Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsHollow Knight has no single required route. Make progress by exploring paths you can reach, using maps to keep your bearings, and coming back to obstacles when a new ability opens up different possibilities. Team Cherry describes it as a challenging 2D action-adventure built around combat and exploration, so getting stuck or turned around is part of learning its interconnected world.
How to make progress without following a fixed route
Nintendo describes Hollow Knight as an expansive world where players choose paths and gain skills and abilities, including movement and offensive abilities. That makes it more useful to think in terms of reachable options than a prescribed sequence: explore what you can, notice what you cannot yet do, and move on when a route stops.
A blocked passage can be a cue to explore elsewhere and revisit it later, though not every obstacle is guaranteed to have a nearby ability-based solution. When you gain a new skill, reconsider places you remember as inaccessible. This return-and-retry approach follows from the game’s open-ended exploration and skill progression.
How to get less lost
Mapping tools are part of the game’s navigation system. Nintendo lists maps, compasses, quills, and pins among them; Team Cherry says the Wayward Compass shows your position on the map. Use the map to orient yourself and pins to mark places worth remembering, such as a blocked route or an unexplored direction.
#1 Best Overall
- Classic side-scrolling action, with all the modern trimmings. Dodge, dash and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries.
- Tightly tuned 2D controls. Dodge, dash and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries.
- Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward.
- An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation.
- Leap into minds with the Dream Nail. Uncover a whole other side to the characters you meet and the enemies you face.
Wayward Compass is optional, not a default requirement. It uses a charm notch, so equipping it means choosing navigation help over another charm. If you prefer to learn the world by landmarks, you can make a different choice.
How to approach difficult fights
Hollow Knight’s combat rewards paying attention to what enemies do. Watch for a pattern, look for a safe moment to act, and avoid treating every encounter as a race to attack. If a fight repeatedly stops your progress, explore another reachable area and return later rather than assuming you must win immediately.
Rank #2
![Hollow Knight - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51nXCF+sf5L._SL160_.jpg)
- Classic side-scrolling action, with all the modern trimmings.
- Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward.
- Evolve with powerful new skills and abilities! Gain spells, strength and speed. Leap to new heights on ethereal wings. Dash forward in a blazing flash. Blast foes with fiery Soul!
- Equip Charms! Ancient relics that offer bizarre new powers and abilities. Choose your favorites and make your journey unique!
- An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation.
The game’s challenge is part of its design: Team Cherry calls it “a challenging 2D action-adventure.” That is the developer’s description, not a promise that every encounter has the same difficulty or that there is one correct way to play.
How to choose charms
Charms let you tailor your setup, but they have a cost: they are equipped at benches and use notches. Team Cherry describes charms as tactical choices with different notch costs and combinations that can suit different playstyles. There is no universally best beginner loadout established by the developer.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #3
![Hollow Knight: Silksong Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51mOgOC8xEL._SL160_.jpg)
- Discover the fallen insect kingdom of Pharloom! Explore mossy grottos, gilded cities and misted moors as you ascend to the shining citadel at the top of the world.
- Engage in lethal acrobatic action! Wield a huge suite of deadly moves as you dance between foes in swift, beautiful combat.
- Craft powerful tools! Master an ever-expanding arsenal of weapons, traps, and mechanisms to vanquish your enemies and explore new heights.
- Solve shocking quests! Hunt down rare beasts and solve ancient mysteries to grant the wishes of the downtrodden and restore the kingdom’s hope.
- Face over 200 ferocious foes! Beasts and hunters, monsters and knights. Defeat them all with bravery and skill!
| Charm | What it helps with | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Wayward Compass | Shows your position on the map. | Uses notches that could go to another charm. |
| Gathering Swarm | Collects loose Geo. | Uses notches that could go to another charm. |
Change charms at a bench to match the problem in front of you. If navigation is the priority, consider Wayward Compass; if collecting loose Geo is more useful, consider Gathering Swarm. For a combat-focused setup, choose charms that fit your preferred approach and available notches rather than searching for a single mandatory build.
If a controller does not work on PC
Controller behavior depends on the specific setup. Team Cherry says the PC version uses Unity’s new Input System, but some controller configurations remain unsupported. If yours is affected, consult Team Cherry’s Help page; its Advanced Settings can switch to the previous input system.
Rank #4
![HOLLOW KNIGHT [E10]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51gHoLA9kNL._SL160_.jpg)
- Includes four giant bonus content packs: Hidden Dreams, The Grimm Troupe, Lifeblood, and Godmaster
- Classic side-scrolling action, with all modern trimmings
- Tightly tuned 2D controls. Dodge, dash, and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries
- Explore a vast interconnected world of forgotten highways, overgrown wilds, and ruined cities
- Forge your own path. The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face, and find your own way forward
What to expect from the game’s content
The official game page lists four free content packs: Hidden Dreams, The Grimm Troupe, Lifeblood, and Godmaster. For a first playthrough, focus on learning the map, exploring at your own pace, and getting comfortable with the abilities and charm choices available to you.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →
