Hollow Knight
Atmospheric Metroidvania game featuring a silent knight exploring the fallen kingdom of Hallownest.
Category
Game
Release Year
2014
Origin
Australia
Tags
metroidvaniaindieplatformerdark fantasyexplorationatmospheric
Detailed Overview Information
Basic Information
Full Name
Hollow Knight
Aliases
The Knight, Ghost, Little Ghost
Type
Metroidvania Action-Platformer
Release Year
2014
Status
Complete, Sequel in Development
Origin
Australia
Region
Australia
Creation Information
Creator
Team Cherry
Publisher
Team Cherry
Original Work
Original Video Game
Genre
Metroidvania, Action-Platformer, Dark Fantasy, Indie
Content Information
Synopsis
A silent knight descends into the ruined kingdom of Hallownest to uncover its mysteries and confront an ancient infection.
Main Characters
The Knight, Hornet, The Pale King, The Radiance, Quirrel, Elderbug
Setting
The fallen underground kingdom of Hallownest, filled with ruins, caverns, and infected creatures
Themes
Sacrifice, duty, decay, rebirth, the cost of perfection, environmental storytelling
Target Audience
Mature gamers, Metroidvania fans, indie game enthusiasts
Characters
Hornet
Guardian of HallownestIndependent GuardianFemaleAncient
The daughter of the Pale King and Herrah, protector of Hallownest's ruins and the Knight's guide.
Abilities: Needle combat, Thread manipulation, Agility...
Quotes:
"Shaw!"
""I am Hornet.""
"Git gud!"
character
The Knight
Silent ProtagonistIndependentGenderlessAncient
A mysterious vessel created to contain the infection, exploring Hallownest to fulfill an ancient purpose.
Abilities: Nail combat, Soul magic, Void powers...
Quotes:
"..."
""I am The Knight.""
"(Silent determination)"
character
Nightmare King Grimm
Nightmare Deity/Optional BossGrimm TroupeMaleEternal
The powerful form of Troupe Master Grimm, representing the heart of the Nightmare realm.
Abilities: Nightmare magic, Fire manipulation, Teleportation...
Quotes:
"I can feel it. The warmth of the flame you've gathered."
""I am Nightmare King Grimm.""
"Through dream I travel, at lantern's call."
character
The Pale King
Former Ruler/Tragic AntagonistFormer RoyaltyMaleAncient
The former ruler of Hallownest who created the vessels to contain the Radiance, ultimately failing in his duty.
Abilities: Kingdom creation, Higher thought bestowal, Foresight...
Quotes:
"No cost too great."
""I am The Pale King.""
"Higher beings, these words are for you alone."
character
The Radiance
Ancient Light/Primary AntagonistAncient DeityFemale (implied)Primordial
The forgotten god of light whose infection spreads throughout Hallownest, driving bugs to madness.
Abilities: Light manipulation, Dream control, Infection spreading...
Quotes:
"(Blinding light and ancient screams)"
""I am The Radiance.""
"(Ancient whispers of forgotten glory)"
character
Cloth
Warrior/HeroIndependent WarriorFemale
A brave warrior bug seeking glorious battle, following her own heroic journey through Hallownest.
Abilities: Combat prowess, Bravery, Club fighting...
Quotes:
"I've been seeking a glorious battle, and I think I've found it!"
""I am Cloth.""
""Every journey begins with a single step.""
character
Sly
Shopkeeper/Former NailmasterDirtmouth MerchantMale
A small but mighty shopkeeper and former nailmaster who runs a general store in Dirtmouth.
Abilities: Nail mastery, Business acumen, Combat skills...
Quotes:
"Well, well! A customer! Welcome to my little shop."
""I am Sly.""
""Every journey begins with a single step.""
character
Zote the Mighty
Self-Proclaimed KnightIndependent (delusional)Male
A self-proclaimed knight with delusions of grandeur, often found in dangerous situations.
Abilities: Overconfidence, Survival (somehow), Storytelling...
Quotes:
"I am Zote the Mighty, a knight of great renown!"
""I am Zote the Mighty.""
""Every journey begins with a single step.""
character
Media Forms
Video Games
Original game, DLC expansions, upcoming sequel Hollow Knight: Silksong
Merchandise
Plushies, art books, soundtrack releases, collectible figures
Digital Content
Soundtrack albums, developer documentaries, art galleries
Books
Art books, strategy guides, lore compendiums
Collectibles
Limited edition physical releases, vinyl soundtracks, art prints
Commercial Information
Sales
Over 3 million copies sold worldwide across all platforms
Revenue
Estimated tens of millions in revenue for indie studio
Awards
Multiple indie game awards, critical acclaim, Game Awards nominations
Critical Reception
Universal critical acclaim, 90+ Metacritic scores across platforms
Cultural Impact
Revitalized Metroidvania genre, inspired numerous indie developers
Market Value
One of the most successful indie games of the 2010s
Licensing
Merchandise licensing, platform exclusivity deals
Fan Culture
Fanbase
Dedicated indie gaming community, speedrunners, lore enthusiasts
Communities
Reddit communities, Discord servers, Steam forums, YouTube channels
Events
Speedrunning competitions, fan art contests, community challenges
Quotes
No voice to cry suffering, Shaw!, Git gud, Bapanada
Memes
Hornet's "Shaw!" sound, difficulty memes, Path of Pain jokes
Fan Art
Extensive fan art community, character interpretations, scene recreations
Fan Projects
Mods, fan games, music remixes, animation projects
Collectibles
Official and fan-made merchandise, custom figures, art prints
Historical Development
2014
Team Cherry founded, initial concept development begins
2015
Successful Kickstarter campaign raises over $57,000 AUD
2017
Hollow Knight releases on PC to critical acclaim
2018
Console releases on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
2019
Final DLC "Godmaster" released, Hollow Knight: Silksong announced as sequel
2023
Continued development of Silksong, regular updates to fans
Related Links
www.enjoyip.com