Team Cherry’s Vision Could Change How Hollow Knight Games Connect

Few indie games have built a fanbase as devoted as Hollow Knight. What began as a tightly designed underground adventure has grown into a phenomenon defined by mystery, atmosphere, and a world that players want to keep returning to. With Hollow Knight: Silksong still looming as one of the most anticipated games in the genre, Team Cherry has also hinted at something even more interesting: if the studio ever expands the series beyond Silksong, future entries may not need to follow a strict chronology. Instead, they could be built so that players can approach them in any order without feeling lost.

That idea may sound small at first, but it says a lot about how the developers think about worldbuilding, accessibility, and the long-term health of a series. Rather than treating the Hollow Knight universe as a line of events that must be followed from left to right, Team Cherry appears open to shaping it more like a set of stories that coexist within the same mythic space. For fans, that opens the possibility of new adventures that feel connected yet independent.

A Series Built on Atmosphere Rather Than Timeline

One reason this approach works for Hollow Knight is that the series has never relied heavily on a simple, front-to-back plot. The games are known for their lore, symbolism, and environmental storytelling. Much of what players learn is uncovered indirectly through exploration, dialogue fragments, item descriptions, and the emotional tone of the world itself. That gives Team Cherry room to create stories that share the same setting without needing each one to be a chapter in a rigid sequence.

In practical terms, a game can still feel deeply tied to the Hollow Knight universe even if it does not require knowledge of the previous one. Players may recognize familiar creatures, ruins, or themes, but the central conflict can stand on its own. That design choice is especially useful for a series that has attracted both longtime metroidvania fans and newcomers looking for a distinctive, hand-crafted adventure.

• It preserves the mystery that defines the franchise.
• It makes future entries easier to jump into.
• It allows the studio to tell stories from different angles.
• It reduces pressure to turn every game into a direct continuation.

Why Flexible Sequels Matter for Players

Long-running game series often face a familiar problem: the more entries they release, the more intimidating they can become for new players. If every sequel depends on a prior one, the barrier to entry rises. That can be especially awkward for a studio with a growing audience, because not everyone discovers a franchise at the same time.

Team Cherry’s suggestion points toward a friendlier model. If future Hollow Knight games are built to coexist rather than to stack in a strict order, then players can choose whichever title interests them most. One person might start with Silksong, while another may discover a later game first and circle back afterward. In both cases, the experience would still feel complete.

Silksong as the Next Big Test

Hollow Knight: Silksong is already carrying enormous expectations. It is the direct follow-up to the original game, but it also introduces a new protagonist, new environments, and a fresh structure for movement and combat. Because it is centered on Hornet rather than the original Knight, it already represents a shift in viewpoint. That makes it a natural bridge between the original game and any future entries Team Cherry may want to build.

Silksong matters not only because fans want to play it, but because it may reveal how the studio wants to handle the franchise going forward. If the sequel succeeds as a standalone experience, it strengthens the case for future games that do not depend on one another in a tightly linear way. It could become proof that a shared universe can remain coherent without forcing players into a single required path.

That does not mean continuity disappears. Rather, continuity becomes more flexible. A future Hollow Knight title might reference the same world while focusing on a different region, era, or character. The result would be a series that feels connected through tone and mythology more than through a hard chronology.

A Creative Strategy That Protects the Mystery

One of the reasons Hollow Knight has endured in popular conversation is that it leaves space for interpretation. Players are not handed every answer upfront. They piece together the setting themselves, and that makes the world feel larger than the screen. A looser approach to sequel design supports that same strength.

If Team Cherry were to create future games that stand beside one another instead of directly beneath one another in a timeline, the studio could explore new stories without over-explaining the old ones. A later game could show a different part of Hallownest-inspired lore, or even introduce a new kingdom with thematic echoes of the original. This keeps the universe rich while avoiding the kind of continuity clutter that can weigh down long-running franchises.

That flexibility also benefits the tone of the games. Hollow Knight is not only about plot twists or dramatic reveals; it is about mood, isolation, discovery, and the feeling that the world is ancient and alive. A non-linear franchise structure protects those qualities by letting each game focus on its own emotional identity.

What Fans May Gain From a Non-Linear Series

For players, the appeal of this approach goes beyond convenience. It can also create a healthier relationship between the audience and the series itself. When games are designed to be approachable in any order, fans are less likely to feel they have “missed” something important by not playing everything in sequence. That makes the franchise more welcoming and more durable over time.

• Lower entry barrier: New players can start wherever they like.
• More replay value: Different games can be revisited for different reasons.
• Creative variety: Each title can experiment with tone and structure.
• Less narrative pressure: The story can breathe without needing constant escalation.

There is also an emotional benefit. Fans often attach themselves to a series because they love the world, not just the plot. By allowing the universe to expand in multiple directions, Team Cherry can keep that sense of discovery alive for years. Each new game becomes an invitation, not a requirement.

How This Could Shape Future Development

If Team Cherry follows this philosophy, future development choices may look different from those of more traditional sequel-driven franchises. Instead of treating the next game as a mandatory step in a single story, the studio could build each project around a distinct premise. One game might focus on a fallen warrior, another on a distant kingdom, and another on a different region of the same ecological and mythological system.

This model gives the creators more freedom to choose the best idea for the moment rather than the next chronological installment. It also helps protect the identity of the franchise. When every game is forced to answer the previous one, creative choices can become narrow. When each game is allowed to coexist with the others, the studio can pursue stronger concepts without being trapped by structure.

In that sense, the idea is not just about order. It is about longevity. A franchise that welcomes multiple starting points can survive longer and stay more approachable as its audience expands.

Why the Idea Resonates Beyond One Franchise

Although this discussion comes from a specific studio and series, the principle applies to many game worlds. More developers are recognizing that audiences do not always want a strict homework assignment before they can enjoy a sequel. Many players want a great standalone game first, with deeper connections to the wider universe as a bonus. That is especially true in genres built around exploration, where the feeling of being dropped into an unfamiliar place is a core part of the fun.

By leaning into that philosophy, Team Cherry may be signaling a broader design trend: universes can expand without becoming tangled. Games can share themes, histories, and imagery while still preserving independence. For players, that means more choice. For creators, it means more room to surprise people.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this mean Silksong will not continue the original story?

No. Silksong is still a sequel to Hollow Knight, but Team Cherry’s comments suggest future games may not need to follow one strict order.

Could someone play future Hollow Knight games out of order?

That seems to be the direction Team Cherry is interested in exploring. The goal would be to make each game understandable on its own.

Would this weaken the lore?

Not necessarily. It could actually preserve the mystery by letting each game reveal only what it needs to reveal.

Why is this approach good for new players?

It lowers the barrier to entry, so players do not have to worry about starting at a specific point in the series.

The Bigger Picture for Hollow Knight Fans

What makes Team Cherry’s thinking notable is not just that it points to more games, but that it hints at a long-term philosophy for how the franchise should grow. Hollow Knight was never simply about chaining together plot beats. It was about creating a place people want to visit, explore, and interpret. A future built on standalone but connected stories fits that identity remarkably well.

If Team Cherry continues down this path, the Hollow Knight universe could expand in a way that feels generous rather than demanding. Fans would still have the excitement of new discoveries, but they would not need to treat the series like a puzzle box with only one correct entry point. Instead, each new game could become a doorway into the same rich world from a different angle.

For a series already admired for its artistry and sense of scale, that is a promising direction. It suggests the next era of Hollow Knight could be less about keeping score in a timeline and more about creating memorable adventures that belong together, even when they do not depend on one another.