Like so many players, I spent an agonizingly long time waiting for Hollow Knight: Silksong. Now that it’s finally here in 2026, I can say the wait was worth it. The movement feels faster, the combat is sharper, and somehow it’s even more punishing than the first game—and I love every second of it. But after rolling credits, I found myself asking: what do I even play next? Going back to the original Hollow Knight felt safe, but I wanted something similar yet new. So I put together a list of games that have helped me fill that Hornet-shaped void.

What makes a game feel like Silksong? For me, it’s precise movement, tough but fair bosses, a haunting atmosphere, and that constant itch to explore every corner of a map. So here are the games I keep returning to when I need that same rush.

Animal Well — Survive Using Your Head

Animal Well is not about combat—it’s about wits. You play as a nameless blob exploring a massive, interconnected labyrinth full of secrets and hostile animals. Instead of fighting your way through, you use tools to outsmart enemies and solve layer after layer of puzzles. I’ll admit, it took me a few tries to get hooked, but once the puzzle logic clicked, I couldn’t put it down. If Silksong’s tricky platforming burned you out, this is the mental challenge that still feels rewarding.

Rain World — Curiosity Killed the Slugcat

Rain World originally came from a Kickstarter, just like the first Hollow Knight, and it shares that grim, dangerous streak. You’re a Slugcat dropped into a ruined civilization, and you must find food and shelter while larger predators hunt you. What blows me away is how fluid the world feels: the pixel art seems alive, and the movement has a slippery, weighty quality that makes every jump tense. It’s a survival platformer that never lets you feel safe, and I mean that as a compliment.

Lies of P — A Challenge with No Strings Attached

Need a 3D break from Silksong? Lies of P puts you in the puppet shoes of Pinocchio, but forget the singing cricket. This is a twisted city overrun by murderous mechanical puppets, and you survive through precise blocking, parrying, and dodging. If Soulslikes usually feel too dense, Lies of P stands out because its disturbing fairytale world actually made me care about why I was fighting. It’s tough, but the challenge feels earned.

Cuphead — The Challenging Cartoon Adventure

Don’t let Cuphead’s jazzy soundtrack and cute 1930s cartoon looks fool you. This run-and-gun boss rush is brutally difficult. Instead of a nail or blade, you fire energy shots by snapping your fingers, and the game turns that simple idea into a flying gunship of chaos. Somehow, even when I died dozens of times, I never wanted to quit. And because Cuphead supports online multiplayer, I could call in a friend when a boss got too nasty.

Dark Souls: Remastered — The Pioneer of the Soulslike Genre

Would Hollow Knight even exist without Dark Souls? Maybe, but it wouldn’t feel the same. Dark Souls defined the loop of dying, learning, and trying again that Hollow Knight and Silksong lean on. The Remaster gave it a 60 FPS boost and higher detail, plus the Artorias of the Abyss DLC. But the difficulty remains untouched. So unless you’re a speedrunner, be prepared to die a lot—just like my first weekend with Silksong.

Dead Cells — Make Each Run Count

Here’s a roguelike twist for players who want a bigger challenge. In Dead Cells, death is permanent: your we
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