Hollow Knight is truly an experience and I'm very glad I picked it up. I've nominated this game for the "Even better than I expected" award.

Things I liked:

• Metroidvania style gameplay with tight controls. Much of the mechanics felt familiar and easy to get into.
  
• Difficulty level is challenging, engaging, sometimes frustrating, but not impossible. It's mostly pattern recognition.
  
• Breathtaking atmosphere through the art style and the music - One of the best I've ever experienced. The setting and story give a feeling reminiscent of Dark Souls - a once-thriving kingdom now in ruin, tinged with both yearning and sorrow, but with a touch of whimsy. Unique characters and settings make me want to continue exploring.
  
• Lots to see and do. I consider myself pretty adept, moving through games at a nice pace. However, at 20 hours in, I still don't feel like I'm all that close to the finish line yet.

I would say, if you get this game, play it without looking anything up. If you get stuck on a boss, keep trying until you get it. If you get lost and don't know where to go next, keep exploring. Don't look up guides or videos on your first playthrough. There's something really magical about taking in this game as it comes and experiencing things organically for the first time.

Hollow Knight is truly an experience and I'm very glad I picked it up. I've nominated this game for the "Even better than I expected" award. Things I liked: [list] [*] Metroidvania style gameplay with tight controls. Much of the mechanics felt familiar and easy to get into. [*] Difficulty level is challenging, engaging, sometimes frustrating, but not impossible. It's mostly pattern recognition. [*] Breathtaking atmosphere through the art style and the music - One of the best I've ever experienced. The setting and story give a feeling reminiscent of Dark Souls - a once-thriving kingdom now in ruin, tinged with both yearning and sorrow, but with a touch of whimsy. Unique characters and settings make me want to continue exploring. [*] Lots to see and do. I consider myself pretty adept, moving through games at a nice pace. However, at 20 hours in, I still don't feel like I'm all that close to the finish line yet. [/list] I would say, if you get this game, play it without looking anything up. If you get stuck on a boss, keep trying until you get it. If you get lost and don't know where to go next, keep exploring. Don't look up guides or videos on your first playthrough. There's something really magical about taking in this game as it comes and experiencing things organically for the first time.