How to know where to go?

[Monster]

Sorry guys, I don't really play Metroidvania or other same genre games. Usually My-kind-of-games have missions, and quest givers say where to go.

But how you play this Metroidvania genres? How you know where to go? Currently I killed Hornet, and after that I've no clue where to head now.

[Hexamicor]

Back track and look for any paths you couldn't reach before as you know have new abilities. That's how it usually goes in metroidvanias.

[Loc⁧⁧h]

What do you usually play? Metroidvanias are kinda unique 'cause they not only encourage exploration, they require it. Make sure you go through every nook and cranny to find everything. If you've found the map then that'll help. At least narrow it down a little

[WaterPocket]

You just have to keep exploring, look at your map and try and find locations you weren't able to reach before. You'll end up revisiting every area because you'll unlock new powers that let you access new areas. There isn't really a straight path to follow, you can hit different areas at different points in the game and it won't effect your progression.

[Nareik]

Originally posted by Fox 🦊:

Sorry guys, I don't really play Metroidvania or other same genre games. Usually My-kind-of-games have missions, and quest givers say where to go.

But how you play this Metroidvania genres? How you know where to go? Currently I killed Hornet, and after that I've no clue where to head now.

I know that these games are supposed to be about exploring and all, but I honestly got bored trying to figure out where to go after I beat Hornet, so I'm just going to tell you.

There's this place, near the bottom of Crossroads, where you can only get past a ledge by using the dash ability. That leads to a whole new area. I can't really describe it any better than that, sorry. It's near the very bottom of Crossroads, close to the left side of the map.

If it rings any bells, the ledge protrudes above a small cavern with two or three geo nodes inside.

[Kawalorn]

You don't.

Part of this games charm is exploring the unknown.

On my first playthrough I accidentaly got a rather late upgrade quite early. :D

[Annie T. Mood]

Originally posted by Kawalorn:

You don't.

Part of this games charm is exploring the unknown.

On my first playthrough I accidentaly got a rather late upgrade quite early. :D

The same can go for getting an early upgrade way late in the game. It's part of what makes this a great metroidvania game.

[Lydian ♭7]

Originally posted by Nareik:

There's this place, near the bottom of Crossroads, where you can only get past a ledge by using the dash ability. That leads to a whole new area. I can't really describe it any better than that, sorry. It's near the very bottom of Crossroads, close to the left side of the map.

If it rings any bells, the ledge protrudes above a small cavern with two or three geo nodes inside.

Actually don't do that. You should keep going downwards into Greenpath.

Originally posted by Fox 🦊:

Sorry guys, I don't really play Metroidvania or other same genre games. Usually My-kind-of-games have missions, and quest givers say where to go.

But how you play this Metroidvania genres? How you know where to go? Currently I killed Hornet, and after that I've no clue where to head now.

Buy the map when you enter an area, equip the Wayward Compass charm, then consult the map whenever you're stuck. Look for areas that you haven't fully explored, see if you can reach them.
In general, at least in the early game, you want to exhaust everything you can do in the area you're in, then go and find a new area (don't backtrack too much yet).
This is something of a pattern in Metroidvanias: there is a first part where you're locked into a mostly linear path until you get some upgrades, then about 1/3 into the game the world really opens up. Hollow Knight in particular opens up when you get either the Charge Dash (Crystal Heart) or the ground smash move (Desolate Dive)

[Lydian ♭7]

(Also if you're not a Metroidvania expert: later down the road, when you meet the Mantis Lords, don't fight them yet, find another path and go towards the center of the map).

[Fredrikorex]

A good idea is to go back to dirtmouth and listen through all of the old mans dialogue, he will keep mentioning the area you're suggested to go to.

Or rather, he'll repeat it before mentioning the bench. You can enter one of the shops and come out and he'll repeat the suggested area.