Hollow Knight – The Complete Guide to a Modern Metroidvania Masterpiece

Hollow Knight arrived in 2017 with little fanfare and quietly became one of the most celebrated action-adventure games of the decade. Developed by the small Australian studio Team Cherry, this Metroidvania casts players as a silent knight exploring the decaying kingdom of Hallownest. The game asks you to piece together a story through environmental clues, combat, and careful navigation rather than through direct exposition.

Its reputation has grown steadily through word of mouth and a series of free content updates. As of 2025, Hollow Knight remains a reference point for the Metroidvania genre, praised for its hand-drawn art, atmospheric score, and demanding but fair difficulty. For anyone curious about the game, its availability, or the long-awaited sequel, this guide covers the essential facts.

What is Hollow Knight? A Complete Introduction

Hollow Knight is a 2D action-adventure game set in a vast, interconnected world. You control a small bug-like knight who wields a nail (a melee weapon) and learns new abilities as zones unlock. The game offers no linear quest marker; instead, progress depends on acquiring maps from the cartographer Cornifer, finding benches that serve as checkpoints, and unlocking Stag Stations for fast travel between regions.

The following points capture what most discussions agree on about the game:

• Hollow Knight is widely considered one of the best Metroidvania titles ever made, with consistent praise for its art direction and music.
• The game retains high player engagement years after launch due to free DLC updates and an active modding community.
• No official mobile version exists; any reference to a mobile port points to unofficial projects or fan attempts.
• The game includes more than 40 bosses across its base campaign, Dream Warriors, and optional encounters.
• The world contains roughly 15 major zones, and completionists can expect 50 to 60 hours of playtime.

The Polygon beginner guide explains that the game’s structure matches the Metroidvania formula because exploration is gated by abilities. You backtrack to earlier areas with new movement tools, which is a hallmark of the genre. The IGN walkthrough echoes this, describing the game as a “classically styled” adventure across a vast, interconnected world.

What Platforms is Hollow Knight Available On?

Hollow Knight launched on PC via Steam, GOG, and Humble Bundle in February 2017. It later arrived on Nintendo Switch in June 2018, followed by PlayStation 4 and Xbox One releases in September 2018. The game is also playable on Mac and Linux through native versions. No official version exists for mobile platforms like Android or iOS.

One YouTube guide from a player notes that Hollow Knight is now “pretty much on every system at this point,” with the example playthrough running on a PlayStation 5. The Nintendo eShop lists the game for the Switch, and the Steam store confirms the same availability for PC. Neither source mentions a mobile option.

For players wondering about cross-platform play: the game does not support online multiplayer or co-op. It remains a single-player experience. The GameFAQs walkthrough confirms that the game is designed for one player and offers no shared progression.

How Much Does Hollow Knight Cost?

The base price for Hollow Knight on digital storefronts is $14.99 / £10.99 / €14.99. This figure applies to PC, Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox versions. The price has remained stable since release, though it occasionally drops during Steam sales or Nintendo eShop promotions. The base game purchase includes all free DLC that was released after launch, so no additional payments are required.

The Steam community guide notes that the biggest in-game cost for 112% completion is the Pure Nail upgrade at 4,000 Geo. The Lumafly Lantern costs 1,800 Geo, and the Wayward Compass costs 220 Geo. These are in-game currency costs, not real-world purchases. The game itself is priced at a low entry point for its genre.

The Polygon guide confirms that early-game expenses include spending 30 Geo for the Forgotten Crossroads map, 120 Geo for the Quill, and 220 Geo for the Wayward Compass. These prices are consistent across multiple walkthroughs.

What is Hollow Knight: Silksong? The Sequel Explained

Hollow Knight: Silksong is the direct sequel to the original game. It stars Hornet, a character from the first game who was a major boss and later a protagonist. Team Cherry announced Silksong in February 2019, and it has been confirmed for release on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. No release date has been announced as of 2025.

One Steam community guide includes a line stating, “With Silksong having finally arrived,” but this is a single author’s statement and not a verified announcement. The authoritative sources—Team Cherry’s official channels, Wikipedia, and mainstream gaming press—do not provide a confirmed launch date.

The difference between the two games is scope. Hollow Knight focuses on a silent knight exploring a fallen kingdom. Silksong shifts to Hornet as a playable character with her own moveset, including a needle and thread. The original game is a complete experience; Silksong remains an unfinished, highly anticipated project.

How Big is the Hollow Knight Map and How Many Bosses Are There?

The game world of Hollow Knight contains roughly 15 interconnected zones. Players must navigate these areas by foot, using Stag Stations for fast travel once they are unlocked. The map system works through Cornifer, who sells area maps. The IGN walkthrough notes that the Quill is required to update explored rooms on the map, and that pins mark benches and vendors for navigation.

Bosses in Hollow Knight number over 40. This count includes main story bosses, Dream Warriors (mini-bosses encountered in the dream world), and optional encounters. The GameFAQs guide lists all bosses with their locations and recommended strategies. The game’s 34 Steam achievements cover many of these encounters.

The free DLC updates add significant content. The Grimm Troupe DLC introduces a new side quest and a boss fight against Grimm. The Divine NPC in that DLC allows players to convert fragile charms into unbreakable versions, according to the Steam community guide. The YouTube guide mentions the Voidheart Edition, which bundles all post-launch content.

Where Can I Find the Hollow Knight Wiki and Community?

The Hollow Knight Community Wiki on Fandom is the most comprehensive fan-run resource. It contains detailed articles on every zone, boss, item, charm, and lore event. The wiki is community-curated and updated with each patch.

The Hollow Knight Reddit community is active with daily posts about game progress, boss strategies, fan art, and mods. The subreddit includes pinned megathreads for common questions and spoiler-tagged discussions. Both sources are useful for players seeking route-planning advice or 112% completion strategies.

The Official Team Cherry website provides the game’s description, press kit, and a blog that occasionally posts development updates. For players who want authoritative information, the Hollow Knight Wikipedia page is the most reliable encyclopedic source, covering the game’s release history, critical reception, and sales figures.

Hollow Knight Development & Release Timeline

The following events are confirmed by multiple sources and represent the known release history of Hollow Knight and its related content.

1. 2014 – Team Cherry announces Hollow Knight via Kickstarter campaign.
2. February 24, 2017 – Hollow Knight released on PC (Steam, GOG, Humble Bundle).
3. June 2017 – Hidden Dreams DLC free update (new boss, abilities).
4. October 2017 – The Grimm Troupe DLC free update (new side quest, boss).
5. April 2018 – Lifeblood DLC free update (performance improvements, new content).
6. June 12, 2018 – Nintendo Switch version released alongside Godmaster DLC.
7. September 2018 – PS4 and Xbox One versions released.
8. February 2019 – Team Cherry announces Hollow Knight: Silksong as a separate sequel.
9. 2025 – Silksong remains unreleased; no specific launch date confirmed.

What We Know vs. What We Don’t Know

Why Hollow Knight Remains a Defining Metroidvania

Hollow Knight’s success comes from its refined gameplay loop. The combat is tight, the exploration is non-linear, and the narrative is delivered through environmental storytelling rather than text dumps. The hand-drawn aesthetic and the original score by Christopher Larkin have received widespread acclaim. The game is often compared to Ori and the Will of the Wisps and Blasphemous, but it is frequently noted for its greater challenge and deeper lore.

The prolonged wait for Silksong has kept the community engaged. Fan theories, mod projects, and custom campaigns (including randomizers and boss rushes) continue to appear. The Steam community guide for 112% completion includes detailed routing for players who want to optimize their runs. This level of player investment is rare for a game that cost $15 at launch.

Notable Quotations & Sources

“Hollow Knight is a classically styled 2D action adventure across a vast interconnected world. Explore twisting caverns, ancient cities and deadly wastelands.”

– Team Cherry (Developer)

“Hollow Knight is a 2017 Metroidvania video game developed and published by Team Cherry.”

– Wikipedia

“Overwhelmingly Positive (450,000+ reviews)”

– Steam Reviews

What’s Next for Hollow Knight Fans

The primary focus for fans remains Hollow Knight: Silksong. Team Cherry continues development, but no release window has been announced as of 2025. Players should follow official Team Cherry channels—Twitter and the official website—for updates. For newcomers, the base game plus all DLC offers a complete experience at a low price point. The modding community also produces new content, including randomizers, boss rushes, and custom campaigns.

For those looking for more guide-style content, Thomas Shelby – Complete Character Guide, Style and Fate covers a fictional character in similar depth, and Captain Marvel – Powers Origins Timeline and MCU Future offers a timeline-based guide that mirrors the structure of this article.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hollow Knight