Hollow Knight screenshot
- Developer
- Team Cherry
- Publisher
- Team Cherry
- PC release
- Feb 24, 2017
- Genre
- Action, Adventure, Indie
- Modes
- Single-player
- Controller
- Full support
- Steam OS
- Windows, Mac, Linux
- Metacritic
- 87
- Steam price
- $14.99
| PC | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 version 21H1 (build 19043) or newer | Windows 10 version 21H1 (build 19043) or newer |
| Processor | Intel Core i3-3240, AMD FX-4300 | Intel Core i5-3470 |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics | GeForce GTX 560 Ti (1GB), Radeon HD 7750 (1GB) | GeForce GTX 1050 (2GB), Radeon R9 380 (2GB) |
| Storage | 9 GB available space | 9 GB available space |
Last checked:
Hollow Knight is a single-player Metroidvania from Team Cherry that takes around 27 hours for the main story, installs in 9 GB or less on every platform, and runs on a decade-old PC. It has no multiplayer and no crossplay, and it carries an ESRB E10+ rating. Figures below are current as of October 2026 unless noted.
How long to beat
Hollow Knight is long for an indie action adventure. Most of the extra time comes from optional bosses, charm hunting and the Godmaster content packs that were folded into the base game for free.
| Playstyle | Average time | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Main story | About 27 hours | Reach any of the standard endings |
| Main + extras | About 42 hours | Most areas, side bosses, several charms |
| Completionist | About 63 hours | 112% in-game completion, all content packs |
These are community-reported averages rounded to the nearest hour, so your run will land above or below them depending on how often you die to Hornet. If you want the breakdown by ending and by content pack, our separate page on how long is Hollow Knight goes deeper.
File size and storage
Every version fits comfortably on a base-model console or a small SSD. The PC build is the largest because its hand-drawn assets are stored uncompressed.
| Platform | Listed size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PC (Steam, GOG) | 9 GB | Steam store listing, October 2026 |
| Nintendo Switch | About 3 GB | eShop listing, compressed assets |
| PS4 / PS5 (back compat) | Under 10 GB | Exact figure not confirmed |
| Xbox One / Series (back compat) | Under 10 GB | Exact figure not confirmed |
The final major update, version 1.4.3.2 (Godmaster), shipped in 2018. There have been no large content patches since, so the install size has stayed stable for years. Console editions ship as “Voidheart Edition” with all four free content packs already included, so there is nothing extra to download.
Good to know
On a Switch with a near-full 32 GB of internal storage, Hollow Knight is one of the few modern games you can still fit without a microSD card.
PC system requirements
Team Cherry refreshed the Steam requirements to drop Windows 7 and the original 2017 reference hardware. The current listing is still modest: a GeForce GTX 560 Ti from 2011 meets the minimum, and a GTX 1050 clears the recommended tier.
| Spec | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 version 21H1 (build 19043) or newer, 64-bit | Windows 10 version 21H1 (build 19043) or newer, 64-bit |
| Processor | Intel Core i3-3240 or AMD FX-4300 | Intel Core i5-3470 |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics | GeForce GTX 560 Ti (1 GB) or Radeon HD 7750 (1 GB) | GeForce GTX 1050 (2 GB) or Radeon R9 380 (2 GB) |
| DirectX | Version 10 | Version 10 |
| Storage | 9 GB available space | 9 GB available space |
Source: Steam store page, October 2026. macOS and Linux builds are also sold on Steam and GOG. Integrated graphics such as Intel UHD 620 or AMD Vega 8 handle the game at 1080p 60 fps, since the engine is 2D and the main cost is texture memory rather than shader work.
Steam Deck status: Verified. The game runs at the Deck’s native 1280×800 with full controller support, and a 40 Hz refresh cap stretches battery life past five hours.
Crossplay and cross-progression
No crossplay exists because there is nobody to play with. Hollow Knight has no online component at all, so the usual questions about cross-platform gaming do not apply here.
| Feature | Status |
|---|---|
| Crossplay | Not applicable |
| Cross-progression (console to PC) | No |
| Steam Cloud saves | Yes |
| Account linking | None required |
Saves do not move between console families. On PC, Steam and GOG use the same save format, so you can copy the user1.dat file between installs by hand if you switch stores.
Moving a PC save between Steam and GOG
- Open %USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalLowTeam CherryHollow Knight on Windows.
- Copy user1.dat (slot 1) to the same folder on the other install.
- Launch the game and check the save slot before overwriting anything.
Multiplayer, co-op and offline
| Mode | Available |
|---|---|
| Single-player | Yes |
| Local co-op | No |
| Online multiplayer | No |
| Offline play | Yes, fully |
You never need an internet connection after installing. Steam’s offline mode and the Switch’s airplane mode both work without restrictions, and achievements still unlock once you reconnect.
Age rating
| Board | Rating | Descriptors |
|---|---|---|
| ESRB (North America) | E10+ | Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood |
| PEGI (Europe) | 7 | Mild Violence |
The rating reflects stylised insect combat with orange and black “blood” effects. There is no dialogue a younger player would find objectionable, though the difficulty is the bigger barrier for kids.
Release dates and platforms
Hollow Knight launched on PC first and reached consoles 16 to 19 months later. All launches were worldwide on the same day, so there are no regional splits to track.
| Platform | Release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Windows (Steam, GOG, Humble) | 24 February 2017 | Original release |
| macOS, Linux | 11 April 2017 | Same stores as Windows |
| Nintendo Switch | 12 June 2018 | Voidheart content included |
| PlayStation 4 | 25 September 2018 | Voidheart Edition |
| Xbox One | 25 September 2018 | Voidheart Edition |
| PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2 | 5 and 6 February 2026 | Native versions, free upgrade for existing owners |
Fangamer published physical Switch and PS4 copies in 2019. Team Cherry released native PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2 versions of the original game on 5 and 6 February 2026 as a free upgrade for existing owners, following the dedicated current-gen builds of the sequel, Silksong.
Price, editions and subscriptions
There is one edition. Every content pack (Hidden Dreams, The Grimm Troupe, Lifeblood, Godmaster) was released free, and the console “Voidheart Edition” name just signals that they are all bundled.
| Store | Price (October 2026) | Subscription access |
|---|---|---|
| Steam | $14.99 | None |
| GOG | $14.99 | None |
| Nintendo eShop | $15.00 | None |
| PlayStation Store | $14.99 | Has appeared in PS Plus Extra catalog; check current listing |
| Xbox Store | $14.99 | Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass |
Steam discounts routinely cut the price to $7.49 during seasonal sales. Hollow Knight has sat in the Game Pass library for years, but catalog titles rotate, so confirm it is still there before relying on it. There is no deluxe edition, no season pass and no paid DLC.
FAQ
Does Hollow Knight run on a low-end laptop?
Yes. The minimum spec is a 2012 Core i3 with a 1 GB GTX 560 Ti, and modern integrated graphics exceed that. 4 GB of RAM is the hard floor.
Is Hollow Knight on Steam Deck?
Yes, it is Steam Deck Verified and runs at a locked 60 fps with no settings changes.
Does Hollow Knight have DLC?
All four content packs are free and already included in every current download. Nothing is sold separately.
Can I play Hollow Knight on PS5?
Yes. A native PS5 version was released in February 2026 as a free upgrade for owners of the PS4 version, and it loads faster from the PS5 SSD.
How many GB is Hollow Knight on PC?
Steam lists 9 GB of required space as of October 2026.
