Hollow Knight
Action
Adventure
Indie
Single-player
Steam Achievements
Full controller support
Steam Trading Cards
Steam Cloud
Remote Play on Phone
Remote Play on Tablet
Remote Play on TV
Family Sharing

Forge your own path in Hollow Knight! An epic action adventure through a vast ruined kingdom of insects and heroes. Explore twisting caverns, battle tainted creatures and befriend bizarre bugs, all in a classic, hand-drawn 2D style.

Developers: Team Cherry
Publishers: Team Cherry
Release Date: Feb 24, 2017
Price (USD): $14.99
Current Players: 35k

Links:  Steam Store  SteamDB

Overwhelmingly Positive(97%)
immersive experience
challenging combat
interconnected world
excellent soundtrack
high replayability
challenging difficulty
direction issues
combat difficulty
getting lost
repetitive combat
tedious backtracking
difficulty spikes
The reviews reflect a deep appreciation for the game's atmosphere and engaging combat, elements that are frequently praised as highlights of one of the best Metroidvania experiences. Additionally, the soundtrack is often described as emotionally impactful, further enhancing the overall experience. However, the expansive world and lack of direction can lead to feelings of being lost, which might result in frustration for certain players who struggle with the game's open exploration. Similarly, the difficulty of combat presents a challenge that is rewarding to some yet discouraging to others. Despite these issues, the game is regarded as a masterpiece of its genre by the majority of players.

Positive Points

  • Amazing atmosphere and art style that contributes to an immersive experience.
  • Responsive and challenging combat system that is enjoyable once mastered.
  • Deep and rewarding exploration mechanics enhanced by a large, interconnected world.
  • Excellent soundtrack that perfectly matches the game's mood and moments.
  • High replayability with many hidden secrets and achievements to discover.
  • Negative Points

  • Some players find it difficult to navigate and often get lost due to the large map and lack of clear direction.
  • Combat is sometimes seen as repetitive and overly reliant on memorization of attack patterns.
  • Backtracking is necessary, which can become tedious given the sparse save and fast travel points.
  • Certain areas are considered poorly balanced, with significant difficulty spikes.
  • Mixed Points

  • The difficulty level is polarizing; some find it rewarding while others see it as frustrating and discouraging.
  • Exploration aspects are both praised for depth and criticized for occasionally leaving players feeling directionless.
  • The game’s economy and map systems are seen as both immersive challenges and frustrating obstacles.
  • Common Themes

  • Many reviews express excitement about the upcoming sequel, Silksong, which is frequently mentioned.
  • The game is often compared to Dark Souls in terms of combat and difficulty, drawing both positive and negative comparisons.
  • Players often highlight the game as one of the best or a masterpiece within the Metroidvania genre.
  • Updated 8/22/2025, 12:01:41 AM UTC