Hollow Knight: Is It Worth It? Our Honest Verdict

Introduction

Some games don’t just define a genre, they redefine what a genre can be. Hollow Knight is one of those rare titles. It arrived in 2017 as the debut project from a tiny Australian studio called Team Cherry, made by just three people with a dream and a Kickstarter campaign. Eight years later, it has sold over 14 million copies and stands as one of the most beloved games of the 21st century.

But here’s the thing about games that achieve near-mythical status: the hype can be a double-edged sword. When a game is called a “masterpiece” by practically everyone who plays it, the expectations become almost impossible to meet. So we have to ask the question that matters: does Hollow Knight actually live up to its reputation? Is it genuinely a masterpiece, or is it just a very good game that got caught up in its own legend? We have spent dozens of hours exploring the haunted, decaying kingdom of Hallownest, dying to bosses, getting lost in its labyrinthine tunnels, and slowly uncovering its tragic secrets. And we are ready to deliver our verdict.

Quick Verdict Box

TL;DR: Hollow Knight is a masterpiece of the Metroidvania genre. Its world is vast, interconnected, and hauntingly beautiful. Its combat is tight, precise, and deeply satisfying. Its story is told through environmental cues and fragments of lore, rewarding patient players with one of the most tragic and memorable narratives in gaming. It is a game that demands patience and persistence, but it rewards both in abundance.

Buy it if:

• You love Metroidvania games with deep exploration and interconnected world design
• You appreciate tight, challenging combat that rewards skill and pattern recognition
• You enjoy games with atmospheric storytelling and a haunting, melancholy tone

Skip it if:

• You dislike games that don’t hold your hand or provide clear direction
• You have a low tolerance for difficulty and frequent deaths
• You prefer narrative-driven games with extensive cutscenes and dialogue

What Is Hollow Knight?

Detail	Information
Developer	Team Cherry
Publisher	Team Cherry
Genre	Metroidvania/Action-Adventure
Platforms	PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PS4/PS5, Xbox One/Series X|S, Mac, Linux
Price	$14.99 / £11.99 / €14.99
Release Date	February 24, 2017 (PC); June 12, 2018 (Switch); September 25, 2018 (PS4, Xbox One); February 5, 2026 (Switch 2)

Hollow Knight is a 2D side-scrolling Metroidvania set in the crumbling subterranean kingdom of Hallownest. You play as the Knight, a nameless insectoid warrior wielding a weapon called a Nail. The game is renowned for its vast interconnected world, tight combat, challenging boss fights, and atmospheric storytelling. The game has sold over 14 million copies and holds a 96.9/100 user score on Steam, an 87 Metascore on Metacritic, and a 90/100 OpenCritic score.

Gameplay & Mechanics

The Core Loop: Explore, Fight, Die, Repeat

The heart of Hollow Knight is exploration. You are dropped into the ruins of Hallownest with almost no direction, no quest markers, and only a vague sense of purpose. You must explore, find your way, and uncover the kingdom’s secrets on your own terms. The world is vast, interconnected, and filled with hidden paths, secret areas, and shortcuts that reward curiosity and persistence.

As you explore, you will gain new movement abilities like the Mantis Claw (wall jump) and Monarch Wings (double jump), which open up previously inaccessible areas. The game’s world design is masterful, with a sense of discovery that few other games can match. As one reviewer put it, “The sense of discovery is outstanding.”

Combat: Tight, Precise, and Demanding

Combat in Hollow Knight is simple on the surface but deceptively deep. You have a basic slash attack, a dash, and a spell-casting system powered by Soul, which you gain by hitting enemies. The game’s genius is in its enemy design. Each enemy and boss has distinct attack patterns that you must learn, recognize, and counter. As one review noted, the game “rewards recognizing and countering enemy attack patterns.”

The challenge is relentless. You will die often. And when you die, you lose your Geo (currency) and part of your soul gauge until you return to the spot where you fell and defeat a Shade, a ghostly version of yourself. It’s a Dark Souls-inspired mechanic that adds tension to every exploration run.

The Difficulty: Brutal but Fair

Hollow Knight is a hard game. There is no difficulty slider, no easy mode, and no hand-holding. The game demands that you learn its systems, memorize its enemy patterns, and improve your skills. But it is also a game that is almost always fair. When you die, it is almost always your fault. As one player put it, the game offers “tight controls and finely tuned fair but tough gameplay.”

However, the difficulty is also the game’s biggest barrier. Some players find it “an endless exercise in frustration.” If you are not willing to invest the time to learn and improve, Hollow Knight will be a miserable experience. For those who persist, the satisfaction of overcoming its challenges is unparalleled.

The Charm System: Building Your Playstyle

One of the game’s most innovative features is the Charm system. Throughout the game, you will find Charms that provide various buffs and abilities. You can equip a limited number of Charms, and the combinations you choose can dramatically alter your playstyle. It’s a system that rewards experimentation and adds a layer of strategy to the combat and exploration.

Story & Presentation

Narrative: A Tragic Tale Told in Fragments

The story of Hollow Knight is one of its greatest achievements. You play as the Knight, a silent protagonist exploring the fallen kingdom of Hallownest. The kingdom was once a thriving civilization, but it was brought low by a supernatural plague called the Infection, which turned its citizens into mindless husks.

The story is told almost entirely through environmental storytelling, cryptic dialogue, and scattered lore fragments. You must piece together the history of Hallownest, the tragedy of the Pale King, and the nature of the Radiance, the primordial being at the heart of the Infection. As one analysis put it, the game uses “visual design and environmental storytelling to set its tale’s scene and mood.”

The story is heartbreaking, melancholic, and deeply resonant. It is a tale of sacrifice, duty, and the cost of trying to save a world that is already lost. For those who take the time to uncover its secrets, it is one of the most rewarding narratives in gaming.

Visuals: Hand-Drawn Perfection

Visually, Hollow Knight is a work of art. The game’s hand-drawn 2D style is stunning, with a level of detail and atmosphere that is rare in indie games. The world of Hallownest is dark, beautiful, and haunting, with each area having its own distinct visual identity. As one review noted, the game features a “stunningly realized Hallownest, a hand-drawn world once home to a bustling insect population, now reduced to ruin and memory.”

The character designs are equally impressive. From the tiny, expressive Knight to the towering, terrifying bosses, every character feels distinct and memorable.

Audio: A Haunting Masterpiece

The soundtrack, composed by Christopher Larkin, is one of the best in video game history. It is atmospheric, melancholic, and perfectly suited to the game’s tone. The music shifts seamlessly from haunting ambient tracks to intense, adrenaline-pumping boss themes. As one Metacritic user put it, it features “one of the most beautiful soundtracks in video games.”

The sound design is equally excellent. The clang of your nail against an enemy’s shell, the subtle hum of the infection, the echoing footsteps in the caverns—every sound adds to the game’s immersive atmosphere.

Performance & Technical

Hollow Knight is a well-optimized game that runs smoothly on almost all platforms. The system requirements are modest, with the game requiring a GTX 560 Ti or equivalent and 4GB of RAM.

Performance issues have been reported, including occasional hitches and frame drops. However, Team Cherry has been actively supporting the game with updates. In February 2026, the studio released a significant update (version 1.5.12459) that added 21:9 and 16:10 resolution support, a dithering effect, improved controller support, and various performance optimizations.

The game also received a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition on February 5, 2026, featuring higher frame rates, 4K support, and additional visual effects. It was released as a free upgrade for existing Switch owners. The new update includes a 120 fps option.

Pros and Cons

Pros

✅	Masterful world design with a vast, interconnected map that rewards exploration
✅	Tight, precise combat that is challenging but fair
✅	Hauntingly beautiful art style with hand-drawn 2D visuals
✅	One of the best soundtracks in video game history
✅	Deep, tragic story told through environmental storytelling
✅	Exceptional value with over 40 hours of content for $15

Cons

lost.
❌	Brutal difficulty that may frustrate casual players
❌	Lack of direction can leave players feeling lost
❌	Bleak, melancholic tone that isn’t for everyone
❌	Occasional performance hiccups on some platforms

How It Compares

Game	Price	Key Features	Difficulty
Hollow Knight	$14.99	Vast interconnected world, tight combat, atmospheric storytelling	High
Ori and the Will of the Wisps	$29.99	Fluid platforming; emotional story; beautiful visuals	Moderate
Dead Cells	$24.99	Roguelite progression; fast combat; high replayability	High

Hollow Knight stands alongside the greatest Metroidvanias ever made. It shares the genre’s focus on exploration and interconnected world design, but its combat, atmosphere, and storytelling set it apart. Compared to Ori and the Will of the Wisps, it is a darker, more challenging experience. Compared to Dead Cells, it is a more traditional Metroidvania with less procedural generation but a more cohesive world and story. At $14.99, it offers exceptional value for the amount of content.

Who Should Buy This?

For Metroidvania fans: This is essential. If you love exploration, interconnected world design, and rewarding progression, Hollow Knight is one of the best examples of the genre ever made.

For fans of challenging combat: The combat is tight, precise, and deeply satisfying. If you enjoy games that demand skill and patience, you will love the challenge.

For players who appreciate atmospheric storytelling: The story is told through environmental cues and fragments of lore, creating a haunting, melancholic narrative that stays with you long after the credits roll.

For players who dislike hand-holding: The game gives you almost no direction. If you prefer games that guide you, this will be frustrating.

For players with a low tolerance for difficulty: This is not a game for you. The challenge is relentless, and death is frequent.

THE GLH RATING

Our Take: After spending dozens of hours exploring the haunted, decaying kingdom of Hallownest, we came away with a profound appreciation for what Team Cherry has achieved. Hollow Knight is a masterpiece. Its world is vast, interconnected, and hauntingly beautiful. Its combat is tight, precise, and deeply satisfying. Its story is told through environmental cues and fragments of lore, rewarding patient players with one of the most tragic and memorable narratives in gaming. It is not a game for everyone. It is difficult, it is demanding, and it refuses to hold your hand. But for those who are willing to meet it on its own terms, it is one of the most rewarding experiences in the medium.

Overall Score: 9.5 / 10

★★★★★

Verdict: MASTERPIECE

Category	Score
Gameplay	9.5 / 10
Story & Presentation	9.5 / 10
Performance & Polish	8.5 / 10
Value for Money	10 / 10
Replayability	9.0 / 10

FAQ

Is Hollow Knight worth buying?
Absolutely. It is one of the best games ever made, with a 96.9/100 user score on Steam from over 548,000 reviews. At $14.99, it offers exceptional value for the 40+ hours of content. It is a masterpiece that deserves a place in every gamer’s library.

Is Hollow Knight worth it on Switch 2?
Yes. The Switch 2 Edition features higher frame rates, 4K support, and additional visual effects. It is a free upgrade for existing Switch owners. As one review put it, “Honestly, if you haven’t played Hollow Knight, the Switch 2 Edition is a no-brainer.”

How long to beat Hollow Knight?
The main story takes around 27-28 hours. If you explore side content, expect around 42 hours. Completionist runs can exceed 60 hours.

Is Hollow Knight worth full price?
Yes. At $14.99, the game offers exceptional value. It is one of the most content-rich games available at its price point.

Is Hollow Knight a difficult game?
Yes. Hollow Knight is notoriously challenging. The combat is demanding, the bosses are punishing, and the game gives you almost no direction. However, the difficulty is fair, and the sense of accomplishment from overcoming its challenges is unparalleled.

Is Hollow Knight a Metroidvania?
Yes. It is widely considered one of the best examples of the Metroidvania genre, with a vast interconnected world, ability-gated progression, and deep exploration.

Is Hollow Knight a Souls-like?
The game draws clear inspiration from the Souls series, with its challenging combat, death mechanics, and environmental storytelling. However, it is a 2D side-scroller rather than a 3D action RPG.

Conclusion

Hollow Knight is a game that deserves every accolade it has received. It is a masterclass in game design, a hauntingly beautiful work of art, and a deeply moving narrative experience. It is a game that demands patience and persistence, but it rewards both in abundance. It is not a game for everyone; its difficulty and lack of direction will frustrate some players. But for those who are willing to meet it on its own terms, it is one of the most rewarding experiences in the medium.

If you have not played Hollow Knight, you are missing out on one of the greatest games ever made. At $14.99, it is an absolute steal. Buy it. Play it. Lose yourself in the haunting, beautiful world of Hallownest. You will not regret it.

Final recommendation: Buy it immediately. It is a masterpiece.

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