What is so great about Hollow Knight?

Hollow Knight (2017), made by the small Australian studio Team Cherry, is considered one of the best Metroidvanias ever made. Players praise its large, interconnected world full of secrets, tight and challenging combat, dozens of memorable bosses, beautiful hand-drawn art and Christopher Larkin's melancholic soundtrack. It also offers an enormous amount of content for a low price.

What makes it special

• Exploration: Hallownest is a vast underground kingdom where new abilities open old areas. You buy maps from the cartographer Cornifer and fill them in yourself, which makes discovery feel earned.
• Combat: simple controls (nail attacks, spells and dashes) with high precision. Bosses demand learning their patterns, much like Souls games.
• Charms: a flexible system for building your own playstyle.
• Art and atmosphere: a ruined kingdom of insects, drawn by hand, with a mood that is both beautiful and sad.
• Story told quietly: the plot about a fallen kingdom, a plague called the Infection and the Pale King's choices is revealed through environments, dialogue and lore tablets.
• Value: a full playthrough often takes 30–40 hours, and completionists spend much longer. The free updates, including Godmaster, added more bosses and endings.

What is the game about?

You play as the Knight, a small vessel that returns to Hallownest. The goal is to deal with the Infection, which is held back by the sealed Hollow Knight. Themes include sacrifice, duty, memory and the cost of trying to cheat fate.

FAQ

Is the Knight a boy or a girl?

Neither. The Knight and the Hollow Knight are vessels and have no gender; players usually call the Knight "they" or "it."

Are the Knight and Hornet siblings?

Yes, half-siblings. Both are children of the Pale King; Hornet's mother is Herrah the Beast.

Why does Hornet call you "little ghost"?

It's her nickname for the Knight, a nod to its small, pale appearance and its connection to the Void.

How many endings does Hollow Knight have?

Five: Hollow Knight, Sealed Siblings, Dream No More, Embrace the Void and Delicate Flower. Sealed Siblings, in which the Knight takes the Hollow Knight's place and Hornet is left outside, is often called the saddest.

Is Silksong a sequel?

Yes. Hollow Knight: Silksong is a sequel starring Hornet in a new kingdom, released in September 2025.