Hollow Knight

 Switch
Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
Buy Now
Buy on
  1. Eurogamer
    Jun 28, 2018
    A stern yet scintillating 2D adventure that makes a point of not holding your hand. [Recommended]
  2. Kotaku
    Jul 5, 2018
    Hollow Knight is a reminder that things are not always as they first appear, and that great rewards await those unafraid to plunge below the surface. Look deeper, it says. There’s magic beneath the soil, if only you’re willing to dig.
    All this publication's reviews

Awards & Rankings

8
#8 Best Switch Game of 2018
3
#3 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2018
15
#15 Most Shared Switch Game of 2018

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
9.1

Universal acclaim- based on 2078 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,879 out of 2078
  2. Mixed: 74 out of 2078
  3. Negative: 125 out of 2078
  1. donuts842
    Jun 13, 2018
    10
    I’m about 10 hrs in and feel like I haven’t even scratched the surface of this game. My gaming life started with watching my dad play MetroidI’m about 10 hrs in and feel like I haven’t even scratched the surface of this game. My gaming life started with watching my dad play Metroid on the NES while my mom drew the maps by hand, and the then eventually playing Super Metroid SNES. This game expands on every metroidvania experience there has ever been. Great game, worth the wait.… Full Review »
  2. Greysteel
    Jun 13, 2018
    9
    It's as if the masterminds behind Metroid, Castlevania and Bloodbourne tied an entomologist to a chair, put a gun to thier head, and demandedIt's as if the masterminds behind Metroid, Castlevania and Bloodbourne tied an entomologist to a chair, put a gun to thier head, and demanded a refreshing new idea for a charming, yet still challenging, platformer RPG. It's that damn good.… Full Review »
  3. Grimmush
    Jun 23, 2018
    3
    DO NOT BUY!

    Honestly as someone who is used to challenging games, I found Hollow Knight to be one of the worst. I found the challenge    DO NOT BUY!

    Honestly as someone who is used to challenging games, I found Hollow Knight to be one of the worst.

    I found the challenge here to be gimmicky at best, with cheap mid-boss enemies, damage model based on hits and touches by enemies and awkward controls/platforming made even worse on the Switch thanks to the Joy-Cons.

    You start with a little guy that has 1 attack (3, if you count directional attacks as well) , a heal spell and a jump. That's it. No block, no dash/evade, no way to avoid getting hit and as I've mentioned getting touched means getting hit. The enemies are very agile and have a long reach, you yourself are very small and cover a short area, which leads to a lot of cases where you are being hit while trying to hit.

    In short, the combat is abhorrent!

    There is no learning curve like what you had in the Souls games, where if you could overcome a difficult enemies/sequence you could get past it by learning from mistakes, learning new moves and strategies. There's none of the here, as the game is very straight forward.

    The platforming is probably the worst offender, it has this this awful downward attack that you have to use to get through some parts which is a pain to archive on the Joy-con. Add to that tight jumping sequences where you are harassed by enemies you cant avoid...

    Some enemies respawn while you rest at a bench, others respawn if you exit an area, making making it feel very inconsistent. The area maps that you have to purchase, which is incomplete when you buy it, also updates new areas you've been through while resting at a bench.

    You have to grind your ass off to buy basic game mechanics, like maps, map pins, etc.

    Overall I think this game tries so hard to be a 2D souls but falls flat due to all of the above, instead being nothing more than an over hyped poor attempt with pretty aesthetics.

    As it is, the game is unplayable and enjoyable without a scale back on the difficulty, maybe with a easy mode added.

    If you're looking for a Souls like, you won't find it in Hollow Knight. I strongly recommend waiting for Dark Souls Remastered or Dead Cells, both out later this year.
    … Full Review »
See all user reviews »