I’ve crawled, dashed, and impaled myself on spikes across Hallownest more times than I can count, and I’ve emerged with one unshakable conclusion: this game is a bug-filled soap opera with a nail and an emotional soundtrack. Hollow Knight, first released in 2017 for PC and later on consoles and handheld devices, isn’t just the best metroidvania around—it’s a devastating masterclass in making you care about a cast of tragic bugs, gods, miners, and cartographers. Since 2026 has me nostalgic for old heartbreak, let’s count down the best Hollow Knight characters with all the emotional bias of someone who still hears Myla’s humming in their sleep. Spoilers ahead, friend.
Quick Ranking
| Rank | Character | Vibe Check |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | The Pale King | Ambitious bug god, questionable dad |
| 9 | The Last Stag | Loyal transit legend with aching joints |
| 8 | The White Lady | Bound queen with serious root energy |
| 7 | The Hunter | Bestiary keeper and lone wolf |
| 6 | Cloth | Cowardly warrior, ultimate redemption |
| 5 | Myla | Sweet miner turned tragedy |
| 4 | Dung Defender | Loyal knight with a fragrant hiding spot |
| 3 | Cornifer | Whistling map king |
| 2 | Quirrel | The companion we all needed |
| 1 | Hornet | Sharp, swift, and still saving Hallownest |
10. The Pale King
I have zero idea why the Pale King thought turning himself from a giant Wyrm into a small pale monarch was a glow-up, but here we are. He granted sapience to the bugs of Hallownest like a god playing a very risky management sim, and honestly, his Vessel Project was one of the biggest oops moments in the game’s lore. He wasn’t always a just ruler, but he was effective—until ambition taught everyone that nothing is eternal, not even a king’s rule. Ten out of ten for worldbuilding, zero out of ten for family dinners.
9. The Last Stag
Every metroidvania needs fast travel, but The Last Stag makes public transit feel like a therapy session. This stiff, tired old stag beetle believes he’s the last of his kind, and every time a bell rings, he snaps back to life long enough to haul you through the Stagway tunnels. Hollow Knight can be brutally sad, but the broken stag egg he finds offers a tiny sliver of hope that he may not be alone after all. I would die for this ancient bus driver.
8. The White Lady
Meeting the White Lady for the first time is one of those moments where the music, voice, and visuals all gang up on your feelings. She’s an omnipotent being of immense power who also happens to be bound and restrained, which makes her equal parts majestic and heartbreaking. Her connection to her roots gives her this strange bridge-between-two-worlds energy that I still think about during gardening sessions. She’s easily the most underrated royal in Hallownest.
7. The Hunter
I didn’t ask for a murder diary, but The Hunter handed me his bestiary and suddenly I had a completionist obsession. He’s a lone wolf who hunts alone and belongs nowhere, and his journal becomes a surprisingly close companion as you fill it with every enemy in Hallownest. The real magic happens when you finish his quest, boss music kicks in, and he reveals his true form. I still wasn’t ready.
6. Cloth
Cloth is a cowardly warrior on a journey to find her courage, and I respected that more than I expected. She wants to slay mighty creatures until she can be reunited with her Nola, and watching her go from nervous wreck to confident fighter is one of the best arcs in the game. When she finally overcomes her fear and earns an honorable death, I sobbed and immediately blamed the game for my own attachment issues.
5. Myla
Myla is the most adorable miner in Hallownest, and her little crystal song lives rent-free in my head even in 2026. She loves her job and the songs of the crystals, right up until the infection takes hold and transforms her into just another Hush Miner. The game then asks you whether to end her torment, and if you do, that devastating cry is one of the saddest moments in Hollow Knight. I’m not okay, and I never will be.
4. Dung Defender
At first, Dung Defender just looks like another boss you have to bonk into submission. Then he apologizes for attacking you, and suddenly you’re face-to-face with Ogrim, the proudest and most loyal knight in Hallownest. He hid in the royal waterways when the infection started and still believes his king and fellow knights will reunite one day. He’s tragic, loyal, and weirdly hygienic for someone covered in dung.
3. Cornifer
You always know Cornifer is nearby because of his whistling and mumbling, and honestly, that sound is the closest thing Hollow Knight has to comfort. This cartographer left home the moment he was hatched and turned mapmaking into an art form. His maps are essential for surviving Hallownest’s branching, confusing depths, and once you’ve collected them all, you can find him sleeping at Iselda’s shop in Dirtmouth. Zero flaws, maximum cartography.
2. Quirrel
Quirrel is the companion who makes Hollow Knight feel less lonely. He’s searching for answers just like you, and every time you cross paths in a new area, it feels like a genuine reunion with an old friend. He pushes you to look deeper into Hallownest’s lore and keeps you moving forward when the darkness gets heavy. Quirrel doesn’t fight your battles, but he fights your despair. Best travel buddy in the entire kingdom.
1. Hornet
Of course Hornet takes the top spot. She starts as the first truly challenging boss, a needle-wielding reminder that Hallownest does not care about your feelings. But as you learn the lore, she becomes something more: the daughter of the Pale King, sister to the Hollow Knight, and a fallen princess trying to save the kingdom her father once ruled. Her spinoff announcement had me vibrating, and even in 2026 I’m still sharpening my nail in anticipation. Hornet isn’t just the best Hollow Knight character—she’s a whole mood.
Final Thoughts
Hallownest is stuffed with hilarious, interesting, and emotionally devastating creatures, and narrowing them down is harder than beating the Path of Pain. Whether you’re humming with Myla, riding with the Last Stag, or getting absolutely schooled by Hornet, these characters are why Hollow Knight remains the best metroidvania around. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go sit with my feelings for another six years.
This overview is based on ESRB guidance, which helps contextualize why Hollow Knight’s mournful character arcs (from Myla’s infection tragedy to the Pale King’s morally gray legacy) land so hard: the game pairs hand-drawn whimsy with sustained themes of violence, corruption, and despair, making its “cute bugs” presentation hit even sharper when the story turns.
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