Hollow Knight PC Hardware Guide
Official requirements explained
The official minimum for Hollow Knight lists an Intel Core i3-3240 or AMD FX-4300 processor, a GeForce GTX 560 Ti (1GB) or Radeon HD 7750 (1GB) graphics card, 4GB of RAM and 9GB of storage. By today's standards this is very modest. The processor roughly corresponds to an Intel Core i3-2100 class entry chip, and the graphics card sits in the very old entry or integrated bracket. Most PCs still in regular use will start the game, but you should not expect much headroom or polish.
The official recommended tier asks for an Intel Core i5-3470, a GeForce GTX 1050 (2GB) or Radeon R9 380 (2GB), 8GB of RAM and the same 9GB of storage. The GTX 1050 is an older entry-level card today, and the i5-3470 sits in the older mid-range bracket, a step above the FX-8350 class. The main jump from minimum to recommended is a newer graphics generation and double the memory, which is a comfortable place to be for a hand-drawn 2D game.
The publisher does not list an SSD as required, so drive type will not decide whether the game runs. An SSD is still worth using because it shortens load times. Everything above is taken from the official requirements. These are estimates based on how the listed parts compare to the tiers, not measured results.
No separate figures are given for other platforms or configurations beyond the listed minimum and recommended specs.
Recommended builds for three budgets
For an entry budget, pair an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB or Intel Arc A380 with an Intel Core i3-10100F or AMD Ryzen 3 3300X, and use 16GB of RAM. This is well above the recommended graphics and processor tier, so it suits anyone building cheaply who mainly wants to play 2D action and adventure games and perhaps some other light titles.
For a mainstream budget, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 6GB or GTX 1660 Super with an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel Core i5-10400 is a solid reference, again with 16GB of RAM. Both the CPU and GPU leave comfortable margin above the official recommended tier, and the extra headroom helps if you also run streaming software, chat apps or screen capture in the background.
For a high budget, options include an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 or AMD Radeon RX 7600 with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600 or Intel Core i5-12400, paired with 16GB of RAM. For this game alone it is far more than needed, so it fits players who want to drive a high refresh-rate monitor or who plan to play demanding titles later. If Hollow Knight is the only goal, the entry or mainstream builds are already plenty.
Graphics settings with the biggest impact
In a hand-drawn 2D game, the settings that usually cost the most are large-scale visual effects rather than character or texture detail. Shadows, volumetric lighting and particle effects are the usual culprits when a scene gets busy, so lower those first while keeping textures sharp and anti-aliasing on so the line work stays clean.
Ray tracing and high-quality reflections rarely add much visually in a game like this, yet they can carry a noticeable cost. If the options are available, turn them off or keep them low. Depth of field and motion blur are mostly a matter of taste. Turning them off often makes controls feel clearer and removes some extra rendering work.
If your graphics card is near the recommended tier, you can try DLSS, FSR or XeSS if the game supports them. These upscalers render at a lower internal resolution and use an algorithm to scale the result up to your display, which often buys performance for a modest visual cost. Results depend on the game's implementation and your own taste, so compare them yourself before deciding.
Laptops and handheld PCs
Laptop graphics chips often share names with desktop cards but are not the same. Power limits (TGP) and cooling capacity vary a lot between laptop models, so a laptop card can perform noticeably below its desktop namesake under sustained load. When shopping, check the power limit and cooling design rather than relying on the model name alone. Set the power mode to performance and keep the laptop plugged in while playing.
Handheld PCs such as the Steam Deck or ASUS ROG Ally use integrated APUs, and their overall capability usually falls between entry and mainstream desktop levels. In general, a 2D game like this places light demands on these devices, but real-world comfort still depends on each unit's cooling and battery. FrameScope has no Steam Deck verification data for this title, so this is general guidance only and no Deck compatibility rating is given. On handhelds, reducing resolution and effects a little is a sensible way to extend battery life.
Storage and memory
The official minimum is 4GB of RAM and the recommended is 8GB. In practice, 16GB gives comfortable room for the operating system and background programs. Make sure the memory runs in dual-channel mode so bandwidth is used properly. A single-channel setup reduces bandwidth and can matter more in some situations, so check slot placement when building or upgrading.
The official storage requirement is 9GB, but leave extra space for updates and save files. The publisher does not require an SSD, yet an SSD clearly shortens load times and is a practical choice for any game that loads often. A traditional hard drive will still let you play, but you will wait longer when moving between areas.