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. skohl
    Dec 5, 2018
    10
    This is a pure action-platform gaming experience, based on the careful timing and spacing of your jump, attack, dash, and other abilities. The enemy variety and detail blows other metroidvania games out of the water! The bosses are more like something out of Mega Man, which is unusual in a genre of poorly balanced, janky bosses.

    It's a beautiful game with a gigantic world. I love the    This is a pure action-platform gaming experience, based on the careful timing and spacing of your jump, attack, dash, and other abilities. The enemy variety and detail blows other metroidvania games out of the water! The bosses are more like something out of Mega Man, which is unusual in a genre of poorly balanced, janky bosses.

    It's a beautiful game with a gigantic world. I love the sense of exploration when first entering a new area, before I have its map. This is the least linear metroidvania I've played, and that's a good thing. There were so many places I wanted to investigate at once, that I missed things that I could have found hours earlier. Only I didn't really miss out, because I was exploring to my heart's content the entire time, mapping out uncharted territory, killing bosses, and discovering secrets.

    The difficulty might be overstated, I guess it depends on your previous gaming experiences. I grew up playing every platformer on the SNES, every Mega Man X game multiple times, SotN and most other metroidvanias. For me this is perfectly balanced gameplay..    … Expand
  2. kings7
    Feb 25, 2017
    10
    This game isn't getting enough mainstream press. Really... the controls are the best I've ever felt in a side-scrolling game. The graphics and the music... there really are no words. The story is interesting and philosophical, although it does require you use your imagination. The game is difficult, yet accessible (with modes that make it 'Dark Souls' difficult, if you're enough of aThis game isn't getting enough mainstream press. Really... the controls are the best I've ever felt in a side-scrolling game. The graphics and the music... there really are no words. The story is interesting and philosophical, although it does require you use your imagination. The game is difficult, yet accessible (with modes that make it 'Dark Souls' difficult, if you're enough of a masochist). No qualms and no regrets, except that I wasn't an original Kickstarter backer. If you like video games at all, buy this. 9.8/10.… Expand
  3. Mandulum
    Aug 17, 2017
    10
    Five Word Review: Best in class metroidvania, phenomenal!
    Favorite Thing: There aren't a whole lot of new concepts here but everything they do they do exceptionally well. The abilities, combat, animation, visuals, bosses, etc etc.
    Least Favorite Thing: Travel. Until you get the (optional) Dream Gate it's tedious. Date Completed: 2017-08-16 Playtime: ~ 41h (100% completion)    Five Word Review: Best in class metroidvania, phenomenal!
    Favorite Thing: There aren't a whole lot of new concepts here but everything they do they do exceptionally well. The abilities, combat, animation, visuals, bosses, etc etc.
    Least Favorite Thing: Travel. Until you get the (optional) Dream Gate it's tedious.

    Date Completed: 2017-08-16
    Playtime: ~ 41h (100% completion)
    Enjoyment: 10/10
    Recommendation: YES!    … Expand
  4. TSB
    Mar 22, 2017
    10
    Simply it's 2D Dark Souls clone.
    +Great atmosphere.
    +Flued gameplay
    +Pretty graphics.
    +Sounds are impressive for indie game.
    +30 Bosses and 100+ enemies.
    +Enjoyable difficulty level.

    -Final boss fight wasn't hard.
    - Story is not interesting.
    9.5/10
  5. Dancuka
    Oct 18, 2017
    10
    This game is just awesome. Fantastic art, tight controls and superb atmosphere. Altho it borrows from Darks Souls a lot, I still feel they did a really wonderful game on its own. Some of the powerups feel pointless compared to others, but at least there is a lot to chose from, All in all, I have to say this is my favorite game this year so far. Highly recommended.
  6. AlexRaEU
    Mar 16, 2017
    10
    Great Metroidvania / Dark Souls combination. if you like metroid vanias and the souls games youll feel right at home. the art style is awesome, the controls are great, the progression is great, the atmosphere is superb. Story telling is similar to the Souls games and they borrowed quite a lot more and made it their own. The game has character and a lot of the npcs you meet are quiteGreat Metroidvania / Dark Souls combination. if you like metroid vanias and the souls games youll feel right at home. the art style is awesome, the controls are great, the progression is great, the atmosphere is superb. Story telling is similar to the Souls games and they borrowed quite a lot more and made it their own. The game has character and a lot of the npcs you meet are quite lovable and/or cute. The year just started but it is already acontender for GOTY. It is not quite as hard as the Souls games but it still feels very rewarding when you beat one of the countless bosses. it has a massive world and a lot to discover. for the asking price this game is definitely a steal. The devs are nice and working with the community to fix everything and patch in new content. This is a definite recommendation.… Expand
  7. HSuke
    Jun 12, 2018
    10
    I rare give perfect-score reviews, and Hollow Knight definitely deserves one. Of the dozen or so Metroidvania games I've played over the years, it's my favorite. The mechanics are precise and reproducible. The world is hauntingly gorgeous. The exploration is very enjoyable.
  8. sageol
    Mar 10, 2018
    10
    This game is one of the best games that I played for the last few years. And it is definitely the best metroidvania so far.
  9. T3RRAF0RM
    Jul 20, 2018
    10
    An absolute gem of a game. Loved every minute of the base game. The fact they have added 3 expansions for free, is so refreshing in this day and age of greedy game publishing companies. I loved the hand drawn art style and so did a lot of others looking at all the fan art hitting the team cherry Twitter thread. The game borrows from some other games (dark souls) but manages to always addAn absolute gem of a game. Loved every minute of the base game. The fact they have added 3 expansions for free, is so refreshing in this day and age of greedy game publishing companies. I loved the hand drawn art style and so did a lot of others looking at all the fan art hitting the team cherry Twitter thread. The game borrows from some other games (dark souls) but manages to always add its own twist. This isn't a small game you're probably going to get 30h plus from the title. So you're going to get a huge bang for your buck. This is probably my favourite metroidvania game of all time. It was also my game of the year (2017)… Expand
  10. gibran19
    Jul 12, 2017
    10
    The best indie metroidvania, and one of the best metroidvanias in general. Great gameplay, great design, great music. The only cons are some framerate issues and the backtracking can get a little bit tedious, no game is perfect but in spite of that details this game is a master piece that you must play.
  11. YetAnotherJohn
    May 30, 2021
    10
    If I had to describe Hollow Knight in one word, I'd call it 'atmospheric'. And then I'd ignore the one word requirement entirely and launch into a 2-hour-long monologue about how much fun it is. The background art, the soundtrack, the characterization of the enemies, everything about the game works perfectly to give each zone a unique feel, progressing towards a cohesive picture to theIf I had to describe Hollow Knight in one word, I'd call it 'atmospheric'. And then I'd ignore the one word requirement entirely and launch into a 2-hour-long monologue about how much fun it is. The background art, the soundtrack, the characterization of the enemies, everything about the game works perfectly to give each zone a unique feel, progressing towards a cohesive picture to the world and its bittersweet story. I absolutely fell in love with the game and its characters, and had a good time all around with both the combat and the platforming.

    Secrets and relevant items all have some sort of glow or sound, which makes locating them viable even if they're sometimes very well hidden, and the game provides multiple movement abilities and special skills to help you traverse locations. It's a lot of fun to gradually unlock access to new zones or reach spots in old places that you previously couldn't, and by the second half of the game you're so attuned to the locations and motions that you can traverse entire zones playing the floor is lava.

    The combat is delightful. Bosses have their own dedicated tracks and unique moves, and are all about having their patterns memorized so you can sneak in attacks without taking damage. The charms and spells you can use also give the combat a lot of variety, so you can customize how to fight.

    Finally, the added DLCs further polish the experience with both quality of life upgrades and actual, amazing new content, including an incredibly hard (but very satisfying) boss rush. Hollow Knight is, without a doubt, one of the best games of the genre, and I'd recommend it to anyone who's even remotely interested in metroidvanias.    … Expand
  12. theduffman7
    Nov 21, 2018
    10
    Con solo decir que le he echado mas de 55 horas a este juego creo que está todo dicho, pero no me voy a quedar solo ahí.
    Empezando por el contenido artístico, el juego es una pasada. Todos los niveles son preciosos y siempre te quedas mirando hasta el mas mínimo detalle.
    La jugabilidad es super cómoda (Yo use mando). Nivel de dificultad muy variado, como es un metroidvania tipo dark    Con solo decir que le he echado mas de 55 horas a este juego creo que está todo dicho, pero no me voy a quedar solo ahí.
    Empezando por el contenido artístico, el juego es una pasada. Todos los niveles son preciosos y siempre te quedas mirando hasta el mas mínimo detalle.
    La jugabilidad es super cómoda (Yo use mando).
    Nivel de dificultad muy variado, como es un metroidvania tipo dark souls, te puedes meter en zonas as difíciles ya que no tienes todas las habilidades necesarias.
    El lore es tipo dark souls, si quieres historia buscatela encontrando a los npcs.
    Para mi de los mejores juegos indie por no decir el mejor.    … Expand
  13. davion100
    Mar 26, 2017
    10
    Amazing................................................................................................................................................................
  14. JuanLuisGG14
    Aug 19, 2018
    10
    I definitely didn't expect this game to be this good
    Outstanding game in its genre (Metroidvania platformer) . From the hauntingly gorgeous artstyle to the rich lore, ost and map design... it is nearly perfect, Many routes and secrets ensure the sense of constant discovery. It's a must buy 9.5/10
  15. Flora
    Dec 4, 2018
    10
    Enjoyable game. This might be my favorite game despite not being a fan of having a grim tone in the games i play, and a less vibrant art style than i prefer (I prefer the vibrant nature of Ori and the blind forest a bit more).
    The difficulty of the game is on the low side for the majority of the game where it ramps up to a nice level close to the end, i would personally have preferred a    Enjoyable game. This might be my favorite game despite not being a fan of having a grim tone in the games i play, and a less vibrant art style than i prefer (I prefer the vibrant nature of Ori and the blind forest a bit more).
    The difficulty of the game is on the low side for the majority of the game where it ramps up to a nice level close to the end, i would personally have preferred a more difficult mid-game that'd force you to utilize more of your abilities, though it would be hard to maintain the same openness of the world, so i guess this is the best compromise.
    So why is this a 10/10, because i have seen no other game do so many things so right: the music is amazing with the exception of the combat soundtrack of City of Tears, the art style is awesome, the combat system is minimalistic is a really good way, and the world is massive yet filled to the brim with content. The story is kinda hit or miss, though it is mostly optional.
    i would easily have picked this game up for 30$, so 15$ (10$ if on sale) is a steal, if you do not have this game in your game collection, it is a mistake.    … Expand
  16. nichochar2
    Mar 27, 2017
    10
    I'm giving this game 10/10, and I'm weighing my choice. This game manages to do a bunch of things absolutely perfectly, here are a few:
    * The physics and mechanics feel great, and have a high skill ceiling
    * the world is beautiful and mesmerizing, whilst being very diverse * Enemies are challenging and plentiful (144 different types) * Spells are found at good times, and make the game    I'm giving this game 10/10, and I'm weighing my choice. This game manages to do a bunch of things absolutely perfectly, here are a few:
    * The physics and mechanics feel great, and have a high skill ceiling
    * the world is beautiful and mesmerizing, whilst being very diverse
    * Enemies are challenging and plentiful (144 different types)
    * Spells are found at good times, and make the game shift every few hours
    * Some bosses will have you retry a _BUNCH_ of times    … Expand
  17. LimitedEdition
    Sep 13, 2020
    10
    A highly atmospheric game crafted with love. Available DRM-free on GOG.com. Wonderful side-scrolling game I can recommend to everyone! It has been a long time since a video game has caught my attention and enthusiasm as greatly as Hollow Knight did and does. Try it and be amazed!
  18. RainXH11
    Jul 18, 2017
    10
    i played demon souls, dark souls 1, 2, 3, Bloodborne
    then i played hollow knight , dark souls games felt like a walk in the park comparing to this one
    this game will brutally destroy u and crashs you, you'll die in this game alooooooooooot you'll go back at the checkpoint are and you'll lose all your geos and you have to go through that hell again to get them back and 99% you won't, the    i played demon souls, dark souls 1, 2, 3, Bloodborne
    then i played hollow knight , dark souls games felt like a walk in the park comparing to this one
    this game will brutally destroy u and crashs you, you'll die in this game alooooooooooot you'll go back at the checkpoint are and you'll lose all your geos and you have to go through that hell again to get them back and 99% you won't, the world is too big and mysterious and awesome to explore, level design is brilliant, and there's 0 hand-holding you're on your own lil one.
    this games nails it, 10/10 best game i've played this year, worth your money and worth your time    … Expand
  19. JSagittarius
    Jul 1, 2019
    10
    Neskutecne zabavna, tezka, vizualne hezka hra.

    Chytil jsem se zde na 35hodin (98% complete). Celou dobu jsem se bavil. Hra by se dala rozdelit na 2 zakladni pilire. Prozkoumavani sveta a souboj s bossy. Pruzkum toho sveta bylo neco neskutecneho. Hledani ruznych zakouti, zkratek, objevovani novych lokaci apod. Pravda je ze hra moc nepomaha s tim kam jit. Je to drsny pristup ale o to je    Neskutecne zabavna, tezka, vizualne hezka hra.

    Chytil jsem se zde na 35hodin (98% complete). Celou dobu jsem se bavil. Hra by se dala rozdelit na 2 zakladni pilire. Prozkoumavani sveta a souboj s bossy. Pruzkum toho sveta bylo neco neskutecneho. Hledani ruznych zakouti, zkratek, objevovani novych lokaci apod. Pravda je ze hra moc nepomaha s tim kam jit. Je to drsny pristup ale o to je to zabavnejsi. Mapa neni nic jisteho a vsechno si clovek musi ze zacatku prozkoumat sam. Bohuzel diky tomu jsem se 2x docela slusne zasekl na nekolik hodin a musel jsem to vzdat a nechat si poradit na iternetu (jednou to byla abilita pro prekonani prekazek kterou jsem nenasel a podruhe moje hloupost kdy jsem vladce kudlanek povazoval jen za vedlejsiho bose, rekl si ze se na ne podivam pozdeji a pak na ne uplne zapomnel) :) Takze bych byl urcite pro nejakou malinkatou napovedu nekde ve hre kdyz je clovek na nekolik hodin ztraceny.

    V tezkych soubojich se moc nevyzivam ale tady to nikdy nepreslo do absurdni roviny a zakladni bosove se dali po nejake dobe zvladnout. Samozrejme hra umoznuje dalsi masochysticke hratky v ruznych rezimech ale to uz neni pro mne :)

    Jeste k tomu pruzkumu. Platformovky me vzdycky bavily a tady je to parada. Ovladnout vsechny dovednosti chvili trva a o to je to pak vetsi zadostiuceneni kdyz clovek proskace celou uroven aniz by se ho nekdo dotkl (kde driv ze zacatku dostal na zadek). Navic kdyz clovek sam od sebe najde nejaky poklad (novou schopnost) tak radost z toho nalezeni je super.

    Vizual je nadherny. Hudba take. Pribeh "kouzelny".

    Fakt pecka. Kor kdyz je za tim jeste tak maly tym    … Expand
  20. Ignotum
    Jul 9, 2017
    10
    Easily one of the best metroidvanias to arise from the current genre revival. A captivating and otherworldly environment, challenging combat, rewarding exploration and secrets, fascinating lore, and a gorgeous art style.
  21. Killshotef1
    Dec 9, 2018
    10
    Don't listen to the negative reviews the ones that make them are idiots. This game is a masterpiece. 4 free story and qol based dlc's on top of an already great and content heavy story, on top of an amazing price. If you have 15 dollars to spare buy it, you wont be disappointed.
    Music 10/10
    Gameplay 10/10 Map design 10/10 exploration factor 10/10 Story 10/10 Delve deep into the lore    Don't listen to the negative reviews the ones that make them are idiots. This game is a masterpiece. 4 free story and qol based dlc's on top of an already great and content heavy story, on top of an amazing price. If you have 15 dollars to spare buy it, you wont be disappointed.
    Music 10/10
    Gameplay 10/10
    Map design 10/10
    exploration factor 10/10
    Story 10/10
    Delve deep into the lore and understand this game will not spoon feed you its story through cut-scenes but rather show you the story subtly through world changes.
    this game is one of the few that over delivers almost to an extreme level.    … Expand
  22. szarkam
    Feb 28, 2017
    10
    Wow! This is one of the best metroidvanias I've played in a while. The game mechanics are so smooth and feel great, the art is surreal and gorgeous, and the music is haunting. The exploration is open and invites you to get lost, figure out the level, and eventually buy a map for every new stage you reach. If you like exploration and metroidvanias this is an absolute MUST buy. Some mayWow! This is one of the best metroidvanias I've played in a while. The game mechanics are so smooth and feel great, the art is surreal and gorgeous, and the music is haunting. The exploration is open and invites you to get lost, figure out the level, and eventually buy a map for every new stage you reach. If you like exploration and metroidvanias this is an absolute MUST buy. Some may be put off by the directionless exploration, but I absolutely love the freedom. It is also not an easy game; you will die a fair amount. If you aren't up for a challenge this may not be the game for you, but if you are a masochist like me you'll love the controller spiking, curse inducing deaths that are inevitable. There is also a TON of content; the trailer showed a massive map that I've only just scratched the surface on and I'm eight hours in! There are over 1 hundred enemies and over 30 bosses! We are absolutely spoiled to get this gem for $16! If you are a fan of metroidvanias that aren't going to hold your hand, you owe it to yourself to play Hollow Knight.… Expand
  23. beakerboy666
    Jan 16, 2020
    10
    Let's remember some of the most legendary 2D games to date, before Hollow Knight: Super Meat Boy, Rayman Origins/Legends, Ori and the Blind Forest, Hyper Light Drifter, etc.

    Hollow Knight is like the result of every good 2D game ever made channeling all of their energy into a single game, to create the best, most epic, most beautiful 2D game ever.

    BUY. THIS. GAME.
  24. Floyderhead
    Mar 20, 2017
    10
    I am truly amazed by Hollow Knight. The game starts off slow; it feels a bit cartoony at first but later into the game you realize that it's a pretty dark game full of rich areas and even richer characters. The game is definitely influenced by Dark Souls, and it fuses that influence in a Metrovania style game beautifully.
  25. Brainstrain
    Dec 12, 2019
    10
    Practically perfect. As a platformer, as a souls-like, and as a metroidvania,, Hollow Knight succeeds wildly. Combat is tight, and you will be amazed what you're capable of by the end of the game. Platforming is wove into the map seamlessly, with true challenges hidden in many nooks and corners. And, of course, it is a brilliantly laid out metroidvania, filled with interesting powers andPractically perfect. As a platformer, as a souls-like, and as a metroidvania,, Hollow Knight succeeds wildly. Combat is tight, and you will be amazed what you're capable of by the end of the game. Platforming is wove into the map seamlessly, with true challenges hidden in many nooks and corners. And, of course, it is a brilliantly laid out metroidvania, filled with interesting powers and upgrades that send you combing through old areas to see what new secrets await - and there are a LOT of secrets.

    There will be moments when you think you are lost, or stuck, and the game can be pretty obtuse about showing you the way forward. But in a non-linear game I think that's inevitable, and it adds to the atmosphere tremendously.

    I could go on forever. It's a phenomenal game for anyone who likes games and enjoys the feeling of rising to a challenge.    … Expand
  26. clptothetop
    Jun 20, 2018
    10
    I really think this is one of the best game ever made. It's flawless. The music, the characters, the story and the visual are amazing. A masterpiece with free DLC.
  27. yand
    Oct 8, 2018
    10
    This game is amazing - 10/10!
    Absolutely beautiful!
    Perfect!
    Iis one of the best indie games ever!
  28. MrSchipunov
    Jul 30, 2020
    10
    Best thing we got from the booming of Indie gamedev industry, without a doubt. Gameplay is extremely polished and it hooks you up along with the atmosphere. Must play.
  29. spzHades
    Mar 15, 2022
    10
    This game is masterpiece.. i had so much fun with it but also frustrating.

    I wasn't able to do the last 2% for maximum completetion achievement.
    The 3'rd tower was too much for me and there was a part in trial of fools that tilted me after many tries and abandoned it.

    All in all super awesome game.
  30. Aegil
    Feb 26, 2017
    10
    In Hollow Knight, you adventure across a range of diverse landscapes, from dimly lit caverns to jellyfish-infested jungles. The mellow soundtrack is an absolute pleasure to listen to, and sets the tone of the game excellently. The boss fights are creative and memorable, and there are over 30 of them. Even the normal enemies are a pleasure to look at and fight against. If you are even theIn Hollow Knight, you adventure across a range of diverse landscapes, from dimly lit caverns to jellyfish-infested jungles. The mellow soundtrack is an absolute pleasure to listen to, and sets the tone of the game excellently. The boss fights are creative and memorable, and there are over 30 of them. Even the normal enemies are a pleasure to look at and fight against. If you are even the slightest fan of platformers, nonlinear level design, or cute insects, you need to get this game. Hollow Knight is an incredibly atmospheric experience that I cannot recommend enough.… 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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