Hollow Knight stands out as a Metroidvania action-adventure game that combines precise platforming with deep exploration in a hand-drawn underground world.
Gameplay
In Hollow Knight, you control a silent insect-like knight navigating the vast, interconnected kingdom of Hallownest. The core loop revolves around exploration, combat, and ability progression. Players use a nail as their primary weapon for melee attacks, gathering soul from enemies to heal or cast spells like Vengeful Spirit for ranged damage. Platforming demands tight controls for dodging, dashing, and jumping through hazardous environments filled with traps and tainted creatures.
Charms serve as a key customization mechanic, allowing players to equip relics that grant abilities such as increased health, faster attacks, or new movement options. These can be mixed to suit different playstyles, like focusing on aggressive combat or defensive strategies. The game emphasizes backtracking, as new abilities like the Mantis Claw for wall-jumping or Monarch Wings for double-jumping unlock previously inaccessible areas. Combat involves pattern recognition, especially in boss fights where timing dodges and strikes is crucial.
Mapping tools let players chart their progress, buying items like quills and pins to mark locations on a customizable map. The Dream Nail mechanic adds depth by letting you enter the minds of characters and enemies, revealing lore or hidden fights. Sound design, with a melancholic score by Christopher Larkin, enhances the atmosphere of decayed ruins and forgotten paths.
Game Modes
Hollow Knight focuses on a single-player experience with its main campaign, where you uncover the secrets of Hallownest through nonlinear exploration. Steel Soul Mode offers a permadeath challenge, deleting your save upon death for a tougher run.
Integrated content packs expand the adventure. The Grimm Troupe introduces a questline with new bosses, charms, and enemies centered around a nomadic troupe. Godmaster adds boss rush challenges in pantheons, pitting players against sequences of fights for ultimate tests of skill. Hidden Dreams brings additional boss encounters and upgrades, while Lifeblood refines existing elements with an upgraded boss and tweaks across the game.
Updates and Current State
As of 2026, Hollow Knight has received technical upgrades for platforms like Nintendo Switch 2 and PS5, including high frame-rate support, full aspect ratio compatibility for PC, and under-the-hood improvements for smoother performance. These updates build on the original 2017 release and its free content additions, keeping the game accessible on modern hardware without altering core mechanics.
Player reception remains strong, with Metacritic scores around 90 for PC and console versions, reflecting praise for its world-building and challenge. Community discussions on sites like IGN highlight the game's art and depth, though some note occasional frustration from sparse checkpoints.
Is It Worth Playing?
Hollow Knight holds up well in 2026, especially for those who enjoy challenging Metroidvania titles with intricate level design and rewarding progression. Recent updates ensure it runs optimally on new systems, making it a solid choice for both newcomers and returning players. Reviews on platforms like Steam show overwhelmingly positive feedback, with over 95% approval from hundreds of thousands of users, citing its value and replayability. If tight controls and atmospheric storytelling appeal to you, it's a strong recommendation; however, the difficulty might deter those seeking casual play.
