The Price and Where to Buy It

Hollow Knight costs $14.99 on the Nintendo eShop, the digital store built into your Switch. You buy and download it directly to your console — no physical cartridge, no shipping. The price is the same whether you own a standard Switch, Switch Lite, or Switch OLED.

You can also buy a physical cartridge version from retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Target, or GameStop. Physical copies typically cost between $15 and $20 depending on the seller and whether it is new or used. Physical cartridges let you resell or trade the game later, but they take up shelf space and you have to wait for shipping or travel to a store.

The digital version downloads in minutes once you purchase it. Your game stays tied to your Nintendo account, so you can play it on any Switch console you log into. You cannot sell or trade a digital copy.

Key Takeaways

  • Hollow Knight is $14.99 on the Nintendo eShop and downloads directly to your Switch.
  • Physical cartridge copies cost $15 to $20 at retailers and can be resold or traded later.
  • The game occasionally goes on sale during Nintendo's seasonal promotions, though discounts are usually 10 to 20 percent off.
  • You need a Nintendo Switch Online membership to play online features, but the single-player campaign works without one.

Sales and Discounts

Hollow Knight goes on sale during Nintendo's seasonal events — typically around Black Friday, the winter holidays, and occasionally during spring sales. When it does discount, the reduction is usually 10 to 20 percent off the regular price, bringing it down to roughly $12 to $13.

Sales are unpredictable and do not happen on a set schedule. If you want to know when the next discount might occur, check the eShop price history on sites like Dekudeals or IsThereAnyDeal, which track Nintendo Switch game prices and alert you when a game drops in cost. These sites are free to use and do not require you to buy anything.

The game has been out since 2017, so it is unlikely to drop much lower than its current price. Older indie games on the eShop rarely see steep discounts.

What You Get for the Price

Hollow Knight is a Metroidvania — a type of game where you explore a large interconnected world, unlock new abilities, and gradually access areas you could not reach before. The main campaign takes 20 to 40 hours depending on how thoroughly you explore and how much you struggle with the harder boss fights.

The game includes optional content that extends playtime: hidden boss fights, a harder difficulty mode, and secret areas that reward exploration. Completionists often spend 50 to 100 hours finding everything. None of this extra content costs more — it is all included in the $14.99 purchase.

There is no multiplayer mode, no battle pass, and no in-game purchases. You pay once and own the full game.

Storage Space and Internet Requirements

Hollow Knight takes up about 3.5 GB of storage space on your Switch. If you have a Switch Lite or the original Switch model, you will likely need a microSD card to fit it — the built-in storage on those models fills up quickly. A 128 GB microSD card costs $15 to $25 and holds dozens of games.

You need an internet connection to download the game from the eShop, but once it is installed, you do not need internet to play. The single-player campaign is entirely offline. This makes it a good choice if your internet is unreliable or if you want to play on a plane or commute.

Comparing to Other Platforms

Hollow Knight is available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. The Switch version costs the same as the PC version ($14.99) and the console versions (PlayStation and Xbox also charge $14.99). There are no exclusive features or content differences between platforms — you get the same game regardless of where you buy it.

The main difference is portability. The Switch version lets you play in handheld mode, docked to a TV, or in tabletop mode with detached controllers. If you already own a Switch, buying it there means you can play anywhere. If you do not own a Switch yet, the price of the console itself ($299 to $349) is the larger expense.

Nintendo Switch Online and Online Features

Hollow Knight does not require a Nintendo Switch Online membership to play the main game. You can complete the entire campaign offline without a subscription. However, if you want to see messages left by other players in the game world or use certain online features, you will need an active membership.

Nintendo Switch Online costs $20 per year for the basic plan or $50 per year for the Expansion Pack (which adds access to older Nintendo games). If you already subscribe for other games, you do not need to pay extra to access Hollow Knight's online features. If you do not subscribe, the game is still fully playable in single-player mode.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hollow Knight ever free on Nintendo Switch?

No. Hollow Knight has never been free on the eShop and is unlikely to become free. It occasionally goes on sale for 10 to 20 percent off, but you will always pay at least $12 to $15. Nintendo does not give away paid games for free.

Can I play Hollow Knight without buying it again if I own it on another platform?

No. Game purchases do not transfer between platforms. If you own it on PC or PlayStation, you still have to buy it separately on the Switch eShop. Each platform has its own store and licensing system.

What happens if I delete Hollow Knight after downloading it?

You can redownload it anytime from the eShop without paying again, as long as you are logged into the Nintendo account that purchased it. Your save file is stored separately and will not be deleted unless you manually erase it.

Is the Switch version slower or less detailed than the PC version?

The Switch version runs at a lower resolution and frame rate than the PC version, but the gameplay is identical. Most players do not notice the difference during normal play. If you are sensitive to frame rate drops, the PC version is smoother, but the Switch version is still stable.

Do I need to buy DLC or expansions for Hollow Knight on Switch?

No. All the content in Hollow Knight is included in the base $14.99 purchase. There are no paid expansions or DLC packs. A sequel called Hollow Knight: Silksong is in development but has not been released yet.