Summary
Now thatHollow Knight: Silksongis verifiably real and seemingly releasing at some point in 2025, players of the originalHollow Knighthave plenty of options for getting the most out of the game before the sequel actually releases. Aside from the main game’s boss fights,several challenges still remain in the decaying kingdom.
Between the obvious choice of pursuing 112% Completion, looking through various side quests, and additional ways to ascend to the top of Hallownest’s deadliest warriors, there are 10 important things to do for both the newest and experienced player. WithSilksongon the horizon, these last loose threads inHollow Knightare a perfect way to kill time.
10Achievement Hunting
A Simple Checklist
The easiest way to get the most out ofHollow Knightis to follow the built-in list of extra things to do, being the achievement list. Straightforward goals like collecting all possible charms in a single run, all masks and soul vessels, and other collection-based options provide a challenge inherently, but that only opens the door for the more advanced challenges.
Secret achievements mostly live up to that mysterious title, often adding more story and lore to what remains of this world.The various Trials from the Colusseum of Fools,deciding the fates of both Zote and the Nailsmith, plus several fights from the DLCs are a perfect start to achieving everything possible in each corner of Hallownest.
9Hunter’s Mark
Complete The Bestiary
With plenty of deadly foes and creatures lurking around every edge of this lost kingdom, striking down every possible enemy — or at least collecting suitable information on them — is a great way to both test the player’s ability and to better familiarize with how to defeat these various threats. Thanks to the Hunter’s Journal completion count, there’s even a true goal.
As not every creature or character counts toward completing the journal, such as a few dream and DLC fights, this task isn’t quite as daunting as it initially appears. On top of that, several creatures only need to be found once, in the form of background art, to count for the journal, as opposed to trying to kill untouchable enemies.
8Upgrade Fragile Charms
Unbreakable Power
A technical must from a convenience and power-output standpoint, players should upgrade the three Fragile charms — Greed, Heart, and Strength — into their Unbreakable forms, allowing the player to die without needing to return to Leg Eater to repair them.
After theGrimm Troupe has invaded Dirtmouth, Divine allows for this valuable conversion for a steep price, ranging between 9000 and 15000 Geo, but this swap is more than worth the cost, even if it is more intended for the late-game.
7Delicate Flower Quest
The Fragility Of Care
One of the more obvious side quests inHollow Knight,delivering the Delicate Flower to a grave within the Queen’s Gardenis a test of platforming precision, technical skill, and player cleverness. While there are several valid approaches to approaching this task, it requires a player prepared for a slow and steady mindset, as the Flower will instantly break when taking any kind of damage, and it will be destroyed using any form of fast-travel.
Once the thorns and mantis traitors have been dodged, and the Flower has been planted at the grave, the new Flowers grown at this location can be delivered to various NPCs in other locations, letting the challenge continue at least three more times, with a bonus two for specific dialogue-only encounters.
6Complete Mr Mushroom
Passing The Age
A strange and secret mission, finding and speaking to theodd Mr Mushroomseven times after defeating the three main bosses may seem like a pointless and confusing side quest, but finding this Herald each time does contribute to a new, bonus ending for the game.
While Mr Mushroom’s peculiar phrases and comments are mostly meant to serve as Easter Eggs forHungry Knight, a game that serves as a conceptual basis forHollow Knight,the achievement name tied to helping Mr Mushroom and the ending cutscene could suggest the return of this fungal fellow inSilksong, as a new age has begun in a new kingdom.
5Earn All Endings
Perpetuation Or Resolution
As the main focus of the story for the game revolves around the tattered ruin of Hallownest continuing to live unnaturally through zombies, infection, and dreams, the potential endings forHollow Knightallow the player to decide exactly what the desired — or easiest — fate should be for a kingdom where the next day never arrives.
While no ending is considered more canon than the others, whether or not the player finds each of the three base endings equally satisfying is the real question, on top of the difficulty of achieving a given ending. Of course, the most challenging ending also offers clear resolution, making it a worthy challenge to finally end everything.
4Secret Dream Fights
Strength Only Dreamed Of
After defeating various bosses across the game and even finding certain characters after progressing the plot, more difficult versions of their initial fights are suddenly available thanks to the Dream Nail. Offering plenty of essence in return for these defeats, plus access to areas in the DLC and achievements, these battles truly test players on how well they can handle certain bosses.
Since these fights are entirely within dreams, there is no real consequence for failure except starting the fight over, as opposed to having to find the Knight’s shade to regain Geo and soul capacity. The dream fights truly serve as a test for player skill, confidence, and precision against anything a boss can do.
3Grimm Troupe Complete
A Nightmarish Performance
Widely regarded as containing one of the toughest fights in the game, completing the Grimm Troupe storyline offers players a choice between avoiding this dangerous dance altogether — or taking on the heart of this nightmare.
While the main tasks for the Grimm Troupe aren’t too difficult, beyond managing map locations and the initial Grimm fight, the real challenge presents itself in the form ofNightmare King Grimm. Players are entirely able to complete this plot without defeating Nightmare King Grimm, instead banishing the Grimm Troupe permanently, and while both choices offer unique rewards, the feeling of defeating this nightmare is far more rewarding — and, given howSilksongappears to be moving certain plots forward, there’s potential for the Grimm Troupe to return, at least based on the Ritual ending.
2Defeat The Pantheons (Godmaster)
Ascension For True Power
The focus of the Godmaster DLC,defeating the four main Pantheons found in Godhomeis a perfect challenge for the player who has achieved everything else in the real world of Hallownest, needing this boss gauntlet to truly hone their skills to perfection.
With each Pantheon notably increasing in difficulty, only players prepared and experienced enough to deal with these groupings of bosses will succeed. Additionally, there is a fifth Pantheon, accessible after players defeat a powered-up and refined version of the titular boss. This fifth Pantheon is a boss rush of 53 bosses from the game, culminating in an even stronger version of the true final boss. Thankfully, this Pantheon doesn’t count toward the game completion percentage, though it does unlock two more endings — and major bragging rights.
1112% Completion
Nothing Left Untouched In Hallownest
There aretwo levels of completion attainable inHollow Knight:the expected and normal 100% completion, and, thanks to bonus content from the DLCs, 112% completion. Both levels of completion grant players an achievement each, but 112% completion is undeniably the true goal.
Because the percentage pulls from the base game and the extra content, it is entirely possible to achieve 100% by completing DLC elements instead of main game parts. Every boss but the final two counts toward 112%, along withcollecting all charmsand character upgrades, leading to the real challenge of completing the Grimm Troupe in either fashion and completing at least the Pantheon of the Knight to finally, fully complete the world ofHollow Knight.
