Hollow Knight

 PC
User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 2265 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,028 out of 2265
  2. Mixed: 123 out of 2265
  3. Negative: 114 out of 2265

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  1. aaaskeptic
    Feb 12, 2023
    10
    This is my favorite Metroidvania ever.
    The only game that can accurately replicate the feeling I get from Dark Souls atmosphere and vibes. Not every mechanic might be for everyone, but it hit all the marks for me.
    Some cons that for me are completely outweighed by the sheer amount of pros: - Fast travel is a bit tedious - Might involve a bit more backtracking - Some quests /    This is my favorite Metroidvania ever.
    The only game that can accurately replicate the feeling I get from Dark Souls atmosphere and vibes. Not every mechanic might be for everyone, but it hit all the marks for me.

    Some cons that for me are completely outweighed by the sheer amount of pros:
    - Fast travel is a bit tedious
    - Might involve a bit more backtracking
    - Some quests / activities in the game are not as good as the rest    … Expand
  2. futuredestroy
    Feb 16, 2023
    10
    Absolutely amazing indie game. Art, sprites, backgrounds are all amazing, with their own style and all in 2D. Music is amazing and only gets better as you get to later boss fights. The map is filled with content and puzzles and is absolutely massive. This is both a positive and a negative. Backtracking takes a long time because of the map's size, but there's also something in every cornerAbsolutely amazing indie game. Art, sprites, backgrounds are all amazing, with their own style and all in 2D. Music is amazing and only gets better as you get to later boss fights. The map is filled with content and puzzles and is absolutely massive. This is both a positive and a negative. Backtracking takes a long time because of the map's size, but there's also something in every corner of the map for you to explore. The game is also non-linear meaning you can explore areas in any order so long as you find an alternate route into one.

    Platforming is satisfying and at some points a little difficult. Combat feels smooth, has many options using "charms" that you equip to enhance your character in one way or another. Most fights you get into a rhythm of when you dodge and when you attack once you know your enemy. Patience is key for the harder bosses, if you're stuck, either watch a tip video or come back later, no shame in that and there's nothing saying you have to do everything in one sitting.

    While this game isn't a soulslike, it has a couple elements you might notice from the souls games. Namely, that you lose currency on death, enemies respawn when you die or use a bench (your bonfire), and that bosses are fairly difficult until you learn their pattern and telegraphs.

    A 100% playthrough as a casual took me just over 20 hours. Replaying knowing what I was doing, I did an any% in 2 hours 50 minutes. To do all DLC content (which is free and automatically integrated into the game on install) will take several more hours, especially for Godmaster content.

    For 100% of achievements expect it to take probably 40-100 hours. The rarer achievements are EXTREMELY difficult but can be done with patience, planning, and time.

    Highly recommend to anyone. Only two things I can see turning people away are the difficulty and the navigation/backtracking.    … Expand
  3. Godlikereviews
    Feb 18, 2023
    10
    Hollow knight is a truly godlike game that is not over-hyped by any means. Frankly, if you don't have this game in your steam library you don't have a good steam library no matter what else you have in it. The ambiance, music, bosses, environment, enemies, locations and more encapsulate you in this beautiful world. If you don't play this game in your life you have not lived. Might be myHollow knight is a truly godlike game that is not over-hyped by any means. Frankly, if you don't have this game in your steam library you don't have a good steam library no matter what else you have in it. The ambiance, music, bosses, environment, enemies, locations and more encapsulate you in this beautiful world. If you don't play this game in your life you have not lived. Might be my favorite game DEFINITELY in my top 3. I can't find 1 thing I don't like about this game :). Thank you team cherry!! :)… Expand
  4. APolChrome
    Jun 28, 2023
    10
    (Reseña sacada de mi ceunta de Steam: APolChrome)

    Hollow Knight es de los mejores juegos que he jugado. Simplemente eso. Es prácticamente perfecto. Team Cherry ha hecho un trabajo maravilloso para sacar este metroidvania con tanta personalidad. El mapa es de los mejores que me he encontrado en un videojuego. Un diseño muy bien estructurado y desafiante que hará las delicias de    (Reseña sacada de mi ceunta de Steam: APolChrome)

    Hollow Knight es de los mejores juegos que he jugado. Simplemente eso. Es prácticamente perfecto. Team Cherry ha hecho un trabajo maravilloso para sacar este metroidvania con tanta personalidad.

    El mapa es de los mejores que me he encontrado en un videojuego. Un diseño muy bien estructurado y desafiante que hará las delicias de quienes les guste un juego difícil. El mapa se combina con una cantidad absurda de enemigos muy variados que cambian dependiendo de la zona, de objetos y mejoras repartidas por este para seguir avanzando y algunos jefes que serán picos de dificultad para demostrar si estás preparado para seguir.

    Visualmente, es precioso. Tiene una variedad de diseños, entornos y objetos increíble que combinan perfectamente visualmente. Tiene una paleta de colores muy bonita que diferencia tipos de enemigos, zonas, personajes y bastantes más cosas. También, la música es muy buena, teniendo joyitas como la de la pantalla de título, que presenta (a mi parecer) lo dura que será la aventura.

    Jugablemente es de lo mejor que he probado. El control es súper fluido, tiene muchas mecánicas muy bien usadas en cada momento, el combate es súper desafiante pero a manos de expertos es increíble lo fluido que es todo y el sistema de muerte me ha encantado. Aunque otros juegos como Dark Souls hacen algo muy parecido, aquí le dan un trasfondo que hace que no se sienta forzada la mecánica.

    Los NPCs tienen muchísima personalidad y te acabas encariñando (u odiando, te miro a ti Zote) con algunos. como Connifer o los guardias que hay alrededor del mundo. Además, se nota que cada uno tiene necesidad de estar ahí, ninguno está de relleno y todos aportan algo. La historia me ha gustado bastante, más que por cómo es por cómo la cuentan. Como en los Souls, tendremos que ir explorando el mundo para leer ruinas, ver estatuas y en general, inspeccionar todo para que los jugadores atemos cabos y averigüemos el misterio del Hollow Knight.

    Hollow Knight es una obra maestra y se ha convertido en uno de mis juegos favoritos de la historia. Es arte hecha videojuego.    … Expand
  5. BluluSenpai
    Mar 2, 2023
    10
    this is the greatest 2d game of all time no ... this is the greatest game of all time it is so good
  6. egellon
    Mar 14, 2023
    10
    Excellent game with awesome atmosphere and graphics! 100% can recommend to anyone.
  7. Puggoh
    Aug 7, 2023
    10
    Best game ever made. Adventuring is amazing, combat is snappy. You can make a lot of different builds, such as spells, melee, or just joking around. There is literally a Snail charm!

    This is abridged from my review on the Nintendo Switch version, but I hope you buy this game. It’s literally 15 bucks! Also,


    WHEN SILKSONG?!?!??!!???!11??!?
  8. ivanmmq18
    Mar 19, 2023
    10
    No es solo, en mi opinión, el mejor juego indie de la historia, sino que también el mejor videojuego de su género. Un gameplay refinado, tanto adictivo como desafiante, y una movilidad en constante evolución que permite llegar a zonas donde antes no era posible llegar. Pero donde reside la mágia de Hollow knight es en la exploración, no saber que te espera en el siguiente rincón y ver,No es solo, en mi opinión, el mejor juego indie de la historia, sino que también el mejor videojuego de su género. Un gameplay refinado, tanto adictivo como desafiante, y una movilidad en constante evolución que permite llegar a zonas donde antes no era posible llegar. Pero donde reside la mágia de Hollow knight es en la exploración, no saber que te espera en el siguiente rincón y ver, poco a poco, cada una de las regiones de Hallownest. Por no hablar también de los bosses y la increíble banda sonora de Cristopher Larkin. Un videojuego que todo el mundo debería intentar, incluso si el género no te llama la atención. Solo espero que Silksong pueda mantener la calidad, porque el listón no podía estar más alto… Expand
  9. Emre_
    Mar 27, 2023
    10
    ı love this game. REALLY NİCE. my god pls clear my memory about hollow knight because l wanna again play. THANKS FOR THİS GAME TEAM CHERRY :)))
  10. Samwisethesmall
    Apr 15, 2023
    10
    Brilliant. The music mixed with the environmental storytelling makes for a truly haunting experience where you, the knight, must trek through a long ruined kingdom.
  11. FunkyFish
    Apr 13, 2023
    10
    Hollow Knight is easily the greatest game I've ever played. Its art style is pleasing to the naked eye and the soundtrack is miraculous. Team Cherry really hit the vibe they were going for with the atmosphere. The game takes its difficulty with no remorse and slaps you in the face with intense, hard boss fights. Its metroidvania part, "Hallownest" is a wonder to explore, attempting toHollow Knight is easily the greatest game I've ever played. Its art style is pleasing to the naked eye and the soundtrack is miraculous. Team Cherry really hit the vibe they were going for with the atmosphere. The game takes its difficulty with no remorse and slaps you in the face with intense, hard boss fights. Its metroidvania part, "Hallownest" is a wonder to explore, attempting to decipher all of the lore tablets in order to uncover the secrets of this lost kingdom...… Expand
  12. Metrallo_
    Apr 23, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Juegardo, goty y su secuela goty.
    Simplemente el mejor metroidvania e indie junto a stardew valley    … Expand
  13. Nasa343
    Apr 23, 2023
    10
    Para mis es el juego perfecto lo puedo jugar por horas y no me canso, no hay nada que se pueda mejorar, es perfecto
  14. Maafe
    Apr 28, 2023
    10
    One day I'll beat the last pantheon, one **** day.

    The most atmospheric and lively 2d game I can see, from incredible music to the best gameplay around, this hame deserves every praise you can give
  15. samuar
    Apr 29, 2023
    10
    Este juego es increíble, es un buen reto para alguien que quiera algo no tan fácil, pero si no te gusta lo difícil te recomiendo no probarlo porque posiblemente no te guste, pero por mi parte le doy un 20/10 para mi es increíble.
  16. Loop2zer0
    May 2, 2023
    10
    من افضل الالعاب اللي لعبتها في حياتي لعبة تستحق تقييم 10 بكل راحة ال gameplay مش طبيعي وال music من افضل ما سمعت والقصة الغامضة وجمال المناطق 10/10لعبة للتاريخ✅
  17. Rokku96
    May 6, 2023
    10
    Hollow Knight is an exceptional action-adventure game that offers a challenging and rewarding experience. The game's intricate world design, tight controls, and engaging combat mechanics make it a standout title in the genre. As a player, you take on the role of a small insect knight exploring a vast underground world filled with danger and mystery.

    The game's visuals are breathtaking,    Hollow Knight is an exceptional action-adventure game that offers a challenging and rewarding experience. The game's intricate world design, tight controls, and engaging combat mechanics make it a standout title in the genre. As a player, you take on the role of a small insect knight exploring a vast underground world filled with danger and mystery.

    The game's visuals are breathtaking, with detailed hand-drawn artwork that brings the game's world to life. The game's music is also exceptional, with a haunting and atmospheric soundtrack that perfectly complements the game's mood and tone.

    The game's exploration and progression systems are also noteworthy, with a variety of abilities and upgrades to unlock that allow the player to access new areas and take on more powerful enemies. The game's boss battles are particularly memorable, with each boss having a unique design and attack pattern that requires the player to carefully observe and react to their movements.

    Overall, Hollow Knight is a must-play for fans of action-adventure games. With its stunning visuals, exceptional music, and engaging gameplay mechanics, Hollow Knight is a game that will keep you hooked from beginning to end.    … Expand
  18. asdgasgea
    May 12, 2023
    10
    ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ
  19. ddaavvii
    May 14, 2023
    10
    Perfeito, maravilhoso, sensacional, incrível, ofuscante, deslumbrante, revoltantemente bom
  20. Gen0cider
    May 21, 2023
    10
    Goty every year
    Goty every year
    Goty every year
    Goty every year
    Goty every year
  21. Dani007
    May 23, 2023
    10
    A really beautiful game with a great storyline and bosses that are satisfying to beat.
  22. Yusufkerem
    May 29, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Şu ana kadar yapılmış en iyi indie oyun ve oyun dünyasındaki en kaliteli hikayelerden birine sahip. Görsel dizayn ve tasarım da hikaye anlatımını destekliyor ve size bir şölen yaşatıyor. Alın oynayın.… Expand
  23. BBrasil2014
    Jun 1, 2023
    10
    Un juego casi perfecto y el mejor metroidvania al que he jugado. Estética y banda sonora brutales, combate exigente (aprovecha muy bien sus mecánicas), jefes muy distintos. Aunque la historia no es su motivo principal, también está muy lograda. Totalmente recomendado, tanto el juego principal como sus dlcs.
  24. RafaelCst2007
    May 30, 2023
    10
    Juego muy recomendable, tiene una buena jugabilidad, la batalla contra los enemigos y jefes se tienen muy fluidas, una buena ambientación y tiene una buena historia.
  25. Lodsom
    Jun 2, 2023
    10
    Para mim esse jogo foi uma das melhores experiências que eu tive, tenho no console mais 100 horas no jogo e no pc tenho 75 horas. A trilha sonora é ótima, npcs cativantes, cenários lindos e claro
    claro que tem boss fights ótimas. Esse jogo mudou bastante o conceito de jogo bom para mim e provavelmente pode mudar a de muitas outras pessoas. Caso tenha a oportunidade.. JOGUE!
  26. CollectorRed
    Jun 19, 2023
    10
    This game is quite the adventure! A 2d platformer with epic boss battles, fun map exploration, intriguing lore, awesome music, and an emotionally touching story. This is a gem of a game, and worth far more than the price tag. 10/10 fun.
  27. Gustavo_bah
    Jun 16, 2023
    10
    Vou falar apenas 3 coisas sobre esse jogos e essas coisa são:

    1. Atmosfera e Arte: Hollow Knight possui uma atmosfera única e cativante. Seu mundo é sombrio, misterioso e repleto de detalhes, com uma estética visual impressionante. A arte desenhada à mão é rica em detalhes, com cenários belos e sombrios que criam uma imersão profunda. 2. Jogabilidade e Desafio: O jogo apresenta uma    Vou falar apenas 3 coisas sobre esse jogos e essas coisa são:

    1. Atmosfera e Arte: Hollow Knight possui uma atmosfera única e cativante. Seu mundo é sombrio, misterioso e repleto de detalhes, com uma estética visual impressionante. A arte desenhada à mão é rica em detalhes, com cenários belos e sombrios que criam uma imersão profunda.

    2. Jogabilidade e Desafio: O jogo apresenta uma jogabilidade desafiadora, mas justa. Os controles são precisos e responsivos, permitindo que os jogadores dominem as habilidades necessárias para enfrentar os inimigos e superar os obstáculos. O combate é fluido e gratificante, exigindo estratégia e habilidade para vencer os inimigos cada vez mais difíceis.

    3. Exploração e Descoberta: O mundo de Hollow Knight é vasto e cheio de segredos para descobrir. Os jogadores são incentivados a explorar cada canto do mapa, encontrando áreas ocultas, personagens interessantes e itens úteis. A progressão não é linear, o que proporciona uma sensação de liberdade e aventura.

    Eu gostei muito desse jogo eu desisti de jogar ele algumas vezes, principalmente no início, mas mesmo assim um amigo falava para eu dar mais uma chance, ele falava isso todas as vezes e eu agradeço ele, hoje esse jogo é o meu favorito sofri um pouco para pegar todos os troféus pois é muito difícil mas eu consegui eu recomendo esse jogo para todo mundo que aprecia uma arte, desafio, passar um pouco de raiva as vezes e também uma trilha sonora fascinante.
    Se você não jogou ainda pode ir lá sem medo de se arrepender    … Expand
  28. Escorpio
    Jun 20, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Hollow Knight is a very interesting game, considering that it has an amazing graphic, a complex and interesting story, with clear objectives and a complex system of missions that can change the course of the game, with a variety of 6 different endings, this game have an extensive map, in addition to having original and very interesting mechanics that provide the player with a unique and wonderful gameplay, it is also worth noting the quality of the setting, the sound and the music, finally this game offers the player a variety of options to choose your progress in the game providing challenges and difficulty when facing a boss, such as the Grimm Nightmare King or the Pure Vessel.… Expand
  29. ChargingCable
    Jul 2, 2023
    10
    Masterpiece.
    This is best game in my life.
    If you don't hate metrovania or Dark Soul style, this game will give you the best experience.
  30. Danfisof
    Jul 3, 2023
    10
    Simplemente el mejor juego que he tocado en mi vida, no hay palabras para describir lo bueno que es, lo más cercano a un juego perfecto
  31. juiio_9383
    Jul 3, 2023
    10
    This is definitely the best game ever there is no way to complain about this marvel of the modern world, no words just 10
  32. VSL_
    Jul 14, 2023
    10
    Это лучшее во что я играл
    Классика в мире игровой индустрии. Каждый уважающий себя геймер обязан поиграть в это произведение исскуства. 'Hollow knight' - сокровище в мире инди-игр и метроидваний
    Определённо лучшая метроидвания и инди-игра, а также игра с глубочайшим лором на уровне 'Warhammer 40 000' 10 диких аспидов из 10 и ещё не доверяйте банкирам    Это лучшее во что я играл
    Классика в мире игровой индустрии. Каждый уважающий себя геймер обязан поиграть в это произведение исскуства. 'Hollow knight' - сокровище в мире инди-игр и метроидваний
    Определённо лучшая метроидвания и инди-игра, а также игра с глубочайшим лором на уровне 'Warhammer 40 000'
    10 диких аспидов из 10
    и ещё не доверяйте банкирам
  33. Tink-Tank
    Aug 6, 2023
    10
    This game is a masterpiece. In my opinion, it is the best game of all time, The combat is perfect and polished, the atmosphere and music are perfect, and the worldbuilding and story are excellent.
  34. Seroby
    Aug 7, 2023
    10
    Amazing game, here is my opinion on it.
    Soundtrack: 9/10
    Bosses: 10/10
    Mechanics: 9/10
    Gameplay: 10/10
    Controls: Adjustable so automatic 10/10
    My only complaint is that there isn't multiplayer, but there is a multitude of mods which allow this to happen. If you are on the fence about buying this game get it! You wont regret it, and even if you do steam has a 2 hour refund policy.
  35. aesirus96
    Aug 15, 2023
    10
    Não importa quantas vezes você morra no mesmo ponto, a vontade de continuar é maior que a de desistir. Extremamente cativante, um mapa enorme, diversas conquistas, itens interessantes e úteis fazem com que Hollow Knight se torne um dos meus jogos favoritos. No início, odiei ter que ir atrás da alma para retornar com os geos, mas nada que, com o tempo, você se acostume e veja que isso é oNão importa quantas vezes você morra no mesmo ponto, a vontade de continuar é maior que a de desistir. Extremamente cativante, um mapa enorme, diversas conquistas, itens interessantes e úteis fazem com que Hollow Knight se torne um dos meus jogos favoritos. No início, odiei ter que ir atrás da alma para retornar com os geos, mas nada que, com o tempo, você se acostume e veja que isso é o que faz o game ser cativante.… Expand
  36. Vegal
    Aug 22, 2023
    10
    Simplemente es una obra maestra. Puede que te guste mas o menos el juego pero siendo objetivos es sin lugar a dudas uno de los mejores videojuegos en su género. Hollow Knight es un juego desarrollado por un estudio independiente de muy pocas personas y muy poco presupuesto lo que le da aun mas valor. Su historia es muy elaborada y profunda al nivel de un Dark soul sin serlo, su diseño deSimplemente es una obra maestra. Puede que te guste mas o menos el juego pero siendo objetivos es sin lugar a dudas uno de los mejores videojuegos en su género. Hollow Knight es un juego desarrollado por un estudio independiente de muy pocas personas y muy poco presupuesto lo que le da aun mas valor. Su historia es muy elaborada y profunda al nivel de un Dark soul sin serlo, su diseño de niveles y personajes es totalmente acorde a dicha historia, artisticamente es hermoso. La música es magistral, tranquila y nostálgica en ciertas zonas y acompaña también los combates, su jugabilidad es divertida y consiste un buen desafío. Gráficamente es un 10 si tenemos en cuenta que es 2D. Por mas que piense en un aspecto negativo de este juego no puedo encontrarlo por eso creo que merece la calificación de 10 ya que es un juego que es excelente e impecable en todo lo que pretende hacer. Lo único que cambiaría es el tema del Bug de inmortalidad ya que esto entorpece mucho la experiencia de juego… Expand
  37. thrkk
    Aug 31, 2023
    10
    Jogo magnífico, um dos melhores que já joguei .........................................
  38. ivanva104
    Sep 9, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Juegazo que probablemente sea el mejor metroidvania de todos los tiempos con una sencillez única y a las tan perfecto con unas bandas sonoras unos jefes y un mapa que explorar lo hacen este tremendo juegazo tan especial ademas nunca te perderás pues aunque es muy intuitivo nunca te vas a encontrar perdido juegazo se mire por donde se mire… Expand
  39. sh4dow
    Mar 23, 2017
    9
    I find it odd - one almost can't throw a stone without hitting a criticism about this game.
    Bad performance, bugs, bad map system and so on.
    Yet... I feel that is possibly the best Metroidvania I have ever played (and I'm always desperately searching out any that is released because on average, there is only like one good one per year) and thus find that the game deserves much more    I find it odd - one almost can't throw a stone without hitting a criticism about this game.
    Bad performance, bugs, bad map system and so on.

    Yet... I feel that is possibly the best Metroidvania I have ever played (and I'm always desperately searching out any that is released because on average, there is only like one good one per year) and thus find that the game deserves much more praise than it gets.

    Why?

    For one thing, no other Metroidvania has ever made me observe enemy attack patterns and adjust my own THIS much. If you blindly strike at enemies, chances are you won't get very far. Which is in fact also something that people have complained about. Probably because they simply don't realize that with this game, you need to take your time in most battles. And learn to dodge. Which is probably why there is the dash move instead of a double jump (which does exist but you get only very late in the game).

    For another, it is gorgeous AND really well-designed. Yes, those two are separate things. By the latter I mean the way things work in the game. It's not just the combat system that has obviously been thought about a lot and that is REALLY unique (the person at Rock Paper Shotgun who wrote that review IMO has no clue what they're talking about). Also the many details and mechanics in the world, such as the many characters one can find and interact with. Also like being e.g. able to achieve piece with a faction in the game which not only affects the bosses but also the surrounding environments. Widespread change in behavior that I don't think I've seen in a Metroidvania before.
    It is also HUGE! I've been playing for over 25 hours now and I'm still on my first playthrough! And it's not just that the world is big but there are over 100 different of those hand-animated enemies. The amount of work gone into that must've been insane! Now... I must admit that probably because of that, the animation quality varies. Some elements were obviously drawn with less frames per second than others and thus stutter a bit. But still... for a game priced this low, it's mind-boggling and I already feel like I've gotten my money's worth and then some.

    All of that said, Hollow Knight definitely has the flaws mentioned in the beginning. While I have not encountered bad performance myself (and I'm running this on a 4 year old midrange graphics card), nor any bugs, I doubt that people would make this up. (While it may be up to optimization in this case, I actually feel that it's great if a 2D game has so much going on visually that it requires an at least somewhat beefy graphics card.)

    And I do find the map system bad and also don't appreciate the relatively infrequent save points. Once the map is uncovered and you have some abilities unlocked and you can plan a reasonable route, it's not so bad but getting there does feel annoying at times, since one can't just play the game at one's own pace but has to look for the next save point if one wants to take a break. Plus, it always seems like a cheap way of making games seem longer than they are - having you repeat areas leading up to a boss over and over. And the game world is so huge that it wouldn't be needed - so I really don't get why they decided to do this.

    In the end, in my opinion the many original aspects of the game make the negative aspects lose almost all importance. Of course I hope that the sequel (there simply has GOT to be a sequel. Or at least a spiritual successor) will not suffer from these issues. But I'm still having one hell of a time with this game.    … Expand
  40. gozu
    Mar 19, 2017
    9
    A well executed metroidvania game with a very unique and enticing art style. The gameplay is rock solid with good control mechanics, challenging bosses and competent level design. The game is a labor of love and if you like metroid or castlevania (and if you don't, what is WRONG with you??) you should buy this game with your eyes closed.

    Congratulations to Team Cherry for a fantastic    A well executed metroidvania game with a very unique and enticing art style. The gameplay is rock solid with good control mechanics, challenging bosses and competent level design. The game is a labor of love and if you like metroid or castlevania (and if you don't, what is WRONG with you??) you should buy this game with your eyes closed.

    Congratulations to Team Cherry for a fantastic job! You guys rock! Can't wait to play what you make next.

    The only reason I'm giving it a 9/10 instead of 10/10 is because the map can be confusing and I found myself getting lost and doing a lot of backtracking. I think I am below average when it comes to memorizing map layouts in general though, so take it with a pinch of salt.    … Expand
  41. TwoEars
    Jan 15, 2020
    9
    A beautiful, original and nearly perfect metroidvania type game, if you like these types of games you can stop reading now. You're going to like this game, probably a lot. If there are any criticisms to be made I will say that:

    1) The game is a little bit of a slow starter and it wasn't until maybe 3h in that the game really clicked for me. You don't have many abilities in the beginning    A beautiful, original and nearly perfect metroidvania type game, if you like these types of games you can stop reading now. You're going to like this game, probably a lot. If there are any criticisms to be made I will say that:

    1) The game is a little bit of a slow starter and it wasn't until maybe 3h in that the game really clicked for me. You don't have many abilities in the beginning and at first I didn't realize how big the game was going to be, or how advanced the combat and movement would become.
    2) The difficulty is quite high in places and there is no "easy mode". This is by no means a casual game but one which will force you to learn enemy attack patterns, unlock all movement options and get all the upgrades you can find. I think a difficulty selector would have made the game accessible to more people.
    3) I would have welcomed the possibility to equip more "charms", maybe 15 notches or so would have been nice. It would have made the playstyle a bit more flexible so you're not locked into "either a sword or magic or health focus" type build. It would also have gone some ways towards alleviating the difficulty concerns for a lot of people.
    4) Late game traversing the game world can be a bit of a chore since fast travel is quite limited. I think they're rolling out some kind of feature to fix that now but when I was playing this wasn't available.

    I will also say that a game controller is highly recommended, I used an xbox controller and that worked great. And if you also have a 100hz monitor or more that's even better, this game is quite fast and has tight timings so a slow TV might not be the best option.    … Expand
  42. Amsheagar
    Mar 7, 2023
    9
    Its a very nice and athmospheric game with fluid gameplay. Sometimes i felt desperate and lost because this game is a huge labirinth with more secret doors, walls and entrances. I finished the game without entering 3 whole areas, because i didnt find them. I was very sad when i saw that in wiki. Without guide you feel lost. The inventory, skills and equipment system is very good. I reallyIts a very nice and athmospheric game with fluid gameplay. Sometimes i felt desperate and lost because this game is a huge labirinth with more secret doors, walls and entrances. I finished the game without entering 3 whole areas, because i didnt find them. I was very sad when i saw that in wiki. Without guide you feel lost. The inventory, skills and equipment system is very good. I really liked it, though i feel the nail arts useless. Overall, this is a fantastic game with good story and unique world and atmosphere.… Expand
  43. Vok
    Mar 14, 2017
    9
    To say Hollow Knight is a 2D action adventure game is to say that an Aston Martin is a car. Both statements are true but simultaneously grossly inadequate. Hollow Knight is so much more than the sum of its parts and trying to create a concise, yet complete description is difficult at best. It is massive, beautiful and challenging and while it isn’t perfect it’s few flaws are easilyTo say Hollow Knight is a 2D action adventure game is to say that an Aston Martin is a car. Both statements are true but simultaneously grossly inadequate. Hollow Knight is so much more than the sum of its parts and trying to create a concise, yet complete description is difficult at best. It is massive, beautiful and challenging and while it isn’t perfect it’s few flaws are easily forgiven thanks to its sheer brilliance.

    From the outset Hollow Knight provides few hints on the direction forward. The game proper begins when you descend to the ruins under the town of Dirtmouth where you face your first decision – left or right.

    What begins as a slightly maddening lack of direction soon becomes an exhilarating sense of freedom. While Hollow Knight has its share of rewards in items and the game’s currency, geo, the real reward is just seeing what’s on the other side. After 30 hours Hollow Knight was still able to surprise me in both presentation and diversity of location, characters and enemies. Make no mistake, this beautiful game.

    The art direction and animations are stunning, as is the soundtrack, and the NPCs have a surprising amount of character. Exploring this world is a pure joy and a reward unto itself. Even having finished the game I still have an incredible desire to examine every inch, to find every secret and to see every single thing the game has to offer.

    It’s a massive world and the map system is unique and worth addressing because it can be challenging. Upon entering a new area you will not have a map until you discover the NPC Conifer. He’ll sell you a map but only the parts of that area you’ve been in will display. It is then updated at check points, assuming you have purchased the quill, as you continue to explore.

    It’s an interesting design decision and one that I really came to enjoy as I progressed. I can navigate around most of the zones in Hollow Knight better than the streets in my own suburb, because I actually need to remember the way.

    As you traverse the huge game world below Dirtmouth you will encounter a vast array of enemies. Your foes begin with the simplest of attacks, as do you, a simple swing of your nail. While your foes will become more difficult and combat both quick and mobile, the pacing in the early parts of the game is very slow. If you came expecting a Diablo click fest you are going to be sorely disappointed, especially early on.

    That being said, do not expect to stroll through Hollow Knight without breaking a sweat. … or possibly a controller or two. The difficulty of the game ramps up significantly and there are some particularly difficult boss encounters, as well as a couple of maddeningly hard platforming sections. Boss encounters are a huge highlight of the game and a great reminder that games are meant to be challenging. If you expect to roll up to an encounter and successfully completely it within one or two attempts this game is probably not for you. It certainly doesn’t have a Dark Souls level of difficulty, but you really do need to learn each encounter – and then execute the combat well – before being able to proceed. The payoff is an incredible relief and satisfaction when overcoming a particularly hard section of the game. It’s been a long time since I’ve experienced such a rush at victory in gaming and it’s a welcome and highly addictive return.

    The difficulty of the some sections highlights, painfully, the one major issue I have with Hollow Knight, the checkpoint system. The game auto saves regularly, but you respawn at the last bench you rested on and there are generally only two or three in each area. While I’m sure there is some rhyme or reason behind their placement I couldn’t see it and they are occasionally frustratingly far from difficult encounters. This means spending a couple of minutes making your way back to your most recent defeat, often through a number of enemies, before engaging in an encounter that has already been kicking your ass for far longer than you would care to admit. More often than not you’ll respawn pretty close, but it happens enough to make some deaths far more painful than they should have been.

    The other purpose the rest stations serve is to let you change your charms. Charms cater to the RPG element, allowing players the choice of powered up abilities, increased survivability or simple quality of life improvements. There are far more charms than slots available so some thought is required when it comes to charm selection..

    Hollow Knight is a triumph of the metroidvania genre. Team Cherry have created an incredible world, filled with variety, charm and wonder. It was a pure joy to explore Hallownest and incredibly satisfying to finish the game. The combat is challenging with a number of particularly memorable boss encounters and the old school difficulty is well balanced and hugely gratifying. Put simply, Hollow Knight is magnificent.    … Expand
  44. roachzc
    Aug 15, 2017
    9
    Feels a lot like dark souls. A very challenging and rewarding experience and would be a great fit if you are bored with games that hold you hand too much. The music and graphics are just on point. However, the developers need to adjust some of the bosses and areas. They can be super imbalanced or poorly designed sometimes and are so frustrating that I don't enjoy it and want to quit.
  45. mikepatyaev
    Jul 2, 2022
    9
    Hollow Knight is a 2D action-adventure game with an emphasis on traditional 2D animation and skillful gameplay. Journey to Hallownest
  46. devilhunter665
    Oct 20, 2018
    9
    If you like 2D Metroidvania style games with old school hardcore elements u should definetely check this one...its amazing u wont regret it
  47. GuapoGrande
    Nov 22, 2017
    9
    First, the good:
    - fluid, addictive gameplay
    - Tough-but-fair difficulty level that makes it genuinely gratifying to beat a tough boss or Colosseum challenge, without becoming a chore - absolutely STUNNING art and music, possibly the best-looking 2D game I've ever played - Big map with tons of enemy and environment variety, while maintaining signature whimsical-yet-spooky aesthetic    First, the good:
    - fluid, addictive gameplay
    - Tough-but-fair difficulty level that makes it genuinely gratifying to beat a tough boss or Colosseum challenge, without becoming a chore
    - absolutely STUNNING art and music, possibly the best-looking 2D game I've ever played
    - Big map with tons of enemy and environment variety, while maintaining signature whimsical-yet-spooky aesthetic throughout
    - Lots of rewards for diligent exploration and effective combat, your character constantly grows stronger and more capable
    - Insanely good value for the money. I bought it on sale for $10, it was easily worth 3x that much

    For the sake of thoroughness, a couple cons:
    - People like me who are not hardcore gamers should probably use a guide for the midgame, since it is not always great about nudging you where to go next and there are many, many different paths you can explore. I see many negative reviews are by people who got frustrated with all the dead ends and false starts, and I see their point. Some people like that kind of thing, but others should find a spoiler-free guide that at least points them in the right direction. The game is challenging enough without constantly being lost.
    - Similarly, unless you are thorough about locating stag stations and breakable walls to help you get around, all the traversing and backtracking can eventually become dull. I eventually cheated and looked at a map to find these things and I'm glad I did, the game would've dragged badly without knowing where they are (I also regret not getting the Dream Gate until very late in the game).
    - Although I like lots of individual story elements, I don't really like the overall story itself. Your character is basically a pawn in the conflict between the Pale King and the Radiance, both of whom are vaguely defined, sinister, and unsympathetic. The different endings all just give a sense that your character has been used, not that you did the right thing and saved the day. I get that they're going for a Dark Souls thing that's all about ambiguity and ambiance, but I don't think it really works. Ultimately a story needs a clear conflict with clear motivations or you can't get emotionally invested and there's no catharsis.

    Overall though it's a phenomenal game (it still blows me away that the development team is just 3 people) and highly recommended for anyone who enjoys 2D platformers and Metroidvanias.    … Expand
  48. giantchicken18
    Oct 16, 2017
    9
    beat the game, can't wait to come back to it after a break. I am not a hardcore platformer gamer, not a dark souls guy either..... but this game is a mastahpeece!!!!! Sound design is spot on, i love the art design, controls are tight, combat is challenging but rewarding, characters/bosses are unique and memorable. Go buy this game.

    I give it a 9 because it is not perfect, but hardly    beat the game, can't wait to come back to it after a break. I am not a hardcore platformer gamer, not a dark souls guy either..... but this game is a mastahpeece!!!!! Sound design is spot on, i love the art design, controls are tight, combat is challenging but rewarding, characters/bosses are unique and memorable. Go buy this game.

    I give it a 9 because it is not perfect, but hardly anything is.    … Expand
  49. EspadaRota
    Mar 30, 2018
    9
    Un metroidvania muy bueno lo recomendó por poco que te guste este genero es un gran juego.
  50. manticoremaster
    Dec 16, 2017
    9
    i've had recently the pleasure to be immersed in this great game, and it has been quite a ride. the animations made by hand look quite unique and go with the whole dark and gritty art style that they aiming for. the game's difficulty can be really brutal at times, and its difficulty, boss fights arent put to shame by the likes of dark souls, ninja gaiden etc games. the combat plays likei've had recently the pleasure to be immersed in this great game, and it has been quite a ride. the animations made by hand look quite unique and go with the whole dark and gritty art style that they aiming for. the game's difficulty can be really brutal at times, and its difficulty, boss fights arent put to shame by the likes of dark souls, ninja gaiden etc games. the combat plays like most metroidvenia games, with unlocking further abillities. though, the main character has a lot of upgrades types under its belt, so the game is a little bit more complex then the average metroidvenia game, with health upgrades, souls (mana), weapon upgrades, the charm system (which are these power ups you can wear), notches (determines the number of charms being wear by opening more slots for them), grubs ( which are these warms creatures you get rewarded with items and money, determined by how many you picked), also there's a resource called essense which lets you a couple of unlocks, a couple of different melee attacks besides the different abillities. so yeah while it doesn't have the depth of an average rpg in each of them, its still doesn't pale in comparison by a lot then different games maybe. there are many enemy types and bosses. the game's focus is on the combat by a lot relativly then to its story. the story while having an interesting theme with the hubris of the bugs nation hallownest, it does lack in lore.

    so with this many advantages the shortscoming dont detract much of the game, and it still stands on its own very good. so lets get to it. firstly, the order of the many zones areas you're getting in the game are put in a order that gets the player easilly disoriented, and by that confuses the players especially at the start of the game where you've tons of areas to go from the main hub area (the crossroads), and you have not an ounce of an idea where to go because of the bad level design of the hub area. some more metroidvenia locks more early instead of later couldnt have hurt to help in this matter. in addition the art style, i feel like since i've played a game like ori and the blind forest, which the looks of it really appealed to me, i sometimes during the game wondered how this could have looked if it had the same engine as ori, but with still the same dark and gritty art style.

    to summerise, this game really's one of the best metroidvenia games i've got to play, and defiently the longest i tried by far. each area i've traveled in the game, i felt very engrossed in its atmosphere (especially greenpath, city of tears). im looking forward to what these new developers of this game got more under their sleeves, as their dedication on this game to great detail is very tengible. a score of 8.6/10 from me.    … Expand
  51. WizzMaw
    Oct 25, 2018
    9
    I am personally not a fan of metroidvania because I have a hard time to really get invested in them. Hollow Knight however really sets a tone of wonder and mystery, which makes me wanna find out more about the world. It has some unique mechanics that are not really mind-blowing but they work and feel fresh and organic compared to many other metroidvanias simply trying to copy-paste SuperI am personally not a fan of metroidvania because I have a hard time to really get invested in them. Hollow Knight however really sets a tone of wonder and mystery, which makes me wanna find out more about the world. It has some unique mechanics that are not really mind-blowing but they work and feel fresh and organic compared to many other metroidvanias simply trying to copy-paste Super Metroid. Everything design-wise is nearly perfect. Rarely I play a game that is so extremely well thought out. I've never played a game that I would give a higher score than this one. It's not my favorite game of all time, but that's because it's still less appealing to me than other types of games. It's obviously not perfect, but it's one of the best games I ever played design-wise.… Expand
  52. andrezero
    May 6, 2020
    9
    Magnífico, me encanta la jugabilidad, el diseño de los niveles, los bosses, la música. Las distintas habilidades. El nivel de dificultad es perfecto. La historia algo confusa para mi gusto, pero es muy satisfactorio ir avanzando en el juego. Sin duda uno de los mejores juegos del 2017
  53. rulezfin
    Apr 22, 2018
    9
    Very good Metrodavia game, with a high level of difficulty and challenging but rewarding game play. The controls are very good, graphics are also nice,the story is interesting and the price was good for this kind of game. The only shortcoming are the related to the game designs decision of some areas that look rather out of place
  54. balintmaci
    Mar 8, 2022
    9
    It's the best side scroller or platformer I ever played. Amazing boss fights, incredible flora and fauna. Many visually different worlds, beautiful hand-drawn graphics, huge map.
    The only reason for not a 10 is that it gets quite slow sometimes which reduced the fun factor a bit.
  55. Defoxx
    Dec 2, 2020
    9
    Потрясаяющая смесь метроидвании и souls-like. Приятный стиль игры, хорошие анимации, звуки, интересная прокачка, сюжет, сеттинг, сложные боссы, интересные пантеоны. В игру хочется зайти и не выходить.
  56. Mllch18
    Dec 4, 2018
    9
    I really like this game! A lot of challenges, secrets (we have internet lmao) and some parkour. The design of the game is awesome! Animations, NPS and a lot of other staff. Soundtracks are really good, always sad as the game's atmosphere. If you like hard and good games this game is for you. The only one thing sad A LOT OF WALKING ON THE LOCATIONS(I know about fast travel, but it is not soI really like this game! A lot of challenges, secrets (we have internet lmao) and some parkour. The design of the game is awesome! Animations, NPS and a lot of other staff. Soundtracks are really good, always sad as the game's atmosphere. If you like hard and good games this game is for you. The only one thing sad A LOT OF WALKING ON THE LOCATIONS(I know about fast travel, but it is not so good as you think).… Expand
  57. SilverOrlov
    Jun 5, 2022
    9
    It was for the sake of this game that I once bought a game-pad ... but because of the fear of my beginner-skill-level in hard games, I put it aside and played another games. In the end, I launched it only a year later... after Death Gambit, Nioh, Sekiro and a couple of other similar games :)
    All in all, the Hollow Knight is a rather difficult adventure in the World... of bugs. ALL who we    It was for the sake of this game that I once bought a game-pad ... but because of the fear of my beginner-skill-level in hard games, I put it aside and played another games. In the end, I launched it only a year later... after Death Gambit, Nioh, Sekiro and a couple of other similar games :)
    All in all, the Hollow Knight is a rather difficult adventure in the World... of bugs. ALL who we will meet in the game are different bugs and moths. And EVERYTHING that we will meet is an incredibly beautiful World of the bug's kingdom, divided into completely unique locations, such as zones overgrown with mushrooms and spores, or a deserted dead canyon, or a forest filled with live feral flowers... or small personal worlds in someone's dreams. In addition to the incredibly detailed environment, where even the smallest blade of grass reacts to our hero, this game has beautiful music and other sounds too. And some, in general, I want to keep and listen to again... for example, Emilitia's rude laugh XD
    ...
    Game-play: you get used to it quickly, it is easy to control your character, the buttons are remembered easily too. Very convenient, and compact, inventory and character menu. In fact, something can only be changed in amulets and on the map. Everything is very well done. Except one BUT. In fact, the only thing that greatly saddened in this masterpiece: half of the amulets are rubbish of varying degrees of usefulness. There are only 42 of them, it seems, and they can be divided into three parts: useful, optional, garbage. I won’t talk about useful ones, it’s understandable. Optional - a category of permanently replaced amulets, for different "builds" with some sacrifices due to the price of the slots, since normal ones cannot be inserted. And I threw in the trash all the amulets that have a disproportionate cost of inserting into the slot with their effects, or dumb nerfing(for example, the blood of the hive, which restores only the last HP only if you have not been hit for 10 seconds, or the extremely low poison damage in a stinky amulet). Some amateurs even made "crutches" for these amulets, so that the last third part would not just be for the sake of "funny builds for YouTube", but at least give some usefulness.
    ...
    But in general, except for the last point, I really liked the game. Of course, I look forward to Silksong.    … Expand
  58. ExcAverage
    Dec 25, 2018
    9
    I was never a fan of most Metroidvania games. I played a few select titles from the genre and found myself lost and uninterested, but the world and art style of Hollow Knight has sucked me in for hours and hours, and despite a few moments of anger I never really felt the game was unfair. In my opinion the only thing holding the game back is a few weak bosses, but I'd recommend this game toI was never a fan of most Metroidvania games. I played a few select titles from the genre and found myself lost and uninterested, but the world and art style of Hollow Knight has sucked me in for hours and hours, and despite a few moments of anger I never really felt the game was unfair. In my opinion the only thing holding the game back is a few weak bosses, but I'd recommend this game to anyone who seems remotely interested in it for any reason, whether it be the art or the world or the gameplay, it's all solid and engaging.… Expand
  59. Sozdanie
    Jan 28, 2019
    9
    Очень атмосферная игра с красивой графикой и отличной боевой системой. Игра в меру сложная, но зато когда закончишь с очередным боссом по настоящему получаешь желаемое наслаждение. Сюжет кстати тоже очень интересный.
  60. TuioxBull
    Feb 10, 2019
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Are all of the people who gave negative's that bad at this game? Yeah, it's hard, but if I, a 12-year-old can do it, *100%, by the way,* then so can you, and while yes, the shade system sucks, and the bosses can be hard as **** *The moth who is a deadly laser* the thrill of doing it by rethinking my style, ie* (should I go spells or attack? Far more health or more range and quicker slashes? Invest notches for a charm which rewards you for not getting hit? High Spell Damage but low range?) and practice can make it feel really rewarding. As for the shade system, well... I can't argue about that but Geo doesn't even matter halfway. As for the positives, music, calm, action! I love it! And the art style, it is amazing. Overall, a good game with IMO, a small problem which won't matter later on.… Expand
  61. JaydenPickens
    Feb 20, 2019
    9
    If I had to describe this game in three words, these would be: hard, beautiful and addictive. That's what this game is. Magical atmosphere, great graphics and music, interesting story and fun gameplay, but a bit hard for me, but still good. Love this game. Pickens approves!
  62. Babutto
    Nov 24, 2021
    9
    An amazing metroidvania.

    Pros.: - The concept, story. It is interesting to play in this world of decay and decadance. Though, it leaves a hard feeling of sadness. - The game progression is balanced with some exceptions. - You can achieve multiple endings (except forth maybe, because it is extremely hard and long without trainers). - Design. Cons.: - Some of the buffs for bosses    An amazing metroidvania.

    Pros.:
    - The concept, story. It is interesting to play in this world of decay and decadance. Though, it leaves a hard feeling of sadness.
    - The game progression is balanced with some exceptions.
    - You can achieve multiple endings (except forth maybe, because it is extremely hard and long without trainers).
    - Design.

    Cons.:
    - Some of the buffs for bosses are insane. For example, the Traitor Lord is very powerful while Hollow Knight is not that impressive. It doesn't make any sense.
    - The forth ending should be granted without that painful gameplay polishing of finishing all bosses over and over again. It doesn't make sense again - the game is already quite challenging. The developers just force the players to jerk the joystick or keyboard off more and more. Same with the level in the dream world and the Pale King - the saw level I mean. It is insanity for speedrunners and extreme fans. But others will just say "screw it, I'll use trainer." And that will kill the whole idea of achieving the two other endings.

    Anyways, it is a great game. The concept of the game that you actually fight the light caught my eye. We basically play bad guys - the Void. But it make sense since the whole thing takes place underground. There is no need for light there - almost all creatures are bugs.

    BTW free DLCs. You MUST reward developers for that I guess. Respect!    … Expand
  63. Baddly16
    Apr 22, 2019
    9
    i have loved this game ever since i got it. there is enough content to last for ages and is just a joy to play, even if it really triggers me every so often.
  64. TrombaAmarela
    Apr 30, 2019
    9
    Oi, tudo bom com você senhor ou senhora tudo ss e vc como está ah eu tbm to bem ah blz?
  65. MrCrowley
    May 17, 2019
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Honestly, it's been a while since I've played a game this thoughtful. Almost every part of this game I enjoy. The story, while simple on the surface, is filled with hidden lore found throughout the game. The world is massive, consisting of multiple zones each with their own interesting features. The gameplay is solid with tight controls and well-paced combat. The difficulty, though challenging, is very rarely unfair. The only issue I have is the Metroidvania formula, for while I can tolerate it in this case, it usually frustrates me to the point where I have to look up a guide to discover where the items are, some of which are hidden under complex criteria such as the Void Heart. However, if a game is so near perfection that I can tolerate the Metroidvania aspects, something I've never been able to do in other games within the genre, then it must be something special. With it only being $15 on Steam along with free DLC, I have to recommend this game to anyone who wants an atmospheric title with some of the most polished elements any game has to offer.… Expand
  66. ROBits
    Jun 27, 2019
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Magnífico. El diseño de juego y la ambientación son preciosos. Alguna de las mecánicas se hace algo pesada.
    El juego es inmenso y a la vez que avanzas, te absorbe más.    … Expand
  67. mentez
    Oct 31, 2019
    9
    I think the game is a great example of how to create a metroidvania title when you are a small indie studio. It is really well designed and I really love the graphic style which I prefer to the vast number of titles that use pixel art these days and look very much alike.
  68. Zankyouo
    Oct 25, 2019
    9
    Sin duda el mejor metroidvania que he probado, tanto en mecánicas como en arte, banda sonora y personajes. Un cúmulo de ideas geniales bien empleadas que juntas, crean mi videojuego favorito.
  69. Malthegrey11
    Nov 1, 2019
    9
    I know I’m two years late to the party, but as someone who had only heard of this game in passing, I couldn’t keep quiet once I’d gone over this wonderful and refreshing entry in the often overlooked Metroidvania genre.
    In my experience, there’s three things that set games like these apart from your regular platformers: exploration, combat and writing. And I’m happy to say Hollow Knight    I know I’m two years late to the party, but as someone who had only heard of this game in passing, I couldn’t keep quiet once I’d gone over this wonderful and refreshing entry in the often overlooked Metroidvania genre.
    In my experience, there’s three things that set games like these apart from your regular platformers: exploration, combat and writing. And I’m happy to say Hollow Knight succeeds at all three of these elements spectacularly. Each area in the Kingdom of Hollownest is divided their unique environment and color palate. And all of them perfectly represented using the game’s charming and effective art style. Getting lost has never felt more satisfying as you venture deeper underground to fill out the blank spots of your map, find worthwhile collectibles, face greater challenges and all the while rewarding players with tons of power-ups.
    Combat starts simple enough. You can slash out with your Nail (sword) in four directions and you can jump. But as you explore, you’ll come across more moves and abilities. A dash, clinging to walls, group-pound, and special Nail moves are all optional unlockables one can find by dedicated exploration and difficult boss battles. Mix these with magical attacks that deplete a special meter that’s filled every time you land an attack on an enemy, and by the time you finish the game, a hell of an arsenal will be at your disposal.
    But the fun combat and fulfilling exploration sit side-by-side with the game’s dark story and lore. You are the Knight, a tiny little guy who goes to the bug-town of Dirtmouth to venture into the lost kingdom bellow and uncover its secrets: Hollownest. While the main plot might not be anything too complicated, more invested players will get more out of it by paying attention to the game’s environmental storytelling and captivating world-building. And the game’s bleakness only makes its lighthearted moments shine through with fun, likeable and even some helpful NPC’s found throughout Hollownest.
    When it comes to the soundtrack, Hollow Knight has a bit of everything. Mysterious melodies that will set your imagination on fire. Sad numbers that will fill you with dread. Epic scores that will help you along in the most difficult of boss encounters. And even soft tunes that you’ll cherish once you’re done with an area, only to revisit it later on and remember the fun you had exploring.
    And to add to the fun, Hollow Knight is filled to the brim with additional DLC content, completely free of charge! While two of these (Hidden Dreams and Lifeblood) are mostly improvements and minor additions to the base game, the last two add entire new chapters to the Hollow Knight story. The first, The Grimm Troupe, sets the Knight against a psychotic leader of a traveling circus. The second, Godmaster, sets you on the most difficult quest of all by adding a boss rush to the game. All of these come installed in the game when purchased now as updates.
    With this much content, Hollow Knight is more than worth the purchase. It has exceeded its predecessors and set a standard that will be hard to beat. It might be a great challenge, but its easy to pick up and rewarding to finish.    … Expand
  70. pedraww
    Dec 8, 2019
    9
    An outstanding visual and perfect gameplay. That's a Metroidvania, everybody.
  71. IMR707
    May 14, 2021
    9
    The art and music is awesome. The only things that kind off turns me off is the painful backtracking. Also although you can mark places that is inaccessible at early part of the game, i only realised that after halfway through the game, making some of the blocked place not marked and totally missed by me and end up finishing the game without it. The completionist inside me feels sad.

    It    The art and music is awesome. The only things that kind off turns me off is the painful backtracking. Also although you can mark places that is inaccessible at early part of the game, i only realised that after halfway through the game, making some of the blocked place not marked and totally missed by me and end up finishing the game without it. The completionist inside me feels sad.

    It is still a great game overall though.    … Expand
  72. Soundras
    Feb 11, 2020
    9
    Great metroidvania with loads of content for a relatively low price.
    The free DLC add good content to the gameand some of the best bosses.
    Although its pretty hard to achieve and see everything the game has to offer,
    it almost never felt "unfair" difficult. With enough training its pretty doable.
  73. Relkad
    Mar 23, 2020
    9
    Except for the "go here go there now go to the other side of the map" non-sense,game is one of the best metroidvania you can play.
    Other metroidvanias might have decent mechanics and visuals,but they don't combine'em with an immersive story like hollow knight does these days.
  74. Trenity
    Jan 18, 2021
    9
    If you love souls games and 2D platformers you probably gonna fall in love with this game.
  75. DAUN42
    Nov 23, 2020
    9
    Игра классная, мне очень понравилась, но есть одна проблема-карта, она большая и запомнить закрытые места, чтобы потом к ним вернуться сложно, так что ставьте метки на эти места, метки можно купить в магазине
  76. Feminist19
    Jun 13, 2020
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. First, the good:
    -The art style is beautiful; everyone already knows this. (10/10)
    -The bosses are tough, but fair. Some attacks are pretty **** tough. (9/10)
    -I actually really like the map system; it forces you to actually make a mental map in your head, and not be led by the hand. Cornifer is also really easy to find. The only area i got lost in is Deepnest, but that makes sense, that's kind of the point of that area. It also forces you to use benches more. It can be confusing to some people. (9/10)
    -The atmosphere is gloomy and dark, but always with a glimmer of hope so it doesn't feel overly depressing. (10/10)
    -The NPCs all have personalities, even without a voice. From them you can get worldbuilding, quests, or just quirky dialogue. Some are pretty pointless, like the bug in Queen's Station. (9/10)
    -The worldbuilding and the world itself is amazing. It's interconnected with stag and tram stations, and when you see some ruined, the situation of the kingdom really hits you. You can learn about the world through enemies, hunter's notes, etc. It really feels alive. (10/10)
    -The pacing in the mid-game is amazing. There is just so much stuff to do and to see. You can go back and retry some bosses. You can try to beat some dream bosses. You can get mask shards etc.
    -The controls and movement are so statisfying to master. This is perfectly summarized in the White Palace. I was raging, but deep down I knew that I should've timed that better, or that I used my dash too high. (10/10)
    -The story overall is amazing. Like I said, the atmosphere is really good, and so is the story. (i'll talk about storytelling later.) 10/10
    -The helaing mechanic and soul are really good. Insted of having passively recharging system or consumable projectiles, you need to go in to then be able to use safer and stronger spells. This also applies to healing. This discourages players from being a **** and camping in the corner waiting for your soul to recharge, or farming consumables to chees the bosses. 10/10
    -Upgrades aren't original, that's true, but the statifaction comes from realizing "Oh, wiht the double jump I can go there and there!" and when you do that and get for example a mask shard, it's so statisfying.
    The bad:
    -Pacing in the early-game and the late-game is pretty slow and linear. At the start you get the dash and the claw and it's pretty linear, and at the end you get Kingsoul and have it for 5 minutes before you replace it. Some areas are also underused, like Queen's Gardens, where I only went once and came back just for the flower quest. Sam thing with White Palace, only went back for Path of Pain. 7/10
    -There are very few indications for what you need to do for the true ending. If I didn't watch a lore video before I got the game, I wouldn't know what to do. There is one indication that you need to dreamnail the kingsmould with the upgraded dream nail, and that indication is if you dream nail him earlier and the you see the description for the upgrade. There is also no indication for the second half of the Kingsoul, but you will probably explore the Queen's Gardens eventually. 5/10
    -The storytelling is pretty bad. I know they went the path of vague storytelling, but this is a bit too vague. The saving grace is that you can play through some cutscenes. 6/10
    Great game. Get it.    … Expand
  77. gut1
    Jul 31, 2020
    9
    hollow khight es un metroidvania que te obliga a perderte ya adentrar es su mundo su sistema de comabate es muy satisfactorio y te obliga a hacer decisiones rapidas de hacer mas daño o curarte la vida su musica es increible este es el sucesor de castlevania que estavamos esperando :D
  78. BentedLeon
    May 16, 2022
    9
    Gameplay-wise game is pretty aged and isn't that innovative, but the game progress and world discovery process is involving and moderately hard for a platformer game. Difficulty-wise game is pretty forgiving and isn't hardcore at all, unless we are speaking about ONE certain area, which easily could be missed on first playthrough. Only thing making this not a perfect game is absence ofGameplay-wise game is pretty aged and isn't that innovative, but the game progress and world discovery process is involving and moderately hard for a platformer game. Difficulty-wise game is pretty forgiving and isn't hardcore at all, unless we are speaking about ONE certain area, which easily could be missed on first playthrough. Only thing making this not a perfect game is absence of in-game route management tools and annoying input eating bug/feature (not really that noticeable, only when platforming is really HARD and precise)… Expand
  79. AllanWake
    Nov 26, 2020
    9
    Mundo construído com maestria e gameplay muito divertida, porém a história não é muito clara, o que pode causar confusão e deixar você sem saber o que está fazendo
  80. marximusss
    Jun 29, 2020
    9
    An indie game with a triple A music, bosses and gameplay. An immersive story that makes you feel like the knight, discovering new places, obtaining new items really feel like progressing. If you add the beatiful landscapes and character desings, its feels like a real world with so much detail, waiting for your coming.
  81. Yiordanu
    Sep 9, 2023
    9
    By far the most beautiful game I've ever played. Its storytelling, the charisma of its characters, even with the short dialogues, its setting, soundtrack, everything borders on perfection. It also achieves very entertaining gameplay, to which I might only add more weapon varieties or ways to combat since in that regard, using the same weapon throughout the game can become a bit monotonous.By far the most beautiful game I've ever played. Its storytelling, the charisma of its characters, even with the short dialogues, its setting, soundtrack, everything borders on perfection. It also achieves very entertaining gameplay, to which I might only add more weapon varieties or ways to combat since in that regard, using the same weapon throughout the game can become a bit monotonous.

    In summary, this game oozes its own personality, beauty, and above all, a love for video games from the developers. Definitely a must-play.    … Expand
  82. 3301
    Aug 19, 2020
    9
    Just waiting for Silksong to give it a 10.
    I have nothing to say,just play it!!!
  83. nicksiciliano
    Aug 21, 2020
    9
    A Metroidvania with mechanics reminiscent of Dark Souls and superb two-dimensional fluidity
  84. GiulioGC
    Oct 21, 2020
    9
    .....................................................................bel gioco
  85. Bodislav
    Jul 13, 2022
    9
    Atmospheric .
  86. Xrayplayer
    Oct 3, 2022
    9
    One of the best metroidvania games I've ever played, the gameplay is near perfection with nice and fun abilities and great platforming and engaging combat and challenges but enjoyable boss fight with great exploration and world building, the game can be a bit frustrating for new players with the need of buying various parts of the map and buying a map of each area but overall it's anOne of the best metroidvania games I've ever played, the gameplay is near perfection with nice and fun abilities and great platforming and engaging combat and challenges but enjoyable boss fight with great exploration and world building, the game can be a bit frustrating for new players with the need of buying various parts of the map and buying a map of each area but overall it's an excellent experience.… Expand
  87. Revon
    Oct 29, 2020
    9
    Un juego increíble. Para mi solo por debajo de Ori. Muy orientado a la exploración del escenario. Es un gusto pasearse por ese mundo oscuro y arrebatadoramente bello. Sin duda una obra Maestra.
  88. nietzfk
    May 20, 2023
    9
    I'm just a little knight.

    Some Thoughts About the Game 'Hollow Knight' is a game that really needs to be mastered. Especially the additional packages of the game require a serious effort. At some points, it's hard not to think that the developer team has designed these packs for their very loyal players. There is not much to say about the general atmosphere and mechanics of the game    I'm just a little knight.

    Some Thoughts About the Game

    'Hollow Knight' is a game that really needs to be mastered. Especially the additional packages of the game require a serious effort. At some points, it's hard not to think that the developer team has designed these packs for their very loyal players. There is not much to say about the general atmosphere and mechanics of the game because it is a game and can only be understood by experience. I'm looking forward to the second game, but I hope some mistakes made in the first game are not made. Especially in the expansion packs, the second versions of some characters deal double damage and we have to pass them just to see a few new dialogues. In my opinion, this is a very cheap way to prolong the game. Because even if you beat it after a while, you realize that you want to pass that damn place rather than enjoy it. Just so that it ends as soon as possible. The main form of the game is designed to appeal to most players at every point, which is a good thing. Despite all these, 'Hollow Knight' was a game that I really liked, I hope 'Silksong' will be released with Turkish language support. I have no doubts about the overall quality of the game, frankly, I'm sure it will be a pretty solid game.    … Expand
  89. fukuroh
    Dec 14, 2020
    9
    Really well made and enjoyable game.
    Soundtrack is made pretty well.
    Boss fights are really wellmade.
    Nothing to say about it.
  90. QAOSbringer
    Feb 25, 2023
    9
    It adapts the Metroidvania style with its own dark and and twisted way. It is obvious that developers care about every detail, from the art style to the story telling methods. The only disadvantage is that it can be hard and painful to pass the beginning stage. After that, game helps you in many ways to make itself easier. I am amazed that they even think about dusts falling when we jumpIt adapts the Metroidvania style with its own dark and and twisted way. It is obvious that developers care about every detail, from the art style to the story telling methods. The only disadvantage is that it can be hard and painful to pass the beginning stage. After that, game helps you in many ways to make itself easier. I am amazed that they even think about dusts falling when we jump on platforms. They really cared about the smallest details.

    9: Must play - One of the best games of the year it came out.    … Expand
  91. MrAfk
    Dec 17, 2020
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I am a gonna cut this short just going to tell the good sides and bad sides
    good sides :
    -challanging platformer
    -fun combat
    -amazing bosses
    -beautiful story
    -good musics
    -so many content
    -and almost perfect dlcs
    bad sides :
    -radiant markoth gives me an heart attack
    (Seriously this dudes so unfair basiccly drains your soul in your body)
    -some of the charms are useless in like every way
    -yes there is a final boss but I prefer pale king for the final boss not radience even if its not going to be the final boss I dknt care I just want to fight with him so bad
    yea thats it    … Expand
  92. SPOtt567
    Jan 2, 2021
    9
    Very atmospheric cute kind game but nonetheless hardcore,As for me the best in its genre!
  93. guerraee
    Jan 9, 2021
    9
    Hollow Knight is a giant and very interesting game, even being a indie game, and it impressed me. I don't like too much metroidvanias, but hollow knight is a exception for me, i didn't expect that i would love its gameplay, it got me in a way that surprised me in a different way. If you don't like the gender of metroidvanias too, try this game and you will change your mind.
  94. Woomyman9000
    May 15, 2022
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is one of the best Metroidvanias I've ever played. There's some quirks, like the input lag that makes the game unplayable with a controller sometimes, and there's a boss fight in Kingdom's Edge that destroys my FPS because of the particles… Expand
  95. Grize
    Jun 22, 2022
    9
    Hollow knight is like Mario meeting dark souls. Both in story and feel. But Hollow knight is not as dark and is a lot more child friendly. The 2d game looks stunning and the story is just how I like it mysterious but understandable. The boss fights are amazing and the slow but steady area progression and exploration make it worth it. The Art is a masterpiece and I could just endlessly lookHollow knight is like Mario meeting dark souls. Both in story and feel. But Hollow knight is not as dark and is a lot more child friendly. The 2d game looks stunning and the story is just how I like it mysterious but understandable. The boss fights are amazing and the slow but steady area progression and exploration make it worth it. The Art is a masterpiece and I could just endlessly look at the game sometimes even just stop moving and watch and admire the art. The music is basic but that does not make it bad. In fact, Mantis lord OST is one of the best boss fight music in gaming. It fits perfectly.
    The developers really know how to hit the feeling depending on what they want you to feel. And thx to that I could really lose myself in the game and just play for hours    … Expand
  96. TheEntertainer
    May 10, 2021
    9
    Hollow Knight was my first PC game and to this day is one of my favorite games of all time. You start out the game knowing nothing, not even the controls (although they're easy to learn so it's not really a problem). The more you play the game, the more you uncover and discover, and the more you go "ohhhhhh that's what that is." The soundtrack is beautiful. Every song in the game isHollow Knight was my first PC game and to this day is one of my favorite games of all time. You start out the game knowing nothing, not even the controls (although they're easy to learn so it's not really a problem). The more you play the game, the more you uncover and discover, and the more you go "ohhhhhh that's what that is." The soundtrack is beautiful. Every song in the game is completely unique, and sounds amazing. Hollow Knight is the only game I've ever played where I like EVERY SINGLE SONG. The art is beautiful. It's hard to believe that one person drew the art for this entire game. It really captures the feel of Hallownest. The story is really deep and well made, the gameplay is extremely creative and fun. Hollow Knight has the story of an rpg, the gameplay of a platformer, and the style of all the emotions of a metroidvania. The game is massively cheap, massively long, and massively fun. The only reason I gave it a 9 and not a 10, is because it's DIFFICULT AS HECK.… Expand
  97. Burzyk
    May 11, 2023
    9
    What a game it was! Hard, but fair. Dark, but beautiful! Amazing addition to Xbox Game Pass + 120 FPS and Hz mode looks incredible!
  98. GalaxyGlyder
    Oct 4, 2021
    9
    I loved my time with this game. I personally played it for around 30 hours and I barely scratched the surface of all the hidden challenges and areas in this game. The art style is stunning with an amazing atmosphere that makes you want to know more about the world. My only complaint about this game is that it doesn't guide you and you will need to look up a guide for some obstacles.
  99. Karlsefniy
    Jul 27, 2022
    9
    Gameplay, art style, atmosphere, soundtrack, characters designs etc. make Hollow Knight one of the most memorable indie videogames.
  100. elkrand
    Jan 8, 2022
    9
    Hollow Knight is een metroidvania. Je speelt de knight, een klein insectachtig wezentje dat het Hollow nest gaat verkennen. Het spel is van topkwaliteit: zowel muziek, als graphics en gameplay kloppen. De map die je moet verkennen steekt fantastisch in elkaar. Hollow Knight kan met momenten frustrerend moeilijk zijn, maar omdat je telkens wanneer je sterft het gevoel hebt dat het je eigenHollow Knight is een metroidvania. Je speelt de knight, een klein insectachtig wezentje dat het Hollow nest gaat verkennen. Het spel is van topkwaliteit: zowel muziek, als graphics en gameplay kloppen. De map die je moet verkennen steekt fantastisch in elkaar. Hollow Knight kan met momenten frustrerend moeilijk zijn, maar omdat je telkens wanneer je sterft het gevoel hebt dat het je eigen fout is blijf je proberen. Topspel!… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

12
#12 Best PC Game of 2017
5
#5 Most Discussed PC Game of 2017
77
#77 Most Shared PC Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. Hooked Gamers
    Jul 29, 2018
    100
    Hollow Knight is one of the best 2D platformers I’ve ever played - it is a beautiful, quirky and dynamic game; challenging yet rewarding; mournful yet brimming with hope. When it comes to console, it’s going to cause a real stir.
    Read full review
  2. IGN
    Jun 22, 2018
    94
    Hollow Knight is a Metroidvania with a well of content to discover that’s as deep as its labyrinthine caves. The world of Hallownest is compelling and rich, full of story that’s left for you to discover on your own, and built with branching paths that offer an absurd amount of choice in how you go about discovering it. With such a high density of secrets to find and fun, challenging enemies to face, it’s worth spending every moment you can in Hollow Knight.
    Read full review
  3. GameStar
    Jan 2, 2018
    84
    A very difficult and hand-drawn Metroidvania with an enormous size for players with a lot of patience and a high frustration tolerance.
    Read full review
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