I don’t mind exploration. The problem was there wasn’t a clear “where you should go next to progress the main story” in Hollow Knight, so I instead spent a bunch of time wandering aimlessly, hit a brick wall of progress, and got frustrated.

I liked Ori because it gave you guidance for a general “area” you can go to progress the main story, but still gives you the ability to explore with side quests when you want to get off track a bit. I completed 80% of the collectables in Will of the Wisps and explored nearly the entire map.