Released in early 2017, Hollow Knight is an adventure game infested with endearing insects and dripping with atmosphere. It became a favorite of players and critics alike, and may even be the best Metroidvania ever. The game's impressive amount of content has only increased with expansions, meaning there is plenty to do during the agonizing wait for the sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong.
Most players, at least on their first playthrough, will likely beat the main story without being fully aware of the staggering amount of content hidden throughout the winding depths of Hallownest. Beating the game is already an accomplishment, but completing everything will take time, patience and no small amount of skill.
How Long Does It Take to Finish Hollow Knight's Story?
While most Metroidvanias are relatively short to encourage multiple playthroughs, Hollow Knight bucks this trend by having a lengthy main story. A story-only run will take most players around 20-25 hours, which is quite the haul compared to other games in the genre. There is plenty of wiggle-room with this completion time, as challenging bosses and expansive exploration can drive some playthroughs past 30 hours.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, players familiar with similar games (or those who have already completed a playthrough) can breeze through Hollow Knight in much less time. Rushed playthroughs can be around 15 hours. With practice and careful planning, speedrunners have completion times that are even shorter, clocking in under three hours. For most players though, a normal run will entail a lengthy trek through Hallownest.
How Long Does It Take to Complete Everything in Hollow Knight?
The beauty of Hollow Knight is the amount of optional content there is to complete before the credits roll. Taking the time to score all of the collectibles, fill in the Hunter's journal, take on the Colosseum of Fools and defeat optional bosses will pad out your playtime quite a bit. There is also more story content hidden off the beaten path, which can extend a playthrough to around 40 hours or more.
Hollow Knight also boasts several robust DLC packs, which add more story elements, collectibles and optional bosses. The final one even includes a punishing boss rush mode, which alone can take as long as the main story. All of these aspects combine to make for completionist runs that last over 60 hours. On top of this staggering amount of content, Hollow Knight also offers all of the replayability that you would expect in a Metroidvania thanks to its five different endings.
Additionally, the game comes packed with an alternate way to play in Steel Soul Mode, which will become available after completing the game for the first time. This variation features permadeath and is only for the truly brave, but it offers yet another way to experience the game and extend its runtime for those who can't get enough. Even without this feature, Hollow Knight is stuffed with fun and challenging content that is well worth whatever amount of time the player chooses to put into it.