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. Skyfellow
    Dec 17, 2018
    9
    Let me preface this review by saying that I've easily spent more than 50 hours on hollow knight; I've finished the core game but still haven't done any content from the two major free expansions. There is a game here for the playing, and at a very palatable price.

    Hollow Knight is truly a masterpiece. It is artwork- every environment drawn by hand in a consistent style that has unique    Let me preface this review by saying that I've easily spent more than 50 hours on hollow knight; I've finished the core game but still haven't done any content from the two major free expansions. There is a game here for the playing, and at a very palatable price.

    Hollow Knight is truly a masterpiece. It is artwork- every environment drawn by hand in a consistent style that has unique flourishes for each local you visit. The music is subtle but effective, drawing you into the game's atmosphere, ever present, never overbearing- it brings to mind the haunting atmospheric music of "Super Metroid". And the game-play: this is a metroidvania to the bone, a refinement of the best entries in the genre, exuding far more personality from it's environments than any other comparable game, motivating me to backtrack and explore every nook and cranny.

    And that leads me into my next point, what hollow knight is not. It is not a souls game, as so many have mistakenly labeled it in a poor attempt to define it's difficulty. It is an exploration-focused metroidvania, and it leans decidedly towards the metroid side of that formula. The bosses are almost all optional, the map is an interconnected maze full of secret doors that lead to new areas and new abilities, many of the challenges come from precise platforming segments and tanky bosses with very learnable attacks.

    Hollow knight is a refinement of the best of the metroidvania genre. But, it still falls in some of the same traps that plauge even the greatest of these games. The controls are notoriously punishing for new players, and while hollow knight is better than the archaic and unintuitive super metroid, it fails it's new players by mysteriously mapping multiple seemingly important abilities to a single button while others are free, only to reveal later that some new ability will slot in there: Also, almost everyone who I have had try this game complains that the jumping feels "wrong" for the first while. this is because there is no momentum when you jump- (a classic metroid control feature, if you jump from a standstill) unlike in mario, where if the stick is released in the air, the player will continue to move forward, in hollow knight, the character must be precisely maneuvered while in the air and will stop dead in the horizontal if the stick is released. This is by no means bad, and it is in fact more precise than the "mario" style jumping, but will leave you frustrated if you don't realize why you keep falling in the spikes.

    Ironically, that frustration is probably hollow knight's biggest weakness. you might have noticed a few reviews or threads in forums that read something like "I PLAYED FOR THREE HOURS AND THIS BOSS IS DUMB AND THIS GAME IS DUMB AND IT'S NOT FAIR". This is indeed somewhat childish bellyaching, but it highlights a sentiment that you're likely to feel: frustrated. the beginning of the game sees you with the fewest abilities: you have yet to acquire the token dash, double jump, wall jump, ect. that are the bread and butter of "metroid" style games. This leaves the character controlling the worst out of the entire experience during the first two or three hours of gameplay. And while hornet, the first real boss, isn't anything next to some of the others in the game- you, the new player, also don't have any "charms" (items you can equip to give you small bonuses), or movement options. This is exacerbated by the "linear" early game. you can't progress without beating this particular boss, so it's easy to get frustrated.

    After that short segment, though, the game opens up with many different routes, largely solving that weakness, and you acquire the "dash" ability, making the player character much more fun to control. if you can be patient with it's steep early learning curve, there is a world of quirky bugs and menacing bosses waiting to be discovered! The game sucked me in, letting me get lost in the deep, winding caverns of hallownest for hours on end. For me, Hollow Knight was without question my favorite game in 2018. And did i mention it's 15CAD$? That's like, amazing. Take a chance on this one, you won't regret it.

    TL;DR:

    Hollow knight is beautiful and brimming with content, but has a steep learning curve, so be patient and you will be rewarded with a gem of a game that is worth every penny.    … Expand
  2. 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+
  3. vanillabarsad
    Jun 27, 2018
    9
    Simple 2d action platformer with nice style. Metroidvania vibe cannot be resisted, so make yourself a favor and buy it.
  4. 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
  5. TheFlannelFox
    Jun 18, 2018
    9
    Only a madman would look at a group of deadly praying mantis enemies as an opportunity, but after becoming a seasoned hollow knight that's exactly what you'll see.

    I’m The Flannel Fox Tim Swiernik and I reviewed Hollow Knight on the Nintendo Switch Beginning in Dirtmouth a small village above the Hallownest’s Ruins with nothing but your trusty nail by your side your adventure begins.    Only a madman would look at a group of deadly praying mantis enemies as an opportunity, but after becoming a seasoned hollow knight that's exactly what you'll see.

    I’m The Flannel Fox Tim Swiernik and I reviewed Hollow Knight on the Nintendo Switch

    Beginning in Dirtmouth a small village above the Hallownest’s Ruins with nothing but your trusty nail by your side your adventure begins. With a blind leap into the ruins of an abandoned world.

    In the beginning of the game you can only jump, melee attack with your nail, and regain health with your soul. As you defeat enemies you gain soul, when you hold down the A button Hollow Knight can charge back health.

    This simple health recharge mechanic is so potent that it forces you to take risks in order to continue. Where in a normal game if you are low on health, you would turn around and go looking for some or return to your closest regen point. However, in Hollow Knight you are drawn to battle, with one hit left in your health if you pull off the perfect attacks you can be back to full health in no time at all. There are so many moments, where you will assess the situation, pause for a moment, then run into battle knowing that one hit could be your last.

    Hollow Knight is a 2d metroidvania and one of the so called souls-like games, referring to the awesomely brutal gameplay in From Software’s Darksouls, Demonsouls, and Bloodborn. This shows itself in the many different systems in Hollow Night. For example while on your journey you are collecting geo, the games’ currency, if you die your geo is gone until you find your Shade, after defeat it to regain all that you have earned.

    Another reason this is a souls-like, is the brutally different encounters with npcs among the world. When exploring this beautifully grim environment, I try to be careful when moving into a new area as death is lurking around every single corner. When faced with a difficult foe you must learn their attack patterns, which can often take multiple lives doing so, in order to come out on top. Forcing you to get good and to get good fast, it’s so rewarding defeating a boss that kills you so many times, but even more rewarding to encounter that enemy again later in game, and conquering them with ease. Not because you’ve leveled up or gotten a new weapon, which you do not do in this game, but because you have gotten better as a player.

    Being a 2d metroidvania, as you play through the game you unlock new abilities that grant you access do different parts of the map. This being my first playthrough of the game, I truly knew nothing about it and did not know which mechanics were going to be introduced. That being said it took me about five hours to stumble upon the wall slide/wall jump, which was thrilling. One of my favorite 2d mechanics after playing super meat boy, this turned a game with incredibly challenging combat, into a cleverly difficult 2d platformer. Dashing and wall jumping through thorn covered areas, gave me a huge grin on my face almost immediately, and waiting this long into the game to introduce it made the reveal all worth the wait. Travelling back to an area in the beginning of a game that you remember specifically when you saw it the first time, then having that lightbulb moment when you get the perfect ability to now go there, is one of the best feelings in gaming and it will never gets old.

    Each area of the map is broken up into little sections or worlds, but in order to view them on your map you must purchase that area’s map from Cornifier the Cartographer. Not knowing where to find him multiple times in new ares was getting quite frustrating until you begin to hear some faint humming, then you see his papers on the ground, letting you know that he’s close and you find him to purchase that areas map.

    Along with having to purchase a map, you have to purchase the ability to locate yourself on the map, as well as fast travel points, resting benches, and basically everything that is on a normal map. Not being a big fan of this as spending my hard earned Geo to be able to see blue cocoons on my map, felt like a waste of my money.

    Hollow Knight is an amazing 2d metroidvania and a challenging platformer, will fantastically brutal combat that certainly scratches that souls like itch. Just as often as I would stumble into a deadly boss battle, I would be rewarded with amazing moments of discovery, accomplishment, and victory. I can solidly recommend this game to any Switcher who is up for a great challenge.    … Expand
  6. xixphy14
    Jul 6, 2018
    9
    Me encanto, justo lo que esperaba. Es difícil, largo y con muchas cosas por descubrir cada vez que aumentamos las habilidades. Lo único q pensaría que falta seria contar en el inicio que personaje somos, q hacemos ahi y para donde vamos.
  7. 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.
  8. Neatqt
    Feb 25, 2019
    9
    Cast: 9/10
    Story: 7/10
    Fun: 10/10
    Gameplay: 10/10

    MUST PLAY
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  9. runeasgar
    Jun 18, 2018
    9
    I normally dislike games that are this difficult, but the total package this game offers is incredible. Story (ableit light), graphics, sound, controls, combat... all amazing. I've found myself beating my head against the wall on a few bosses, but each time I fight them, I get better. The game does a great job of giving you boss encounters that you can learn with a few tries, so theI normally dislike games that are this difficult, but the total package this game offers is incredible. Story (ableit light), graphics, sound, controls, combat... all amazing. I've found myself beating my head against the wall on a few bosses, but each time I fight them, I get better. The game does a great job of giving you boss encounters that you can learn with a few tries, so the frustration level never gets too high.

    For contrast, I fully rage quit a couple of times on Axiom Verge, and went to play something else for a while, but I haven't picked up another game since getting Hollow Knight.    … Expand
  10. Nicklope
    Jul 2, 2018
    9
    Hollowknight is a challenging adventure, crammed with content and secrets that will keep the player coming back for more. Exploration is complemented by tight combat and platforming mechanics. The game oozes immersive atmosphere through it's charming art style, vague lore, and ambient music. Reflecting on my 25 hour experience, any gripes i had were few and far between. Although myHollowknight is a challenging adventure, crammed with content and secrets that will keep the player coming back for more. Exploration is complemented by tight combat and platforming mechanics. The game oozes immersive atmosphere through it's charming art style, vague lore, and ambient music. Reflecting on my 25 hour experience, any gripes i had were few and far between. Although my experience was rewarding and memorable, be forewarned, the casual gamer may not find this experience enjoyable.

    Hollowknight's mechanics leave every mistake at the players fault. The player is put in control of a nameless knight. From the start, the knight has the ability to run, jump, attack in four directions (left, right, up, and down while airborne), and utilize "soul" to heal. Jumping isn't dictated like most platformers. Rather than having a short jump and a high jump, the height of jumping isn't restricted to binary. Jump height is totally varied based on how long the button is held, allowing for tight platforming sections to be in complete control of the player. The knight wields a nail. Which is a sword for insects. Attacks are executed near instant and have knock back on contact. Attacking an enemy downward while airborne, if timed properly, allows the knight to bounce consecutively with each successful hit. This downward attack also makes for interesting platforming sections where the knight must bounce off of spikes and other hazards to progress. As mentioned above, the knight could also heal through "soul". Soul is essentially a magic meter that charges when the knight lands attacks on enemies. To heal, the knight must create a safe distance as healing takes a few seconds and could be interrupted by enemy attacks. This allows for a satisfying 'risk-reward' system where the player must decide if they will heal or sneak in more damage. The combination of these mechanics (and mechanics you gain throughout your adventure) makes for excellent exploration and intense boss fights.

    Checkpoints in this game are benches. At benches the player has the option to switch up charms, which give bonus abilities such as a longer sword or faster attack execution. Switching charms is restricted to benches, so it is important make sure your load out matches what your next goal may be. The amount of charms the knight can equip is dictated by notches which are found throughout the adventure. It is possible to equip more charms than the notches allow, but doing so will put the knight in an over charmed state which causes enemies to deal double damage. When you (inevitably) die, you are returned to the last bench you rested at. Upon returning to a bench after death, the knights max soul is lowered, all geo (currency) is lost, and a 'shade' is left behind. Max soul and geo can be regained by returning to the death location and defeating the shade but beware, if the shade is not defeated and the knight dies before reaching it, the geo is permanently lost.

    Exploration is at the forefront of this adventure. Hollowknight starts off a bit linear, but quickly branches off into a perplexing cavern of secrets and danger. As the player explores and defeats bosses, the knight gains new abilities such as a dash and a wall jump. These abilities allow progress in exploration and access to areas that at one point were inaccessible. For example, you may come across an acidic lake that can only be traversed after you obtain a certain ability. Once you gain the ability, the game doesn't hold your hand on what to do with it. It's up to the player to remember the acidic lake that is now cross able thanks to the knights new found power. This aspect of exploration is extremely rewarding. Exploration is also rewarded with a seemingly endless amount of secrets, which are a joy to discover. Each new area leaves you exploring without a map until you stumble upon the cartographer NPC Cornifer. Cornifer will sell you a map of the area for a reasonable amount of geo. It can be frustrating to explore an area without a map, but thankfully Cornifer leaves a trail of feathers and has audio ques notifying the player as to when they are close to his location.

    The art style Team Cherry chose is both dark and adorable simultaneously. The world is populated by insects who at times are aloof and at others arrogant (but are always charming). The backgrounds are detailed and lovingly crafted, while also doing a wonderful job differentiating the games diverse areas. The ambient music and sound design only adds to the polish and immersion. Though the music while exploring is mostly somber, the music while fighting a boss is triumphant and epic, which at time left me with chills and excitement.

    Hollowknight has little hand holding and the 'risk-reward' based challenge isn't for everyone, but if you are looking for a memorable odyssey, look no further.    … Expand
  11. 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
  12. LaPapa256
    Jul 9, 2018
    9
    El juego es muy completo y no defrauda al recordar los viejos juegos de plataformas, con mapas no muy extensos pero con bloqueos bien diseñados para dirigir el avance del jugador. Hay que valerse mucho de la memoria y los marcadores para poder completarlo al 100%
  13. RealGameCritic
    Jul 12, 2018
    9
    Hollow Knight is a remarkable and truly enjoyable experience with some good challenges and vivid places to adventure and explore within. A forty dollar experience for $15 is truly a steal and definitely a Switch game every Switch owner should have.
  14. StoneColdBread
    Jul 17, 2018
    9
    One of the best games I've played in a while. Typically I would like to make two lists of what I liked and what I didn't like about a game but if I'm being honest, there's really nothing I would change about Hollow Knight. DO NOT get discouraged if you get lost or don't know what's going on in the game even after 10-15 hours of gameplay! That's normal, the story is a puzzle that you needOne of the best games I've played in a while. Typically I would like to make two lists of what I liked and what I didn't like about a game but if I'm being honest, there's really nothing I would change about Hollow Knight. DO NOT get discouraged if you get lost or don't know what's going on in the game even after 10-15 hours of gameplay! That's normal, the story is a puzzle that you need to put together by talking to characters and exploring.

    The Music:
    The soundtrack for the game is phenomenal and really adds to the entire experience. For each section of the dungeon we hear a unique song that just really sets the mood for the user. In some areas I feel relaxed despite having enemies attack me but as I travel deeper into Hallownest the music will feel more intense and I feel my nerves creeping up on me to the point of borderline fear.

    Artwork:
    Hollow Knight reminds you that simple can be beautiful. it's funny that the main character is very cartoon-ish and so are many of the other characters, but for some odd reason when they place these strange looking cartoony bodies onto the backdrop it becomes beautiful.

    Gameplay:
    Your character feels about as fluid with his movements as water. There is no such thing as a mis-input in this game, 30 hours in and I have never complained that the character did something that I didn't want him to or that he didn't do something that I wanted him to. Oh and the game balances fun and challenge very well between the puzzles and enemies.

    Final Recommendation:
    Hollow Knight is a masterpiece of the genre and almost anyone would love it. Having said that, Hollow Knight is a challenging game and although I would basically recommend it to anyone, I would not recommend it to very inexperienced gamers or people who enjoy Easy Mode gaming. The game has one difficulty but it's the perfect difficulty, it gets harder as you get better and I really like that.    … Expand
  15. orzovictor
    Jul 27, 2018
    9
    It's a great game, lots of hours of fun, more than 60 for 15€ hard and with a lot of depth. The only downside is that despite having a great story is not integrated into the normal course of the game and you have to look for it losing from my point of view an unnecessary time.
  16. Kerr52
    Aug 3, 2018
    9
    The beginning was a bit confusing for me, I got lost for the first couple of hours. But then gave it another chance and I started finding skills and it got really good and immersive, really great game with tons of hours of content.
  17. pmasterfunk
    Sep 13, 2018
    9
    Hollow Knight is a great game, but I've run into a funny issue I might as well mention. I've actually edited my review to adjust for this.
    It turns out that if you never exit the game, and just leave it on while the console goes into sleep mode, at some point the game starts lagging. And I mean major lag. This would probably never affects most people, but I may not be the only guy who    Hollow Knight is a great game, but I've run into a funny issue I might as well mention. I've actually edited my review to adjust for this.
    It turns out that if you never exit the game, and just leave it on while the console goes into sleep mode, at some point the game starts lagging. And I mean major lag. This would probably never affects most people, but I may not be the only guy who plays this way.

    I suppose the game may have some minor memory leaks which in most cases have no real life impact, but seeing as I had essentially never closed the game since starting it, i.e. about 15 hours in, the lag started being really problematic, especially in large rooms or in boss fights. With a fresh boot it plays great.

    As good as the game is, I do have a few gripes about it. I find the fast travel stations are spaced a bit too far from one another, making tedious backtracking often necessary. Save benches are often far from bosses, which makes slogging through a bunch of rooms to get to said boss fight repetitive and boring. The benches are also a bit too rare for my taste, and I've often missed the rooms where the benches are and ended up playing for over an hour without saving. I've also often managed to miss the map guy and spent many hours walking around in areas trying to figure out the lay of the land. I would prefer to find the map guy and a bench pretty quickly in each area and then get to exploring, instead of the other way around.

    The game has a ridiculous amount of content, and for the price it's definitely worth a check, especially for fans of Metroidvania.    … Expand
  18. ValuedReviews
    Jul 2, 2020
    9
    One of the best games I've every played. Don't let this beautifully crafted and wonderfully designed Metroidvania pass you by. Recommended this game to almost everyone I know, and now to you too.
  19. caronte69
    Nov 17, 2018
    9
    de los mejores metroidvania que he podido jugar, muy recomendado, la musica del juego ha sido muy buena, me quede viciado con el juego y sus dlc no han defraudado.
  20. Rancisco
    Mar 31, 2019
    9
    Absolute piece of art. Amazing in all it's senses, I just kept playing for more than 100 hours and still remain things to do. It is an authentic gem everybody should play at least once if you haven't already.
    And finally a brief mention to the extremely beautiful, balanced and powerful score. Hollow Knight is everything but hollow.
  21. 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
  22. StoneBio
    Dec 12, 2018
    9
    Hollo Knight have a impreessive art and game play. It´s precisaly difficult.
  23. PannacottaFugo
    Sep 3, 2019
    9
    Hollow Knight tries to be a modern Metroidvania and exceeds greatly at it. Simple but very fun gameplay, extremely expansive lore, and amazing boss fights, huge areas that are intriguing to explore, and many different enemies to fight. One thing I don't like much however is the lack of many weapons and ways to attack. Unlike Casltlevania: Symphony of the Night or even Metroid. You got aHollow Knight tries to be a modern Metroidvania and exceeds greatly at it. Simple but very fun gameplay, extremely expansive lore, and amazing boss fights, huge areas that are intriguing to explore, and many different enemies to fight. One thing I don't like much however is the lack of many weapons and ways to attack. Unlike Casltlevania: Symphony of the Night or even Metroid. You got a standard sword that goes in many directions that's length you can extend and that's about it. No sub-weapons or entirely new weapons. Other than that it's an excellent experience.… Expand
  24. AlexKidd
    Oct 2, 2020
    9
    I can't believe it took me this long to play the game. What a blast! I absolutely love the atmosphere, the characters and the smooth platforming/combat.

    Can be confusing sometimes where to go next, but that also adds to the experience.
  25. Lucky1010101
    Apr 15, 2019
    9
    You know what I never wished that I could be? A bug. But I played Hollow Knight. And I loved every second of it. If you're looking for a negative review of this game, look elsewhere. However, I will be attempting to be fair in my assessment, so let's dig in.

    Let's start with the thing that will hit you immediately when you pick up the game- presentation. The opening cutscene sets the    You know what I never wished that I could be? A bug. But I played Hollow Knight. And I loved every second of it. If you're looking for a negative review of this game, look elsewhere. However, I will be attempting to be fair in my assessment, so let's dig in.

    Let's start with the thing that will hit you immediately when you pick up the game- presentation. The opening cutscene sets the dark yet loveable tone that haunts you throughout. Once your character (who has no name, but I will refer to as ‘the Knight’) drops into the opening area, you get to see the game’s art style, and it’s fantastic. The game looks like a cartoon. Every NPC, enemy and boss you’ll encounter (and you’ll encounter a lot) stands out well from the background, but still feels like part of the same cohesive whole. You’ll never find something that feels out of place; the spiders in Deepnest match the grim and dark caverns they reside in, for example. Those backgrounds are beautiful as well; the lighting is subtle but effective and the backdrops give the world and areas a sense of scale and wonder. Almost all of the areas feel very distinct (except from Greenpath and Queen’s Gardens, which feel rather similar) and some are simply breathtaking. The monotonous rain in City of Tears, the falling corpses of Kingdom’s Edge and the intense darkness of the Abyss (to name a few) are simply astonishing. Ari Gibson’s illustrations really were something to behold but they hardly hold a candle to the brilliance of Christopher Larkin’s soundtrack. Some tracks are beautiful but with a hidden menace to them, while others are exhilarating. The world is brought alive through the combination of these factors.

    And what a world it is! By my count, there are 19 areas containing over 150 enemies and 46 bosses. Almost all the areas are visually distinct and the world is huge. Don’t fancy anything too taxing? Just go for a stroll and you’ll probably find something exciting to do or see. The world is at the forefront of this game (in much the same was as it was in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild) and it’s the world that provides most of the experience. For example: after reaching the Mantis Village and claiming the Mantis Claw, I challenged the Mantis Lords and died very quickly. I had a base level nail and was definitely not adept at the game yet, so it’s no surprise… Quirrel showed up and told me to try the city, but I ignored him and pressed onwards. In fact, I only found out where you use the city crest after finishing the game! Eventually, I defeated the Mantis Lords and pressed past them into Deepnest, which is easily the most creepy and overwhelming area in the whole game. I couldn’t find Cornifer anywhere and was constantly being ambushed by spiders. It took me at least 3 hours to find my way up to the Forgotten Crossroads and it’s experiences like these that make Hollow Knight special. The game can make you feel like you really are lost in a huge Kingdom. The enemies only reinforce this- there’re so many that the world feels diverse, and they’re so different from one another. Some are similar, and many are just fodder for you to smack through, but every single one feels manufactured to fit the experience.

    So how do we take down these enemies? Let’s switch over to talking about the combat system and user interface. At the start of the game, the Knight can only jump, swing his nail and move. You gain the heal ability and learn about the importance of soul within the first couple of minutes of playing the game (which makes me wonder why it wasn’t just implemented into your base move set). Over the course of the game, you’ll gain a dash ability, a wall jump, a double jump, 3 nail arts, 4 nail upgrades, 3 spells (and void upgrades to all 3), a super dash and a dash upgrade that gives you dash invincibility on a short cool down. As the game progresses, the Knight does too, making you feel every empowered. Your charm collection (a system wherein you equip different charms with a variety of effects) also expands rapidly, so that by the end of the game you feel not like a stranger to Hallownest, but rather it’s ruler. My issue, however, is that it takes too long to advance far enough in the game that combat feels awesome. I feel like the base move set could’ve been upgraded and new moves could’ve been placed closer to the start of the game, allowing the player to progress quickly. Then, some more extreme, game-breaking abilities could’ve been placed for the endgame as a final twist.

    There are many more things that I could talk about; the bosses are great (though some feel more like fodder), the story is phenomenal, the 3 free DLCs greatly expand the game and everything feels cohesive and whole. Hollow Knight is a must play on Switch. If not for a too slow progression to a complete move set, this gam would be a 10.    … Expand
  26. AlphaMale
    May 19, 2019
    9
    I have to say this is my favorite game to this day, I normally play first person shooters so this genre of gaming is new to me. When i started playing i couldn't even jump and attack at the same time, but towards the end of the game I felt as if my attacks where so smooth that i could finish the Colosseum of Fools without dying. The sound track is amazing but i missed out on most of itI have to say this is my favorite game to this day, I normally play first person shooters so this genre of gaming is new to me. When i started playing i couldn't even jump and attack at the same time, but towards the end of the game I felt as if my attacks where so smooth that i could finish the Colosseum of Fools without dying. The sound track is amazing but i missed out on most of it because i got too scared when i was exploring Deepnest, so i put on Time to Say Goodbye on a constant re loop. This game is worth 50 yours of you life but if your me it'll last 150 hours.… Expand
  27. Critine
    Jun 25, 2020
    9
    My disappointment is immeasurable, and my day is ruined, when it was all over.

    Hollow Knight is absolutely flawless in its story despite lacking in guidance.

    PLAY IT, PLEASE! Not going to waste your time with a review.
  28. Artbit
    Jul 8, 2019
    9
    Hollow Knight è un titolo che sa come catturare il giocatore e che non assomiglia affatto ad un prodotto amatoriale anzi, la produzione del Team Cherry è in grado di far invidia a gran parte dell'universo dei giochi tripla a, insegnando che la passione è fondamentale per la realizzazione di un buon titolo.
    Il titolo ci metterà nei panni di un cavaliere anonimo e silenzioso, che come molti    Hollow Knight è un titolo che sa come catturare il giocatore e che non assomiglia affatto ad un prodotto amatoriale anzi, la produzione del Team Cherry è in grado di far invidia a gran parte dell'universo dei giochi tripla a, insegnando che la passione è fondamentale per la realizzazione di un buon titolo.
    Il titolo ci metterà nei panni di un cavaliere anonimo e silenzioso, che come molti altri avventurieri si cala nelle profondità della terra, a Nidosacro, reame ormai in rovina e che sembra nascondere non pochi segreti, attorno a questi segreti si districherà una trama interessante, ma niente di più. Hollow Knight infatti giocherà le sue carte migliori durante l'esplorazione delle varie aree che compongono Nidosacro, queste zone saranno infatti estremamente caratterizzate da uno stile grafico unico. Sebbene nelle prime ore di gioco sarà percepibile una sensazione di grande oppressione, dato che è chiaro sin da subito che la mappa è enorme, ma (da buon metroidvania) serviranno le abilità giuste per poter esplorare a piacimento le aree di gioco; però nelle fasi più avanzate di gioco proverete una stupenda soddisfazione nel trovare segreti e nuove aree. Ovviamente nei tunnel sotterranei del reame avremo modo di trovare una grande varietà di nemici pronti a farci la pelle e boss sempre estremamente diversi, ma sempre spietati, su cui perderemo parecchie vite; infatti il titolo indie è parecchio difficile, sarà quindi necessario apprendere al meglio il sistema di combattimento, che col progredire del gioco diventa sempre più difficile; oltre ai movimenti (quasi) impeccabili che la produzione australiana ci richiederà (soprattutto durante le boss fight) porteranno a molteplici morti, dopo ognuna di queste, saremo privati del nostro denaro e di parte delle nostre anime (utili per attaccare e per curarsi), potremo poi recuperarle tornando sul luogo del decesso e sconfiggendo il nostro fantasma, fortunatamente non lo troveremo esattamente dove siamo morti, così ci permetterà di affrontare prima lui, per poi vendicarci dei nostri assassini, dopo ogni morte verremo portati direttamente all'ultima panchina su cui ci siamo seduti, le panchine sono dei check point, che aggiorneranno la mappa (tra l'altro molto funzionale), faranno respownare i nemici e ci cureranno, un po' come i falò di Dark Souls. Dopo ogni morte sarà essenziale capire perché siamo stati sconfitti, se per un nostro errore o per un equipaggiamento non adatto, si potranno infatti indossare alcuni amuleti, tutti con effetti diversi e dato che non potremo usarli tutti in contemporanea, dovremo scegliere i migliori e dovremo stare attenti anche al fatto che i gingilli avranno effetti cumulabili, questo aggiunge una componente strategica di spessore, anche perché potremo cambiare amuleti solo mentre siamo seduti sulle panchine. La colonna sonora sarà in grado di accompagnare la nostra solitaria avventura, rendendo ancor più magico questa perla, che fa della cura nel dettaglio il suo maggior pregio, fermandoci qualche secondo in più ad ammirare le varie schermate, ognuna di loro infatti nasconde chicche fantastiche. La sessa cura è stata riposta nel level disign a dir poco perfetto, anche se qualche volta una panchina in più non sarebbe guastata. Indubbiamente epico il titolo sviluppato dal team Cherry rapisce il giocatore e lo stupisce per tutta la sua durata, costuendo un racconto solido, un gameplay impegnativo, ambientandoli in un mondo davvero grande. È un gioco che dovete avere se siete avvezzi al mondo dei metroidvania o dei souls-like.    … Expand
  29. Bidoulou
    May 12, 2021
    9
    Hollow Knight. Un metroidvania dur. Dur, vraiment, dark souls like il paraît (j'en sais rien, j'ai jamais joué à un dark souls...). Mais passionnant, avec un gameplay aux **** oignons. Ca fait fortement penser à Super Metroid (pour l'aspect exploration) à Ori and the blind Forest (pour la direction artistique et les pouvoirs) mais qui m'a vraiment plu. J'ai galéré comme un fou sur certainsHollow Knight. Un metroidvania dur. Dur, vraiment, dark souls like il paraît (j'en sais rien, j'ai jamais joué à un dark souls...). Mais passionnant, avec un gameplay aux **** oignons. Ca fait fortement penser à Super Metroid (pour l'aspect exploration) à Ori and the blind Forest (pour la direction artistique et les pouvoirs) mais qui m'a vraiment plu. J'ai galéré comme un fou sur certains boss, mais certains affrontements m'ont poussé à me dépasser, et c'était du pur plaisir vidéoludique. A faire absolument, et en plus c'est disponible sur switch, donc jouable en portable... parfait pour souffrir à toute heure du jour et de la nuit! Durée de jeu pour la fin (pas 100%, loin de là) : 46h11m20s (bon en comptant des pauses avec le jeu ouvert ^^').
    Un vrai bijou à 19/20.    … Expand
  30. bmdemora
    Sep 3, 2019
    9
    Es bonito, imprescindible, supone un reto y engancha de principio a fin por su ambientación única y jugabilidad.
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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.
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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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