Steam reviews
544,816 of 562,159 Steam user reviews are positive (96.9%) and Steam's own label is “Overwhelmingly Positive”, according to Steam's review summary for Hollow Knight at the last data refresh.
Good for
- Metroidvania fans who value atmosphere, world density, and exploration over mechanical flashiness
- Players who want a large, content-rich experience at a low price
- Those who enjoy seeking optional challenge content beyond the critical path
- Players drawn to melancholy, hand-drawn art direction with orchestral score
Avoid if
- You want frequent fast travel or clear map markers — Hollow Knight's navigation is intentionally opaque at first
- The lack of explicit quest tracking and dialogue may be frustrating if you prefer guided progression
- You find the combat demanding with limited attack options early — the skill ceiling is high but the early floor is also significant
- You want a game with a clear, expository narrative — Hollow Knight's lore requires active piecing together
Is Hollow Knight an indie game?
Yes. Steam lists Hollow Knight under the "Indie" genre, and its publisher is not on this site's major-publisher list.
- Steam genre tags on record: Action, Adventure, Indie — includes "Indie".
- Developer: Team Cherry.
- Publisher: Team Cherry — same as the developer, i.e. self-published; not on this site's major-publisher list.
The rubric, its limits and the publisher list: methodology.