10 Games Like Hollow Knight to Play in Your Browser
You beat the Hornet fights, found every charm you could, and now you want that feeling again without buying anything or installing a launcher. These games like Hollow Knight all run in a browser tab. Some are pocket-sized precision platformers, others are classic action adventures preserved through emulation, and each one shares at least part of what made Hallownest so hard to leave.
Key takeaways
- Hollow Knight itself is not a browser game, so every pick here is a browser-playable alternative.
- Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap is the closest true metroidvania on the list, with new forms that open up old areas.
- Celeste Classic and Celeste Classic 2 deliver the tough, fair platforming in a few minutes per run.
- Prince of Persia, Flashback and Out of This World bring the lonely, atmospheric exploration.
Why Hollow Knight is hard to replace in a browser
Hollow Knight is a 2017 action adventure by the Australian studio Team Cherry. You explore the ruined bug kingdom of Hallownest with a nail for a sword, unlock movement abilities that open new paths, and equip charms that change how you fight. It runs on PC and consoles, not in a browser, and neither does its sequel, Silksong.
Full-size metroidvania games rarely fit in a tab. So we looked for browser games that match one or more of Hollow Knight’s pillars: a map that opens up as you gain abilities, demanding combat or platforming, and a moody world you piece together yourself. If you want the genre basics first, our explainer on what a metroidvania is covers where the term comes from.
Quick picks
| If you liked… | Play |
|---|---|
| Abilities that unlock old areas | Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap |
| Path of Pain style platforming | Celeste Classic |
| Exploring for upgrades and secrets | Celeste Classic 2 or Commander Keen 4 |
| Tense one-on-one sword fights | Prince of Persia |
| A lonely world with no hand-holding | Out of This World or Flashback |
| Gear, gold and boss fights | Wonder Boy in Monster Land or Cadash |
1. Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap
Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap first came out on the Sega Master System in 1989, and the Game Gear version is playable in a browser through the Internet Archive’s console collection. It is one of the early games that shaped the metroidvania formula, and it is the closest match to Hollow Knight here.
How it plays: A curse turns the hero into a Lizard-Man at the start, and each dragon boss you defeat changes your form again. Every form has its own ability, such as climbing walls or swimming, and those abilities open routes in areas you already visited. You also buy swords, shields and armor with gold. Controls: Keyboard through the emulator, with keys for jump and attack. Why it fits: The loop of gaining a power and remembering where it will help is pure Hollow Knight. Best for: Players who loved finding a new path behind an old wall.
2. Celeste Classic
Celeste Classic is the original version of Celeste, made by Maddy Thorson and Noel Berry in a few days for the PICO-8 fantasy console. It runs free in a browser and takes under an hour to finish, if your hands cooperate.
How it plays: You climb a mountain one screen at a time using a jump and an eight-direction dash that refills when you land. Spikes kill you instantly, and each screen is a short puzzle of timing. Hidden strawberries reward players who try the harder route. Controls: Arrow keys to move, Z to jump and X to dash. Why it fits: If the White Palace and the Path of Pain were your favorite parts of Hollow Knight, this is that feeling in compact form. Best for: Precision platforming fans. Our list of games like Celeste has more in this style.
3. Celeste Classic 2: Lani’s Trek
The Celeste team released this free PICO-8 follow-up in 2021 to mark the main game’s anniversary. It swaps the dash for a grappling hook and adds more room to wander.
How it plays: Lani uses the hook to latch onto walls, pull objects and swing across gaps. Levels are bigger than in the first game, with collectibles tucked off the main path. Controls: Arrow keys, plus two action keys for jumping and the hook. Why it fits: It mixes precise movement with light exploration, a small taste of Hollow Knight’s balance between the two. Best for: Players who finished Celeste Classic and want a slightly gentler, more exploratory climb.
4. Prince of Persia
Jordan Mechner’s Prince of Persia first launched on the Apple II in 1989, and the 1990 DOS version is playable in a browser through the Internet Archive’s software library. It is a dungeon escape with a strict 60-minute time limit.
How it plays: You run, climb and leap through traps while the clock counts down to the princess’s fate. Guards block the way, and each fight is a careful duel of advancing, blocking and striking. Falling too far or mistiming a jump costs health, and potions restore it. Controls: Arrow keys to move and climb, Shift to grab ledges or swing your sword. Why it fits: The weighty movement and patient sword fights recall Hollow Knight’s early hours, when every enemy was a threat. Best for: Players who want a tense, self-contained challenge.
5. Out of This World
Eric Chahi’s Out of This World, released in Europe as Another World, came out in 1991. The DOS version runs through emulation in a browser. It tells its whole story without a word of dialogue you can read.
How it plays: A physicist is thrown into an alien world after a lab accident. You escape creatures, solve environmental puzzles and fight guards with a laser pistol that can also raise shields. Deaths come fast, and you learn each scene by trial and error. Controls: Arrow keys to move, a single action key to shoot or interact. Why it fits: It shares Hollow Knight’s quiet, wordless storytelling and a world that does not explain itself. Best for: Players who loved the lore hunting more than the combat.
6. Flashback
Flashback: The Quest for Identity is a 1992 cinematic platformer from Delphine Software. The DOS version is in the Internet Archive’s browser-playable library.
How it plays: Conrad wakes up on a jungle moon with no memory and has to figure out who he is. Levels are large, interconnected spaces where you find items, talk to characters and use switches and lifts to move on. Gunfights reward careful positioning. Controls: Arrow keys to move, with keys to draw your gun, fire and use items. Why it fits: It has the sense of exploring a big, hostile place and slowly working out what happened there. Best for: Sci-fi fans who want exploration with a story attached.
7. Wonder Boy in Monster Land
This 1987 Sega arcade game, developed by Westone under its earlier name Escape, is the direct prequel to The Dragon’s Trap. The arcade version is playable in the Internet Archive’s Internet Arcade.
How it plays: You fight through a side-scrolling fantasy world, collecting gold from defeated monsters and spending it in shops on better boots, armor and swords. Secret doors and hidden coins reward careful exploring, and each stage ends in a boss. An hourglass timer drains your health if you dawdle. Controls: Keyboard through the emulator, with keys for jump, attack and magic. Why it fits: Upgrading your gear and returning to tough fights stronger echoes buying charms and nail upgrades in Hallownest. Best for: Players who enjoyed Hollow Knight’s shopping and upgrade loop.
8. Cadash
Cadash is a 1989 Taito arcade game that blends side-scrolling action with role-playing systems. It is also preserved in the Internet Arcade.
How it plays: You pick a character class and head into caves and castles full of monsters. Defeating enemies earns experience, so your hero gains levels over the run, and towns sell items and equipment. Each stage builds to a boss fight. Controls: Keyboard through the emulator, with keys for jump, attack and special abilities. Why it fits: It mixes platforming, combat and slow character growth in a dark fantasy setting. Best for: RPG fans who want their action games to have stats.
9. Commander Keen 4: Secret of the Oracle
Commander Keen 4 is a 1991 DOS platformer from id Software, released as shareware through Apogee. The free episode runs in a browser through the Internet Archive.
How it plays: Keen explores a world map and enters levels full of creatures, secret areas and hidden items. A pogo stick lets him bounce higher, and a stun gun handles enemies. Your goal is to rescue missing Council Members, but the levels reward you for searching every corner. Controls: Arrow keys to move, with keys for jump, pogo and fire. Why it fits: It is lighter in tone, yet it shares the habit of rewarding curious players with secrets. Best for: Retro fans and players who want exploration with less punishment.
10. Chrome Dino (when you need a break)
Our Chrome Dino game is not a metroidvania, but it shares one thing with Hollow Knight: one mistake ends the run, and you always want one more try.
How it plays: The T-Rex runs automatically through the desert, and the pace climbs as your score rises. You jump over cacti and duck under pterodactyls. Controls: Space or Up to jump, Down to duck. Why it fits: It is a pure timing test with no setup, perfect between longer sessions. Best for: A quick reset after a boss that keeps beating you.
If you can install a game
The list above covers browser-only games like Hollow Knight. If you can download games, the obvious next step is Hollow Knight: Silksong, Team Cherry’s sequel. Ori and the Blind Forest, Dead Cells and Blasphemous are other popular Hollow Knight alternatives on PC and consoles, but none of them run in a browser.
Tips for playing emulated classics in a browser
Several picks run through emulation on the Internet Archive, so a desktop with a keyboard works best. Click inside the game window before pressing keys, and check the emulator’s help or the item page for the key mapping. Performance varies by browser and device, so try another browser if a game stutters. For more modern picks, see our guide to the best browser platformer games.
A knight and a cave to explore here
None of these is a metroidvania, but two of our games scratch a similar itch. Knight Game is a side-scrolling sword-and-shield platformer with parries, dashes, gem upgrades and 12 levels across 3 worlds. Cave Game sends a dino spelunker through 18 dark caverns with a headlamp that slowly runs down, so you hunt glow-worm patches while dodging pits and falling rocks.
Frequently asked questions
Can you play Hollow Knight in a browser?
No. Hollow Knight is released on PC and consoles and has no official browser version. Sites that claim otherwise are usually hosting something else, so stick to browser games built for the web or preserved in archives.
What is the closest metroidvania to Hollow Knight you can play online?
Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap is the closest. New forms unlock areas you could not reach before, and you upgrade your gear between boss fights. It plays in a browser through the Internet Archive’s emulation.
Are there hard platformers like Hollow Knight that run in a browser?
Yes. Celeste Classic is the best pick for tough, fair platforming, and Celeste Classic 2 adds a grappling hook. Prince of Persia is also unforgiving, with a time limit and careful sword fights.
Are these Hollow Knight alternatives free?
Yes. Every game on this list can be played free in a browser. The Celeste games are free PICO-8 releases, and the older titles are preserved in the Internet Archive’s browser-playable collections.
Keep exploring
None of these replaces Hallownest, but together they cover its best parts: hidden paths, hard-won upgrades and fights that demand patience. Start with The Dragon’s Trap for the metroidvania loop or Celeste Classic for the platforming. When you want something simpler, the T-Rex Runner is ready whenever you are.
