Choose Hollow Knight
Choose Hollow Knight if it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 176,306 Steam reviews back the pick.
Hollow Knight vs Pep-Pel
Hollow Knight and Pep-Pel both land in Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam. Hollow Knight (2017) is 6 years older than Pep-Pel (2023). Hollow Knight scores higher on Steam reviews (97.1% positive) than Pep-Pel (85% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Pep-Pel
Choose Pep-Pel if it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Pep-Pel launched in 2023.
Both Hollow Knight and Pep-Pel sit in Action, Indie, and Adventure on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Hollow Knight |  Pep-Pel | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2023 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure | Action, Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Playable |
| Price | 14.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 97.1% positive (176,306 reviews) | 85% positive (20 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Team Cherry | SlugGlove |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Hollow Knight (2017) is 6 years older than Pep-Pel (2023).
- Hollow Knight scores higher on Steam reviews (97.1% positive) than Pep-Pel (85% positive).
- Pep-Pel is free; Hollow Knight is paid (14.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: Hollow Knight is Deck Verified, Pep-Pel is Deck Playable.
Hollow Knight vs Pep-Pel — FAQ
- Should I play Hollow Knight or Pep-Pel first?
- If you want chronology, Hollow Knight (2017) came out before Pep-Pel (2023). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Hollow Knight and Pep-Pel similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Is Pep-Pel free?
- Yes — Pep-Pel is a free-to-play Steam title. Hollow Knight is paid (14.99 USD).