Beneath the sleepy town of Dirtmouth lies Hallownest, a once-great kingdom of insects now overrun by a mysterious infection. A small, silent knight with a nail for a sword descends into its ruins, and slowly the history of the place reveals itself.
A map that hides its secrets
Hollow Knight is a metroidvania: a huge, interconnected world where new abilities open new paths. You even have to buy maps of each area from a cartographer and update them by resting at benches. Getting lost is part of the experience, and finding a shortcut back to a familiar place is genuinely thrilling.
Precise, demanding combat
Fights are simple to learn and very hard to master. Hit enemies to gather Soul, then spend it to heal or cast spells. Charms let you customise your build — more damage, faster healing, a bigger nail. The bosses, from Hornet to the Mantis Lords, are some of the best-designed in the genre.
Atmosphere above everything
The hand-drawn art and Christopher Larkin's melancholic score make each area feel distinct: the green, overgrown Greenpath; the rain-soaked City of Tears; the glittering Crystal Peak. There is very little dialogue, yet the world tells an enormous, tragic story.
Unbelievable value
Team Cherry, funded through Kickstarter, released four free content updates after launch, including the brutal Godmaster challenge. A 40-hour adventure for a very small price — and the long-awaited sequel, Silksong, finally arrived in 2025.
