Hollow Knight is deceiving in its charming appearance. The game is generally frustrating save for exploration. Exploration (traversing map for the first time) is the only part I found to be intriguing and engaging, and that is if you won't accidentally get into areas you aren't ready for yet (the game won't warn you) and areas that are platforming challenges. Boss fights and finding things are annoying. Bosses are much more agile than your character, most will require quite a number of attempts. For finding things, such as abilities and upgrade components, there are zero hints. Even progression-wise there might be no hints: you'll explore some part of the world and wonder where the hell you're supposed to go next. In one particular case passage into a certain story-related area is so non-obvious that I've only found out about it on youtube.

It might become fun if you'd approach it with a specific mindset. You've got to dedicate yourself to it. Don't set out with the intention to beat it, set out with intention to gradually play through it at the pace the game decides for you, which will vary. Perhaps it's a case where the game plays you, until you beat that particular challenge, and then begin anew with the next one. Maybe this battle for control, who plays who, is the reason of the popular appeal.

The latest Ori, which is not here on gog, is much more approachable and streamlined, though, consequently, takes less time to get done with. Maybe play it first and see if you'd like something less friendly.