The wait forHollow Knight: Silksongcontinues. Announced in 2019, this combat-focused metroidvania follows up on the heels of the like-mindedHollow Knight. The original game was released in early 2017, and spread to consoles over the course of the next two years. It caught on like wildfire, and the fandom has been thriving ever since then. The modding and challenge run scenes are going especially strong right now, as the community takes matters into its own hands to keep itself entertained in the long wait forHollow Knight: Silksong.
However, in the meantime, there are some indie games that could scratch similar itches toHollow Knight. 2D action games likeSkul: The Hero SlayerandUnderherocan fulfill the role of a combat platforming experience, and metroidvanias likeBloodstained: Ritual of the NightandRecord of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinthcan satisfy the need for exploration. While the crowdfundedCrowswornmay not release beforeSilksongdoes, it could provide a more direct analogue toHollow Knight. However, there is another title that could stave off the burning need forSilksong. It’s not an action game, a metroidvania, or a platformer, though it does have elements of all three genres.Bug Fables: The Everlasting Saplingisn’t linked toHollow Knightin any way, yet the two indie darlings feel cut from the same cloth.
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What is Bug Fables?
Initially titledPaper Bugs,Bug Fablesis a turn-based RPG developed by independent Panamanian developer Moonsprout Games. After a few years in development, it received its final name, as well as an IndieGoGo campaign in 2018. Come late 2019, the game was out on PC storefronts, and likeHollow Knight, appeared on other platforms the following year.Bug Fablesintended to carry onthe legacy of the first twoPaper Mariogames, as the developers were old fans unsatisfied with the direction the franchise had taken. From fan reports, this effort is a success, andBug Fablesstands alongside those oldMarioRPGs as an all-time great.
Bug Fablesis a lot likeHollow Knightin some ways, the most prominent being its aesthetic. While their use of color couldn’t be more different,Bug FablesandHollow Knight’s cartoonish insect charactersand worlds resemble each other. They also both deal with fantasy elements and old kingdoms ruled by said bugs. These visual commonalities are strong enough that there has been some confusion online as to whether these games are in the same series. They are not, but aHollow Knightplayer could easily imagineBug Fablestaking place in a distant, much brighter corner ofHollow Knight’s world.
How Bug Fables Relates to Hollow Knight
While they both share worlds full of cute bug people, it takes more than aesthetic similarities to measure up toHollow Knight. That’s where some other comparisons between these two indies come in.Bug Fableswas made in response to dissatisfaction with the newerPaper Mariogames, and intended to bring back64andThe Thousand Year Door’s storytelling and action command-based combat systems with modern knowledge and polish.
Hollow Knight, meanwhile, is a clear callback to old-schoolMetroidandCastlevaniatitles, neither of which have been officially made in a long time. Even withMetroid Dreadfinally on its way, there are still thingsHollow Knightdoes that help it stand out from the growing metroidvania crowd.
Hollow KnightandBug Fablesare standout games in their respective genres, and all of their good work is in service of taking players on grand adventures through their inspired worlds. That’s the main reason why, in spite of all of their differences,Bug Fablescan still act as a stand-in forHollow Knight: Silksong. They both take players on huge journeys through their respective bug kingdoms, meeting plenty of friends and foes along the way.
The mainBug Fablestrio aremore talkative than the little Knight, but they all show their charm just the same. Fans getting a little tired of just replayingHollow Knightin preparation forSilksongought to addBug Fables: The Everlasting Saplingsessions into their rotation. They may just find a new bug game to love.
Hollow Knight: Silksongis in development for PC and Switch.
MORE:Do You Need to Play Hollow Knight’s DLC Before Silksong Releases?
