Hollow Knight (Video Game)

Hollow Knight is a two-dimensional action-adventure game classified under the "Metroidvania" subgenre, developed and published by Team Cherry, an independent game studio based in Adelaide, South Australia. The game takes place in a fictional universe where the player explores Hallownest, a vast abandoned and decaying underground kingdom. The game’s design philosophy combines traditional 2D hand-drawn animation techniques with challenging gameplay mechanics. Players control an unnamed knight who navigates through an expansive underground world composed of interconnected caves and ancient cities beneath the town of Dirtmouth. According to data from August 2025, the game has sold 15 million copies and is regarded in literature as one of the definitive examples of its genre, praised for both its commercial success and high critical acclaim.^【1】

Hollow Knight is a 2D platform game that embraces the structural characteristics of the classic "Metroidvania" genre. The game’s design grants players the freedom to explore the vast and interconnected regions of Hallownest without imposing a fixed route or sequence of objectives. As noted in Eurogamer’s review, there are no directional markers or guidance cues within the game; players must discover navigation tools such as maps and compasses scattered throughout the world to chart their own path. This structure encourages an exploration-driven gameplay experience.

The combat system is centered on close-quarters melee combat. Players fight enemies using a sword-like weapon called the "Nail." The core of the combat mechanics lies in "Soul," a resource management system. Soul is accumulated through successful strikes against enemies and is consumed to replenish the player’s health (Focus) or to activate offensive magical abilities.

The game’s difficulty structure and death penalty system closely resemble mechanics commonly described as "Souls-like." Upon death, the player loses a portion of the "Geo" (in-game currency) and Soul capacity collected up to that point. To recover these lost resources, the player must return to the location of their death and defeat their own "Shade." Additionally, character progression can be customized through "Charms," which are attachments offering various passive or active advantages.

Hollow Knight’s narrative structure departs from traditional linear storytelling and relies on environmental storytelling techniques. The plot unfolds within the ancient and decaying insect kingdom of Hallownest, located deep beneath the surface town of Dirtmouth. As highlighted in Eurogamer’s review, the game’s storyline is not presented to the player in a direct or cohesive manner; instead, it is conveyed piecemeal through dialogue from non-player characters (NPCs), text found on collectible items, and visual cues embedded in the level design.

Players control a silent protagonist known as "The Knight," who possesses no spoken dialogue. The story centers on an infection that has taken over the bodies of the kingdom’s former inhabitants and its origins. The game’s atmospheric depth is achieved through the hand-drawn 2D graphic aesthetic overseen by Team Cherry’s art direction. This visual style is complemented by orchestral music composed by Christopher Larkin, which reflects the game’s melancholic tone.

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The development of Hollow Knight was carried out by Team Cherry, an independent game studio based in Adelaide, South Australia. The core development team consists of three key figures: Ari Gibson, responsible for the game’s art direction, environment design, and animation; William Pellen, who designed the gameplay and enemy behaviors; and David Kazi, who handled the project’s technical management.

Following the game’s release, the development team integrated four comprehensive and free content packs into the base game. These expansion packages, as detailed in official sources, are as follows:

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1. Hidden Dreams: The first content pack adds new challenging boss enemies, upgrades, and additional music.
2. The Grimm Troupe: Features a new major questline, new characters, boss enemies, and charms that affect player abilities.
3. Lifeblood: An update that includes technical improvements and optimizations alongside a new boss enemy.
4. Godmaster: The final expansion pack introduces new characters, quests, and boss battles designed to test the player’s abilities.

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Hollow Knight was first released for personal computers (PC) in 2017. The game’s platform support was later expanded with the Nintendo Switch version released in June 2018, followed by PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions in September 2018.^【2】

According to a report published by IGN Türkiye on 26 August 2025, Hollow Knight has achieved total sales of 15 million copies across all platforms. This commercial success is regarded as a landmark achievement among independent games. The same report notes that developer studio Team Cherry is working on the sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and that sales of the original game have increased in anticipation of the sequel’s release.^【3】