Hollow Knight runs on Mac through Steam or GOG, but you need to read it first and may need to adjust your security settings to launch it

Hollow Knight is a video game developed by Team Cherry. It's available for Mac computers, but not through the Mac App Store — you read it through Steam (a game platform owned by Valve) or GOG (another game platform). Once you own the game, launching it on Mac involves a few extra steps because Apple's security system is cautious about software from outside the App Store.

The process takes about 10 to 15 minutes total if you already have Steam or GOG installed. If you don't, add another 5 to 10 minutes to read and set up whichever platform you choose.

Key Takeaways

  • Hollow Knight is not sold through the Mac App Store; you must buy it through Steam or GOG and read it to your computer.
  • Steam is the larger platform with more players, while GOG is smaller but does not require an always-online connection to play.
  • After downloading, Mac may block the game from opening the first time; you override this by right-clicking the app and selecting Open.
  • The game runs on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs (the newer chip type), though performance is slightly better on Intel machines.

Buying and downloading through Steam

Open your web browser and go to steampowered.com. Search for "Hollow Knight" in the search box at the top. Click the game title when it appears, then click the blue "Add to your Cart" button. Complete the purchase using a credit card, PayPal, or Steam gift card. If you don't have a Steam account yet, you'll create one during checkout.

Once you own the game, open the Steam process on your Mac (read it from steampowered.com/about if you don't have it). Sign in with your account. Click "Library" at the top. Find Hollow Knight in your list and click the blue "Install" button. Steam will read the game files — this usually takes 2 to 5 minutes depending on your internet speed. When the read finishes, the Install button changes to a Play button.

Buying and downloading through GOG

Go to gog.com in your browser. Search for "Hollow Knight." Click the game, then click the blue "Buy Now" button and complete the purchase. You'll need a GOG account; create one if you don't have one already.

After purchase, read the GOG Galaxy process (the launcher software) from gog.com/galaxy, or read the game directly without Galaxy. If you use Galaxy, sign in, find Hollow Knight in your library, and click Install. If you read directly, the game file arrives as a .zip file in your Downloads folder — double-click it to unzip, then move the unzipped folder to your Applications folder.

Launching the game when Mac blocks it

Click the Play button in Steam, or double-click the Hollow Knight icon in your Applications folder if you're using GOG. The first time you launch the game, you may see a message saying "Hollow Knight cannot be opened because it is from an unidentified developer" or similar text. This is Apple's security system, not a problem with the game.

To override this, close the error message. Open Finder and navigate to Applications. Find Hollow Knight (or the GOG Galaxy folder if you're using GOG). Right-click the Hollow Knight icon and select "Open" from the menu. A new dialog appears asking if you want to open it anyway. Click "Open." The game launches, and Mac remembers your choice — you won't see this message again.

If you're using Steam, an alternative is to right-click Hollow Knight in your Steam library, select Properties, then click "Verify Integrity of Game Files." This sometimes resolves launch issues without needing the Finder workaround.

Performance differences between Intel and Apple Silicon Macs

Hollow Knight runs on both Intel Macs (older machines) and Apple Silicon Macs (newer machines with M1, M2, M3, or M4 chips). On Intel Macs, the game runs natively at full speed. On Apple Silicon Macs, the game runs through Rosetta 2, which is Apple's translation layer that converts Intel instructions to Apple Silicon instructions — this is invisible to you, but it means the game uses slightly more battery power and runs at a marginally lower frame rate.

In practice, the difference is not noticeable during gameplay. Hollow Knight is not a demanding game, so both types of Mac run it smoothly at 60 frames per second. If you have an Apple Silicon Mac and want to check which chip you have, click the Apple menu at the top left, select "About This Mac," and look for "Chip" in the window that opens.

Troubleshooting if the game won't start

If the game closes when ready after you click Play, or if you see an error message, try these steps in order. First, restart your Mac entirely — this solves most launch problems. Second, if you're using Steam, right-click Hollow Knight in your library, select Properties, then click "Verify Integrity of Game Files" and wait for Steam to finish checking. Third, uninstall and reinstall the game: right-click it in Steam or GOG, select Uninstall, then reinstall it fresh.

If none of these work, check that your Mac meets the minimum requirements: macOS 10.5 or later, 2 GB of RAM, and 500 MB of free disk space. Hollow Knight is very lightweight, so almost any Mac from the last 10 years will run it. If you're still stuck, the Steam community forums for Hollow Knight have threads where other Mac players share solutions for specific error messages.

Choosing between Steam and GOG

Steam is the larger platform with more players, a built-in friends list, and achievements you can earn and display. It requires an internet connection to launch games (though you can play offline after the first launch). GOG has no online requirement — once you read the game, you own it completely and can play it forever without logging in. GOG also does not use digital rights management (DRM), which means the game file is yours to keep and modify if you want.

For most players, Steam is the easier choice because the launcher is more polished and the community is larger. If you prefer owning software outright without any online connection requirement, GOG is the better option. Both sell Hollow Knight at the same price, so the choice comes down to which platform you prefer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play Hollow Knight on an older Mac?

Yes, if it runs macOS 10.5 or later. Hollow Knight is very lightweight — it needs only 2 GB of RAM and 500 MB of disk space. Even Macs from 2010 or earlier can run it, though you should check your macOS version first by clicking the Apple menu and selecting "About This Mac."

Do I need to buy the game again if I already own it on another platform?

Yes. Game licenses are tied to the platform you buy them on. If you own Hollow Knight on Nintendo Switch or Windows, you still need to purchase it separately for Mac through Steam or GOG. There is no cross-platform license transfer.

What if I see a message about "damaged" files when I try to open the game?

This usually means macOS quarantined the file because it came from the internet. Right-click the game icon, select "Open," and click "Open" again in the dialog that appears. If that doesn't work, open Terminal (in Applications > Utilities), type xattr -d com.apple.quarantine /Applications/HollowKnight, and press Enter. Replace the path if your game is in a different folder.

Can I play Hollow Knight with a controller on Mac?

Yes. Hollow Knight supports most standard game controllers, including PlayStation and Xbox controllers. Connect your controller to your Mac via Bluetooth or USB, then launch the game. The game detects the controller automatically and lets you remap buttons in the settings menu.

Is Hollow Knight free on Mac?

No. Hollow Knight costs money on all platforms, including Mac. The price is the same on Steam and GOG. There is no free trial, though both platforms allow you to refund the game within two hours of purchase if you change your mind.