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Hollow Knight vs Ori and the Blind Forest

The short answer

Hollow Knight is the bigger, harder game; Ori is the more beautiful, more guided one. Hollow Knight gives you no map until you buy one and expects you to get lost. Ori is a linear-ish metroidvania with superb movement and a story that is doing the emotional work.

What they have in common

Hand-drawn 2D worlds, ability-gated exploration, and movement that gets noticeably better as you unlock things.

Hollow Knight

Pick Hollow Knight if you want to be left alone.

Enormous, unexplained, and full of things you will only find because you were curious. The combat is real and the optional bosses are brutal. It is extraordinary value.

Ori and the Blind Forest

Pick Ori if you want it beautiful and paced.

The best-animated 2D game there is, and Will of the Wisps sharpens the combat considerably. It always knows where it wants you to go next.

Frequently asked questions

Should I play Hollow Knight or Ori and the Blind Forest?

Hollow Knight is the bigger, harder game; Ori is the more beautiful, more guided one. Hollow Knight gives you no map until you buy one and expects you to get lost. Ori is a linear-ish metroidvania with superb movement and a story that is doing the emotional work.

What do Hollow Knight and Ori and the Blind Forest have in common?

Hand-drawn 2D worlds, ability-gated exploration, and movement that gets noticeably better as you unlock things.

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Buy This Game

* Affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

More head-to-heads are on the comparisons page.

Gear for both

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Prices as of Oct 27, 2026, 4:34 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

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