Hornet is a major character in Hollow Knight, the indie Metroidvania released by Team Cherry in 2017. As the protector of Hallownest and a recurring boss, she became one of the game's most recognisable figures, known for her needle weapon and agile combat. Her short voiced barks, performed in an invented language, were widely clipped by players and shared across forums, videos and soundboards. Interest grew further with her starring role in Hollow Knight: Silksong, keeping her voice lines popular for edits, memes and fan projects years after release.