The invention relates to a hydraulic drive device, comprising a piston which is guided displaceably in a cylinder chamber along a working axis and adjoins a working pressure chamber that can be pressurized by hydraulic fluid, and comprising a control means that is guided in the piston at least in some sections between different control states in order to control the flow of the hydraulic fluid from a high pressure supply into the working pressure chamber to move the piston in the working direction and from the working pressure chamber to a return flow chamber, wherein the region of the piston facing away from the working pressure chamber delimits a low pressure chamber that is pressurized by a low pressure supply for hydraulic fluid during the operation of the device such that the piston is moved back against the working direction when the control means connects the working pressure chamber to the return flow chamber. The invention furthermore relates to a method for operating a hydraulic drive device.