Review · Action · PlayStation 4 · Linux · macOS
Hollow Knight
By the LumiKin editors
Reviewed: 01 May 2026
PlayStation 4 · Linux · macOS · PC · Nintendo Switch · Xbox One
Team Cherry · 2017
LumiScore
73/100
Recommended
Hollow Knight is an action-platformer that encourages problem solving, spatial awareness, and strategic thinking through challenging exploration.
Growth (BDS)
62
Risk (RIS)
10
Daily limit
120min
Age guidance
13+
Developmental benefits
| B1 | Cognitive | 0.84 | |
| B2 | Social-emotional | 0.17 | |
| B3 | Motor | 0.75 | |
Hollow Knight offers significant cognitive benefits through its challenging exploration, strategic combat, and intricate lore. Players will develop strong problem-solving skills, spatial awareness, and critical thinking as they navigate its complex world and unravel its mysteries. The demanding platforming and boss battles also hone hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and reaction time, while the game's adaptive challenges encourage learning and transfer of skills.
Design risks
| R1 | Dopamine pressure | 0.17 | |
| R2 | Monetization | 0.00 | |
| R3 | Social risk | 0.11 | |
The game presents minimal risks. Its single-player nature and lack of microtransactions or social features mean there are no significant dopamine manipulation, monetization pressures, or social risks. Content-wise, it features moderate fantasy violence and some atmospheric fear/horror elements, consistent with its E10+ rating.
Heads up
- Monthly spendTypical real-money spend by engaged players: $0–0/mo.
Regulatory design checks · DSA — Assessed: meets criteria·GDPR-K — Assessed: meets criteria·ODDS — Assessed: meets criteria
- DSA:What LumiKin checks: whether the game's design gives minors the transparency the EU Digital Services Act expects — plain terms, honest defaults, and clear reporting routes. — Estimated from review data. No dark pattern or child-targeting concerns found.
- GDPR-K:What LumiKin checks: whether age assurance and consent flows are designed for under-16s, in the spirit of GDPR Article 8. — Estimated from review data. No privacy or child-targeting concerns found.
- ODDS:What LumiKin checks: whether paid random-reward drop rates are disclosed, as required in China, Japan and South Korea. — Estimated from review data. Game has natural stopping points and low session-extension risk.
These reflect LumiKin's assessment of the game's design practices against each framework's criteria — not a legal compliance determination.