Uploaded November 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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I’m developing Ultranova, an action-adventure platformer. In the process, I’m analyzing successful games to learn what makes them captivating.

I must decide whether to make a linear level-based platformer or if I should make a non-linear Metroidvania game that encourages you to explore and unlock one large world.

In this video, I look at Hollow Knight, an extremely popular 2D Metroidvania platformer released in February 2017 by Team Cherry, a small Australian indie team.

Wishlist Ultranova on Steam:
store.steampowered.com/app/2384360/Ultranova

Get Hollow Knight on Steam:
store.steampowered.com/app/367520/Hollow_Knight

★ REFERENCES ★

I bought Hollow Knight on Steam and recorded my own gameplay footage for most of this video.

The Making of Hollow Knight (Interview):
gameinformer.com/2018/10/16/the-making-of-hollow-knight

Hollow Knight Unity article:
unity.com/madewith/hollow-knight

State of the Art: The Elegiac Beauty Of Hollow Knight:
rockpapershotgun.com/hollow-knight-concept-art

Hollow Knight Press Kit:
drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SPCRaalJJepKYOQ4fdxZEzqNukJiUQCo

YouTube - Math for Game Programmers: Building a Better Jump:
youtube.com/watch?v=hG9SzQxaCm8

YouTube - A Q&A Session For New Game Writers:
youtube.com/watch?v=vGCeTgmG1F8

YouTube - Greak: Memories of Azur Trailer:
store.steampowered.com/app/1311070/Greak_Memories_of_Azur

Vector Art Platrofmer - Image by upklyak on Freepik

★ ABOUT ME ★

I'm Imphenzia, and I do YouTube videos mostly about game development, 3D modeling, and game assets. I am Swedish, but I currently live in Brisbane / Australia, where I run an independent game development company, Imphenzia Pty Ltd.

★ LINKS ★

My website:
imphenzia.com

My LEARN LOW POLY Character Modeling - Blender 3.5 Full Course: youtu.be/PTWV67qUX2k

Support me on Patreon:
patreon.com/imphenzia

My Universal Sound FX asset with 7000+: game sounds:
imphenzia.com/universal-sound-fx

Imphenzia Discord server invite:
discord.gg/sR7pZ4B

Imphenzia Instagram:
instagram.com/imphenzia

Imphenzia on X:
https://x.com/imphenzia

Imphenzia itch.Io page with all my Ludum Dare games:
imphenzia.itch.io

Imphenzia Merch:
teespring.com/stores/imphenzia

In-depth learn how Low Poly Modeling in Blender:
youtube.com/watch?v=1jHUY3qoBu8

Thanks for watching!!