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. doodlerman
    Jan 24, 2021
    10
    Hollow Knight is the gift that keeps on giving. I beat it at nearly 56 hours in my save file and I've only completed 79% of the game - and I'm not sure if that includes DLC. This is a $15 game. What's more, is its been 55+ hours of top quality game design that's challenging in all the best ways, and there's still so much more to uncover. It offers more bang for your buck than most AAAHollow Knight is the gift that keeps on giving. I beat it at nearly 56 hours in my save file and I've only completed 79% of the game - and I'm not sure if that includes DLC. This is a $15 game. What's more, is its been 55+ hours of top quality game design that's challenging in all the best ways, and there's still so much more to uncover. It offers more bang for your buck than most AAA games; and is just flat out better than most AAA games. I'm genuinely looking forward to diving back in to uncover the rest of the game's secrets.… Expand
  2. gustave154
    Jun 23, 2018
    10
    Best game on switch not named BOTW and Super Mario Odyssey. Just amazing from the start until 100% completion. And the best thing is there is one more update coming
  3. 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.
  4. JimmyE3
    Jun 23, 2018
    10
    Up there with Steamworld Dig 2 as one of the best Indie metroidvanias on the switch.
  5. Filipes
    Sep 20, 2018
    10
    I found here one of the most amazing kingdoms to explore, fight through and get lost in.
  6. I3AH9I
    Jun 11, 2022
    10
    This game is a masterpiece.
    It starts a bit slow but after getting ~3 abilities you are free to roam and explore most of the map.
  7. 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!
  8. bulger_paul
    Jul 10, 2018
    10
    Hollow Knight, the pros and cons:

    Pros:
    -this game is incredible

    Cons:
    -this much content for only $15 feels like stealing
  9. 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??
  10. donuts842
    Jun 13, 2018
    10
    I’m about 10 hrs in and feel like I haven’t even scratched the surface of this game. My gaming life started with watching my dad play Metroid on the NES while my mom drew the maps by hand, and the then eventually playing Super Metroid SNES. This game expands on every metroidvania experience there has ever been. Great game, worth the wait.
  11. 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
  12. he110me
    Jul 9, 2019
    10
    Stellar metroidvania that pulls off the genre flawlessly, while improving on the formula significantly.

    Everything from pacing, environments, level design, enemy design, boss design, characters, and music feels finely tuned. It starts off slow and empty, but builds into a deep and dynamic world full of mystery as the player progresses. There are challenges to be had, most of them    Stellar metroidvania that pulls off the genre flawlessly, while improving on the formula significantly.

    Everything from pacing, environments, level design, enemy design, boss design, characters, and music feels finely tuned. It starts off slow and empty, but builds into a deep and dynamic world full of mystery as the player progresses. There are challenges to be had, most of them optional, but none of them meaningless.

    The game very much takes a "git gud" approach to it's challenges, but the difficulty curve isn't too steep. If you find yourself stuck on a section, you would be wise to put a pin in it and explore other sections (in true metroidvania fashion).    … Expand
  13. nando_u
    Sep 18, 2018
    10
    Wonderful game, musics and NPCs charismatics.... A great world for exploration, and rewarding. A Masterpiece game.
  14. Ondik
    May 23, 2020
    10
    Wow. Did not expect this. Awesome combat, progression and sense of discovery. Give me more please
  15. milero91
    Jul 17, 2018
    10
    For me this is an absolute masterpiece and one of the games of this generation. I've just hit 107% completion after 53 hours and enjoyed every moment of it. Whilst it is challenging at times, every challenge felt like one I could overcome. The music in some of the areas is outstanding and the atmosphere the team was able to create throughout should be commended.
  16. Mordecai_253
    Jun 30, 2018
    10
    I'm at one of the final bosses and about at about 88% completion. This game is fantastic. If you like platformers and Metroidvania-style games, this is one of the very best to be released in recent memory. I waited to pick it up for the Switch, as I like many other folks are drawn to sinking in the time on the switch version because of the portability. If you haven't playedI'm at one of the final bosses and about at about 88% completion. This game is fantastic. If you like platformers and Metroidvania-style games, this is one of the very best to be released in recent memory. I waited to pick it up for the Switch, as I like many other folks are drawn to sinking in the time on the switch version because of the portability. If you haven't played metroidvania-types before, the games are founded on a progression system that slowly but dramatically improves your mobility and combat skills while allowing access to areas - most of which are interconnected - as you obtain new skills.

    The combat and platforming is incredibly tight. The variety in skills and customization afforded by the crest system is deep and satisfying to experiment with. Boss battles are varied and intense; difficult but fair. Enemy and area variety are exemplary.

    What makes this metroidvania so special, besides the excellent execution of the fundamentals, is the art style, world development, and Darksouls inspired story-telling and emphasis on pattern-learning to progress past certain enemies and bosses.

    The game has some difficult bosses and platforming sequences especially with optional bosses and collectible items like the Grubs that are scattered across the enormous map. But nothing feels cheap and the game never gates progression behind particularly difficult content.

    Also cheers to Team Cherry for their persistent support of the game with meaningful patches and free DLC. True mark of an earnest and well-intentioned developer.

    The game, unlike other ports, seems to run just as well on Switch as on PC. I guess the resolution could be higher (I'm playing on a 1440p monitor) but I believe it is constant 1080p and 60fps as I haven't noticed any slowdown. Loading times are also negligible.

    There isn't a ton to criticize here. I wish the player-map-icon functionality wasn't necessarily tied to the charm system. I have over 30 hours in the game and probably another 5 or so to go before 100%. I did find myself wandering around and backtracking a good deal. You get map icons later in the game that help in locating items and essence sources but without a map from the web and/or a solid plan on what you want to do, it's easy to get a little lost and 'waste' time not getting anything done. It can be frustrating but it's a small price to pay for a cunning and expansive map rife with secret passages, whole areas, short-cuts, hidden items, and bosses.

    The combat again is impressive. It starts out so simple but by the end of the game you have an impressive tool-belt and loads of customization options. Adding to the satisfying combat is the sound effects and music. I remember when I first started the game being impressed with the muffling of sound that occurs when the knight takes a hit; kinda like have your bell rung. It added a weight to the combat that persisted and grew throughout the game. The music is similarly well-composed and the voice effects of the NPCs are downright infectious ('ba-pa-nada').

    I can't believe how cheap this game is too. $60 would not be absurd for how much quality time one can spend with this game. They are charging $15.

    If this game even piques your curiosity, buy it. One of my favorite Switch titles and second only to BotW in terms of hours logged. Team Cherry puts Australia on the map for game development and I'm looking forward to what those folks have in store for us in the coming years.    … Expand
  17. 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
  18. Hugodrummer
    May 31, 2019
    10
    Wonderful game with a beautiful soundtrack. Can't go wrong with this game.
  19. 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
  20. 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!
  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. GoldBeard
    Jun 15, 2018
    10
    from the moment you start controlling your character you can feel how good and amazing this game will be! the gameplay, music, animation, world design are all TOP NOTCH. an sorry for using the term, but it has a soulsborne feeling to it... and i LOVE IT for that. honestly this might be one my favorite games ever! GET IT NOW!!!
  23. Frankyboy
    Dec 6, 2018
    10
    Excelente Metroidvania, mapa de buen tamaño, una dificultad mas alta a los juegos promedio actuales, música exquisita, un ambiente gráfico hermoso y la cereza del pastel, una historia interesante.
    Se agradece que te den los DLC gratis, dicho sea de paso, expanden la historia y te invita a recorrer el mata de una manera mas profunda.
    Es un "DEBES TENER" para tu Nintendo Switch.
  24. mefzeldernx
    Jul 7, 2018
    10
    Es necesario destacar cuando un juego hace todo bien. "Hollow Kinght" es todo lo que un juego del género "Metroidvania" debe ser, o se supone que es. Múltiples caminos, backtraking, nuevas habilidades y objetos hacen que la experiencia con el juego sea muy personal.
    El diseño y la música hacne que esta sea una gran aventura, cada jefe se siente amenazador y los movimientos son tan fluidos    Es necesario destacar cuando un juego hace todo bien. "Hollow Kinght" es todo lo que un juego del género "Metroidvania" debe ser, o se supone que es. Múltiples caminos, backtraking, nuevas habilidades y objetos hacen que la experiencia con el juego sea muy personal.
    El diseño y la música hacne que esta sea una gran aventura, cada jefe se siente amenazador y los movimientos son tan fluidos que hacen una acción vertiginosa y divertida, te da gusto cada enfrentamiento porque explota la creatividad de cada jugador.
    Sin lugar a dudas la Nintendo Switch es el hogar perfecto para éste juego, ya que te atrapa tanto que lograr el 100% se vuelve tan natural como vencer el juego, y poder jugar "Hollow Knight" en modo portátil es muy práctico.    … Expand
  25. destinyfan1
    Jun 21, 2018
    10
    INCREDIBLE ,no not the movie,but this game,i think this might be my favourite indie game I ever played.
    The graphics are beautiful and unique,the sound is also really good
    It's also unbelievable that this game holds so many secrets and is good for 20 hours or even more ( 15 bucks!) it has some frustrating moments ,but those are easily outshined by all the great moments. Was going to    INCREDIBLE ,no not the movie,but this game,i think this might be my favourite indie game I ever played.
    The graphics are beautiful and unique,the sound is also really good
    It's also unbelievable that this game holds so many secrets and is good for 20 hours or even more ( 15 bucks!)
    it has some frustrating moments ,but those are easily outshined by all the great moments.
    Was going to give a 9 ,but then i realised this indie game has more content then destiny 2 (at launch),so i give it a 10    … Expand
  26. dzbnkx
    Aug 3, 2023
    10
    This indie metroidvania stands on exploration. The lore in this 40-hour game is surprisingly deep and engaging. The difficulty ("Dark Souls of metroidvanias") could be discouraging for some, but gives a lot of satisfation!
    + difficulty
    + exploration
    + details/lore
  27. buzzardslicer
    Nov 29, 2019
    10
    They are basically giving this amazing game away for $15. The best metroidvania I've ever played.
  28. djdnauk
    Aug 28, 2018
    10
    best value game ever on any platform, challenging, beautiful art & music... really really fun gameplay!! gaming doesnt get any better than this!
  29. thealexmott
    Jun 22, 2018
    10
    This game felt like Breath of the Wild.

    Now I know that's the kind of hyperbole that gets thrown around all the time, but what I mean is this: I entered a new world ill-equipped to handle most of its challenges. Without clear direction, I explored in whatever direction I chose. I found incredible and exciting upgrades that opened the game up in new ways. I kept exploring and exploring    This game felt like Breath of the Wild.

    Now I know that's the kind of hyperbole that gets thrown around all the time, but what I mean is this: I entered a new world ill-equipped to handle most of its challenges. Without clear direction, I explored in whatever direction I chose. I found incredible and exciting upgrades that opened the game up in new ways. I kept exploring and exploring and never got tired of it. Sometimes I got my butt kicked and had to try boss fights up to 10 times before finally winning. But it always felt amazing.

    Hollow Knight is the best game I've played so far in 2018. Recommend to anyone who's up for a challenge.    … Expand
  30. 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.
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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 »