Should I Play Hollow Knight First?

When It Makes Sense

• Good fit: You plan to play Hollow Knight: Silksong or simply want to experience Team Cherry’s series in release order. Hollow Knight is the first game and establishes Hallownest’s setting, characters, lore, and gameplay language. Playing it first makes narrative callbacks, recurring NPC relationships, and mechanical references in the sequel easier to recognize. It also gives you practice with the franchise’s signature melee combat, pattern-based boss fights, and exploration flow, which should make Silksong’s learning curve gentler. The game runs well on PC, Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox.
• Good fit: You enjoy Metroidvanias, precise 2D action, and long games that reward curiosity. Hollow Knight offers a large, hand-drawn interconnected world with responsive controls, free expansions such as Godmaster, multiple endings, and optional hard modes like Steel Soul. If you like unlocking movement abilities, hunting secrets, experimenting with charm builds, and mastering tough bosses, this is one of the most acclaimed entries in the genre and a reasonable place to start.

When You Should Avoid It

• Warning sign: You dislike high difficulty, repeated failure, or losing resources when you die. Hollow Knight can be unforgiving: some bosses and platforming sections require precise timing, and dying leaves a Shade that must be recovered to reclaim your in-game currency. Early encounters such as the False Knight and later optional challenges like the Path of Pain illustrate the range of difficulty. If frustration usually leads you to abandon games, the early and late-game challenges may outweigh the enjoyment.
• Warning sign: You prefer clear objectives, linear stories, or only have limited gaming hours. A first playthrough commonly takes 20 to 40 hours, with optional content and multiple endings extending that further. The in-game map must be purchased zone by zone and only fills in areas you have explored, and there is no traditional quest log. Players who want constant direction or a tight narrative may feel lost or overwhelmed.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Strong content value: the base purchase includes a sprawling world plus free updates and the Godmaster expansion, and it is regularly discounted on platforms like Steam and the Nintendo eShop.
• Solid preparation for the sequel and genre: learning its combat timing, movement options such as nail-bouncing and spell usage, and map-reading skills transfers directly to Silksong and helps with other Metroidvanias.

Cons

• Steep difficulty spikes: some mandatory and optional bosses, along with sections such as the White Palace and the Path of Pain, demand precision and persistence that may feel punishing. Healing opportunities are limited early on, and some late-game gauntlets can require many attempts.
• Opaque progression: the game rarely tells you where to go next, and important paths or mechanics can be hidden behind breakable walls, dream abilities, or NPC hints that are easy to miss. You may need to experiment, talk repeatedly to NPCs, or consult a community guide to locate key items.

Decision Checklist

• Do I enjoy challenging 2D combat and the patience to retry bosses and platforming sections?
• Do I have enough free time for a 20- to 40-hour adventure, and am I comfortable with minimal direction?
• Am I mainly interested in the sequel or the Metroidvania genre, or would I prefer a shorter, more guided experience?

Alternatives to Consider

If Hollow Knight seems too punishing, Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps offer beautiful platforming with gentler onboarding and a stronger narrative through-line. Guacamelee! 2 provides combat-focused Metroidvania fun with a lighter tone and clearer structure. Metroid Dread delivers a polished, more directed Nintendo-style experience for players who want guided exploration. For shorter sessions, Dead Cells offers roguelike runs with adjustable difficulty. If your only goal is to understand Silksong‘s story before release, a spoiler-free story recap video is an option, but hands-on play remains the best way to learn the mechanics and decide whether the sequel suits you.

Final Recommendation

Play Hollow Knight first if you are interested in the franchise, enjoy challenging exploration, and have the time to learn its systems at your own pace. It is especially worthwhile as preparation for Silksong and as an introduction to deep 2D Metroidvanias. Postpone or skip it if you dislike difficult boss fights, nonlinear map design, or long games with limited guidance. For high-stakes decisions—such as a tight entertainment budget or concerns about screen time and wellbeing—consider your personal constraints and consult a relevant professional if needed. In the end, choose the option that matches your available time, comfort with challenge, and what you want from a game.