Hollow Knight Surpasses 15 Million Sales: Team Cherry's Indie Hit Matches Pokémon Legends: Arceus Milestone

Hollow Knight Breaks 15 Million Sales: Team Cherry's Indie Classic Ranks Among Pokémon's Bestsellers Since its debut in 2017, Hollow Knight has steadily earned its reputation as one of the most successful indie games in the history of video gaming.

Developed by Australian studio Team Cherry, this atmospheric metroidvania first made waves on PC before achieving phenomenal success on the Nintendo Switch in 2018, where it sold 250,000 units in its initial two weeks alone through the Nintendo eShop.

Spanning six years and riding a tidal wave of critical acclaim, Hollow Knight's compelling gameplay, striking art direction, and deep lore have cemented its status as a modern classic, with fans eagerly awaiting its much-anticipated sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong. In a revealing new interview with Bloomberg, Team Cherry co-founders Ari Gibson and William Pellan disclosed that Hollow Knight has surpassed 15 million copies sold worldwide since its release.

Out of these, the game had already sold 2.8 million units before the official announcement of Hollow Knight: Silksong in 2019.

Following that announcement, a further 12 million units were sold in subsequent years, a testament to the game’s enduring appeal and strong word-of-mouth in the gaming community. To put these figures into perspective, Hollow Knight's sales are now on par with major first-party Nintendo titles.

By 2023, Pokémon Legends: Arceus had reached 14.83 million units sold, making Team Cherry’s debut effort a rare indie title to match the commercial heights of established AAA franchises on the Nintendo Switch and other platforms. Speaking to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, studio co-founder Ari Gibson reflected on this financial security, attributing the team's continued focus on Silksong's development to the runaway success of Hollow Knight.

“We’re very fortunate in that sense,” Gibson noted, explaining that steady sales have lifted financial pressures, allowing the team to refine Silksong without the economic worries that loomed over the original game’s development.

During Hollow Knight's early production, the studio relied on leftover office sandwiches and occasional small family contributions—a stark contrast to Team Cherry’s current situation. The financial windfall from Hollow Knight is not only a testament to the power of indie creativity but also a defining moment for Team Cherry.

It has provided a solid foundation for the highly anticipated sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong, which is scheduled to launch on both Nintendo Switch and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 on September 4th.

With the series now comprising one of the eShop’s biggest indie success stories, anticipation for Silksong has reached new heights among fans and critics alike. Hollow Knight’s enduring popularity continues to shape the indie landscape on Nintendo’s platforms.

Its alignment with the sales of a flagship Pokémon release underscores how innovative, well-crafted titles can transcend traditional boundaries—and how the Nintendo Switch remains a vital launchpad for indie developers worldwide.

Pokémon Hollow Knight: Silksong Milestone Team Cherry Pokémon Legends: Arceus Arceus Hollow Knight Nintendo Switch Bloomberg Jason Schreier Ari Gibson William Pellan