How Long to Beat Hollow Knight? Story, Extras and 100%

According to players on IGDB, Hollow Knight takes about 15.5 hours to finish the story, about 36 hours with the optional content, and about 71.5 hours to complete everything. For a 2D indie game that's huge, and your time will depend a lot on your sense of direction and your patience with bosses. Here's the breakdown.

Story only: about 15.5 hours

You play a tiny knight exploring Hallownest, a fallen kingdom of bugs. If you head for a first ending without lingering, plan for about 15.5 hours. But in a metroidvania like Team Cherry's, going straight to the goal is rarely simple: first you have to find the way.

Expect your first few hours to feel slow. You start with no map, few abilities and a lot of dead ends. Once you unlock movement upgrades, the world opens up and your pace picks up a lot.

With extras: about 36 hours

This is the most common length. Exploring optional areas, fighting side bosses, collecting charms and following the stories of the characters you meet takes you to about 36 hours. It's also where the game shows its real depth, with different endings to unlock.

100% completion: about 71.5 hours

Hollow Knight's 100% is famously tough. You need every charm and upgrade, the hardest combat challenges and the content added after launch. According to players on IGDB, it takes about 71.5 hours, a good chunk of it spent retrying stubborn bosses.

What that looks like in evenings

With 2-hour sessions, the story alone fits in about 8 evenings, two or three relaxed weeks. With extras, count on about 18 evenings, a good month and a half. 100% is about 36 evenings, closer to three months of regular play.

Tips to stop going in circles

Buy Cornifer's maps as soon as you hear him humming in a new area, and sit on a bench to update your map. Don't neglect charms: a good combination makes some bosses much easier. If a boss blocks you, go explore somewhere else and come back stronger. What not to skip: the side characters' quests, which give the world its meaning.

Verdict

Hollow Knight gives you a 15 to 36 hour adventure depending on how curious you are, and much more for completionists. It's one of the best value-for-time games in the genre. For what to play next, see our games like Hollow Knight or our metroidvania picks.

FAQ

How long is the Hollow Knight story?

According to players on IGDB, Hollow Knight's main story takes about 15.5 hours. That number varies a lot depending on how comfortable you are with metroidvanias: getting lost in Hallownest and getting stuck on a boss are part of the experience and stretch things out quickly.

Is Hollow Knight hard?

Yes, fairly. Combat demands precision, and dying drops your currency until you go back to collect it. But the game is fair: every boss can be learned, and exploring elsewhere for upgrades helps you get through the toughest parts.

How long does it take to 100% Hollow Knight?

According to players on IGDB, 100% completion takes about 71.5 hours. That covers every charm, every upgrade and the most demanding combat challenges, which often take many, many attempts before they finally click.