Since September 2025, I have been completely immersed in the world of Hollow Knight. I first conquered the original game years ago, revisited it later to watch my girlfriend play, and then waited with bated breath for the sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong. The announcement at Gamescom 2025 felt like a dream—the game was coming not just that year, but in a mere two weeks! I was on vacation at the time, and with a week left before Silksong's launch, I dove back in for a full Hollow Knight playthrough to prepare. Once that was done, it was finally time to play my most anticipated game of the year.

Two and a half months later, I've marathoned both games. I have lived and breathed within what I believe is one of the greatest video game worlds ever created, and I've emerged with a torrent of thoughts about both adventures. However, instead of dwelling on the past (yes, Silksong is now part of my gaming history), it feels like the perfect moment to start dreaming about what Team Cherry might do next with this incredible franchise. As I journeyed through the haunting depths of Hallownest and the silken spires of Pharloom, I met a host of fantastic, beautifully designed characters who stole my heart. If a third Hollow Knight game follows the trend set by Silksong—where the next protagonist was a side character in the previous game—then these are the characters I desperately want to see take the lead.

Shakra: The Wandering Warrior Seeking Purpose

I'll admit, I was skeptical about whoever would replace Cornifer as the map merchant in Silksong. How could anyone compare to that gentle, humming cartographer whose presence was always a relief? Yet, Shakra won me over almost instantly. She's a warrior from a small tribe that values combat prowess so deeply, they name each other after their chosen weapon. Finding her scattered shakras on the ground, much like Cornifer's quills, became a comforting ritual.

Shakra would be a phenomenal protagonist for several compelling reasons:

• A New Combat Paradigm: Unlike The Knight's nail or Hornet's needle and thread, Shakra's primary weapon is ranged. Building a combat system around her chakrams would be a major and thrilling departure, focusing on precision throws and tactical spacing.

• A Larger Scale: She's significantly bigger than our previous heroes—almost twice Hornet's size. Given the implications of Silksong's 'Passing of the Age' ending, a third game could take us to the Surface. The giant skull Hornet finds up there hints at colossal threats, and a protagonist of Shakra's stature might be the only one who could reasonably stand against them.

• A Poignant Personal Journey: Her narrative is ripe for exploration. After discovering her master's death, Shakra is adrift, seeking new meaning. We last saw her heroically defending Bellhart's citizens from the Void, buying Hornet precious time. With that crisis averted, her quest for personal purpose is the perfect hook for a new adventure. She needs to find out who she is when she's not defending a kingdom.

Zote the Mighty: An Unreliable Narrator's Tale

This idea isn't just narrative intrigue; it's rooted in Hollow Knight's history. During the original Kickstarter, Team Cherry had stretch goals for two new playable characters. One was Hornet, who got her own game. The promotional image for the second goal featured a character gazing into the distance who looked suspiciously like Zote.

Now, a lot of bugs in Hallownest share Zote's basic shape, including The Knight. While it's been all but confirmed Zote isn't a Vessel and is likely just a bug with severe daddy issues, that mystery is exactly the point. His desperate, unacknowledged need for his father's approval has forged an arrogant persona completely unbacked by skill—or so it seems. The powerful 'Zote the Mighty' and 'Grey Prince Zote' Dream bosses are presumably fantasies, not reality.

We know shockingly little about him, and that makes him fascinating. Team Cherry could flesh out his true past, or take a brilliantly meta approach. Imagine a game structured like Call of Juarez: Gunslinger, where an older, boastful Zote narrates an outlandish adventure. The gameplay would shift and morph as his story changes, leaving us to piece together which epic battles really happened and which are just the ravings of a delusional, loveable fool. 😂

Lace: The Daughter Unwoven

Lace shares a divine lineage with our previous heroes. While The Knight was born of the Pale King and White Lady, and Hornet is the daughter of the Pale King and Herrah the Beast, Lace was spun entirely from silk by Grand Mother Silk. Created alongside Phantom to be a devoted daughter and help wake her mother, Lace remained loyal even as Phantom unraveled. Her mother's obsession with Hornet's natural silk-weaving bred a jealousy so deep it eventually turned Lace against Grand Mother Silk herself.

Like Shakra, Lace's story in Silksong ends with her needing a new purpose. Hornet saved her from the Void, but in doing so, used the last of Grand Mother Silk's power. Lace is now untethered—motherless, purposeless, and severed from her creator. Her arc in Silksong mirrors Hornet's in the first game: an initial antagonist who evolves into a redemptive figure. This makes her an obvious candidate, but with a crucial difference: a profound self-loathing. Lace's journey wouldn't just be about finding a new goal; it would be about learning to value herself without her mother's defining influence. The potential for a raw, emotional character study is immense.

Quirrel: The Mystery of the Missing Years

Let's be honest: Quirrel is almost certainly gone. After The Knight fulfills his duty to Monomon, Quirrel speaks of weariness and a desire for rest. Returning to his spot by the Lake of Tears reveals only his nail, planted in the ground—a silent, powerful farewell from a bug who always stressed the importance of being armed.

Yet, his greatest story remains untold. Where was Quirrel before the events of Hollow Knight? Even he doesn't seem to know at first. He arrives in Hallownest with no memory of having been there before, despite playing a key role in sealing the Hollow Knight alongside Monomon. After her death, his memories return... but what happened in the interim? He left Hallownest after the sealing, then returned amnesiac. Why? Where did he go? What did he see? A prequel exploring Quirrel's lost journey—his adventures beyond Hallownest's borders—would be a beautifully melancholic and welcome change of pace, focusing on curiosity and discovery rather than apocalyptic stakes.

Hornet: The Eternal Protector

The Knight's tale feels complete. They were called back to Hallownest to contain the Infection, and they did. Hornet's story, however, feels like it's just entering a new chapter. We learned volumes about her in Silksong, but her self-appointed role as a traveling protector makes her the ideal recurring hero for this world.

She states near the end of Silksong that she failed one kingdom and refused to fail another. The guilt over Hallownest (however misplaced) and her success in Pharloom have cemented her identity. There would be nothing redundant about following Hornet to a third kingdom in peril. She could become the de facto guardian of this broken world. Or, perhaps more intriguingly, having reached the Surface, she could follow in the footsteps of the enigmatic Mister Mushroom and explore the vast, unknown world above the caverns we know. Hornet is a strong enough character—both in combat and in heart—to carry multiple games, and her journey of atonement and protection is far from over.

Sharpe: The Leader Cut From the Cloth

This is my wildcard pick. Steel Assassin Sharpe wasn't in Silksong, and that's what makes him so compelling. He was meant to be—he featured in the first trailer as the leader of a trio hunting Hornet. He was cut, but as a Kickstarter backer creation, Team Cherry has a history of honoring their supporters (look at Grimm!).

He could be saved for DLC, introduced in a similar, mysterious fashion. But what if he was shelved for a bigger role? It's a gamble—he lacks Hornet's pre-game fame. Yet, Team Cherry has built up immense goodwill. They could make a game about a soggy leaf and I'd play it. Sharpe offers a completely new perspective: a leader of a gang, not a child of gods. His fighting style—using his proboscis as both sword and whip—is unique. Exploring the world through the eyes of a professional assassin, dealing with underworld politics and contracts, would be a bold, fresh direction. It's the least likely path, but perhaps the most surprising one Team Cherry could take.

My journey through Hallownest and Pharloom has left me in awe of the characters Team Cherry creates. They feel alive, burdened, and deeply real. Whether we follow a warrior seeking purpose, a braggart hiding pain, a daughter finding herself, an explorer remembering, a protector atoning, or an assassin leading, the soil of this world is fertile for countless more stories. I, for one, cannot wait to see whose story we get to live next. The wait begins again, but the dream is forever vibrant. ✨