Hollow Knight

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Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 41

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Hollow Knight is an instant classic featuring a rich world and incredible depth of content. This impressive Metroidvania excels in every area.

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Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 41

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 41

Hollow Knight is an instant classic featuring a rich world and incredible depth of content. This impressive Metroidvania excels in every area.

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Awards & Recognition

Critic Reviews for Hollow Knight

Critic Reviews

Score Distribution

41

Reviews

Average Score - 90/100

90%

Ranges

9.4/10

Tom Marks (IGN)

Hollow Knight is a Metroidvania with a well of content to discover that’s as deep as its labyrinthine caves. The world of Hallownest is compelling and rich, full of story that’s left for you to discover on your own, and built with branching paths that offer an absurd amount of choice in how you go about discovering it. With such a high density of secrets to find and fun, challenging enemies to face, it’s worth spending every moment you can in Hollow Knight.

June 21, 2018 |

Full Review

Gorgeously presented and cleverly designed, this impressively realised Metroidvania excels in every area except originality.

March 21, 2017 |

Full Review

8/10

GameCentral (Metro GameCentral)

9/10

Dave Irwin (TheSixthAxis)

Hollow Knight is well-crafted and beautiful to look at, with an elegance that is found in few games. From exploring the world to interacting with characters and fighting the minions found within, it kept me on my toes throughout. It’s far from the most original though, perhaps taking too much inspiration from similar titles, but with a little tiny tweak in the controls, it could be a sleeper hit.

March 13, 2017 |

Full Review

Tom Marks (IGN)

9.4/10 - (Read Review)

GameCentral (Metro GameCentral)

8/10 - (Read Review)

Gorgeously presented and cleverly designed, this impressively realised Metroidvania excels in every area except originality.

Dave Irwin (TheSixthAxis)

9/10 - (Read Review)

**Read all 41 critic reviews on the desktop version of VSG.

Read the Reviews (41 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
33bits	Jesús Díaz-Suelto Berrueco	100 / 100	06-25-2018	Hollow Knight is without a doubt one of the best games in recent years, and a featured member within the exploration and platform games that follow the Metroid school. The only downside that can be put is that it does not have behind a distributor that manages to advertise a work of this caliber through all the available channels.	Read review
Cubed3	Ofisil	10 / 10	02-28-2017	Hollow Knight in its original PC form was exemplary, but now it has landed on Nintendo Switch, complete with all the bells and whistles that have been laden upon the gorgeous adventure since launch, as well as fresh post-release content. This proves to be the perfect antidote for those suffering from Super Metroid withdrawal symptoms. Team Cherry’s ode to Nintendo’s great may well have edged past its original inspiration. It truly is the game that just keeps on giving; absolutely sublime, in every sense of the word.	Read review
DASHGAMER.com	Dan Rizzo	10 / 10	08-04-2019	Packed with a punch, it’s hack and slash style that simply inputs quite a cute charm into it’s dark and dreary state, along with it’s amazing colours and contrasts, set with incredible presentation and gameplay, and a soundtrack that will leave you quite emotional at times, with a story as compelling as any Triple-A title, will leave you stunned. Hollow Knight is perfect.	Read review
Destructoid	Jed Whitaker	10 / 10	03-27-2017	If it isn’t clear, Hollow Knight is not only what I’d say is the best game so far this year, it also very well may be the best metroidvania title out there right now, and it is easily one of my favorite games of all-time.	Read review
Eurogamer	Vikki Blake	Recommended	06-28-2018	A stern yet scintillating 2D adventure that makes a point of not holding your hand.	Read review
Everyeye.it	Andrea Fontanesi	8.5 / 10	03-18-2017	Hollow Night is set in a mysterious, dark and dangerous world, in which the player has to try to survive. A passionate love letter to the genre of ‘metroidvania’	Read review
FNintendo	João Duarte	9 / 10	08-06-2018	Hollow Knight is not just another Matroidvania, it’s a whole experience that everyone should try. With its immense exploration, fine controls, marvelous audiovisual component and subtle but well-written plot, Hollow Knight is full of reasons why everyone should give this indie game not just an opportunity but a time of their lives.	Read review
Game Informer	Imran Khan	9.3 / 10	08-16-2018	Hollow Knight has some frustrations, but the urge to see what’s in the next room is a constantly compelling imperative moving you forward	Read review
Gameblog	Thomas Pillon	8 / 10	08-30-2018	Team Cherry’s Hollow Knight avoid all the traps of the Kickstarter project : with its strong artistic direction, the game offers a deep adventure, but only to those strong enough to get through the cryptic beginning of the game. If you feel like trying your best, Hollow Knight, will deliver memorable memories, thanks to its wonderful environments and very intelligent soundtrack. Too bad many players will quit before seeing it.	Read review
GameGrin	Ben Robson	8 / 10	04-29-2017	A unique, technically impressive and mechanically sound addition to the metroidvania subgenre. Hollow Knight is a great challenge, not lacking in any of the quality expected of similar, yet higher profile titles.	Read review
GameMAG	Azzy	9 / 10	07-11-2018	A true masterpiece, near-perfect game. Fans of the genre will surely put it on a par with Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.	Read review
GamePro	Manuel Fritsch	86 / 100	12-28-2018	Hard, atmospheric Metroidvania with enormous circumference. Does not take players by the hand and encourages the desire to discover.	Read review
Gamersky	楚楠	9 / 10	07-10-2018	Hollow Knight is absolutely a masterpiece. The art style is fantastic, the level designs are outstanding, and battles are challenging and fun. If you enjoy Metroidvania games, don’t hesitate trying it.	Read review
GameSkinny	Justin Michael	9 / 10	03-31-2017	Hollow Knight is a visually stunning Metroidvania game that’s as fun as it is difficult — and sometimes a little terrifying.	Read review
GameSpew	Ruaraidh Dempster	9 / 10	03-06-2017	It may not be wholly original, but Hollow Knight is without a doubt one of the best metroidvania games out there.	Read review
GameSpot	Alessandro Barbosa	9 / 10	08-29-2018	Hollow Knight’s sprawling world, precise combat, and wealth of content make its trip through Hollownest engrossing and rewarding.	Read review
GamingBolt	Shubhankar Parijat	10 / 10	07-11-2018	Hollow Knight stands as a monument to game design, and quite possibly, as the greatest Metroidvania game of all time.	Read review
Geeks Under Grace	Joe Morgan	8.2 / 10	04-10-2017	Hollow Knight is a fantastic adventure platformer with a massive world and a captivating aesthetic. With such an enticing price point, this game is a must-own for fans of the genre.	Read review
God is a Geek	Chris White	9 / 10	04-10-2017	It’s a stunning game, majestic in art design and fluid in combat. It’s difficult at times, but the rewards for getting to the next area far outweigh the frustrations.	Read review
Hobby Consolas	Álvaro Alonso	95 / 100	06-27-2018	Hollow Knight won’t leave you hollow; quite the opposite. This incredible ‘metroidvania’, most likely the best example the genre has met in over 20 years, will leave you full with a feeling only a few games have achieved: the feeling of having played a masterpiece.	Read review
Hynerd.it	Hynerd.it	8.2 / 10	05-07-2019	Hollow Knight is one of the diamonds born from the passion and dedication of independent software houses. Nothing to envy from any triple A title. An adventure that ignites the player’s desire for knowledge by proposing a consolidated formula like the Metroidvania skillfully mixed with the Soulslike genre. Curiosity will push us to find all the answers in the game world and to overcome any frustration due to difficulty. Hand-made drawings and animations create a perfect union with the soundtrack in order to convey a sense of bewilderment and loneliness and then reach an extreme calmness on the finish. A title not to be missed, certainly to be recovered before the already announced sequel.	Read review
IGN	Tom Marks	9.4 / 10	06-22-2018	Hollow Knight is a Metroidvania with a well of content to discover that’s as deep as its labyrinthine caves. The world of Hallownest is compelling and rich, full of story that’s left for you to discover on your own, and built with branching paths that offer an absurd amount of choice in how you go about discovering it. With such a high density of secrets to find and fun, challenging enemies to face, it’s worth spending every moment you can in Hollow Knight.	Read review
IGN Spain	Pablo Olivares	9 / 10	03-17-2017	Hollow Knight is a satisfactory metroidvania experience, perhaps taking too much inspiration from similar titles. Anyway, it is a must have.	Read review
Kinglink Reviews	Kinglink Reviews	4 / 5 stars	10-20-2018	An excellent and challenging Metroidvania style game that is ultimately limited by its difficulty. If you can tackle its challenges, you’ll find one of the most exciting games.	Read review
Kotaku	Kirk Hamilton	Recommended	07-05-2018	It does not reinvent; it refines. It does not rebuild; it polishes. It contains few ideas that I haven’t seen in other games, yet it feels fresh all the same due to how much care has been put into every character, every battle, every frame of animation, and every square inch of its massively minuscule subterranean civilization.	Read review
Metro GameCentral	GameCentral	8 / 10	03-21-2017	Gorgeously presented and cleverly designed, this impressively realised Metroidvania excels in every area except originality.	Read review
Nintendo Life	Jon Mundy	9 / 10	06-19-2018	Hollow Knight is a big, beautiful, forbidding Metroidvania that’s absolutely thick with detail. From its punchy combat system to its charming art and sound design, this is one of the finest adventures you can have on Nintendo Switch.	Read review
Nintendo Times	Craig Majaski	8.5 / 10	06-26-2018	Hollow Knight is yet another example of a great fit on the Switch. The game is extremely challenging and offers up some fun gameplay mechanics. It’s also very long for this type of game, so you’re sure to get your money’s worth!	Read review
Nintendo Wire	Ben Fruzzetti	10 / 10	06-22-2018	Hollow Knight is a special game; a triumph of atmosphere, design, and so much more.	Read review
NintendoWorldReport	Adam Abou-Nasr	10 / 10	06-22-2018	Tight platforming and an ever-expanding arsenal of abilities kept me finding new areas hidden behind tall walls or long gaps. Platforming challenges reminiscent of Mario’s red-coin sections acted as stand-out therapeutic sessions. The beautiful diversity of Hollownest’s areas kept things from getting as bland as the underground setting may imply.	Read review
NoesPaisparaFrikis	Impozible Julin	9.8 / 10	07-30-2018	An immense underground kingdom, once a prosperous place, today is nothing more than a pile of tunnels that house dilapidated settlements. The few inhabitants who survived and who have not been affected by “La Infección” survive on the surface, in the small village of Bocasucia. It is this little rest of civilization, then, our point of departure. So armed only with our sting, an uncertain purpose and eager to discover what is hidden under our feet, we descend through the well that leads us to this lost kingdom. It’s time to discover Hallownest.	Read review
Pardis Game	Ali Rajabi	9.1 / 10	04-27-2017	Despite not having any new idea to offer, by borrowing some elements “Hollow Knight” has become a quite astonishing metroidvania experience. Its artdesign is perfect and the soundtracks are ear catching. Its mysterious and puzzling environment encourages you to explore more of it and the awaiting battles are challenging and demanding. If you’re a fan of metroidvania games then you should NOT absolutely miss this.	Read review
PC Gamer	Tom Marks	92 / 100	07-10-2017	Hollow Knight is a new classic, with a dense and detailed world full of secrets to discover.	Read review
Player2.net.au	Player2.net.au	Recommended	07-04-2018	Difficulty and accessibility come together to make this a game that all can appreciate, no matter their level of expertise with the genre, and on top of this, Hollow Knight makes some small inclusions that every new game in the genre should look at implementing. Team Cherry, you’ve achieved something extraordinary and I cannot wait to see where the journey leads you next.	Read review
Rock, Paper, Shotgun	John Walker	Recommended	03-02-2017	It delivers on what it delivers. The movement is fast but sturdy, the combat nifty, and the artwork is really lovely. Its choice of greys and muted greens and blues doesn’t do it enormous favours, and each area is pretty monotone. Animations are great, and the world is pleasingly detailed, but it also feels flat and dulled.	Read review
Sirus Gaming	Leif Rey Bornales	8.7 / 10	03-14-2017	Overall, I truly enjoyed the experience this game has brought me. It has given me just the right amount of challenge and yet it’s also not letting you get off easy.	Read review
SpazioGames	Gianluca Arena	9 / 10	06-29-2018	Hollow Knight confirms on Switch all the good showed in its PC version: we’re talking about one of the best (if not the best) metroidvania of the last years, graced by a gorgeous art direction and a fantastic level of challenge. A must buy if you’re not afraid of difficult titles.	Read review
TechnoBuffalo	Ron Duwell	4.5 / 5 stars	09-23-2018	Hollow Knight is a testament to the everlasting enjoyment of the Metroidvania genre. Its spot on controls, exciting boss fights, and sense of progression pull those willing into a surreal, dark world loaded with secrets. Addiction and obsession start to settle in until every last one is found, a sign of the best that the genre has to offer.	Read review
TheSixthAxis	Dave Irwin	9 / 10	03-13-2017	Hollow Knight is well-crafted and beautiful to look at, with an elegance that is found in few games. From exploring the world to interacting with characters and fighting the minions found within, it kept me on my toes throughout. It’s far from the most original though, perhaps taking too much inspiration from similar titles, but with a little tiny tweak in the controls, it could be a sleeper hit.	Read review
Video Chums	A.J. Maciejewski	8.6 / 10	06-15-2018	Hollow Knight is a huge and rewarding adventure that’s full of satisfying secrets and challenges.	Read review
VideoGamer	Adam Cook	8 / 10	06-27-2018	Dark and beautiful, you’ll come for Hollow Knight’s visual appeal, but you’ll stay for the challenge and responsive combat.	Read review

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Game Info

Game Description / Storyline:

Hollow Knight is the first game by Team Cherry, an indie games team comprised of 3 people based in South Australia. Hollow Knight is a challenging, beautiful action adventure game set in the vast, inter-connected underground kingdom of Hallownest. A 2D action game with an emphasis on skill and exploration, Hollow Knight has you fighting a fearsome host of deadly creatures, avoiding intricate traps and solving ancient mysteries as you make your own way through fungal wastes, forests of bone, and ruined underground cities. The atmosphere is eerie and sometimes unnerving, but there is a good-hearted core of humour and levity in there too, especially when conversing with all of the weird and wonderful NPCs you’ll find along the way. Hollow Knight has beautiful traditional art, fluid and responsive action, challenging but fair gameplay, and an incredible, bizarre insect world begging to be explored and conquered.

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