Hollow Knight has become a focal point in the gaming world, reshaping expectations for the Metroidvania genre and drawing attention far beyond its initial release. The game, created by Team Cherry, has not only climbed to the top of Steam‘s user-applied Metroidvania tag charts but is also referenced by many as the defining example of the genre. As players prepare for the upcoming sequel, Silksong, discussions about Hollow Knight’s design approach and its impact continue to intensify. The developer’s conscious decision to avoid being limited by genre, focusing instead on building an immersive world, distinguishes their work from many competitors.
While Metroidvania games enjoyed growing popularity with titles such as Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Metroid: Zero Mission, their influence plateaued until releases like Hollow Knight drew widespread attention. Hollow Knight’s sales figures, nearing those of the entire Castlevania and Metroid franchises, demonstrate its remarkable industry significance. Earlier, only a modest number of games adopted the Metroidvania label, but after Hollow Knight’s debut, the genre experienced explosive growth in both independent and mainstream gaming scenes, as evidenced by a substantial increase in related releases over the past decade.
How Hollow Knight Redefined Standards in Metroidvania Games
Unlike its predecessors, Hollow Knight places a strong emphasis on world-building and exploration, featuring nonlinear progression and subtle narrative cues. Even as Team Cherry’s approach diverged from typical genre conventions, their product established mechanics and atmosphere that many later games sought to emulate. The game’s unique map system, environmental transitions, and unconventional storytelling have been widely noted as elements enhancing its depth. Team Cherry remarked,
“We just said we’re going to make an adventure in this big world, and let’s build an interesting world with lots of things to discover and see, and hopefully keep people engaged throughout.”
This philosophy underscores the studio’s intent to prioritize player engagement over strict adherence to genre labels.
Do New Titles Live Up to Hollow Knight’s Legacy?
Attempts by other games, such as Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night and Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom, to replicate Hollow Knight’s success have met with varying reactions. Some players appreciate the innovations, while others find certain aspects, such as level design and combat mechanics, uninspiring in comparison. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, praised for its combat design, has faced criticism regarding platforming elements, highlighting the challenge of maintaining consistency across all gameplay facets. The comparison between recent attempts and Hollow Knight reveals a higher bar set for both mechanical complexity and atmospheric depth.
Can Silksong Satisfy Rising Expectations?
Anticipation for Silksong, Hollow Knight’s sequel, highlights both the opportunities and challenges for Team Cherry. The upcoming title aims to capture interest while navigating increased expectations shaped by the original’s influence. Team Cherry’s creators, however, continue to express a desire to focus on cohesive world-building, rather than strictly adhering to preconceived notions of the Metroidvania genre. As stated previously by the studio,
“We didn’t want to let a genre dictate the decisions we made about Hollow Knight’s design while we were making it.”
This approach may help Silksong carve its own path apart from the standards established by its predecessor.
Hollow Knight’s far-reaching impact on the Metroidvania genre has resulted in a surge of new titles aiming to appeal to an audience now accustomed to high standards of level design, narrative, and atmosphere. Developers seeking to distinguish their games may observe that referencing Hollow Knight’s balance of exploration and engagement can be as crucial as adopting its features. For players, being discerning about depth and originality remains important when selecting from a crowded field of Metroidvania-inspired releases. As curiosity about Silksong builds, the broader conversation centers on how future games might adapt and flourish in a landscape reshaped by Hollow Knight’s enduring resonance.
