{"id":135967,"date":"2026-02-06T20:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/#article-197171"},"modified":"2026-02-06T20:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T20:00:00","slug":"hands-on-does-hollow-knights-free-upgrade-make-a-difference-on-switch-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/2026\/02\/06\/hands-on-does-hollow-knights-free-upgrade-make-a-difference-on-switch-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Hands On: Does Hollow Knight’s Free Upgrade Make A Difference On Switch 2?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Hollow<\/a>
<\/span> Image: Team Cherry<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“Oh no, not again…” I say as I boot up Hollow Knight – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition<\/a>, “Am I about to play through this game for a third time?”<\/p>\n

I didn’t really need much to entice me back into the world of Hallownest, but after downloading the free upgrade within hours of it releasing, I somehow lost three hours of my life going through Godhome, dabbling in some Pantheons, and getting my backside handed to me by Pure Vessel and Absolute Radiance.<\/p>\n

This is the first time I’ve picked up Team Cherry’s game since I beat the sequel, Silksong<\/a>, and I was surprised at how quickly I slipped back into The Knight’s very-different skillset. His steadier movement and smaller build is more deliberate and requires a different mindset than Hornet does, but it turns out, I haven’t lost those skills I developed way back when I first played Hollow Knight<\/a>.<\/p>\n

That meant I could focus on everything this Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is bringing to the table and while it isn’t a huge upgrade, you can’t complain \u2014 this is free, after all (if you already own the Switch 1 game, at least. But the full game is also very cheap).<\/p>\n

\"Hollow<\/a>
<\/span> Image: Nintendo Life<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The upgrade focuses entirely on the look and performance of the Metroidvania: now, on Switch 2, you can play Hollow Knight at 4K resolution (docked) and 120fps, if your TV supports it. Handheld, the resolution has been bumped to 1080p, and<\/em> that 120fps is also an option. You can toggle the frame rate in the in-game options.<\/p>\n

To most, 120fps isn’t going to be noticeable, but like when I played Silksong on Switch 2, I felt<\/em> a difference in my gameplay almost immediately. I was missing enemy swipes by mere pixels and perfectly timing pogos and nail slashes at the perfect distance more frequently. The Knight felt snappier, despite being a lot slower than Hornet.<\/p>\n

That feeling was universal across both docked and handheld for me; whether I was exploring the glowing confines of Crystal Peak or soaking up the rain in City of Tears or expertly dodging attacks from the Sisters of Battle, it reminded me of what a joy<\/em> Hollow Knight is to play, even in the wake of its improved sequel.<\/p>\n