Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteHollow Knight received strong critical reviews for its interconnected world, exploration, art and sound, and demanding combat. Metacritic showed a 90/100 critic score for both Nintendo Switch and PC, each based on 28 reviews when checked in 2026. The main caveat for players is difficulty: challenge is central to the experience, and some players may find its early demands and backtracking frustrating.
What is Hollow Knight’s Metacritic score?
Metacritic’s Nintendo Switch page displayed a 90/100 Metascore from 28 critic reviews, labeled “Universal Acclaim.” Its displayed distribution had 28 positive reviews and no mixed or negative reviews. The PC page also displayed a 90/100 from 28 critic reviews. These are separate, platform-specific snapshots checked in 2026; scores and review counts can change.
The PC page additionally showed a 9.0/10 user score from 6,249 ratings. That is a user measure, not the critic Metascore. Steam’s separate storefront indicators at access time were 97% positive from 184,607 English-language reviews and 95% positive from 3,907 recent reviews. Those figures describe Steam user reviews, not critics, and can change over time.
| Platform or storefront | Measure shown | Count shown |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch, Metacritic (checked 2026) | 90/100 critic Metascore | 28 critic reviews |
| PC, Metacritic (checked 2026) | 90/100 critic Metascore | 28 critic reviews |
| PC, Metacritic (checked 2026) | 9.0/10 user score | 6,249 user ratings |
| Steam (checked 2026) | 97% positive English reviews | 184,607 reviews |
| Steam recent reviews (checked 2026) | 95% positive | 3,907 reviews |
For current platform-specific critic figures, see Metacritic’s Switch page and Metacritic’s PC critic page. Steam’s listing includes its live user-review indicators and game description: Hollow Knight on Steam.
#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.
What did critics praise?
A world built for exploration
Review excerpts emphasize Hallownest’s branching routes, secrets, and the pleasure of finding the story through exploration rather than having it spelled out. IGN’s 94/100 review, dated June 22, 2018, highlighted the variety of paths and self-discovered narrative. Nintendo Life’s 90/100 review, dated June 19, 2018, called the game “big, beautiful” and “thick with detail.”
Atmosphere, art, and sound
Nintendo Life also praised the game’s art and sound alongside its detail and combat. Steam describes Hollow Knight as a hand-drawn 2D action-adventure set in an interconnected insect kingdom. The combination of a distinctive visual style, atmospheric audio, and a layered world is a recurring strength in the cited criticism.
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.
Combat and earned mastery
Critics also viewed the demanding combat as part of the reward. Game Informer’s 93/100 review, dated August 16, 2018, praised the challenge of late-game bosses and the sense of mastery that came from overcoming them. GameSpot lists a 9/10 review by Alessandro Barbosa, titled “Hollow Knight Review – An Exceptional Adventure,” though its indexed page does not provide review text to quote.
Is Hollow Knight too difficult?
That depends on how much friction you enjoy in an action-platformer. Challenge is not a minor drawback appended to the game: critics describe demanding early hours and difficult late-game bosses as part of its progression. Players who enjoy learning enemy patterns and improving through repeated attempts may find that rewarding. Players looking for a guided, forgiving adventure—or who strongly dislike backtracking—may be less comfortable with it.
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![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!
Selected player comments on Metacritic’s PC page mention frustration, backtracking, and sparse guidance. Those comments are distinct from the critic reviews and are not enough to establish how common those reactions are. The critic consensus is strongly positive, but the score alone cannot tell you whether the game’s difficulty and nonlinear discovery will suit you.
What kind of game is Hollow Knight?
Hollow Knight is a Team Cherry action-adventure commonly categorized as a Metroidvania: a 2D game centered on exploring an interconnected map and discovering routes through it. Steam lists it as single-player and includes the free content updates Hidden Dreams, The Grimm Troupe, Lifeblood, and Godmaster. Its nonlinear structure is part of the appeal for critics, but also explains why players seeking constant direction may find the experience less accommodating.
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
Are physical editions available?
Fangamer documents physical editions for Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PC, including a manual and fold-out Hallownest map. Its product page showed the edition out of stock when checked, so that listing does not establish current availability elsewhere. See Fangamer’s Hollow Knight physical editions.
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