Hollow Knight

About Hollow Knight

Team Cherry released Hollow Knight on February 24, 2017 as a 2D indie adventure that quickly redefined its genre. Players control a silent, enigmatic creature exploring Hallownest, a once-thriving insect kingdom now turned to ruin. The game launched across PC and major consoles including PlayStation and Switch before arriving on newer hardware like the Series X and Switch 2. You move through distinct districts filled with hostile bugs and ancient secrets while improving your combat skills. It is a tight package of exploration and fighting that relies on precise movement rather than hand-holding tutorials. The visual style uses hand-drawn animation to create a world that feels both beautiful and deeply unsettling as you uncover the history of this forgotten place.

Gameplay

Sessions involve constant backtracking through interconnected maps after unlocking new abilities like the double jump or wall climb. You engage in tight, pixel-perfect combat where dodging enemy attacks and timing your sword strikes is essential. Boss fights demand pattern recognition and precise execution to survive encounters with massive creatures. The game offers no map markers so you must memorize routes and learn shortcuts to return to specific areas efficiently. Exploration rewards you with currency used to upgrade your shield and unlock new movement techniques. Each session typically involves dying repeatedly while slowly piecing together the layout of Hallownest. You will spend hours fighting through hostile swarms and navigating treacherous vertical shafts without any safety nets or auto-save features between checkpoints.

What Players Think

Critics loved this title with a Metacritic score of 88 and OpenCritic showing 97.14% recommendation from reviewers. Destructoid called it the best metroidvania in over twenty years while Hobby Consolas gave it a 95. PlayPile data shows the community moods lean toward Cozy, Atmospheric, and Casual vibes despite the difficulty. Average playtime varies but completion rates remain low due to the game's demanding nature. Achievements show only 26.5% average unlock rate across 63 total trophies. The rarest achievement "Steel Heart" has a 3.70% unlock rate indicating how few players finish the hardest content. Cheapest price sits at $3.49 on Green Man Gaming making it an easy sell for those who want to try this acclaimed adventure without breaking the bank.

PlayPile's Take

Hollow Knight is worth your time if you enjoy challenging platformers that respect your intelligence. The low entry price of $3.49 makes the investment trivial for a game that offers dozens of hours of content. You will face 63 achievements with the hardest ones stumping most players who stop at the main story. This is not a game for those who want to relax without thinking about their next move. It demands focus and patience as you navigate its complex world. Team Cherry created something that stands out in a crowded market through sheer execution rather than gimmicks. If you want a deep, rewarding experience that respects your time while testing your skills this is the one.

Storyline

Beneath the fading town of Dirtmouth sleeps a vast, ancient kingdom. Many are drawn beneath the surface, searching for riches, or glory, or answers to old secrets. As the enigmatic Knight, you’ll traverse the depths, unravel its mysteries and conquer its evils.