try first?

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