Hollow Knight: Still the Gold Standard?
Team Cherry's Hollow Knight has been sitting at the top of indie gaming conversations for years — and for good reason. This sprawling underground epic about a silent knight exploring the ruins of a bug civilization is a masterclass in atmosphere, challenge, and world design. But with so many competitors now vying for the metroidvania crown, does it still deserve its throne?
The short answer: absolutely yes.
What Is Hollow Knight?
Hollow Knight is a 2D action-platformer set in Hallownest, a vast underground kingdom populated entirely by insects. You play as the Knight, a mysterious wanderer drawn into the collapsing civilization to uncover its ancient secrets. The game is part exploration, part combat, part puzzle — and entirely absorbing.
Gameplay: Tight, Rewarding, and Punishing
Combat in Hollow Knight revolves around a simple nail (sword) alongside a growing arsenal of spells. What makes it shine is the Charm system — equippable items that let you customize your playstyle dramatically. Want to focus on aggressive spellcasting? There's a build for that. Prefer a tanky brawler approach? You can do that too.
- Movement feels responsive and precise — essential for the game's tougher platforming sections.
- Boss fights are genuinely spectacular, each requiring pattern recognition and patience.
- Soul mechanic — your healing and spell resource — creates real tension during fights.
The difficulty is significant but fair. Death has consequences (you lose your Geo currency and must retrieve your "shade"), which keeps the stakes feeling real.
World Design and Atmosphere
Hallownest is one of the most beautifully designed game worlds in recent memory. Each of its distinct biomes — from the peaceful Forgotten Crossroads to the eerie Ancient Basin — has its own visual identity, enemy types, and lore. The hand-drawn art style remains stunning, and Christopher Larkin's haunting soundtrack elevates every moment.
The world is also interconnected in ways that consistently reward exploration. Finding a hidden passage that loops back to an earlier area delivers genuine satisfaction.
Story and Lore
Don't expect cutscenes or exposition dumps. Hollow Knight tells its story through environmental detail, brief NPC dialogues, and item descriptions. It's a show-don't-tell approach that encourages players to piece the narrative together themselves — a divisive choice, but one that deeply rewards the curious.
Verdict
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Gameplay | 9.5/10 |
| Visuals & Art | 9/10 |
| Soundtrack | 10/10 |
| Story/Lore | 8.5/10 |
| Value for Money | 10/10 |
At its price point, Hollow Knight is one of the best value propositions in all of gaming. With 40+ hours in the base game and several free DLC expansions included, it's an essential purchase for any fan of platformers or action games.
Overall: 9.5/10 — An unforgettable masterpiece.