Games / Action

Hollow Knight

Switch 2 Enhanced

Jun 5, 2025Action · IndieE10+

MC88

Metacritic

4.4

User rating

2731 ratings

Great Value

$0.17 per quality point

$15eShop

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Prices checked 14 Oct 2026

Trailer

Screenshots

Our take

Hollow Knight remains a strong pick for Metroidvania fans, especially in its enhanced form on Switch 2. The new performance upgrades make the already atmospheric world feel even more alive. At $19.99, it’s a solid investment for the hours of gameplay and exploration it offers.

The overall gameplay experience in Hollow Knight is engaging and rewarding, with each area feeling distinct and layered with secrets. The art style is striking, with detailed environments and well-animated characters that pull you into the lore-rich world. Performance on Switch 2 is impressive; it maintains a consistent frame rate during most encounters, though handheld mode can struggle during intense moments. While the absence of a mini-map update feature can frustrate players, the exploration feels gratifying. The game’s challenges, particularly with tougher bosses, might push your skills, reminiscent of titles like 'Celeste' but with a more expansive world. Its narrative unfolds in a non-linear fashion, encouraging players to piece together the story organically.

Pros

Enhanced visuals run at a stable 60 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay even in crowded areas.
The platforming mechanics, including wall jumping and dash abilities, feel responsive and tight.
Rich lore embedded in the environment encourages deep exploration, rewarding curiosity with new abilities.

Cons

The map can be confusing at times, leading to some frustrating backtracking without clear markers.
Occasional frame rate dips in handheld mode when too many enemies are on-screen.
Some bosses can feel overly punishing, which might deter less experienced players.

Players traverse the beautifully hand-drawn world of Hallownest, engaging in combat, platforming, and exploration. Key mechanics include the use of charm upgrades to tailor abilities, and the map system requires players to pay attention to details to unlock new areas. Secrets are hidden everywhere, often requiring clever platforming or combat to access.

On Switch 2

On the Switch 2, Hollow Knight works well with enhanced graphics and smoother gameplay, making it an excellent option for both docked and handheld play. The controls are finely tuned, allowing for precise movements during tricky platforming sections, though players might encounter minor stutters in handheld mode when the screen gets busy.

Who it's for

This one is perfect for players who love deep exploration and challenging gameplay. If you enjoy games like 'Ori and the Blind Forest' or 'Axiom Verge,' you'll likely find a lot to love here. However, if you prefer more casual platformers, you might want to look elsewhere.

About

Hollow Knight is a Metroidvania-type game developed by an indie studio named Team Cherry. Most of the game's story is told through the in-world items, tablets, and thoughts of other characters. Many plot aspects are told to the player indirectly or through the secret areas that provide a bit of lore in addition to an upgrade. At the beginning of the game, the player visits a town of Dirtmouth. A town built above the ruins of Hallownest. The players descend down into the ruins to find some answers to his questions. The game revolves mainly around the exploration of the in-game world, which requires the players to have some platforming skills. The players have to find secrets that are scattered around the level and battle their enemies. There is a certain degree of backtracking in the game as some areas are locked until the player defeats a certain boss or picks up a specific item. Each area changes as the plot advances so it may be surprising to come back in a certain area. The Protagonist uses a nail which serves as a replacement for a sword. Players can attack in four directions. The nail is upgradable.