Can you believe that the sprawling, intricate world of Hollow Knight we all fell in love with was almost just a two-hour bite-sized experience? 🤯 As a huge fan who’s spent countless hours exploring every nook of Hallownest, I was stunned to learn this piece of development history. It turns out, the game we know and adore was saved from being a "very small" project by the very community that cherishes it. Let’s dive into how a little bug's journey almost didn't happen.
The Humble (Almost Too Humble) Beginnings 🐛
In a 2018 interview, Team Cherry's Ari Gibson and William Pellen spilled the tea on Hollow Knight's origins. Their initial vision was shockingly modest. Can you imagine a version of the game without the City of Tears, the Fungal Wastes, or Deepnest? 😱
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The Original Scope: The game was planned to be just "like two hours or something."
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The Tiny Budget: Their Kickstarter funding goal was a mere AU$35,000 (about $23,000 USD at the time), which perfectly matched their small-scale plans.
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Even Smaller Dreams: They even considered lowering the goal by another $5,000! The developers themselves described it as "a small thing."
This makes you wonder: what would a two-hour Hollow Knight even look like? Would it just be the Forgotten Crossroads and maybe one boss? The thought alone is heartbreaking for us completionists who happily sink 50+ hours into a single playthrough!
How Fans Built a Kingdom 🏰
This is where the magic happened. The story of Hollow Knight is a testament to the power of community support in indie gaming. The Kickstarter campaign didn't just meet its goal—it smashed it. This influx of fan funding was the game-changer (literally!).
Gibson explained that this success, combined with support from Indie Fund and their own finances, allowed Team Cherry to expand their vision dramatically. Instead of a few months, they could work on the game for a full two years. This extra time and resources transformed their small prototype into the content-rich Metroidvania masterpiece.
Think about all the iconic elements that funding gave us:
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Massive World: The interconnected map we love to get lost in.
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Memorable Boss Fights: Hornet, the Mantis Lords, Nightmare King Grimm—so many legendary challenges!
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Deep Lore: The rich, environmental storytelling and mysterious characters.
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Free DLCs: Content like Hidden Dreams, The Grimm Troupe, and Godmaster were all added post-launch.
Without that early fan belief, we might have never gotten to experience the sheer scale and depth that defines Hollow Knight. It’s a powerful reminder that backing creative projects you believe in can lead to something truly special.
From Small Bug to Giant Legacy 🦋
Fast forward to 2026, and Hollow Knight's legacy is undeniable. It's not just a game; it's a benchmark for the entire Metroidvania genre. Its success paved the way for its highly anticipated sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong, which has been in development for over seven years now.
The contrast is fascinating:
| Feature | Original Hollow Knight Plan | The Hollow Knight We Got | Silksong (The Sequel) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope | A "very small" 2-hour game | A 20-50+ hour epic | A massive, ambitious new kingdom |
| Development Time | A few months | ~2 years of full-time work | 7+ years (and counting!) |
| Community Role | Minimal | Fundamental – fans funded its expansion | Immense hype and patience |
Isn't it wild to think about the alternate timeline where Hollow Knight stayed small? We would have missed out on one of the most atmospheric and rewarding gaming experiences of the last decade. This story makes me appreciate every hidden corner, every tough-as-nails boss, and every haunting melody in the soundtrack even more.
So, the next time you’re navigating the beautiful, melancholic ruins of Hallownest, remember: you’re exploring a world that grew far beyond its creators' wildest dreams, all thanks to players who believed in a little bug with a nail. It’s the ultimate underdog story, both in-game and out. 🖤 What's your favorite memory from Hallownest that might not have existed in the tiny version of the game?
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