I can vouch only for the first one. Its so cool. Ths aesthetics, the lore, the story, the bosses... Oh and a banger soundtrack!

While I guess you ask because you want to know if the story of the first is important to the second and I can't answer that because I only played the first. But If you like hard but rewarding Metrodvania games and you are interested in the weird and interesting religious/horror pixel aesthetic I say: definitely play the first Blasphemous!

If this interests you, no reason not to play the first! I personally bounced off of it, but I don't think that is the game's fault.

The game's combat strikes a unique balance between "slow and deliberate" (ala Dark Souls) and traditional fast-paced platformer combat. I went in wanting the game to feel like Hollow Knight, and it is definitely not the same. You don't play a bouncy lil bug man, you play a big heavy knight. Big heavy knight + platforming felt like a weird combo to me, so I put it down. But not every game is for everybody!

in a week, my friend. on the 24th