Sifter
Hollow Knight cover art

Hollow Knight

Steam

Team Cherry · Team Cherry

ActionAdventureIndie
View on Steam

Design Risk Score

Estimated

17/100

2 concern patterns detected

Monetization17pts
Manipulation0pts
Compulsion0pts

Joy Index

92/100

Excellent

Community score: 97/100
Joy reflects genuine enjoyment after accounting for design risk.

Verdict

Mindful

Enjoy mindfully

Some mild monetization exists, but the core game offers genuine value. Stay aware of spending triggers.

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Detected Design Patterns

Gacha Loop

Variable reward schedules exploit gambling psychology to keep players spending.

No player confirmations yet

Learn about these patterns in the Pattern Registry →

Why this score

Estimated
  • Gacha System+15

    Randomised paid pulls — gambling-like mechanics, cosmetic outcomes.

  • Paid DLC+2

    2 paid add-ons beyond the base game.

Points reflect severity, not just presence — cosmetic-only purchases score far lower than pay-for-power. Total: 17/100. This game was scored from its Steam store listing, so its mechanics are an estimate. How scoring works →

Time Respect

Estimated
100/100 · higher respects your time more

No time-coercive mechanics detected — this game lets you play on your own schedule.

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Hollow Knight — Sifter score

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Is Hollow Knight worth it? Design Risk 17/100 · Sifter