Hollow Knight

I bought this when it came out in 2017.
Got as far as the first Hornet fight, who kicked my a%$.
Thought "I'm too old for this" and uninstalled it.
8 YEARS LATERRRRR....Silksong comes out, so I thought "I'll try that Hollow Knight again".
And everything just clicked. What an amazing game. I can't put it down.
Currently one Dreamer down, and getting the courage to face Hornet Sentinel in Kingdoms Edge !

At first, I thought this game was overhyped since I was bored out of my mind for the first hour or two. As a person who has never played a Metroidvania up until this point, I grew tired of all the exploring that I had to do and how the game seemingly gives you no direction (except for, of course, telling you how to attack and control your character). However, I'm glad I gave this game a chance, because the gameplay quickly became much more entertaining, showcasing its beautiful art style, difficult (yet fair and rewarding) bosses, an amazing soundtrack, and fun and, well, interesting characters (to say the least).
Oh, and despite how often I got lost exploring and trying to find something to do, I grew (to somewhat) appreciate and understand why people like this aspect of the game, since it gave me more of a chance to admire and observe the different environments/areas of the game.
After playing almost 100 hours of this game, I now might finally have the confidence and the skill to defeat Gruz Mother.
10/10

Easily THE 10/10 metroidvania experience. One of the greatest games I've played. I'll glaze it to the end of the world.
Glowing recommendation from some guy you've never met on the internet.

Always warms my heart when people play hollow knight for the first time. Even 8 years down the line, it's still the gold standard for what indie games can accomplish. This game was made by just three people, insanity, easily one of my favorite indie games of all time.

Back in 2018, I bought Hollow Knight, played it for about two hours, and then let it collect dust in my backlog. At the time, I had no idea what I was missing. Fast forward to 2025, with Silksong looming on the horizon, I decided to revisit the game, and that’s when everything clicked.
By the time I was done, I had pushed myself all the way to 112% completion, completely hooked from start to finish.
The combat in Hollow Knight feels deceptively simple at first, but the more you play, the more you realize how deep and rewarding it is. The game’s free-flowing movement is addictive, you’re constantly weaving through enemies, dashing, pogoing off the enemies, and chaining together attacks in a way that makes every encounter feel like a dance. And then there’s the progression. As you unlock new abilities, double jump, shadow dash, crystal heart, you gain a new sense of freedom. The map suddenly opens up, and backtracking turns into discovery. It’s here that the game truly shines, blending smooth platforming with exploration in a way that makes you eager to dive deeper into Hallownest.
The bosses are nothing short of phenomenal. They’re challenging but never unfair, with patterns that beg to be studied and mastered. Then there’s the charm system, which might just be one of the smartest mechanics I’ve seen in the genre. Experimenting with different builds keeps the gameplay fresh, and it’s fun to find synergies that completely change how you approach fights or platforming challenges.
For me, it’s an easy 10/10. Team Cherry has set an incredibly high bar, and Hollow Knight will remain the gold standard for metroidvania games for years to come. If Silksong manages to build on this foundation, we might be looking at another all-time great.

Damn, where do I even start? Before starting Silksong, I decided to begin here... I thought it was just a little bug game. I ended up wondering if I still had a soul after the Pantheon of Hallownest, a 42-boss marathon that makes Dark Souls feel like a calm, relaxing stroll in the park. You fight everything and everyone, even your own will to keep going. But when you finally win, it’s insanely satisfying, and you end up with Stockholm syndrome, forming a positive relationship with the game that mentally m0lested you.
Conclusion: 10/10.

I avoided this game for two reasons:

1. I'm not the biggest metroidvania fan.
2. It seemed like it would be too hard for me.

I wish I had just tried it when I heard about it years ago. I'm having a blast taking in Hallownest and all the scenery while I explore the depths. Now I just need to beat it before Silksong comes out, which should be soon (TM).