Hollow Knight

Hollow Knight is a 2017 Metroidvania video game developed and published by Australian independent developer Team Cherry. The player controls an nameless insectoid warrior exploring Hallownest, a fallen kingdom plagued by a supernatural disease. The game is set in diverse subterranean locations, featuring friendly and hostile insectoid characters and numerous bosses. Players have the opportunity to unlock abilities as they explore, along with pieces of lore and flavour text that are spread throughout the kingdom. At the outset, the player-controlled insectoid warrior arrives in Dirtmouth, a quiet town that sits just above the remains of the kingdom of Hallownest.

As the protagonist ventures through the ruins, they learn that Hallownest was once a flourishing kingdom of insects which fell after becoming overrun with “The Infection”, a supernatural disease that can infect anyone by entering the subject’s dreams and controlling their minds and wills. The Infection gives its subjects heightened strength but at the cost of their civility, causing madness and undeath. Hallownest’s ruler, The Pale King, had previously attempted to lock away the Infection in the Temple of the Black Egg. Despite the temple’s magical seals, the disease managed to escape, and Hallownest fell into ruin. The protagonist’s mission is to find and kill three bugs called the Dreamers, who act as the living seals on the temple door. Once the seals have been removed, the player may confront the source of the Infection.

This quest brings the player into conflict with Hornet, a warrior who tests their combat prowess in several battles. Through dialogue with non-player characters, environmental imagery, and writings scattered throughout Hallownest, the protagonist learns the origins of the Infection. In ancient times, a tribe of moths that lived in Hallownest worshipped the Radiance, a primordial being who could control the minds of other bugs. When the Pale King arrived at Hallownest from afar, he used his powers to give sapience and knowledge to the creatures of the realm. The moths soon joined the other bugs of Hallownest in worshipping the Pale King, draining the power of the Radiance as she was slowly forgotten.

Beneath the notice of the Pale King, some worship of the Radiance continued, allowing her to remain alive inside the Dream Realm. Hollow Knight is a 2D side-scrolling Metroidvania. The player controls a silent insectoid protagonist who explores an underground fallen kingdom called Hallownest. The player character can strike enemies with a sword-like weapon called a Nail and can learn spells that allow for long-range attacks. Defeated enemies drop the currency called Geo. The player starts with a limited number of hit points, which are represented by masks. Mask Shards can be collected throughout the game to increase the player’s maximum number of masks. By striking enemies, the player character gains Soul, which is stored in the Soul Vessel.

If all masks are lost, the player dies and a Shade enemy appears at the approximate location of the player’s death. The player loses all Geo and can hold a reduced amount of Soul. Players need to defeat the Shade enemy to recover lost Geo and carry the normal amount of Soul. The game continues from the last visited bench the character sat on, which are scattered throughout the game world and act as save points and places where the player can change their charms. Initially the player can only use Soul to “Focus” and regenerate masks, but as the game progresses, players unlock and collect several offensive spells which consume Soul. Additional Soul Vessels, used to hold more Soul, can be acquired throughout the game.

Many areas feature more challenging enemies and bosses which the player may need to defeat in order to progress further. Defeating some bosses grants the player access to new abilities. Later in the game, players acquire the Dream Nail, a special item that can access the minds of Hallownest’s creatures. Hitting most enemies with the Dream Nail deals no damage but gives the player character extra Soul compared to hitting them with the regular Nail. It also enables the player to face more challenging versions of a few bosses and to break the seal to the final boss. If the player defeats the final boss, they are given access to a gamemode called “Steel Soul”. In this mode, dying is permanent, i.e. if the player loses all of their masks, the save slot will be reset.