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Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight
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Hollow Knight
DeveloperTeam Cherry
PublisherTeam Cherry
Designers
Programmers
  • William Pellen
  • David Kazi
ArtistAri Gibson
ComposerChristopher Larkin
EngineUnity
Platforms
Release
Base game
  • Windows
  • 24 February 2017
  • Linux, macOS
  • 11 April 2017
  • Nintendo Switch
  • 12 June 2018
  • PlayStation 4, Xbox One
  • 25 September 2018
Content packs
  • Hidden Dreams
  • 3 August 2017
  • The Grimm Troupe
  • 26 October 2017
  • Lifeblood
  • 20 April 2018
  • Godmaster
  • 23 August 2018
GenreMetroidvania
ModeSingle-player

Hollow Knight is a 2017 Metroidvania video game developed and published by Australian independent developer Team Cherry. The player controls a nameless insectoid warrior (commonly known as "The Knight"[a][1]) in exploring Hallownest, a fallen kingdom plagued by a supernatural disease created by a god known as the Radiance. The game is set in diverse subterranean locations, featuring friendly and hostile insectoid characters and numerous bosses. Players have the opportunity to unlock abilities as they explore, along with pieces of lore and flavour text that are spread throughout the kingdom.

The concept behind Hollow Knight was conceived in 2013 in the Ludum Dare game jam. Adelaide-based Team Cherry wanted to create a game inspired by older platformers that replicated the explorational aspects of its influences. Inspirations for the game include Faxanadu, Metroid, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, and Mega Man X.[2] Development was partially funded through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign that raised over A$57,000 by the end of 2014. It was released for Linux, macOS, and Windows in early 2017 and for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in 2018. After release, Team Cherry supported the game with four free expansions as downloadable content.

Hollow Knight was well received by critics, with particular praise for its music, art style, worldbuilding, atmosphere, combat, and level of difficulty. It has since been regarded by some critics as one of the greatest games of all time.[b] The game has sold more than 15 million copies. A sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong, was released on 4 September 2025.

Gameplay

[edit]
The player character fights the boss enemy False Knight. The full Soul Vessel appears in the top-left corner. To its right, on top, there is only one Ancient Mask (health) remaining. Below the Ancient Mask, the amount of Geo currency is shown.
Gameplay screenshot of the player fighting the False Knight, a boss enemy.

Hollow Knight is a 2D side-scrolling Metroidvania.[10][11] The player controls a silent insectoid warrior who explores an underground fallen kingdom called Hallownest. The player character can strike enemies with a sword-like weapon called a Nail and can learn spells that allow for long-range attacks.[11][12]

The player starts with a limited number of hit points, which are represented by masks.[13] By striking enemies, the player character gains Soul, which is stored in a "Soul Vessel". Initially, the player can only use Soul to "Focus" and regenerate masks, but as the game progresses, players unlock and collect several offensive spells, which consume Soul.[14] If all masks are lost, the player dies, and a Shade enemy appears at the approximate location of the player's death. The player loses all Geo, the game's main currency, and can hold a reduced amount of Soul. Players must defeat the Shade enemy to recover lost Geo and carry the normal amount of Soul.[13]

During the game, the player encounters bug-themed non-player characters (NPCs) with whom they can interact. These characters provide information about the plot, offer aid, and sell items or services.[13] Players acquire items that provide movement abilities including an additional mid-air jump, adhering to and jumping off walls, or a quick dash. To further customise the Knight, players can equip various charms, which can be found or purchased from NPCs. Some of their effects include improved combat abilities, such as granting the player more range with the Nail, or allowing them to collect Soul more easily. Equipping a charm takes up a certain number of limited slots, called notches.[11][13] Many areas feature challenging enemies and bosses which the player may need to defeat in order to progress.[12] Defeating some bosses grants the player access to new abilities.[11][13] If the player defeats the final boss, they are given access to a gamemode called "Steel Soul". In this mode, dying is permanent, i.e. if the player loses all of their masks, the save slot will be reset.[15]

The Kingdom of Hallownest consists of several large, inter-connected areas with unique themes.[11] With its nonlinear gameplay Metroidvania design, Hollow Knight does not restrict the player to one path nor require them to explore the whole world; there are places that can be missed when finishing the game, though there are obstacles that limit the player's access to various areas.[citation needed] The player may need to acquire a specific movement ability, skill, or item to progress further.[13] To fast travel through the world, the player can use Stag Stations, terminals connected to a network of tunnels that are traversed via giant stag beetles; players can only travel to previously visited and unlocked stations.[12][16]

As the player enters a new area, they do not have access to the map of their surroundings. They must find Cornifer, the cartographer, to buy a rough map. As the player explores an area, the map becomes more accurate and complete if the Quill has been obtained, although it is updated only when sitting on a bench. The player will need to buy specific items to complete maps, to see points of interest, and to place markers. The player character's position on the map can only be seen if the player has the Wayward Compass charm equipped.[10][failed verification]

Plot

[edit]

At the outset, the player-controlled insectoid warrior arrives in Dirtmouth, a quiet town that sits just above the remains of the kingdom of Hallownest. As the protagonist ventures through the ruins, they learn that Hallownest was once a flourishing kingdom of insects which fell after becoming overrun with "The Infection", a supernatural disease that can infect anyone by entering the subject's dreams and controlling their minds and wills. The Infection gives its subjects heightened strength but at the cost of their civility, causing madness and undeath. Hallownest's ruler, The Pale King, had previously attempted to lock away the Infection in the Temple of the Black Egg. Despite the temple's magical seals, the disease managed to escape, and Hallownest fell into ruin. The protagonist's mission is to find and kill three bugs called the Dreamers, who act as the living seals on the temple door. Once the seals have been removed, the player may confront the source of the Infection. This protagonist frequently encounters Hornet, the daughter of the Pale King and one of the Dreamers, who tests the protagonist's combat prowess in several battles.

Through dialogue with non-player characters, environmental imagery, and writings scattered throughout Hallownest, the protagonist learns the origins of the Infection. In ancient times, a tribe of moths that lived in Hallownest worshipped the Radiance, a primordial being who could control the minds of other bugs. When the Pale King arrived at Hallownest from afar, he used his powers to give sapience and knowledge to the creatures of the realm. The moths also began to worship the king, purposely betraying the Radiance by wiping her from their collective memory. Beneath the notice of the Pale King, some worship of the Radiance continued, allowing her to remain alive inside the Dream Realm.[17]

Hallownest prospered until the Radiance began appearing in the dreams of its people, poisoning their minds with the Infection. In an attempt to contain the menace, the Pale King used an ancient power called Void to create the Vessels – creatures with no free will or ability to dream that were immune to the Infection. The Pale King chose a Vessel known as the Hollow Knight to trap the Radiance within itself, leaving the remaining failures locked in a pit called the Abyss. During its upbringing, however, the young Hollow Knight's fatherly bond with the Pale King rendered it an imperfect Vessel, causing the Radiance to eventually break out.

Throughout the game, it is revealed that the protagonist was a Vessel who managed to escape the Abyss. They gradually defeat the Dreamers and their guardians, removing the seals on the door. Inside, they encounter and battle with the infected Hollow Knight.

  • If the protagonist defeats the Hollow Knight alone, they take the Hollow Knight's place, sealing the Infection within their own body and then sealing themselves in the Temple of the Black Egg.

The protagonist can alternatively descend to the Abyss and remember its origins as a Vessel. In doing so, Hornet will intervene during the battle against the Hollow Knight and expose a crack on its mask. Here, two additional endings will be unlocked:

  • If the protagonist defeats the Hollow Knight with Hornet's assistance, the protagonist seals themselves, the Infection, and Hornet inside the Temple of the Black Egg, with the seal bearing an image of Hornet's mask.
  • The protagonist can enter the Hollow Knight's Dream Realm through the exposed point and directly battle the Radiance. During the battle, the Void is present underneath the arena and attempts to capture the Radiance. Defeating the Radiance allows the Void to surround and destroy the Radiance permanently. Hornet then awakens to find both the protagonist and the Temple of the Black Egg have disappeared, leaving nothing behind except the protagonist's broken mask.

The Grimm Troupe expansion

[edit]

In the second expansion to Hollow Knight, a "Nightmare Lantern" was added to the Howling Cliffs area. After striking a masked bug with the Dream Nail, the lantern summons a mysterious group of circus performers to Dirtmouth, who identify themselves as the Grimm Troupe. Their leader, Troupe Master Grimm, gives the player a quest to collect magic flames throughout Hallownest in order to take part in a "twisted ritual". He gives the player the Grimmchild charm, which absorbs the flames into itself, progressing the ritual and allowing the Grimmchild to attack the player's enemies. Eventually, the player must choose to either complete the ritual by fighting Grimm in his powerful Nightmare King form, or prevent the ritual and banish the Grimm Troupe with the help of Brumm, a traitorous troupe member, in the Howling Cliffs.[18]

Godmaster expansion

[edit]

More content was added to Hollow Knight with the fourth and final expansion, Godmaster, in which the player can battle harder versions of all of the bosses through a series of challenges. The main hub of the expansion is known as Godhome. Within Godhome are five "pantheons", each being a "boss rush", containing a set of bosses that must all be defeated consecutively without dying. The final pantheon, the Pantheon of Hallownest, contains every boss in the game or alternate forms of original bosses. If the player completes the Pantheon of Hallownest, the Absolute Radiance, a more powerful version of the Radiance, appears, acting as the new final boss. Upon defeating her, two unique endings can be achieved in which the player morphs into a powerful Void entity and destroys Godhome. The Hollow Knight is subsequently freed and implied to escape the temple, encountering a surprised Hornet.

Development

[edit]
Gameplay screenshot of Hungry Knight, featuring the first appearance of Hollow Knight's protagonist

The idea that prompted the creation of Hollow Knight originated in a game jam, Ludum Dare 2013, in which two of the game's developers, Ari Gibson and William Pellen, developed a game called Hungry Knight, whose main character's design eventually became the protagonist in Hollow Knight, kills bugs to stave off starvation.[1] The game, considered "not very good", used to hold a 1/5 star rating on Newgrounds, but has since increased to 4/5.[1][19] The developers decided to work on another game jam with the theme "Beneath the Surface", but missed the deadline. However, the concept gave them the idea to create a game with an underground setting, a "deep, old kingdom", and insect characters.[1][20]

Influences for the game include Faxanadu, Metroid, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, and Mega Man X. Team Cherry noted that Hallownest was in some ways the inverse of the world tree setting in Faxanadu. The team wanted to replicate the sense of wonder and discovery of games from their childhood from such games, in which there "could be any crazy secret or weird creature."[21][22] Believing that control of the character was most important for the player's enjoyment of the game, the developers based the player's movement on Mega Man X. They gave the character no acceleration when moving horizontally, as well as a large amount of aerial control and the ability to interrupt one's jump with a dash.[1] This was meant to make the player feel that any hit they took could have been avoided right up until the last second.[1]

To create the game's art, Gibson's hand-drawn sketches were scanned directly into the game engine, creating a "vivid sense of place". The developers decided to "keep it simple" in order to prevent the development time from becoming extremely protracted.[1] The complexity of the world was based on Metroid, which allows players to become disoriented and lost, focusing on the enjoyment of finding one's way. Only basic signs are placed throughout the world to direct players to important locations.[1] The largest design challenge was creating the mapping system and finding a balance between not divulging the world's secrets while not being too player-unfriendly.[1]

Hollow Knight was revealed on Kickstarter in November 2014, with a goal of A$35,000. The game passed this goal, raising more than A$57,000 from 2,158 backers, allowing its scope to be expanded and another developer to be hired—technical director David Kazi—as well as composer Christopher Larkin,[1] and marketing and publishing manager Matthew Griffin.[23]

The game reached a beta state in September 2015 and continued to achieve numerous stretch goals to add in more content after an engine switch from Stencyl to Unity.[24]

Release

[edit]

Hollow Knight was released for Windows on 24 February 2017, with versions for Linux and macOS being released on 11 April of the same year.[25]

The Nintendo Switch version of Hollow Knight was announced in January 2017 and released on 12 June 2018. Team Cherry originally planned to make it available on the Wii U. Development of the Wii U version began in 2016, alongside the PC version, and it eventually shifted to the Nintendo Switch following the Wii U's discontinuation.[26] The creators of Hollow Knight worked with another Australian developer, Shark Jump Studios, to speed up the porting process.[27] Initially, Team Cherry planned the Switch version to arrive "not too long after the platform's launch"; subsequently they delayed it to early 2018.[28] A release date was not announced until the Nintendo Direct presentation at E3 2018 on 12 June 2018, when it was unveiled the game would be available later that day via Nintendo eShop.[29]

Versions for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One were released as Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition on 25 September 2018.[30]

A Hollow Knight Piano Collections sheet music book and album was released in 2019 by video game music label Materia Collective, arranged by David Peacock and performed by Augustine Mayuga Gonzales.[31]

Downloadable content

[edit]

On 3 August 2017, the Hidden Dreams free downloadable content (DLC) was released, featuring two optional boss encounters, two songs in the soundtrack, a fast travel system, and a Stag Station to discover.[32] On 26 October 2017, the second free DLC The Grimm Troupe was released, adding major quests, boss fights, charms, enemies, and other content. The update added support for Russian, Portuguese, and Japanese languages.[33] On 20 April 2018, the Lifeblood free update was released, bringing various optimisations, changes to the colour palette, bug fixes, minor additions as well as a new boss fight.[34] On 23 August 2018, the final free DLC, Godmaster was released, containing characters, boss fights, music, a game mode called Godseeker as well as two endings.[35] It was renamed from its former title of Gods and Glory due to trademark concerns.[36] All four DLC packs are free.

Reception

[edit]
Cosplay of Hornet and the protagonist

Hollow Knight's PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One versions received "generally favorable" reviews and the Nintendo Switch version received "universal acclaim", according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[37][38][40] OpenCritic determined that 97% of critics recommended the game.[41] Jed Whitaker of Destructoid praised it as a "masterpiece of gaming"[12] and, on PC Gamer, Tom Marks called it a "new classic".[11] IGN praised Hollow Knight's visuals, sound, music, and "a million other details" in building atmosphere.[43]

Critics recognised the combat system as simple[42][43] and nuanced;[46] they praised its responsiveness, or "tightness", similarly to the movement system.[12][44][45][46][47] On IGN, Marks stated: "The combat in Hollow Knight is relatively straightforward, but starts out tricky ... It rewards patience and skill massively".[43] In his review on PC Gamer, Marks praised the "brilliant" charm system: "What's so impressive about these charms is that I could never find a 'right' answer when equipping them. There were no wrong choices."[11] Adam Abou-Nasr from NintendoWorldReport stated: "Charms offer a huge variety of upgrades ... removing them felt like trading a part of myself for a better chance at an upcoming battle."[45]

The difficulty of Hollow Knight received attention from reviewers and was described as challenging;[43][44][46] Vikki Blake of Eurogamer called the game "ruthlessly tough, even occasionally unfair".[42] For Nintendo World Report's Adam Abou-Nasr it also seemed unfair—he had "'so frustratingly hard that I cannot recommend this game' angrily scrawled in [his] notes"—but "it eventually clicked".[45] Whitaker "never found any of the bosses to be unfair".[12] Destructoid and Nintendo World Report reviewers felt a sense of accomplishment after difficult fights.[12][45] Critics also made comparisons to the Dark Souls series, noting the mechanic of losing currency on death and having to defeat a Shade to regain it.[12][44][46] Destructoid praised this feature, as well as the holding down of a button to heal, because "[t]hey circumvent a couple of issues games have always had, namely appropriate punishment for failing, and a risk-reward system".[12]

Sales

[edit]

Hollow Knight had sold over 500,000 copies by November 2017 and surpassed 1 million in sales on PC platforms on 11 June 2018, one day before being released on Nintendo Switch, where it sold over 250,000 copies in the two weeks after its launch.[48][49][50] By July 2018 it had sold over 1.2 million copies.[49] By February 2019, Hollow Knight had sold over 2.8 million copies.[51][52] As of August 2025, it had sold more than 15 million copies.[53]

Awards

[edit]

The game was nominated for "Best PC Game" in Destructoid's Game of the Year Awards 2017,[54] and for "Best Platformer" in IGN's Best of 2017 Awards.[55] It won the award for "Best Platformer" in PC Gamer's 2017 Game of the Year Awards.[56] Polygon later named the game among the decade's best.[57]

Year Award Category Result Ref.
2017 SXSW Gamer's Voice Awards 2017 Gamer's Voice (Single Player) Nominated [58]
The Game Awards 2017 Best Debut Indie Game Nominated [59]
Australian Screen Sound Guild 2017 Best Sound For Interactive Media Won [60]
2018 Game Developers Choice Awards Best Debut (Team Cherry) Nominated [61][62]
14th British Academy Games Awards Debut Game Nominated [63][64]
Golden Joystick Awards Nintendo Game of the Year Nominated [65][66]
Australian Games Awards Independent Game of the Year Won [67]
Australian Developed Game of the Year Won
2019 National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards Art Direction, Fantasy Nominated [68][69]
Character Design Nominated
Design, New IP Won
Game, Original Action Nominated

Sequel

[edit]
Main article: Hollow Knight: Silksong

A sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong, was developed by Team Cherry and released on Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5,[70] and Xbox Series X/S, on 4 September 2025.

Set after the events of the original game, the sequel revolves around the character Hornet exploring the kingdom of Pharloom.[71] Game demos of Hollow Knight: Silksong demonstrate similar combat styles to the original game, but with several gameplay differences. The player character Hornet is more mobile than Hollow Knight's protagonist, and Charms are replaced with the more elaborate Tool and Crest system.[72][73] Team Cherry had previously planned this game as a DLC for its predecessor, but decided to market it an individual title as its content grew too large.[74] It was announced in February 2019. Hollow Knight Silksong was later released on September 4th, 2025.

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
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Hollow Knight

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from Grokipedia
Hollow Knight is a Metroidvania-style action-adventure developed and published by the independent Australian studio Team Cherry. Set in the vast, interconnected underground kingdom of Hallownest—a ruined realm of and heroes—players control a silent warrior known as the , who explores twisting caverns, battles creatures, solves intricate traps, and uncovers an ancient mystery. The game features hand-drawn 2D art with vivid, moody details, a haunting orchestral soundtrack composed by Christopher Larkin, and challenging combat mechanics that allow the to evolve through acquiring powerful skills, charms, and abilities. Its world is filled with bizarre bugs to befriend or fight, nonlinear exploration emphasizing backtracking and ability-gated progression, and a delivered through environmental and subtle lore. Originally released on February 24, 2017, for Microsoft Windows, Hollow Knight later launched on macOS and in April 2017, in June 2018, and and in September 2018, and is playable on , Series X/S, and 2 via . Team Cherry expanded the base game with four free content updates—Hidden Dreams, The Grimm Troupe, Lifeblood, and Godmaster—adding new quests, bosses, characters, and a challenging game mode. Critically acclaimed for its atmospheric world-building, precise controls, and depth of content, Hollow Knight holds a 90% score on Metacritic based on aggregated reviews. It has sold over 15 million copies worldwide as of August 2025, making it one of the most successful independent video games. The title earned several accolades, including the Studio of the Year award for Team Cherry at the 2018 Australian Game Developer Awards and a win for Best Sound at the 2017 Australian Screen Sound Guild Awards, alongside nominations at the 2018 BAFTA Games Awards and The Game Awards 2017 for Best Debut Indie Game.

Gameplay

Combat and Progression

Combat in Hollow Knight centers on a precise melee system utilizing the Nail, a versatile sword-like weapon wielded by the Knight. Players perform quick slashes in four directions—left, right, up, and down—to strike enemies, with upward slashes enabling aerial pogoing off foes for mobility and down strikes delivering grounded overhead blows. The Nail's effectiveness improves through upgrades at the Nailsmith in the City of Tears, requiring Geo and Pale Ore fragments collected from hidden locations and boss rewards; these enhancements progress from the initial Old Nail to the Pure Nail, boosting damage output by up to 320% and extending attack range for better crowd control and safer engagements. Magical abilities expand combat options via Spells, fueled by Soul—a white energy harvested by damaging enemies (yielding 3-10 Soul per hit) or fully replenished at benches. Three primary Spells are acquired progressively: Vengeful Spirit fires a straight-line that returns (upgraded to Shade Soul, which explodes into homing shards), Desolate Dive creates a shockwave on descent (upgraded to Descending Dark with homing spikes), and Howling Wraiths emits an upward scream (upgraded to Abyss Shriek for wider area coverage). Each cast consumes 33 Soul, encouraging strategic to balance offense, healing (via Focus, which converts 30 Soul into health), and survival against aggressive foes. Progression emphasizes customizable loadouts through Charms, 40 collectible trinkets that slot into the Knight's shell using up to 9 Notches earned via boss defeats and exploration milestones. These allow tailored builds, such as equipping Unbreakable Strength to amplify Nail damage by 50% without risk of breakage, or Mark of Pride to launch ranged needle attacks for safer distancing. Charms often impose trade-offs, like increased Soul cost for greater power, fostering experimentation in adapting to diverse encounters. Boss fights exemplify this depth, structured in phases with escalating patterns; , for instance, begins with rapid dashes and needle volleys, shifting to aerial swoops and ground slams in later phases that demand precise parries and positioning to exploit openings. The economy supports advancement via Geo, a golden currency dropped by defeated enemies and destructible environment objects, which funds purchases at shops like Sly's in Dirtmouth. Sly offers essential gear such as the Lumafly Lantern for dark areas (1800 Geo), Vessel Fragments for capacity (550-900 Geo), and Charm-related items, with his inventory expanding upon rescuing him from deeper ruins and providing the Shopkeeper's Key. This system incentivizes repeated engagements and risk-reward decisions, as lost Geo scatters upon death and must be recovered before a third failure.

Exploration and Customization

Hollow Knight features an interconnected Metroidvania-style world known as Hallownest, comprising diverse biomes that encourage nonlinear exploration and backtracking. Key areas include the surface village of Dirtmouth, serving as a central hub; the sprawling caverns of the Forgotten Crossroads, the game's initial region filled with ruins and basic enemies; and the treacherous, spider-infested depths of Deepnest, characterized by narrow tunnels and high peril. Progression through these regions relies on acquiring abilities that unlock new paths, such as the Mantis Claw, which enables wall clinging and jumping to scale vertical surfaces, and the Monarch Wings, allowing mid-air double jumps to reach elevated platforms. The Knight acquires several key movement abilities that enable exploration and progression through Hallownest's interconnected world. The Mothwing Cloak, obtained after defeating Hornet in Greenpath, allows the Knight to perform a short dash forward on the ground or in mid-air. The Crystal Heart, found in Crystal Peak at the end of a platforming challenge, enables a charged super dash for high-speed horizontal travel. The Shade Cloak, an upgrade acquired in The Abyss by interacting with a shadow fountain, permits dashing through enemies and attacks without taking damage. These abilities are essential for navigating the game's nonlinear map and overcoming obstacles. The game's system aids navigation across Hallownest's labyrinthine layout, with players purchasing detailed for specific areas from the merchant Iselda in Dirtmouth for 120 geo each. These can be expanded by exploring uncharted sections; if Cornifer is missed, Iselda sells the base , which is filled in through player exploration. Additionally, the Stag Stations provide functionality, consisting of 11 unlockable hubs connected by the Stagways tram system, accessible by exploration and activation, with tolls of 100-300 geo. Player upgrades emphasize discovery and survival, with Mask Shards collected from merchants, bosses, and hidden chambers—totaling 16 shards that combine in sets of four at benches to grant additional masks, increasing maximum life from three to six. Complementing this, nine Shell Fragments (also called Vessel Fragments) expand soul capacity, gathered through similar exploration methods and assembled in threes at benches to create full Soul Vessels, enabling more frequent and spell usage. Benches, scattered throughout Hallownest, serve as rest points where sitting fully restores by expending soul, simultaneously saving progress and resetting enemy placements in the area. The Dream Nail, acquired in the Resting Grounds, allows entry into dream realms by striking dreamers, warriors' graves, or bosses, yielding as a collectible resource. Accumulating 2400 through these interactions unlocks rewards from the Seer NPC, including the Awoken Dream Nail upgrade and access to alternate endings, with excess up to 3208 available for full completion. Customization options enhance traversal and utility, such as the Lumafly Lantern, purchased from Sly in Dirtmouth for 1800 geo, which illuminates dark areas like . Quirrel, a wandering explorer NPC encountered in Dirtmouth and other sites, provides narrative guidance on tools and paths but does not directly sell items; benches further support customization by allowing charm equipping and upgrade applications during rests.

Plot

Main Storyline

Hollow Knight is set in the subterranean kingdom of Hallownest, a once-prosperous realm founded by , a ancient Wyrm who transformed into a monarch to grant sapience to its bug inhabitants and establish a golden age of civilization. The kingdom, centered around the opulent White Palace, has long since fallen into decay due to —a luminous, orange-hued plague originating from the Radiance, an ancient light deity once worshipped by Tribe, whose influence spreads through dreams and drives bugs into frenzied madness. This catastrophe shattered Hallownest's society, leaving behind crumbling ruins, forgotten fossils, and bizarre insect denizens amid a of mystery and peril. The protagonist, known as the Knight, is a silent wanderer and one of countless Vessels—hollow, bug-like creations forged from the void, a primordial black substance drawn from the kingdom's depths by the Pale King to seal away the Radiance and preserve Hallownest. Discarded and long dormant, the Knight awakens and journeys from the surface town of Dirtmouth, a fading settlement on Hallownest's edge, descending into the ruins to confront the Infection's source. Early in the quest, the Knight forms tentative alliances with surviving NPCs, such as the elder statesman Elderbug in Dirtmouth, who offers guidance on the kingdom's perils, and the cartographer Cornifer, whose maps aid navigation through the labyrinthine depths. As the exploration unfolds, the Knight encounters the fierce Mantis Tribe in the Fungal Wastes, a warrior society that tests intruders through combat before granting passage deeper into the kingdom. Progression leads toward the Black Egg Temple, an ancient structure central to the Pale King's plan, where the Knight must break the seals maintained by the three Dreamers—eternally slumbering guardians—to access the heart of the threat. The narrative culminates in multiple endings determined by the Knight's actions, including the confrontation with the Radiance after collecting the Dreamers' masks to shatter their protective seals, each outcome reflecting varying degrees of success in quelling . Central themes revolve around sacrifice, as exemplified by the Pale King's desperate measures and the Vessels' emotionless purpose; the void's role as a counterforce to the Radiance's light; and the forgotten history of Hallownest, including the Wyrm's transformation and the emergence of void entities like the Shade Lord, underscoring a tale of , loss, and the fragility of legacy.

Expansion Narratives

The free content packs for Hollow Knight extend the base narrative through optional side quests and boss encounters that deepen the lore of Hallownest's , the spread of , and the cosmic forces at play, without requiring completion of the main storyline. These expansions, released between 2017 and 2018, introduce new characters, rituals, and dream realms that intersect with core elements like the Pale King's legacy and the void's origins, allowing players to uncover hidden paths and alternative conclusions to specific arcs. Hidden Dreams, launched in August 2017, adds dream warrior challenges and a new boss, the White Defender, a spectral guardian tied to the Pale King's experimental creations in the White Palace. This content expands on the monarch's failed attempts to forge vessels resistant to by allowing players to enter dream realms via the Dream Nail, confronting echoes of Hallownest's elite warriors in non-corporeal battles. A second boss, Grey Prince Zote, emerges as a delusional dream manifestation of the NPC Zote the Mighty, further illustrating the Pale King's influence on vessel-like entities through hallucinatory trials that test the Knight's resolve. These additions integrate seamlessly with the base plot's exploration of forgotten experiments, providing subtle insights into the kingdom's royal ambitions without altering the primary endings. The Grimm Troupe, a Halloween 2017 DLC, introduces an eternal cycle of rebirth centered on Troupe Master Grimm, a enigmatic performer who leads a nomadic group across fallen kingdoms. Players summon the troupe by lighting a Nightmare Lantern in Dirtmouth, embarking on a side quest to collect flames from Grimmkin enemies, which fuels a ritual awakening the Nightmare King Grimm boss—a fiery, bat-like incarnation of Grimm's perpetual renewal. Mechanics include acquiring the Grimmchild charm, which evolves through flame collection and aids in combat, alongside mask shards gathered from troupe performances to enhance the Knight's defenses. The quest branches into two mutually exclusive endings: completing the ritual binds the Knight to Grimm's cycle, unlocking the Dream Wielder charm and a path to the Nightmare King fight, or banishing the troupe via Brumm's guidance, which removes the lantern and grants the Carefree Melody instead, altering Dirtmouth's dynamics and side interactions. This arc ties into the base lore of nightmare realms and recurring threats, offering a self-contained narrative on sacrifice and performance amid Hallownest's decay. Lifeblood, released in April 2018, overhauls early-game accessibility while subtly advancing the Infection's lore through the Lifeblood Cocoon in the Royal Waterways, which infuses the with temporary orange lifeblood to resist the plague's orange-tinged corruption. This update introduces the Hive boss in The Hive, a swift defender whose defeat yields the Hiveblood charm, granting automatic recovery from grubs and evoking the Infection's hive-mind spread. Accompanying balance changes, such as faster bench and reduced early enemy aggression, facilitate progression to Infection-heavy areas, reinforcing the narrative of the plague's insidious expansion from the Radiance without direct plot alterations. The cocoon's highlight the fragility of Hallownest's containment efforts, providing lore fragments on how lifeblood variants might counter the outbreak's advance. Godmaster, the final 2018 expansion, culminates in god-like trials across the Pantheons of Hallownest—gauntlets of escalating boss rushes in the junk pit realm of Godhome—challenging the to ascend as a higher being via the God Tuner, which binds charms into unbreakable sets for binding rituals. New characters like the Godseeker guide players into this divine domain, where rematches against The Radiance occur in her unadulterated form, introducing Absolute Radiance as a pinnacle boss embodying pure light and fury. The content ties void entities more explicitly to the narrative, culminating in the the Void" ending where the , alongside shade siblings and , merges with the Abyss's darkness to eternally seal the Radiance, expanding the base "Dream No More" conclusion into a void-centric victory. Additional side quests involve unlocking the Hall of Gods for radiant-difficulty duels, altering potential endings by enabling this transcendent path only after Pantheon completions, and revealing deeper connections between the void's primordial power and Hallownest's godly aspirations.

Development

Origins and Pre-Production

Team Cherry, an independent game development studio based in , , was formed in 2013 by Ari Gibson and William Pellen, along with initial collaborators including Rohan Fraser. The studio's origins trace back to their participation in 27, a 48-hour held in August 2013, where they created "Hungry Knight," a top-down Flash-based featuring a bug-like navigating a dark, underground environment. This prototype introduced core elements that would later define Hollow Knight, such as the insect-themed world and the Knight character design, marking the nascent team's first collaborative project after bonding over shared inspirations from classic adventure games. Hollow Knight's design drew heavily from the genre, with Team Cherry citing influences like the original for its sense of isolation and discovery in vast, interconnected worlds, and The Legend of Zelda: The Adventure of Link (commonly known as Zelda 2) for its side-scrolling exploration, town interactions, and epic quest structure. Co-director William Pellen emphasized the "vastness" and "feeling of the quest across an epic land" from Zelda 2, while Ari Gibson highlighted its role in evoking a sense of boundless adventure without defined edges. The game's hand-drawn art style, characterized by detailed, fluid s and a monochromatic palette with vibrant accents, was crafted to evoke a surreal, fossilized kingdom, building on Gibson's animation background from earlier projects. To fund full development, Team Cherry launched a campaign on November 19, 2014, seeking AU$35,000 to expand the prototype into a complete . The campaign concluded successfully on December 19, raising AU$57,138 from 2,158 backers, exceeding the goal by over 163% and unlocking several stretch goals, including a full orchestral composed by Christopher Larkin, additional boss encounters, and console port explorations like a potential version. These funds enabled the team to quit their day jobs and commit to the project full-time, transforming what began as a modest 2D adventure into a larger-scale with deeper lore and mechanics. Originally scoped as a smaller exploration-focused game, Hollow Knight's ambitions grew through iterative feedback from early prototypes and demos. A playable demo debuted at PAX Australia in November 2014, showcasing initial areas like the Forgotten Crossroads and garnering positive buzz that informed scope expansions. This evolved into a "Sneak Peek" demo distributed via in December 2016, allowing players to experience core combat and progression, which further shaped refinements based on community input before the full PC launch in February 2017. The responsive development process, driven by backer and player enthusiasm, ultimately added layers of narrative depth and content beyond the initial vision.

Core Production and Influences

The core development of Hollow Knight was handled by a small team at Team Cherry: Ari Gibson (art and design), William Pellen (design and programming), and David Kazi (technical direction). Music composition was outsourced to Christopher Larkin, an Adelaide-based freelancer hired after the project's success to craft the game's audio landscape. This lean structure allowed for close collaboration but required careful division of labor to realize the game's expansive world. The art pipeline emphasized hand-crafted , with Gibson and Pellen using tools like to produce detailed sprites and animations. Over 40 distinct areas were meticulously designed for seamless interconnectivity, enabling non-linear exploration through hidden paths and ability-gated progression; sketches were drawn traditionally before digitization into the Unity engine, prioritizing atmospheric depth with and layered backgrounds. This approach ensured the melancholic, insectoid kingdom of Hallownest felt alive and cohesive, drawing from classic aesthetics while innovating on environmental storytelling. Larkin composed 26 tracks for the soundtrack, blending classical orchestration with chiptune elements to evoke themes of isolation and wonder; influences included the area-specific motifs of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, piano-driven pieces from Final Fantasy VII, and Baroque composers like Vivaldi for boss encounters such as the Mantis Lords. Instruments like piano, strings, and woodwinds created a melancholic tone that mirrored the game's narrative of decay, with tracks like "City of Tears" using soft piano and full ensembles to underscore emotional beats. The score was integrated iteratively during production, enhancing player immersion without overpowering the ambient sound design. Production faced significant challenges from , as stretch goals—such as additional quests, bosses, and the White Palace area—expanded the project's ambition beyond initial plans, leading to delays from a targeted 2015 release to full launch in 2017, and console ports in 2018. Team Cherry cut content like the Boneforest area and scaled back Deepnest to manage workload, prioritizing polish over breadth while maintaining the game's interconnected design. These adjustments, driven by the small team's commitment to quality, extended development by years but resulted in a more refined experience. Testing began with a beta build released to backers in September 2015, providing to core areas like the Forgotten Crossroads for feedback on balance and exploration flow. Following the beta testing with backers, post-launch updates in 2017 incorporated input, with patches addressing bugs such as mid-air superdash exploits and crash issues; post-launch fixes continued to refine combat and progression mechanics, ensuring stability across platforms. This iterative process, informed by backer surveys and player reports, helped shape the final product's tight controls and rewarding difficulty.

Release

Initial Launch and Platforms

Hollow Knight achieved its full release on February 24, 2017, for Windows via Steam and GOG.com. macOS and Linux versions followed on April 11, 2017. The game reached a sales milestone of 65,000 copies in its first month after full release, marking a significant early success for the small Australian studio Team Cherry. Console ports expanded the game's availability, with the Nintendo Switch version launching on June 12, 2018. This was followed by releases on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on September 25, 2018, as the Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition, which bundled the base game with all prior free content updates at launch. The game is playable on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S via backward compatibility, and available on Nintendo Switch 2. Physical editions for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC (with a DRM-free disc and Steam key) were produced and distributed by Fangamer starting in 2019. The digital version of Hollow Knight launched at a of $14.99 across platforms. The Voidheart Edition maintained this while incorporating expansions such as Hidden Dreams, The Grimm Troupe, Lifeblood, and Godmaster. Post-launch localization efforts began with French support added in update 1.3.1 on May 18, 2017. Additional languages, including German, Spanish, Korean, and Simplified Chinese, were implemented in subsequent updates by June 2018.

Updates and Downloadable Content

Hollow Knight received four major free content updates following its initial release, each expanding gameplay mechanics, challenges, and areas without additional cost to players. These updates were developed by Team Cherry and integrated directly into the base game through automatic patches on platforms like Steam and GOG, with manual downloads available for other storefronts. The first update, Hidden Dreams, launched on August 3, 2017, as version 1.1.1.4. It introduced dream bosses, including challenging encounters with Hallownest's greatest warriors, and the Colosseum of Fools, a multi-trial combat arena. Additional features included Dream Gates for enhanced traversal across the kingdom and a hidden stag station for exploration. Access required the Dream Nail, obtained through base game progression, and was available via the in-game menu. The Grimm Troupe followed on October 26, 2017, as the second free content pack. This downloadable update added a traveling troupe mechanic, where lighting the Nightmare Lantern summons Grimm's camp to Dirtmouth, enabling a new questline and dedicated area. It included new boss fights, four unique charms for combat customization, additional enemies, and musical tracks by composer Christopher Larkin. Players could befriend troupe members for services like Geo recovery, with integration occurring through interaction with the NPC Grimm upon meeting prerequisites such as reaching Dirtmouth. Lifeblood arrived on April 20, 2018, focusing on refinements and new systems. It implemented the Lifeblood mechanic, allowing temporary health via mask shards found in early areas, alongside balance changes to combat difficulty and early-game pacing revisions for smoother progression. The update also added a new boss encounter, an upgraded existing boss, custom markers, and extras in the menu, with support. These elements were accessible from the start via standard exploration and menu options, enhancing overall play without narrative prerequisites beyond basic advancement. Godmaster, released on , , served as the final major update and the largest expansion. It introduced the Godhome , a transcendent area unlocked through the base game's endgame, featuring pantheon challenges—sequential boss trials of increasing difficulty—and the binding system, which applies permanent modifiers like Steel (permadeath) or Unbreakable Charms to heighten challenge. New quests, characters, and secrets rounded out the content, all integrated via the Junk Pit NPC after completing core story elements. All updates were provided free of charge and bundled into subsequent patches starting from version 1.4.3.2, ensuring new players receive the complete experience upon installation. A final in June 2021 (version 1.5.72.11824) addressed minor bugs and graphical issues, after which Team Cherry ceased further development on the original game to focus on the . No additional content is expected.

Reception

Critical Reviews

Hollow Knight received widespread critical acclaim upon its release, with aggregate scores on ranging from 85/100 for the version to 90/100 for the and versions, with the PC version at 87/100, reflecting praise for its atmospheric world, intricate boss designs, and rewarding exploration mechanics. Critics highlighted the game's ability to evoke a sense of mystery and melancholy through its hand-drawn art style and haunting orchestral soundtrack composed by Christopher Larkin, which enhanced the non-linear storytelling delivered via environmental cues and item descriptions rather than direct narrative. IGN awarded the game a 9.4/10, describing it as "a masterful " that combines tight combat, vast interconnected caves, and emotional depth, encouraging players to invest dozens of hours in uncovering secrets and upgrading the Knight's abilities. gave it a 9/10, commending the "challenging yet fair" difficulty curve and exceptional pacing across its lengthy playthrough, while noting the gorgeous visuals and score as standout elements that immerse players in Hallownest's lore. echoed these sentiments in its coverage, praising the "evocative world-building" that makes exploration feel purposeful and the subtle storytelling that rewards curiosity without hand-holding. Despite the overwhelmingly positive reception, some reviewers pointed to minor flaws, including sharp difficulty spikes in late-game areas and boss encounters that could frustrate newcomers, as well as the absence of an in-game in early sections, which demands players rely on memory or optional cartographer tools to navigate the sprawling underground kingdom. These elements were seen as intentional design choices to heighten tension and discovery, though they occasionally disrupted flow for those unaccustomed to conventions. The free Godmaster expansion, released in as part of the game's final content update, further elevated critical opinion by introducing the Pantheons—grueling boss rush modes that remixed encounters with modifiers—and threads, providing substantial endgame challenges that many reviewers said solidified Hollow Knight's replayability and depth for skilled players. Critics noted that Godmaster transformed the title's conclusion into a triumphant showcase of its combat precision and boss variety, often boosting overall assessments for completionists. In post-2025 retrospectives, outlets reaffirmed Hollow Knight's enduring status as an indie classic, with analyses emphasizing how its blend of accessibility and rigor continues to influence design, even as newer titles build upon its foundations.

Commercial Performance and Awards

Hollow Knight achieved significant commercial success shortly after its initial release, selling over 500,000 copies across platforms by November 2017. By mid-2018, the game had surpassed 1 million sales on PC platforms alone, driven primarily by digital downloads on , GOG, and . The port, launched in June 2018, contributed substantially to its growth, with over 250,000 units sold in the first two weeks and millions more in subsequent years, making it one of the game's strongest platforms. Overall, Hollow Knight has sold more than 15 million copies worldwide as of August 2025, establishing it as one of the best-selling independent titles in gaming history. Revenue streams included robust digital sales, which formed the bulk of earnings, supplemented by limited physical editions produced by and inclusion in bundles such as promotions. The game's strong performance on the Switch, alongside ports to and in September 2018, amplified its market reach and sustained sales momentum without relying on traditional publishing deals. The title received several accolades recognizing its debut impact and design quality. It earned a nomination for the BAFTA Games Award for Debut Game in 2018. At the Independent Games Festival in 2018, Hollow Knight was a finalist for Excellence in Design among other categories. It also secured a nomination for Game of the Year at the 2018 . For expansions, the Godmaster DLC was nominated for Best Expansion/DLC at the 2018 TechRaptor Awards. Earlier, in 2017, it was nominated for Best Debut at . The financial success of Hollow Knight enabled Team Cherry to self-fund the development of its sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong, without seeking additional external investment or a publisher.

Legacy

Cultural Impact and Community

Hollow Knight has significantly contributed to the revival of the genre within indie gaming, establishing a benchmark for expansive worlds, challenging combat, and intricate exploration that subsequent titles have emulated. With over 15 million copies sold as of August 2025, the game has set a high standard that influences modern entries in the genre. For instance, adopts Hollow Knight's emphasis on demanding boss fights and pattern mastery within a gothic, nightmarish setting, while Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights expands on its exploration mechanics by incorporating companion-based combat and relic systems, transforming the core formula into a more RPG-oriented experience. The game's modding community thrives through accessible tools that enable extensive customization, fostering creativity among fans. Mod loaders such as Crossroads facilitate the installation and management of user-generated content, allowing modifications to core elements like charms and boss encounters. A prominent example is the Pale Court mod, a fan-created expansion that functions as unofficial DLC, introducing five new Dream Bosses inspired by the Five Great Knights—such as Kindly Isma and Fierce Dryya—alongside five original charms like Abyssal Bloom and Boon of Hallownest, plus new areas, secrets, and a dedicated . Speedrunning has become a cornerstone of Hollow Knight's ongoing engagement, with the community showcasing precise mastery of its mechanics through records shared on platforms like Twitch and . Events at marathons highlight this dedication, featuring runs that have contributed to the organization's cumulative fundraising exceeding $50 million for charities such as Doctors Without Borders and the Prevent Cancer Foundation. Notable examples include a 1:18:30 Any% run by Stratus and Vysuals at Summer Games Done Quick 2024, benefiting AbleGamers, and a 43:08 run by SawaYoshi at Flame Fatales 2025 for the . Fan creations extend beyond mods to vibrant artistic and interpretive communities, where discussions of the game's lore unfold on official channels like the Hollow Knight Discord server, which boasts over 400,000 members. and fan art proliferate, often inspired by the game's bug-themed characters and melancholic world, while official merchandise through — including plush figures, enamel pins, hoodies with glow-in-the-dark prints, and collector's editions—supports this enthusiasm by offering high-quality items like the Vessel Hoodie and Knight Plush. In educational contexts, Hollow Knight serves as a for level design principles, with its interconnected world and environmental storytelling analyzed in resources like Game Maker's Toolkit breakdowns and Game Developer articles on surreal narrative integration. For the game's 8th anniversary in 2025, fan-organized events such as the HK8Y marathon on February 22 highlighted community streams and celebrations, underscoring sustained engagement despite the absence of official developer-led activities from Team Cherry.

Sequel: Hollow Knight: Silksong

Hollow Knight: Silksong was first announced on February 14, 2019, during a presentation, initially conceived as a DLC expansion for the original Hollow Knight but later expanded into a full standalone due to its growing scope. The game stars , the warrior princess from Hallownest, as the protagonist, who travels to the distant kingdom of Pharloom after events following the true ending of the first game. Development is handled by Australian indie studio Team Cherry, which grew its team following the commercial success of Hollow Knight, allowing for a more ambitious project built using the Unity engine. Originally targeting a first-half 2023 release, the game faced multiple delays due to its expanded size and complexity, ultimately launching on September 4, 2025. The sequel became available on multiple platforms at launch, including Windows and macOS via , , and Switch 2, and 5, and Xbox Series X/S, with day-one availability on . It achieved strong commercial performance, surpassing 6 million units sold or downloaded within its first month, including over 4 million on alone, bolstered by Game Pass subscriptions. Key gameplay innovations include silk-based for Hornet's abilities, such as weaving threads for traversal, combat, and like healing by striking enemies to gather silk. Pharloom features a larger, more vertically oriented world than Hallownest, with enhanced exploration and a difficulty curve that feels more accessible overall through improved player tools and pacing, though early encounters emphasize resource scarcity. The narrative ties into the original via post-true ending lore, reintroducing elements like the void while establishing Silksong as largely standalone, requiring minimal prior knowledge. Critically, Hollow Knight: Silksong earned scores ranging from 89 to 93 across platforms, with reviewers praising its fresh storytelling through environmental narrative and Hornet's personal journey in Pharloom, while noting its as a for newcomers. It has received nominations at events like the 2025 for Best Indie Game. Common accolades highlighted the silk mechanics' innovative integration and the expansive world's secrets, though some critiqued the steep early difficulty spikes. On November 7, 2025, Team Cherry released a major patch adding new content, including quest expansions, tool improvements, and balance adjustments to skills and late-game areas.

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