They Said It Would Fail, 10 Years Later, Hollow Knight Stands As One of The Greatest Indie Games

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Story Highlight
  • The first trailer for Hollow Knight was released a decade ago and faced significant criticism.
  • Many dismissed it as just another 2D platformer unlikely to succeed.
  • A decade later, it has grown into one of the most successful indie games of all time.

Hollow Knight didn’t have much hype when it first launched. Not many people were aware of it, even years after its release. However, the excitement began to grow steadily, largely thanks to its sequel, Silksong. Team Cherry took its time developing the game, and the results speak for themselves.

Silksong was recently released and shattered expectations. The game literally crashed storefronts like Steam and caused major issues across other platforms.

What’s surprising is that a decade ago, many believed Hollow Knight would ultimately fail, yet it has now evolved into a franchise that can’t be ignored.

Why it matters: Criticism and scepticism are common in the gaming industry, but Hollow Knight shows how word of mouth, community passion, and consistent developer quality can transform a once-overlooked title into a global phenomenon.

Last year my best friend quit his full time job to chase his dream and make a fully fledged video game. Today he just released a trailer and it looks beyond amazing.
byu/crazy_loop ingaming

A Reddit user, Crazy_loop, shared that a decade ago, his friend quit his job to chase his dream of making a video game. The response may not be what you expect.

While some praised the dedication and highlighted the game’s design and sound, many were quick to criticise. The feedback was mixed, encouraging in parts, but also disheartening, especially given the effort behind the project.

The market is currently saturated with side-scrolling platformers so I feel his game may not do as good as he hopes.

 yet another side scroller puzzle platformer combat game with rpg elements that I’ve seen numerous times now.

Hollow Knight: Silksong was recently released to over 500,000 players, and that number is expected to climb even higher over the weekend. It’s a remarkable turnout for a game that, for years, many believed might never see the light of day.

What makes this moment special isn’t just the numbers, but the journey behind them. Silksong spent years in development, wrapped in mystery and delays, leading some to doubt whether it could live up to the hype, or even release at all.

However, the excitement and response so far show just how much faith and patience the community had, and how much heart Team Cherry poured into this world.

What are your thoughts on the game getting criticised a decade ago? Let us know in the comments section below, or join the Tech4Gamers forums.

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