Hollow Knight

 Switch
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
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  1. fitmmedia
    Nov 1, 2018
    10
    It's everything you want in a game: Cool art/animation, challenging yet easy to pick up, fun to play, and reasonably priced. Easily one my favorite games on Switch.
  2. UnwantedCrimina
    Nov 3, 2018
    10
    An absolutely beautiful game with great visuals, music, sound effects and overall atmosphere. Took me about 30 hours to achieve the first of many endings and without touching any of the three free dlc's. A ridiculous amount of content for the low price tag.
  3. NemuiN
    Nov 26, 2018
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. *MINOR SPOILERS*
    The game is extremely fun, and the story is not only compelling, but beautiful told. The fighting is enjoyable and the bosses are challenging. Overall, this game has been one of the best games I've played this year, by far. So, why the 9 star review? Well, for some unknown reason, the developers thought to make one of the DLC the most unpleasant, repetitive, and uninspired "Jump Quest Challenges" ever made. It's frustrating, its far too difficult for the rigid movement of the game, and overall, it really ruined the experience for me. The Colosseum of Fools was a fun and difficult challenges, which pushed you to the limit to beat, but the White Palace is just not fun. It ruined the whole game for me. Sure, the area is optional, but if you are a completionist as myself, this will honestly ruin some of the beauty of the game. Very disappointing that the developers chose to make such an unpleasant and overall stale area.    … Expand
  4. Alone_Bird
    Dec 2, 2018
    10
    A game which includes difficulty, beautiful graphics, great soundtrack, good characters, a brilliant story and amazing gameplay deserves a 10/10... And this game is no exception, Hollow Knight is one of the best games I’ve played this year. Not only does it have all the things I listed above, but it also has loving developers that actually show that they care about the game by alsoA game which includes difficulty, beautiful graphics, great soundtrack, good characters, a brilliant story and amazing gameplay deserves a 10/10... And this game is no exception, Hollow Knight is one of the best games I’ve played this year. Not only does it have all the things I listed above, but it also has loving developers that actually show that they care about the game by also releasing three DLCs...
    I don’t understand why there are a few people hating on the game, but I think it’s a great Metroidvania ,which needs more praise. Hope to see more games like this, because these are games which we need more of....    … Expand
  5. Nihlm
    Dec 5, 2018
    10
    This game is by far my favorite game of all time, however it is important to keep in mind my favorite game and the game I had the most fun with are not the same, because the first takes in much more. It has a deep but vague story with character development tied in with even just where the character is. Hornet, a servant to one of the three dreamers, meets you at the beginning and tries toThis game is by far my favorite game of all time, however it is important to keep in mind my favorite game and the game I had the most fun with are not the same, because the first takes in much more. It has a deep but vague story with character development tied in with even just where the character is. Hornet, a servant to one of the three dreamers, meets you at the beginning and tries to prevent you from proceeding, but you prove your strength to her and she leaves as you finally get the dash ability, which is used in every area after that very often both for platforming and dodging attacks from the much faster enemies after that fight, which takes place in the second area of the game. Many people would complain about holding off abilities, but it's a key part of a metroidivania, as well as a good way to keep a steady learning curve. Which takes me to the difficulty. This game is not the dark souls of metroidivanias, but in fact if you played this game with all the bosses and areas the game is significantly harder than any dark souls game. The game may go up in difficulty fast, but it is always steady and gives you a good idea of the mechanics throughout the area up to the challenges, which require everything you've gotten. The map system of this game is often complained about a lot, but if anything it's better for an adventure game. I liked having to find the layout of my room to determine where I was in relation to benches and other things, it made me explore each room all the way many times. It also compliments the fact that each area has a few secrets you can only get to later, which you'll have to remember for later, which is neat. Great game overall.… Expand
  6. ze-
    Dec 8, 2018
    10
    I will have to start this review by saying, you must play this, currently on my main save file i am 80 hours in with 111% out of 112% i have seen almost everything from the first three free expansions and (at this time) a character dlc is coming out, the game is filled with action and amazing challenge, I've only just beat the path of pain and there are still harder things to do! This gameI will have to start this review by saying, you must play this, currently on my main save file i am 80 hours in with 111% out of 112% i have seen almost everything from the first three free expansions and (at this time) a character dlc is coming out, the game is filled with action and amazing challenge, I've only just beat the path of pain and there are still harder things to do! This game is my favorite game of the year and i would say its my favorite game of all time so far, i would recommend this to anyone who likes a great challenge, confusing but fun to find lore, a fill of secrets, and a load of bugs ... no not like that, most of the characters are bugs, this game is a must play in my opinion, if you want the full lore experience i recommend mossbag on youtube… Expand
  7. retrorasp
    Jan 8, 2019
    10
    Backstory (feel free to skip this part):

    I'm a 35 year-old professional who has a family, mortgage, and a business to maintain. I don't have time to play video games, and hardly ever touch my PS4 which I've owned for years now. I bought a Switch on a whim with some long-forgotten gift card money I had, and was looking for cheap titles to pick-up to occasionally kill time. Hollow    Backstory (feel free to skip this part):

    I'm a 35 year-old professional who has a family, mortgage, and a business to maintain. I don't have time to play video games, and hardly ever touch my PS4 which I've owned for years now. I bought a Switch on a whim with some long-forgotten gift card money I had, and was looking for cheap titles to pick-up to occasionally kill time.

    Hollow Knight caught my eye on MetaCritic's "best games of all-time for the Switch" list. This intrigued me enough to look it up on Nintendo's eShop on my Switch. As it turns out, Hollow Knight happened to be on sale for $9.99 at the time, to which I thought "Eh...what the hell. Let's give it a shot. It is only $10".

    Fast forward to today:

    I am currently 45 hours into this game, and simply cannot get enough of it. In fact, I still have a long way to go because I have every intention of fully completing this game 100%+. Everything about this game is a pure masterpiece, including:

    *The hand-drawn characters and level designs that are ridiculously detailed, along with the humorous
    dialogue between you and other characters you encounter on your journey.

    *The tight controls that make the navigation of this underworld so enjoyable. Heck, they even make.
    the most challenging of boss battles feel like a fair fight, because you always feel like you are in
    control.

    *The soundtrack/score fits the melancholic aesthetic of the underworld that you fight and explore
    your way through, as well as the sound design of enemies, weapons, and abilities draw you in even
    further.

    I noticed that there are some complaints about the difficulty level of some of the bosses. There are, indeed, difficult foes that will require some time and dedication. There has been a few times where I've fought a boss over-and-over for 1.5 to 2 hours straight, but I always seem to find a combat technique or charm that I was not initially utilizing in order to defeat these foes. Sometimes, you have to continue to explore and find better charms, abilities, and upgrades in order to defeat adversaries you are struggling with. Isn't that just a typical part of this genre?

    In a nutshell: Hollow Knight is the best "Metroidvania-style" game that i have ever played (and I've played ALL the classics). I can't believe I only paid $10 (on sale) for this kind of quality and entertainment. Better yet, I can't believe a team of THREE people were able to come up with this much game, with this much detail, for so little money.

    Just do yourself and by this modern-day classic. I promise you've spent way more money on so so so much less.    … Expand
  8. mmkonst
    Jan 11, 2019
    10
    one of the best games I've ever played : good gameplay, good music, good graphics, epic boss fights, more than 40 hours and only 15 dollars
  9. Creeeamy
    Mar 2, 2019
    10
    Hollow knight is a masterpiece of gaming and a must play for anyone who has the time and patience. Brutal in nature and unforgiving hollow knight may turn away more casual crowds but it's deep and scattered lore and serene world leads the player on a satisfying journey of discovery that feels truly earned. Just as you think you're nearing the end the game unfolds more and more to revealHollow knight is a masterpiece of gaming and a must play for anyone who has the time and patience. Brutal in nature and unforgiving hollow knight may turn away more casual crowds but it's deep and scattered lore and serene world leads the player on a satisfying journey of discovery that feels truly earned. Just as you think you're nearing the end the game unfolds more and more to reveal its truly colossal scope.

    While merciless and unforgiving Hollow Knight rarely delves into "unfair" territory besides 1 or 2 bosses, everything is clearly telegraphed and results boil down to the players ability to react accordingly. People who deem this game too hard or unfair simply need to get some patience, and get good. Hollow knight will constantly push you as far as you can go and demand you go further, and with its fair and ruthless combat you'll find yourself getting there after a handful of tries.

    Hollow knight has no real low points, only highs. Each boss fight is accompanied by moments of quiet serenity where the visuals and atmosphere tell a story of their own, and each boss fight is a rhythmic and hypnotic masterpiece that leaves you searching out every fight you can find.

    The sheer volume of collectables and secrets will lead you searching every crack and crevice trying to find ways around any obstacles, the desire to push onward and find out more about the mysterious world of Hallownest, the Hollow Knight, The Pale King, every character you meet along the way and the silent protagonist the Knight is always there, forever pushing you to listen to every word, and soak in every moment. A masterpiece of gaming in an industry dominated by "open world AAA easy to follow RPG", hollow knight shows that even a 2D game with no structured narrative forcing you, with unforgiving, simple yet deep game play can outshine even the largest AAA game.

    A must play experience for everyone who enjoys video games and a good challenge    … Expand
  10. Light34
    Apr 11, 2019
    10
    Hollow knight is just a game with any flaws. No cons at all. Beautiful art stile and animations, crazyly well made combat system and music, amazing story narrated mostly by the lore, some of the better game design and gameplay ideas and execution i've ever seen, an enormous world full of secrets ready to be explored, unbelievable replayability, thanks to the crazy number of secrets and toHollow knight is just a game with any flaws. No cons at all. Beautiful art stile and animations, crazyly well made combat system and music, amazing story narrated mostly by the lore, some of the better game design and gameplay ideas and execution i've ever seen, an enormous world full of secrets ready to be explored, unbelievable replayability, thanks to the crazy number of secrets and to the lore peaces coming together in every single run. 4 free dlcs full of content that at least doubles the amount of hours of gameplay of a run. This game is an ABSOLUTE masterpiece, it's like something coming from the heavens with all is RADIANCE.
    It's only 15 bucks and you'll feel guilty to have paid so little for this game, in any case for this game... NO COST TOO GREAT    … Expand
  11. HuyChu
    Jun 20, 2019
    10
    This is the first time I have a chance to play the metroidvania style game, and I thought with the real Metroid have not shown up yet,, maybe I should spend some time with this one. just to see is it really good as people said it is, and holly scrap. I exceed all my expectation, the game is so beautiful, the atmosphere, the game play the puzzle is all there, is all fun but tough as hell. IThis is the first time I have a chance to play the metroidvania style game, and I thought with the real Metroid have not shown up yet,, maybe I should spend some time with this one. just to see is it really good as people said it is, and holly scrap. I exceed all my expectation, the game is so beautiful, the atmosphere, the game play the puzzle is all there, is all fun but tough as hell. I am currently 20 hours into there game, and I really think I bearly scratch it 's surface, I did not expect the game with 15$ pricetag would be this big. Just applause.… Expand
  12. zach011
    Jun 24, 2019
    10
    Hollow Knight is one of my favorite games of all time. I got this game the day it came out and didn't know about all the great reception it had. I started playing, but i didn't instantly fall in love. I went to the first area of the game, defeated the boss, and didn't know where to go next. This is where a lot of people stop playing which is really sad, because they never get to know whatHollow Knight is one of my favorite games of all time. I got this game the day it came out and didn't know about all the great reception it had. I started playing, but i didn't instantly fall in love. I went to the first area of the game, defeated the boss, and didn't know where to go next. This is where a lot of people stop playing which is really sad, because they never get to know what a great game this is. I put down the game for six months, until a friend told me to play it. I started playing again found the next area, and fell in love with it. I couldn't stop playing for days. There are so many areas and so many items and things to do. The controls are smooth and it just feels good to play. At first, it may seem like there is no story, but as you explore, you find out what happened. The game is hard, but once you beat the bosses and learn there moves, they become easier. So even if you got stuck on a boss, which I did many times, if you keep going you can get through it, and the feeling of beating them is amazing. The game has a mode where if you die, you can't respawn. I think this was a great decision to add because after playing it once, you have already learned the game and the bosses move sets. This mode continues the challenge you may have had on your first time playing. This game starts out calm and slow, but by the end you will have learned and gotten better, doing things you may have never thought that you could do. This game is amazing, I have put over 120 hours into it, and I'm not even close to completing everything in it(over multiple times playing). I think everyone can enjoy this game, and I hope you play it.… Expand
  13. Arubatorion
    Jul 31, 2019
    10
    With its dark but cute universe and art-style, this game is a must for hardcore gamers and souls-like lovers. It was a huge success when it first released in PC, but I just love indie games like these in portable platforms and wanted to experience it on Nintendo Switch. I realized I've made the best choice after literally 3 hours later I played the game. Insanely fun, addictive andWith its dark but cute universe and art-style, this game is a must for hardcore gamers and souls-like lovers. It was a huge success when it first released in PC, but I just love indie games like these in portable platforms and wanted to experience it on Nintendo Switch. I realized I've made the best choice after literally 3 hours later I played the game. Insanely fun, addictive and charming. I think every Switch owner needs to give it a shot. Even if you don't own a Switch, on the other hardwares, this game is a "have to play"!… Expand
  14. Swooping-Evil
    Sep 24, 2019
    10
    One of the most amazing games I've ever played. The world is incredibly detailed and beautyful. The platforming is not too hard but has some challenging moments. The bossfights are difficult but seem rarely unfair. Your enemies will stick to a pattern to which you can adapt and do not seem like random projectile spam. The movement is incredibly sophisticated and feels good to master. TheOne of the most amazing games I've ever played. The world is incredibly detailed and beautyful. The platforming is not too hard but has some challenging moments. The bossfights are difficult but seem rarely unfair. Your enemies will stick to a pattern to which you can adapt and do not seem like random projectile spam. The movement is incredibly sophisticated and feels good to master. The story is subtle yet powerful. The music always perfectly suits the place you are in and creates an incredible ambiance. Eventhough I would say this game is difficult it is completely manageable and fun. I really hope you pick this one up and experience this game for yourself.… Expand
  15. tom974
    Jan 13, 2020
    10
    Game of the year for me. A must play for any fan of the metroidvania genre, stunning 2D graphics and beautiful musics. Be warned the game is tough too.
  16. JeyColins
    Jul 15, 2018
    10
    10/10
    One of the best platform games I've ever played!
    This game has so much to offer:
    - beautiful art-style
    - fantastic controls
    - challenging combat
    - good story
  17. Fortius
    Mar 14, 2019
    10
    Amazing game. I've loved every minute. I've played this much more than any of the $60 games I bought.
  18. Filipes
    Sep 20, 2018
    10
    I found here one of the most amazing kingdoms to explore, fight through and get lost in.
  19. guatoman
    Nov 18, 2018
    8
    metroidvania style. everything is great except for the difficult level. very frustrating. play messenger instead
  20. Batraciofanrex
    Aug 22, 2018
    10
    Hollow Knight ha sido la más grata sorpresa que he tenido en cuanto a videojuegos, me encanto de principio a fin. Yo nunca he sido fan de los juegos estilo Metroidvania, ha decir verdad me aburren bastante pero Hollow Knight se las arregla para tenerte entretenido de principio a fin, su estilo de juego es bastante adictivo y tienes boss battles bastante desafiantes. En cuanto al apartadoHollow Knight ha sido la más grata sorpresa que he tenido en cuanto a videojuegos, me encanto de principio a fin. Yo nunca he sido fan de los juegos estilo Metroidvania, ha decir verdad me aburren bastante pero Hollow Knight se las arregla para tenerte entretenido de principio a fin, su estilo de juego es bastante adictivo y tienes boss battles bastante desafiantes. En cuanto al apartado grafico del juego es sencillamente alucinante, así como su apartado de sonido. Juega Hollow Knight de verdad que no te arrepentiras, es un juego que debes tener.… Expand
  21. jerkface910
    Dec 13, 2018
    10
    When I first played this I kept thinking, "I wonder if this will be my pick for Game of the Year?" but then I'd remember Spider-Man and Red Dead were coming out and thought no way. Well, it's the end of the year, and I have to say this game is my pick for Game of the Year (I know it came out before this year, but for consoles). The design is just perfect. They give you the entire worldWhen I first played this I kept thinking, "I wonder if this will be my pick for Game of the Year?" but then I'd remember Spider-Man and Red Dead were coming out and thought no way. Well, it's the end of the year, and I have to say this game is my pick for Game of the Year (I know it came out before this year, but for consoles). The design is just perfect. They give you the entire world from the start, but you're limited to where you can venture due to abilities or just enemy difficulty. Exploration is key, but also risky, as you could end up losing your shade (and 4000) geo in a dangerous spot.
    I loved the unique areas, with their own enemies, and the overall art design and world is just spot-on. It's creepy as hell, but also plenty cute.
    And there are secrets EVERYWHERE. Just playing through the game is a meaty quest, but there are so many secrets to uncover and explore it's amazing. They also throw in some fun surprises, the likes of which I had never seen before.
    I really have no gripe with this game. Even the challenge level, which can get painful in some areas, never feels cheap. If you keep dying it's either because you aren't sufficiently powered up, or you're just not skilled enough to survive.    … Expand
  22. JoeMoney333
    Oct 15, 2018
    9
    I'm not sure what isn't to like about this game. The atmosphere is amazing, the story is fantastically told through the background, and the combat is superb. The ending sticks with you even after you put the game down. The combat is precise and challenging. Any mistakes made are the players fault and instantly recognizable. One of the best 2D games out and it's at home on the Switch. A+
  23. Trentini
    Sep 5, 2018
    10
    Great game!!!

    The environment, visuals, music are incredible. The controls are great and, more important of things: it is a lot of fun, will entertain for dozens of hours.
  24. MatthewRock
    Sep 3, 2018
    8
    A very good game with beautiful locations, nice sense of progression and some challenging parts. Unfortunately, it has rough spots that could use some polishing.

    The recurring problem with the game is the designers' love for the mechanics that make the game more annoying. Not hard - annoying. One of the examples would be the fixed save point system (bench). You have to use those    A very good game with beautiful locations, nice sense of progression and some challenging parts. Unfortunately, it has rough spots that could use some polishing.

    The recurring problem with the game is the designers' love for the mechanics that make the game more annoying. Not hard - annoying.

    One of the examples would be the fixed save point system (bench). You have to use those benches to save the game. They double as a respawn when you die. The problem is, there is not enough of them in the game or they are placed at weird places. Oftentimes when approaching the boss the closest bench is few locations away, usually separated by some enemies or obstacles that result in the loss of life.

    Another example is death. When you die, you leave a shade behind - which keeps your gold and a part of your soul meter ("mana" used for spells and healing) pool. If you die again, the previous shade is gone (with your gold). Killing a shade restores soul meter.

    Those two show how approaching a boss can be frustrating. Not only does your journey to the boss takes some time (and if the boss is tough - which some are - it can take multiple tries, meaning wasted time). It also makes every next try more annoying - you either suck it up and play harder version(because you can't collect maximum soul without killing your shade, which is at the boss) or kill the shade, go back to collect soul (this often means going back to the save point), and then approach it again. Again, nothing harder about the game itself.

    Same with the money mechanic - you can force the mobs to spawn, so earning money is tiresome, not hard. Losing it is another chore. Fortunately, late-game money is not useful anymore so you don't have to worry about that.

    The levels are beautiful. There are many different zones and they all feel great. Each of them has unique setting or mechanic. Attention to detail is really praiseworthy. Music blends nicely with levels. Every part feels like a well designed piece of a whole. Some of the parts are locked off until you get certain mechanic, so you get to re-visit some of those locations.

    Talking about game mechanics, these are also well done. You enable "special powers" throughout the game. Every new skill means access to new locations and often helps in combat. This means that progress feels good and natural.

    Unfortunately, the very same progress can come to halt with no help. As I do not like using any sort of guides, I spent few times "scanning" the entire map - going through all the places - looking for any place where I could go, because I didn't know what to do next. This is a good thing, as I am not spoon-fed the directions, but something as simple as the "to-do list" with multiple things to do could point me in the right direction.

    The charm system is also good - you can equip different charms(and combinations of thereof) to make certain play styles more powerful.

    Despite its flaws it's a great game. Not the best out there, some of the rough parts are undeniable, but pretty damn good and definitely a must have for metroidvania fans.    … Expand
  25. vxRadiatonxv
    Aug 15, 2018
    10
    Switch release makes the game even better and adds more from the PC. The 3D rumble gives a feel to the game and makes it feel more atmospheric. Note that this is coming from a player that has gotten all the achievements. Play the game and see for yourself.

    P.S. most negative reviews of this game come from players who have not experienced the full game and gotten used to its mechanics.    Switch release makes the game even better and adds more from the PC. The 3D rumble gives a feel to the game and makes it feel more atmospheric. Note that this is coming from a player that has gotten all the achievements. Play the game and see for yourself.

    P.S. most negative reviews of this game come from players who have not experienced the full game and gotten used to its mechanics. The bosses may seem tough at first but become easy with enough practice, you have to put some effort in to win; the game doesn't just hand it to you.    … Expand
  26. michellelynn097
    Sep 21, 2018
    10
    This game is beyond amazing. It is brutally hard, but it is so worth it. The game is very hard, the story is very interesting, the art style is out of this world and the music is classic. This is one of the best games I've ever played bar none! With a focus on exploration that really rewards you for going off the beaten path. Tons of items, upgrades and abilities that keep combat fresh andThis game is beyond amazing. It is brutally hard, but it is so worth it. The game is very hard, the story is very interesting, the art style is out of this world and the music is classic. This is one of the best games I've ever played bar none! With a focus on exploration that really rewards you for going off the beaten path. Tons of items, upgrades and abilities that keep combat fresh and the pacing is perfect. It starts out mildly challenging with some challenge, but the more you unlock your abilities. The number of enemies goes up, but the challenge goes up as well. This is what I am talking about with big budget games like GOW and Spider Man. Sure, they got big budgets and graphics, but they don't have as much game play as games like Hollow Knights and Dead Cell. You get more game play value and replay ability from those two games than most of these so called AAA games.

    The miraculous thing is, this wonderful game was made by 3 people. 3! This game is one for the ages and it is one that you should not miss. I don't care what system you have, GET THIS GAME! It is an instant classic with incredible boss fights, a wonderful art style that is so wonderful, every scene is like a work of art from Picasso. The music hits all the right notes and will send shivers up your spine and the game play is complex, but it is easy enough to grasp. Do not miss this one of a kind experience, it is only 15 dollars and comes with free DLC! How incredible is that? Go get this game now.    … Expand
  27. AKthaBeast
    Sep 24, 2018
    10
    This game is a challenging game at start but the more you play it, the better you will get and the better the game gets.
  28. Javichuck
    Sep 2, 2018
    8
    Plataformas 2D, soulslike. 40h en mi caso con un 80% de finalización en cuanto a extras, se puede acabar en la mitad pero dudo que nadie lo haga porque es un juego que te anima a investigarlo todo. En realidad no sabes cual es el camino principal, lo debes ir descubriendo mientras saltas por el escenario, Buena progresión, movilidad y combate. 9 en arte, 7 en historia y 9 en jugabilidad.Plataformas 2D, soulslike. 40h en mi caso con un 80% de finalización en cuanto a extras, se puede acabar en la mitad pero dudo que nadie lo haga porque es un juego que te anima a investigarlo todo. En realidad no sabes cual es el camino principal, lo debes ir descubriendo mientras saltas por el escenario, Buena progresión, movilidad y combate. 9 en arte, 7 en historia y 9 en jugabilidad. Recomendado.… Expand
  29. metanaga
    Aug 6, 2018
    10
    I don't usually give perfect 10 scores but I sincerely can't think of anything that could improve this game... graphics, music, level design, UI, controls, everything here is just perfect. Hollow Knight deserves to be nailed and hung in a museum.
  30. AlphaNerdGk
    Aug 8, 2018
    10
    Hollow Knight is a Metroidvania style game set in a world of insectoids. I hadn’t heard much about this game upon it’s launch in early 2017, but after it’s release on the Nintendo Switch during Nintendo’s E3 conference this year, I heard a lot of buzz about it. I listen to several video game podcasts and every one of them discussed how tremendous this game is. I like Metroidvanias so IHollow Knight is a Metroidvania style game set in a world of insectoids. I hadn’t heard much about this game upon it’s launch in early 2017, but after it’s release on the Nintendo Switch during Nintendo’s E3 conference this year, I heard a lot of buzz about it. I listen to several video game podcasts and every one of them discussed how tremendous this game is. I like Metroidvanias so I decided to look it up. The art style immediately piqued my interest and the more I heard about how stunning this game is, the more I wanted to play it. I must say, this game lives up to the hype!As with other Metroidvanias, Hollow Knight is a side scrolling platformer. As you clear out one area, you gain abilities that grant access to other areas. Often times, as you gain new abilities, you will have to go back to previously cleared areas to unlock more skills or strengthen existing ones. One feature that is new to the genre is that when you die, you drop all of your coins which are called Geo in this game. In addition, some of your items may break when you die and need to be repaired in order to use them again. You can go back and retrieve your lost Geo by defeating your spirit at the location you died. If you are unable to make it to and defeat your spirit, you lose all Geo. This is a feature similar to that found in the Dark Souls games.
    The game is broken down into different areas. In each area, you will find a cartographer named Cornifier. You can purchase a map of each area from him. He will also tell you that you can buy items to enhance the map from his shop in the small town of DIrtmouth. Two items worth purchasing from his shop are the quill, which will highlight all sections in a region you have actually been in, and the Wayward Compass. The compass does take up one of your item nodes, but is well worth it because the maps do not have a “You are here” indicator on them. The compass fills that role.
    The combat system is rather simple, but effective. You can slash your nail (remember you play as an insectoid so a nail to a bug is like a sword to a human) left, right, up and while you are airborne in the down direction as well. The enemies vary in degree of difficulty from simple mobs to bosses with intricate movement patterns.
    In general, this is not only one of the most difficult platformers I have ever played, it is one of the most difficult games that I have ever played period. The developers did a superb job of making Hollow Knight challenging, but not aggravating.The graphical style in Hollow Knight may not be for everyone, but there is brilliance in it nonetheless. They may be cartoony, but they are very well drawn. I think they animated appearance fits well in a game featuring insectoids and ghosts. Each area features a different base color where the background, the foreground, the enemies and the ground are almost entirely in different shades of that base color. You can notice when you are transitioning to another area because the tones may go from a blueish hue to one that is green. It adds to the charm of the game well. The color of each area matches that areas color after you buy the map for it. Little details like that show the level of care that was put into this game. Despite this being a 2D game, there is depth added by having backgrounds at different layers that move as the character does. This gives the feeling of a quasi-3D game. The lighting, textures and focuses all add to the overall aesthetic separating Hollow Knight from other games in this genre.
    The musical arrangements and sound effects pair terrifically with the what is happening in the game. Normally, I notice the music in a game, but it doesn’t normally make me pay attention to it. In Hollow Knight, the sound enhances the overall gameplay experience. It helps draw the player into the overall experience. Each area of the map has it’s own unique music, which combines with the change in color palette during area transitions perfectly. This game features some of the most situationally appropriate music I have ever heard in a game. The somber tones of one area often become frantic during a boss fight. Another audio feature I like in Hollow Knight is the nonsensical noises that NPCs make when you talk to them. It may be gibberish, but it fits perfectly.Hollow Knight is a fantastic game. In fact, it may be the second best game I have played on the Nintendo Switch after Breath of the Wild. I give a 5/5 for stunning graphics, unique audio and gameplay that is an absolute blast! It is available on Nintendo Switch and PC, so if you game on either one, I highly recommend playing it.    … Expand
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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

Critic Reviews

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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
  1. Pocket Tactics
    Oct 20, 2023
    90
    Hollow Knight is an incredible achievement that combines smart game design, a rich world, and sharp combat, with an enthralling insectoid world and a story just begging for you to find it. Team Cherry’s title is a high watermark for Metroidvanias, as the satisfying abilities and countless collectibles add variety and meaning to exploration, rewarding every discovery. Yet, while the challenge is a rewarding part of the process, I do wish that the title made some concessions and shone a bit of light in the darkness for those first fledgling steps.
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  2. Universo Nintendo
    Sep 10, 2018
    90
    A very fun game and full of interesting characters is what await players in this incredible adventure. If you like Metroid style games, Hollow Knight will leave you satisfied.
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  3. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Sep 5, 2018
    100
    There's never a low point. Only the desire for more. [Issue #35 – September/October 2018, p. 17]
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