What is Hollow Knight supposed to be?

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Hollow Knight is a 2D side-scrolling Metroidvania game that takes place in Hallownest, a fictional underground kingdom, where the player controls an insect-like, silent, nameless “Knight” while exploring the underground world. The game is a metaphor for the individual’s right to exist in the face of authorities that seek to erase it, and the only way this can be achieved is by revolutionary violence — the destruction of the authorities is the path to the salvation of the individual.

Understanding Hollow Knight

To delve deeper into the world of Hollow Knight, let’s examine some frequently asked questions about the game.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does Hollow Knight represent? Hollow Knight represents a game about the individual’s right to exist in the face of authorities that seek to erase it, and the only way this can be achieved is by revolutionary violence — the destruction of the authorities is the path to the salvation of the individual.
2. What is the Hollow Knight character based on? The Knight is a Vessel, a being made of Void, created by the Pale King of Hollownest in his attempt to seal away the Radiance, the previous ruler of Hallownest.
3. What is the lore of the Hollow Knight? The Hollow Knight is the Hollow Knight chosen by Hollow Knight to seal away Hollow Knight and save Hallownest from Hollow Knight, and like their siblings, they are the child of the Hollow Knight and Hollow Knight of Hallownest.
4. Is the Hollow Knight a he? The protagonist, the Hollow Knight, and all the other vessels/”Siblings” are confirmed genderless, due to the circumstances of how and why they were made.
5. What kind of creature is Hollow Knight? In the game, the player controls the Knight, a nameless insectoid warrior, who explores Hallownest, a fallen kingdom plagued by a supernatural disease, known as the infection.
6. Why does Hornet call you ghost? Hornet calls the player ghost because they resemble The Hollow Knight, her brother who was supposed to contain the infection.
7. Is Hollow Knight lore sad? Hollow Knight is a somber game, and the deep lore under the surface only reveals more sadness behind this kingdom.
8. Why does the Hollow Knight stab himself? The knight the player fights is lucid and is testing them, and when he stabs himself, he’s fighting off the infection to continue the fight.
9. Why did the Hollow Knight fail? The Hollow Knight was supposed to be the Pale King’s completely hollow vessel to seal the Radiance in order to stop the infection, but it failed because of “an idea instilled”, which means the Hollow Knight could have thoughts and therefore wasn’t entirely hollow.
10. Is The Pale King a bad guy? The Pale King is an overarching antagonist of Hollow Knight, who chose the vessel to become the Hollow Knight.
11. How is Hornet a spider? Hornet’s mother was the leader of the Spider Tribe, therefore confirming that Hornet is at least part spider.
12. What is the saddest part of Hollow Knight? The True Ending cut scene of Hornet and the Siblings going to rest is one of the saddest parts, especially when the player has grown attached to the characters.
13. What is the saddest Hollow Knight ending? The ending where Hornet becomes a seal similar to the Dreamers is one of the saddest, as both the Knight and Hornet are concealed within the Black Egg for eternity.
14. How many endings does Hollow Knight have? There are a total of five endings in Hollow Knight, with three attached to the game’s original release and the Hollow Knight boss fight, and the other two added as part of the Godmaster DLC.
15. Is Hollow Knight Dead? Upon defeat, the Hollow Knight dies and the Knight absorbs the Infection into themselves, and the Knight is then sealed inside the Black Egg and the game ends.