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
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Alcaideeee
    Feb 27, 2022
    10
    One of the best games I've tried. With one of the best art stile I've seen in my life and with the best soundtrack I've ever heard in an indie game, I can say that hollow knight is an unforgettable experience for all the people who have tried this title, and it will be for those that have not yet done so. The controls are very comfortable and the progress in the game feels real. This doesOne of the best games I've tried. With one of the best art stile I've seen in my life and with the best soundtrack I've ever heard in an indie game, I can say that hollow knight is an unforgettable experience for all the people who have tried this title, and it will be for those that have not yet done so. The controls are very comfortable and the progress in the game feels real. This does not put pressure on you, on the contrary, it encourages you to take everything easy, discovering little by little the secrets that awaits you in its dense and beautiful world. I feel that it is a game that everyone can enjoy, if you have not tried it I really recommend it.… Expand
  2. Damyano
    Mar 12, 2022
    10
    Gioco fantastico. Grafica eccezionale. E tanta, tanta lore. Lo consiglio a tutti
  3. salvaic
    Mar 10, 2022
    10
    I love this game, it's simply a work of art that everyone should play. Simply beautiful
  4. Bigcheese171
    Mar 12, 2022
    10
    This game is just incredible, I’ve played it 3 times and still never bored with its incredible enemy design and world that’s one of the biggest I’ve ever seen for a 2D game,also the music and artwork is spectacular
  5. Desserwolf
    Mar 18, 2022
    10
    Hollow Knight is peak metroidvania. It's a gorgeous game with gorgeous game design amazing soundtrack and a story that you won't cover on your own. Cannot recommend this game enough.
  6. Uilnslcoap
    Mar 23, 2022
    10
    Since about 1995, I have been of the opinion that Super Metroid is the peak of its genre. I found it hard to believe something could ever beat it.

    But I played Hollow Knight, and the unthinkable has happened. Super Metroid is now #2 on my metroidvania list. There are no real weak points to the game. The graphics are beautiful, the animation smooth as butter, the music is very    Since about 1995, I have been of the opinion that Super Metroid is the peak of its genre. I found it hard to believe something could ever beat it.

    But I played Hollow Knight, and the unthinkable has happened. Super Metroid is now #2 on my metroidvania list.

    There are no real weak points to the game. The graphics are beautiful, the animation smooth as butter, the music is very effective, the writing is on point both when attempting to be comical and when attempting to be somber (sometimes achieving both in the same sentence).

    There are no words for how excellent the gameplay is. Every inch of ground feels earned (for instance, the abilities to even chart new places on a purchased map or track where you are on the map have to be bought), every skill unlocked brings a rush as the map opens a little further. There are all kinds of side quests and upgrades and challenges and almost none of them feel rote or fetch-y (there's one where you have to go around the map and collect a few things several times and that did feel rote to me, but it was literally the only time I felt that way... and the boss it unlocked was worth it). The exploration is just so consistently rewarding, there's always something worth finding or a path to follow that leads to something worth finding. Exploration and platforming are a joy, but challenging enough to keep you on your toes.

    It is rare that a game nails both exploration and combat so effectively, but Hollow Knight has many dozens of minor enemies and several dozen boss fights, almost all of them fun and interesting to fight against! I am in awe of how the game manages to balance bosses being challenging and fun, while also being mostly different from one another mechanically and completely fair in their telegraphs and your chance to evade or attack. The knight controls like a dream, the combat upgrades are excellent and tailor to a variety of play styles (want to be a tank? a shaman? a rogue? There's a charm for that!), and there's nothing quite like your pulse pounding as the boss takes that final hit and starts its death animation just as you've run out of magic and are down to your last hit point. These might be my favorite 2-D boss fights of any game ever. And again, there are DOZENS of them!

    I'm not sure I have ever seen a gameplay feedback loop so effective (on me anyway). Fight the things to explore the place to find things that help you fight and explore more effectively...it never stops being rewarding.

    If you have even a passing interest in metroidvanias, do yourself a favor and buy this cheap game (it's $15 when it's not on sale! it's worth $60 easy!) that can be explored for literally a hundred hours on a first playthrough and still not yield all its secrets. What an utterly fantastic game. An all-time masterpiece in videogame history, let alone metroidvanias.    … Expand
  7. BlockyDogy
    Mar 26, 2022
    10
    Loved this game, an amazing introduction to the souls-like genre. Beautiful art and world, engaging combat and story, fun bosses, and areas with just enough challenge to keep you on your toes, but not enough to make you feel like you're stubbing your toe through a cinderblock. Amazing game, would strongly recommend for anyone interested in Metroidvanias. 10/10
  8. TapeSnom
    Apr 5, 2022
    10
    The best game ever made. The cultivation of Metroidvanias in a complez lore based ation platformer.
    Simply brilliant.
    Ps: Hornet isn't void
  9. theinfected
    Apr 8, 2022
    10
    My favorite game.

    Ever. This game has an atmosphere that really sucks you in and makes you wonder what really happened around here. The combat is great and so is the exploration. The character designs are simple yet so good, conveying what the main characters are about and what they do. The music BANGS and is the best video game original ost I've heard ever. I genuinely cannot think    My favorite game.

    Ever.

    This game has an atmosphere that really sucks you in and makes you wonder what really happened around here. The combat is great and so is the exploration. The character designs are simple yet so good, conveying what the main characters are about and what they do. The music BANGS and is the best video game original ost I've heard ever. I genuinely cannot think of anything wrong with the game except its locking of an ending behind a challenge where you defeat all bosses in the game +a harder version of the final boss, and even then it's not too bad, because of the fittingness of the ending.    … Expand
  10. futon111
    Apr 12, 2022
    10
    This game is an absolute masterpiece. Beautiful art and music, an enormous map that is a joy to explore, amazing atmosphere, aesthetic, charm, and personality, and fascinating, deep lore with a surprising amount of emotional depth, especially for a bug game. (Some parts of the story still get me emotional from time to time) I've played for well over 200 hours and I'm still discovering newThis game is an absolute masterpiece. Beautiful art and music, an enormous map that is a joy to explore, amazing atmosphere, aesthetic, charm, and personality, and fascinating, deep lore with a surprising amount of emotional depth, especially for a bug game. (Some parts of the story still get me emotional from time to time) I've played for well over 200 hours and I'm still discovering new secrets and details constantly, even after being sure I know everything. The world of hollow knight feels truly alive, to an extent that I've never seen before in a video game, or in any form of media at all. The combat is simple, intuitive, and challenging, yet allows for an insane amount of mastery and expressiveness. Hollow Knight is easily one of the best games ever created, and it's incredible that a team of 3-4 people who have never made a real game before could do this. It just shows that you don't need a large budget or a giant team of experts to make an impact in the world, you just need motivation and love for what you are doing.
    Of course Hollow Knight is not for everyone (nothing is), and you may want to stay away from this game if you:
    -Don't like a challenge, as Hollow Knight is very hard, and can be frustrating at some points.
    -Want to know what the heck you're doing, as Hollow Knight is exploration based and you will almost never be told exactly where to go or what to do.
    -Get impatient, as Hollow Knight has very slow pacing.
    -Like games that have constant action, as Hollow Knight is a more intimate experience, and will be loved most by people who appreciate the little things in life.
    Overall, this game is a must-play that I will recommend to absolutely everybody who will listen. For only $15, it genuinely feels like stealing to buy this game.    … Expand
  11. Quirre
    Apr 14, 2022
    10
    One of the best and deepest games ever made. Best Metroidvania ever made, without any doubt.
  12. MovesLikeJag3r1
    Apr 28, 2022
    10
    This is easily my favorite game of all time. The sense of exploration and depth in the world as you traverse through creepy, lonely, and lively locations allow for a sense of exploration that I have never experienced in a game before. The characters, while not extremely complex, are charming and fun. Whenever you have the fortune of running into a character, it is always a great time. TheThis is easily my favorite game of all time. The sense of exploration and depth in the world as you traverse through creepy, lonely, and lively locations allow for a sense of exploration that I have never experienced in a game before. The characters, while not extremely complex, are charming and fun. Whenever you have the fortune of running into a character, it is always a great time. The bosses are not extremely challenging but they are fluid and quick. The overall movement is quick and precise, with some of the best handling in a game ever. This is yet to mention the masterful soundtrack that allows the characters, bosses, and locations to shine. Hollow Knight has elevated the metroidvania genre to new heights where I doubt anything will ever be able to challenge its throne.… Expand
  13. DonCheatle
    May 3, 2022
    10
    Sadly this game is too much like dark souls, so it goes from a 10/10 masterpiece- to dog water.
    Very pleased, its the most graphics video game ever.

    0/10
  14. MerryHaddock961
    May 19, 2022
    10
    For a long time I had been wanting to play this game, and when I finally bought and played I was at first not completely satisfied. But I kept playing and, boy am I glad I did. Hollow knight is one of the best video games ever made, if not the best. With great graphics, music and controls this game looks and plays amazingly. The story of the game is also perfect, it’s not too deep nor isFor a long time I had been wanting to play this game, and when I finally bought and played I was at first not completely satisfied. But I kept playing and, boy am I glad I did. Hollow knight is one of the best video games ever made, if not the best. With great graphics, music and controls this game looks and plays amazingly. The story of the game is also perfect, it’s not too deep nor is it too shallow but it also lets you use your imagination to fill in the gaps. This game really is just a perfect game and the cherry on top is the exploration and the ease of travel with the stag stations. The game is not for those thinking it’s easy because it is not, but the game also isn’t impossible. Overall this is a fantastic game and I highly recommend it. 10/10… Expand
  15. Deenji
    May 22, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Sin duda uno de los mejores juegos que eh jugado

    Su ambientacion, su dificultad, su jugabilidad todo me gusta de este maldito juego lo amo simplemente lo recomiendo mucho para pasar el rato y estresarse un poco kdsdk    … Expand
  16. Squaredash
    Jul 19, 2023
    10
    I played this game for 200 hours, and not one second of it felt wasted. The gameplay is a blast, the atmosphere is the best I’ve ever seen, this metroidvania is a must-play for anyone with the means to do so.
  17. NinjaJim6969
    Jun 10, 2022
    10
    An incredibly beautiful and fun game at a great price. I've put 116 hours into this game and still haven't explored it in it's entirety. Music, environments, and boss fights all get a 10/10 from me. Especially the Nightmare King Grimm fight. It took me 140 tries and every time the music started I got hyped.
  18. OnlyKeKo
    Jun 11, 2022
    10
    Hayatımda bayaa oyun oynadım ama en iyisi buydu.Müzkler,görsel tararım,hikaye aşşırı iyi.En iyi yönü bu diyemem her yönü çok iyi.Hikayesi çok derin*
  19. Pozzu
    Jun 17, 2022
    10
    This game is intresting. At first I really didn't know what was happening or what to do. But when playing it forward I really started to like it. New abilities are so cool and the player movement is very satisfying. The environment is so mysterious and there is always something new to find. Music is awesome and boss fights fun and challenging. Story is good but I would not have understoodThis game is intresting. At first I really didn't know what was happening or what to do. But when playing it forward I really started to like it. New abilities are so cool and the player movement is very satisfying. The environment is so mysterious and there is always something new to find. Music is awesome and boss fights fun and challenging. Story is good but I would not have understood anything of it without Mossbag.… Expand
  20. stupidopinion
    Jun 20, 2022
    10
    Just incredible. Off the bat I'll say I haven't played many metroidvania games, namely Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Metroid Dread, and Super Metroid, but of these I would say HK is the king. Its brilliant combat system, gorgeous art and music, and engrossing world will suck you in like no other game can. I've never experienced a game where I was so utterly captivated by the worldbuildingJust incredible. Off the bat I'll say I haven't played many metroidvania games, namely Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Metroid Dread, and Super Metroid, but of these I would say HK is the king. Its brilliant combat system, gorgeous art and music, and engrossing world will suck you in like no other game can. I've never experienced a game where I was so utterly captivated by the worldbuilding and story, to the point that I wanted to continue exploring every nook and cranny just for the smallest piece of lore to better explain the complex world it develops. Every question Hallownest poses has an answer if your willing to dig, and no other game out there will provide such a high quality experience for such a cheap price. The game is quite difficult and can be quite punishing, so I understand why this may not be for everyone, but to me this is firmly placed as my 2nd favorite game of all time. If Team Cherry can make a game this good on their first try I can't wait for what's in store for SilkSong.

    70 hours in the game    … Expand
  21. grandmaslayer
    Jun 22, 2022
    10
    This game is incredible. Specially if you have it on a portable platform like switch, since you don't want to stop playing it once you start making progress.
  22. Triggerma
    Jun 23, 2022
    10
    It's one of those games that you can't forget a single thing about, nothing, and i mean nothing is this game is out of place, unfair or just "bad" in general. The soundtrack, the game-play and the lore are terrific, and i can't see why anybody should dislike this game, truly a masterpiece.
  23. AnnaLynxy33
    Jun 27, 2022
    10
    Such a masterpiece. Everything in the game is made with an idea. Background, music, gameplay - everything. You can even see how many videos on YouTube with titles like "X secrets of HK you didn't know". So you can play for hundred of hours and still find something you haven't noticed. It's such a rare case in gamedev industry when developers contribute to things that most of the playersSuch a masterpiece. Everything in the game is made with an idea. Background, music, gameplay - everything. You can even see how many videos on YouTube with titles like "X secrets of HK you didn't know". So you can play for hundred of hours and still find something you haven't noticed. It's such a rare case in gamedev industry when developers contribute to things that most of the players even won't notice. But all these small details make this game so rich, that you believe that it's not a bunch of pixels, but a world with its own rules and history.… Expand
  24. Eoek
    Jun 30, 2022
    10
    Hollow knight literally changed my life.The game is awesome, the colors, difficulty, everything!!
  25. Joschi_030108
    Jul 8, 2022
    10
    For me personally the best game ever made, it's perfect and I love it. I'd recommend it to everyone who likes hard and frustrating games.
  26. Kinkaka
    Aug 7, 2022
    10
    áaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaáaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaáaa
  27. TheChalous
    Jul 23, 2022
    10
    Simplemente espectacular, todo es maravilloso, ambientación, banda sonora, jugabilidad, historia, todo es increíble y muy hermoso.
  28. Ceok17
    Aug 16, 2022
    10
    Hollow Knight is as close as you can get to a perfect "Metroidvania", purely satisfying to discover new parts of the map and new Npc´s, beautiful design and scenario, awesome movement, it feels like you are always in control of the knight, every pixel it moves. If you like a beautiful challenge, this is your game.
  29. sassomagico
    Aug 24, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A **** masterpiece! I beat the game a month ago and I want to re-play it again… Expand
  30. oLonely
    Sep 11, 2022
    10
    Radiance is annoying, Apart from that 10/10 game, one of the best i've ever played
Page:

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 »