Hollow Knight Review Summary
Last updated: 2026-10-24
- Exceptional boss fight design
- Outstanding soundtrack and music
- Engaging and well-crafted story
- Beautiful visuals and art direction
- Poor navigation and unclear direction
- Extreme difficulty causes frustration
Emotions
Archetypes
Hardware
Windows <8GB VRAM / <16GB RAMpositiveWindows <8GB VRAM / 16-31GB RAMpositive
Snapshot History
Positive
Negative
288
93%
396
87%
13%
- Sample precision
- Helpful reviews
- 79%
- Unhelpful reviews
- 21%
- Protest reviews
- 0%
- 87%Helpful reviews with positive sentiment
- 13%Helpful reviews with negative sentiment
- Positive points
- 1393
- Negative points
- 478
- Gameplay points
- 942
- Perf. points
- 27
- Rec. points
- 312
- Misc points
- 350
| Point | Description | Importance |
|---|---|---|
Exceptional boss fight design
| Boss fights are repeatedly praised as unforgettable, challenging, and satisfying, with a strong emphasis on learning patterns rather than relying on luck. Many reviewers highlight the rewarding nature of overcoming difficult encounters, making bosses a standout feature. | 43% |
Outstanding soundtrack and music
| The soundtrack is frequently described as wonderful, memorable, and exceptional, fitting the game's atmosphere perfectly. Reviewers often rate it 10/10 or call it a masterpiece, enhancing immersion. | 39% |
Engaging and well-crafted story
| The narrative is consistently described as great, creative, and worth understanding, with strong characters and a compelling plot. Reviewers frequently mention the story and lore as major strengths that enhance the overall experience. | 31% |
Beautiful visuals and art direction
| Visuals are consistently praised as gorgeous, stylish, and detailed, with distinct regions and top-quality graphics. Art direction is described as wonderful, impeccable, and perfectly mastered. | 29% |
Deeply loved and acclaimed overall
| Many reviewers consider it one of the best games they have ever played, with some calling it their favorite. It is frequently described as a masterpiece and a pinnacle of the metroidvania genre. | 25% |
Satisfying and rewarding combat
| Combat is praised for being fun, challenging, and satisfying, especially once players learn its mechanics. Many note that it is simple yet intricate, rewarding improvement and skill development. | 21% |
Abundant content and replayability
| The game offers a large amount of content, including optional challenges and substantial DLC, making it highly replayable. Reviewers appreciate the wealth of things to do and surprises. | 13% |
Generally fun and engaging experience
| Overall, the game is widely described as very fun, enjoyable, and engaging, with many reviewers considering it a great experience. It is frequently recommended as a beautiful and wonderful game. | 12% |
Rich and immersive atmosphere
| The atmosphere is repeatedly called great, outstanding, and wonderful, with excellent environment and ambiance. It is often mentioned alongside the soundtrack as creating a completely immersive experience. | 12% |
Fun and mesmerizing exploration
| The world is described as expansive, beautiful, and intriguing to explore, with exploration being amazing and enjoyable. Reviewers highlight the joy of discovering the world. | 11% |
Well-balanced and fair difficulty
| Difficulty is praised as incredibly well balanced, challenging but fair, with a well-handled curve. It avoids being too hard in some areas while not becoming boring in others. | 10% |
Smooth and fluid gameplay
| Gameplay is often called smooth, tight, and fluid, with addictive qualities. The game runs well and provides a seamless experience. | 9% |