It’s been more than a week since Hollow Knight: Silksong finally dropped into the world. While that doesn’t seem like very long, considering how sprawling the indie Metroidvania’s map is, hyped-up fans are already hitting the end credits. (Didn’t anyone ever teach you to chew your food before you swallow it!?)
If you’re in that elite class of gamers who have already explored every biome in Pharloom, you may be left wanting more. Even if you don’t get another Hollow Knight game for seven years, there are still plenty of excellent Metroidvanias for you to try next. Whether it’s a high-profile game like Metroid Dread, another hand-drawn indie like Nine Sols, or a true hidden gem like Laika: Aged in Blood, there are plenty of great 2D platformers that will take the skills you’ve learned in Silksong and test them in new ways.
Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist
Playable on: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
Put down the pitchforks, but if I had to pick my favorite Metroidvania of 2025 right now, it wouldn’t actually be Hollow Knight: Silksong. That honor would instead go to Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist. A sequel to 2021’s Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights, the moody action adventure takes its clear Hollow Knight influence and brings that into a more full-fledged action RPG. Not only do you fight alongside Homonculi, each of which changes your playstyle, but you also have access to stat-altering equipment and passive relics that totally change how you play. With a dream-like dark fantasy world to explore and some late game abilities that completely change how quickly you can bounce around biomes, Ender Magnolia is a Metroidvania for those who wish Hollow Knight gave them more tools to fight and explore with.
Blade Chimera
Playable on: Nintendo Switch, Windows PC
Before Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, Blade Chimera really kicked off 2025’s “cool ninja game” trend. The 2D action game puts you in control of a cyber ninja who teams up with a magical sword to fight off demons. As a Metroidvania, it takes its cues from Castlevania part of the portmanteau with RPG leveling and multiple weapon slots that let you pair a machine gun with a whip, if you so desire. With its detailed pixel art and a very convenient fast travel system, Blade Chimera delivers a stylish, approachable Metroidvania for anyone who wants to dial the challenge down just a bit after Silksong.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Playable on: Android, iOS, MacOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
You can’t talk about recent Metroidvanias without throwing in a recommendation for Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Ubisoft’s excellent 2D adventure goes back to the series’ roots by putting an emphasis back on careful platforming and levels filled with traps. Beyond that, it also contains one of the best combat systems you’ll find in the genre, making you feel like you’re controlling a Super Smash Bros. fighter right from the start of the game. Its best innovation, though, is a Memory Shard system, which allows you to pin screenshots of areas you’ve been to in your map so you never forget what roadblock you hit in a room. It’s a feature I wish Silksong, and honestly every Metroidvania, had.
Shadow Labyrinth
Playable on: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X
If you’re looking for a game world that’s as sprawling as Pharloom, Shadow Labyrinth might be your next best pit stop. The grimdark Pac-Man game plays like an ‘80s fever dream, tossing you into a surreal world filled with retro gaming Easter eggs turned walking nightmares. While it doesn’t entirely work, thanks to some tedious trekking, Shadow Labyrinth does a great job at dishing out unsettling vibes, a steady stream of abilities, and inventive references to Pac-Man’s classic maze gameplay. It’s a weird, wild ride that’s worth taking if you want to feel like you’re on an acid trip in an arcade at 2 a.m.
Animal Well
Playable on: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X
Let’s say that you loved the ambiance of Silksong but didn’t care for its combat much at all. If that’s the case, Animal Well should move to the top of your backlog. The atmospheric indie is entirely about its exploration, leaving players to discover what the heck they can use a frisbee or bubble wand to navigate seemingly impossible platforming challenges. With no tough fights to manage between those moments, you’re free to soak in its maximalist Atari art style and discover a seemingly bottomless well of secrets that goes much deeper than you could ever imagine. It’s a special game that throws genre conventions out the window to create something that’s unlike anything I’ve played.
Blasphemous 2
Playable on: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
On the flipside to Animal Well, Blasphemous 2 is for players who want more of Silksong’s hard battles. Fiercely following up on 2019’s Blamsphemous, the sequel throws players in a dreary Gothic world full of nightmarish religious imagery. As The Penitent One, it’s your job to take down grotesque monstrosities in the same kind of challenging fights that make Silksong such a thrill. While it doesn’t push the genre forward too much, it’s a great option for anyone who craves 2D battles that reward players who can learn complicated boss attack patterns and dodge them with finesse. If you can beat Silksong, you’ll be ready to rise to those battles too.
Axiom Verge 2
Playable on: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
For my money, the original Axiom Verge is still the indie Metroidvania to beat — Hollow Knight be damned. The series’ first game took explicit notes from Metroid, creating a sci-fi shooter that hid optional, game-changing items in a world that begged to be explored. Axiom Verge 2 continues that philosophy, but it also brings in some unexpected traversal abilities that let you get around in ways that you won’t see coming. It’s a great step up for anyone who’s looking for a Metroidvania that puts an emphasis on mobility over everything, letting you explore every single corner of the map.
Dandara
Playable on: Android, iOS, Linux, MacOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
If you already loved the Metroidvania genre before Hollow Knight, there’s a chance you’ve already played all of these and want a deeper cut. For that, I’ll toss 2018’s fantastic Dandara as a must-play. Based on Brazilian folk history, the unique Metroidvania has players moving only by leaping from surface to surface. It takes some time to get the hang of, but once you do, you’ll find a fast-paced Metroidvania that lets you zip around the world with finesse as you search for hidden secrets. (I especially recommend trying it on a touch-enabled device if you can, as it really benefits from streamlined tap controls.) It’s nothing like any of the games on this list, but it will show you how many ways there are to approach a tried and true formula.
