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. Bashfulfruit
    Dec 8, 2018
    0
    Freaking INPUT LAG. Wish I had an option to refund this... As a Christmas gift...
  2. naolux
    Oct 24, 2019
    0
    Bad Switch port, the lightning is set so low and the graphics resolution is so bad compared to the other versions of the game...
  3. Superlad12
    Jan 27, 2021
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. if anyone here makes a bad review i will change your mind becuase in every game you dont judge at the start and you may have low hp and low attack but those things you get over time and find new people and unlock new things fight fun bosses and even make new friends this game makes you unlock stuff and makes you want to learn and seek more and how i think on the game is that you should try it out and i think the game is good it has lore and stuff you have to unlock and makes you want to unlock more.… Expand
  4. markbatson
    Aug 19, 2021
    0
    In this game when you die you loose all your money and have to make it back to where you died to get it back. This mechanic is AWFUL. It's incredibly frustrating and I'm debating quitting the game just because of how terrible this mechanic is.
  5. SebboBastian
    Dec 24, 2018
    10
    Hollow knight and Ori is the best games in my favourite genre metroidvania style of games. This one, gothic and gloomy with so much details. Perfect fast fighting and exciting explorations! So much secrets and so much unique events, you can really feel the love from the devs in this game. Great dlc!
  6. Valter
    Sep 28, 2018
    10
    This game has absolutely no flaws. It's undoubtely the best metroidvania game I've ever played, one of the best games on the switch to date. If you still haven't bought this game, what are you waiting for??
  7. SuperkenGaming
    Aug 2, 2018
    8
    Hollow Knight
    Cute and Brutal
    Hollow Knight is a metroidvania game where you play as a little adorable I don’t even know what it is. and before yall go clicking away because this is a metroidvania.. I get it.. I don’t like metroidvanias either.. Bit I fell in love with hollow knight.. The first couple hours of this game is brutal.. you hop down the well and its sink or swim… youre    Hollow Knight
    Cute and Brutal
    Hollow Knight is a metroidvania game where you play as a little adorable I don’t even know what it is.
    and before yall go clicking away because this is a metroidvania.. I get it.. I don’t like metroidvanias either..
    Bit I fell in love with hollow knight..
    The first couple hours of this game is brutal..
    you hop down the well and its sink or swim… youre killing these little bug creatures exploring the areas you can with oyur initial abilities.. and the game is just chewing you up and spitting you back out to the last bench you rested on..
    this feels like a 2d dark souls game while youre getting the hand of things, helped by the fact that if you die you drop all of the cash you’ve collected along the way.. to get it back you have to defeat the ghost version of you…
    thankfully though hollow knight does difficulty right,
    This game isn’t unfair, it isn’t annoying.. its challenging in a genuine and addictive way..
    it forces you to learn its rules, learn the patterns of the creatures that surrounds you.. it slowly builds you up.. makes you stronger throughout your journey of uncovering secrets, unlocking new moves and abilities.. slaying bosses.. and exploring this forgotten kingdom.
    Every area here feels so different despite simultaneously feeling connected, they all have their own adorable little enemies that are out to drain your soul, little caterpillar worm creatures for you to save, bosses and secrets to enhance your stats or abilities..
    This is such a special risk and reward game, collecting coins, attacking enemies to gain some soul juice to heal yourself and push forward inching closer to the next checkpoint, or trying to travel to the closest fast travel area to go spend your hard earned money on a new upgrade or map…
    and exploring the world is such a thrull from start to finish… I felt an urge to see it all, despite the game trying its hardest to stop me with its challenging platforming and enemy encounters..
    I couldn’t believe how deeply I fell in love with hollow knight.. pun intended…
    this is by far the best metroidvania game ive ever played.. and every gamer type should give this game a chance at least until its first boss battle.. it was then that I fell in love.. its then when I realized how special of a ride I was about to go on..
    I give Hollow Knight
    an 8.5/10    … Expand
  8. Ondik
    May 23, 2020
    10
    Wow. Did not expect this. Awesome combat, progression and sense of discovery. Give me more please
  9. quake2th
    Nov 10, 2021
    4
    Nice graphics, nice music, boring gameplay. This is good for an art museum, not a game.

    The "difficulty" is you spawning 10 screens away from the boss, forcing you to spend 45 minutes to try a boss encounter again. Plain stupid and boring gameplay.
  10. bskierys
    May 31, 2019
    10
    This is the game I will compare all 2D platformers to in upcoming years.
    Hollow Knight is not just yet another Metroidvania. It is more like an open-world game of 2D platformers. And it is so much fun to explore Hollownest and unveil its history. Moving around the levels is fluent thanks to perfectly designed responsive controls, stunning visuals, and beautiful music. Every area is    This is the game I will compare all 2D platformers to in upcoming years.
    Hollow Knight is not just yet another Metroidvania. It is more like an open-world game of 2D platformers. And it is so much fun to explore Hollownest and unveil its history. Moving around the levels is fluent thanks to perfectly designed responsive controls, stunning visuals, and beautiful music. Every area is different and has a unique purpose in this mysterious world.
    The game is challenging. It is not an easy title but it is also not super hard. If you find that one particular enemy or boss fight is too hard for you, you can go back to explore the world, find some charms or upgrades and come back stronger than before.
    The game is very much focused around combat. Oh, and it does the job well. The bosses in this game are one of the best-designed bosses I ever faced (with Nightmare King Grimm being the best boss fight I ever had). Each of their attacks is dangerous but telegraphed perfectly and your character controls are as responsive as they can be. When you die - you know that it was your fault and you want to improve. When you win, after this couple of unsuccessful trials, you have this great feeling that you won with tough enemy thanks to your skills.
    The story of the game is told through the environment. You will land in a mysterious world after the fall of the civilization of the Hollownest. You will find characters that will tell you about its past glory, find some items, scrolls, and forgotten places. There will be almost no cutscenes. This method of storytelling led me to browsing through the web in search of answers. I wanted to know every bit of information about the game lore that I could find. I was thinking about the game even when I wasn't playing.
    Exploration in this game is thrilling as you never know where you should be going. Each time you enter a new area, you have no map for it. This is the feeling of being lost on the adventure that you won't be getting from modern triple-A games with the minimap constantly in the corner.
    Although I gave a 10/10 score, there are some issues with the game I would like to mention. Sometimes the game feels unbalanced. Some end-game bosses are so much easier to defeat than some of the early ones (e.g Marmu). Some of the challenges feel more like a test for your patience than your skills (e.g. trial of the fool). The checkpoint system is also a bit irritating, as it often requires you to travel long distances to get back to the boss fight once you died.
    But these problems will not change my mind, that this game is a 2D platforming masterpiece. Looking forward to Silksong.    … Expand
  11. TheAdjuster
    Jul 25, 2020
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I desperately want to give this game a 10. The metroid-like elements are honed to a tee and the highs of some of the challenges, power-ups, and discoveries are second-to-none.

    But the game doesn't respect your time. Wasting 3 hours in Kingdom's Edge looking for the mapmaker. Wasting 4 hours trying to leave an area that is beyond your ability from a checkpoint. A pointless 2nd phase for the Soulmaster boss that negates the high from the punishing 1st (and should be only) phase--or the grind to even get back to him in the first place! A tedious platforming challenge in the White Palace. The list goes on, unfortunately.

    FYI, I beat the game w the True Ending at 95% completion. But I feel about 15 of my 50 or so hours was wasted unnecessarily, hence the 2-point knock to its score.    … Expand
  12. Hugodrummer
    May 31, 2019
    10
    Wonderful game with a beautiful soundtrack. Can't go wrong with this game.
  13. Ammer1981
    Oct 27, 2018
    9
    We live in a great gaming era where indies keep genre's alive and expand far beyond. Hollow Knight is such a case. It's an overwhelming and mesmerizing experience hard to let go. It sticks and tickles. The tone, aesthetics, gameplay and sound really suck you in. It gives you that drive to explore what's next, beyond that boss, era or challenge. For the price it is truly insane what you getWe live in a great gaming era where indies keep genre's alive and expand far beyond. Hollow Knight is such a case. It's an overwhelming and mesmerizing experience hard to let go. It sticks and tickles. The tone, aesthetics, gameplay and sound really suck you in. It gives you that drive to explore what's next, beyond that boss, era or challenge. For the price it is truly insane what you get and the game is perfect for the Nintendo Switch. A must own for all metroid-vania fans. With Hollow Knight you purchase something special. It breathes a special kind of love.… Expand
  14. alexozzycake
    Oct 9, 2018
    10
    Ridiculously good game, especially for the price. I was astonished at just how much content and depth this game had and didn't expect to be playing it for weeks, let alone days. The story is constantly engaging whilst always leaving you desperate for more and the gameplay stays incredibly fun but challenging throughout the entire world with enemies scaling very appropriately to yourRidiculously good game, especially for the price. I was astonished at just how much content and depth this game had and didn't expect to be playing it for weeks, let alone days. The story is constantly engaging whilst always leaving you desperate for more and the gameplay stays incredibly fun but challenging throughout the entire world with enemies scaling very appropriately to your in-game experience levels. My absolute highlight of Hollow Knight is the very creative way that the story is told by Team Cherry through the use of NPCs, lore tablets and other whispers throughout the kingdom, leaving the player with a giant web of loosely connected strands to string together in their own way. And not to mention the free DLC releases.… Expand
  15. caiobruno007
    Jan 17, 2020
    10
    Um dos games mais desafiadores que joguei, direção de arte impecável, trilha sonora linda, uma boa lore a ser descoberta, bastante conteúdo extra, excelente uso do Rumble HD. Sem dúvidas um dos melhores games já criados pela humanidade!
  16. VTL
    Nov 20, 2019
    8
    Genial juego de plataformas 2D Metroidvania que hace las delicias de cualquier persona que le guste el genero. Dificil, artisticamente imponente y largo de narices... Mencion especial la version definitiva de NS que encima la juegas donde quieras....
  17. buzzardslicer
    Nov 29, 2019
    10
    They are basically giving this amazing game away for $15. The best metroidvania I've ever played.
  18. Wences
    Jul 7, 2019
    10
    This game is absolutely perfect, there isn't nothing wrong in it. Hollow Knight is the best metroidvania game that I've played in years. Their dark and artistic designs, hard and fair mechanics, unforgettable music... all their features are simply perfect. The most relevant stuffs are its story and difficulty. You will spend over 20 hours to complete it and after that you've a lot ofThis game is absolutely perfect, there isn't nothing wrong in it. Hollow Knight is the best metroidvania game that I've played in years. Their dark and artistic designs, hard and fair mechanics, unforgettable music... all their features are simply perfect. The most relevant stuffs are its story and difficulty. You will spend over 20 hours to complete it and after that you've a lot of interesting contents ahead (for instance, there are three DLC for free). If you like challenging video games such as Dark Souls, indie video games or you want to prove one that you'll never forget, you must play it.… Expand
  19. epicboyblue
    Jan 18, 2019
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It was difficult not to give this game a ten, but there is reason for this. The game lacks a diagonal attack. It is inherently limiting. Also, we have been able to do diagonal shooting or attacking since the early nineties, if I remember correctly. I get it might be more animations, but it forces me to be in specific attack patterns when attacking enemies creating an illusion of difficulty. I say this because the only way I can attack enemies in a left/right/up/down format. The enemies have attack patterns that move in diagonals, which supports the illusion of difficulty because I can only attack in linear patterns forcing me to wait until there the attack is done in order to attack. The environment and level design is linear, even though Mega Man X started slopes. The best part of the game is the world and the lore surrounding this game. The combat isn't the best, but it does give the player a lot to do. That might sound hypocritical, but it does work well. I think the game doesn't do enough to feel like I'm in control, but diagonal attacks are finicky, much like Celeste with diagonal dashing. It is a phenomenal journey going through this game. it feels like an incredible adventure where every step is could lead to me being put in a more difficult situation. The lack of a map makes the journey more intense. It makes it worth the effort to get the map and a quill to write and fill in the map itself. I want to journey through every inch of the world and find the hidden treasures or bosses. I can't recommend this game enough for the price point. The combat is a little limiting, but not enough be detrimental to the game. I loved every second of this game.… Expand
  20. Frikiseta
    May 22, 2019
    10
    El mejor Metroidvania no solo de 2017, sino quizá de todos los tiempos, pudiendo hacer frente a gigantes del género como Castlevania Shimphony of the night o Super Metroid. Una maravilla audiovisual, con composiciones extraordinarias y un estilo gráfico de infarto. Absolutamente recomendado, nunca un juego ha encajado tan bien en Switch.
  21. JayMike
    Mar 16, 2019
    10
    Español ;) Una joya que debía estar en la consola híbrida de Nintendo, port perfecto.
  22. ENERGONX
    Sep 2, 2019
    9
    Me encanta este juego , esta muy bien echo .La ambientación, el armado artístico , la jugabilidad y la re jugabilidad , son una obra maestra para ser un indie.
  23. ERRORCODE-20
    Jul 29, 2020
    8
    Hollow Knight is so good. But it might be too big for its own good at times. It makes exploration so satisfying but sometimes backtracking can be a bit of a slog since most tram stations are so far apart and the map is so large. That being said this is one of my favorite games ever. Very excited for Silksong.
  24. Loo_oo
    Jan 16, 2019
    10
    Et bien je lui mets 10 à ce petit metroidvania ! Franchement je n'ai rien à lui reprocher ... L'univers on aime ou on aime pas, mais en tant que fan de Tim Burton je suis tombé sous le charme.
    La direction artistique est totalement folle, l'ambiance sonore digne d'un bon film, la maniabilité parfaite, et la progression dans le jeu totalement libre. Vous pourrez faire évoluer les    Et bien je lui mets 10 à ce petit metroidvania ! Franchement je n'ai rien à lui reprocher ... L'univers on aime ou on aime pas, mais en tant que fan de Tim Burton je suis tombé sous le charme.
    La direction artistique est totalement folle, l'ambiance sonore digne d'un bon film, la maniabilité parfaite, et la progression dans le jeu totalement libre. Vous pourrez faire évoluer les compétences de votre petit héros pour passer les obstacles et avancer dans l'histoire qui vous promets plein de surprises. Un jeu qui a fait ses preuves sur d'autres supports et qui performe sur Switch en le rendant "mobile".
    Ce que j'ai aimé (+) :
    - Les graphismes, c'est simple mais tellement beau
    - La bande son
    - Une DA de folie, l'univers sombre du monde des insectes façon Tim Burton
    - La durée de vie, le jeu est très difficile sans être insurmontable. Vous passerez de nombreuses minutes sur certains passages.

    Ce que j'ai moins aimé (-) :
    - je cherche encore...    … Expand
  25. Collaps666
    Jun 27, 2019
    10
    Офигительная игра, лучше чем серия Соулс (более дружелюбная к игроку). Приятнее играть на Свиче.
  26. Pakon
    Feb 18, 2020
    10
    As charming as it looks, the game is significantly difficult borrowing elements from games like Dark Souls, so be prepared for a really tough and challenging journey to the depths of Hallownest. You are going to die a lot; I mean, A LOT! However, being patient and trying to learn patterns from bosses is of major importance to proceed in the game.

    Each world you explore has its own    As charming as it looks, the game is significantly difficult borrowing elements from games like Dark Souls, so be prepared for a really tough and challenging journey to the depths of Hallownest. You are going to die a lot; I mean, A LOT! However, being patient and trying to learn patterns from bosses is of major importance to proceed in the game.

    Each world you explore has its own charm with fantastic artwork, mesmerizing atmosphere and gorgeous soundtrack which will keep you engaged for many hours. The story is really dark and deep which gets slowly unveiled as you progress, but bear in mind that the only way to unlock the real ending is to progress 100%, of the walkthrough.

    Overall, Hollow Knight is indeed a masterpiece and a must-have game for the Switch. A unique journey that every gamer should take.    … Expand
  27. captaint
    Nov 19, 2019
    10
    Definitely MUST PLAY. Apart from the beautiful design, vibrant orchestral score and tons of diferent kinds enemies, Hollow Knight 's action / level / boss design is surprising good. 30 hours to finish the basic game and another 30 hours to beat the hidden boss! Thank you dev so much for the beautiful work!
  28. Da3_who_knows
    Jun 19, 2020
    9
    Took me 70 hours to complete this game. I am not a hard core gamer but this game was so fun to play I wanted to stick with it and play more and more. Simply amazing game. Gameplay is wonderful, music is flipping awesome, and yeah, the art style is the best thing about this game.
    If you see the trailer and think that you would like to play this game, then go and play it, you will not    Took me 70 hours to complete this game. I am not a hard core gamer but this game was so fun to play I wanted to stick with it and play more and more. Simply amazing game. Gameplay is wonderful, music is flipping awesome, and yeah, the art style is the best thing about this game.
    If you see the trailer and think that you would like to play this game, then go and play it, you will not regret it. If you are not into this cartoon-ish games, like you are too old for this thing and only want 30 fps and perfect graphics, then you can go play something else.    … Expand
  29. Phuz
    Nov 3, 2020
    1
    If I throw a skirt and a wig on it won't make me a woman. I'd still have hairy legs and a 5 o'clock shadow. Hollow Knight was all spookily designed, yet gave off no feeling of spookiness at all, just something unpleasant to look at, just like me in a wig.

    For me the character and game world were awful looking. Felt like kiddies halloween drawings with some neon thrown on. The sound    If I throw a skirt and a wig on it won't make me a woman. I'd still have hairy legs and a 5 o'clock shadow. Hollow Knight was all spookily designed, yet gave off no feeling of spookiness at all, just something unpleasant to look at, just like me in a wig.

    For me the character and game world were awful looking. Felt like kiddies halloween drawings with some neon thrown on. The sound wasn't memorable. I couldn't tell you about the boss battles because I never got to one. It just wasn't fun to play, or nice to look at. It controlled so well but was just so unlikeable as a game that I didn't want to play it after a very short time. It didn't give off any sort of atmosphere or vibe, just felt like a neon world of bugs. I know it probably captured the look it was going for as it seems to be trying to achieve that Halloween concept but that is all it achieved, a tacky halloween concept with no substance, or atmosphere.

    Like I say the controls and the characters responses to my joypad movements were exceptionally well done but for me that mechanical response was all they got right. I don't like games that lack cohesion and character and this had neither.    … Expand
  30. sinantos
    Sep 23, 2019
    10
    I am about to %100 finish the game having put more than 150 hours into it. It surprises me almost in every corner I turn in the game. Lots of hidden places and collectibles to explore. Amazing sound, music and 2D art. Story telling is similar to Dark Souls, you gain information piece by piece. Game-play could be very difficult sometimes but it gives incredible satisfaction at the end.
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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

All reviews »
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.
    Read full review
  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.
    Read full review
  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]
See all critic reviews »