Status BMO Apr 13, 2026
Finally playing Islets after enjoying Crypt Custodian earlier this year, and I have to say that Kyle Thompson is quickly becoming one of my favourite game designers. As huge Hollow Knight fan I think Thompson's work actually scratches many of the same itches that Hollow Knight does, but in ways that are much gentler. Thompson never hold your hand through …
Read moreFinally playing Islets after enjoying Crypt Custodian earlier this year, and I have to say that Kyle Thompson is quickly becoming one of my favourite game designers. As huge Hollow Knight fan I think Thompson's work actually scratches many of the same itches that Hollow Knight does, but in ways that are much gentler. Thompson never hold your hand through his design, but he does shave off some of the friction that might turn some people away from Hollow Knight while still making exceptionally engaging and worthwhile metroidvanias. I also love the ay he handles his world building (literal assembly of his in-game land masses and spaces) and how his maps might be some of the most navigable I've encountered in a metroivania ever. I think some might find Thompsons games a bit more casual than Hollow Knight or Silksong but I think there is a niche for that, and these can easily be someone's comfort food metroidvania.
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