Hollow Knight Guide (2025): Why You Should Play It Now Before Silksong

If you’ve somehow dodged Hollow Knight till now, this is your sign. It’s one of the best Metroidvanias ever made, it’s cheap on most stores, and interest has spiked again because the sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong, has a confirmed release date of September 4, 2025, with Day-1 Game Pass and multi-platform support. 

Why play Hollow Knight in 2025

• The sequel is finally dated. Silksong arrives on Sep 4, 2025 for PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch/Switch 2, with Day-1 Game Pass. Starting the original now means you’ll appreciate Hornet’s new movement, combat and world design more. 
• Community hype is back. Player counts have hit all-time highs on Steam as veterans return and new players jump in ahead of Silksong. That means active discussions, fresh guides, and tons of help if you get stuck. 
• It holds up brilliantly. Hand-drawn art, precise combat, and smart progression keep Hollow Knight timeless. Sales recently crossed ~15 million, which is outrageous for an indie and a decent hint that the game’s as good as everyone says. 

What is Hollow Knight, exactly?

A challenging 2D action-adventure set in the ruined insect kingdom of Hallownest. Expect demanding boss fights, lots of secrets, and a startling amount of lore hidden behind optional paths. The Voidheart Edition on consoles includes all free content updates.

Available platforms: PC (Steam/GOG), PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch. It runs great on PS5/Series X|S via backwards compatibility. 

UAE price snapshot

• Steam UAE: typically AED 42 full price; commonly half-off during sales. 
• PlayStation (Voidheart Edition): Typically priced at $14.99 in the store, with frequent discounts available. Regional AED pricing varies by store region. 
• Local retailers: Physical Switch/PS4 copies may occasionally appear via third-party imports. Check places like Virgin Megastore, Geekay, or online marketplaces if you want a cartridge/disc. (Availability varies; digital is the safe bet.)

How long to beat

• Main story: ~25 hours
• Main + extras: ~35–40 hours
• 100%+ (True Ending paths): ~50–60 hours. These are typical first-run ranges; your mileage will vary. 

DLC and editions explained

All post-launch content was free and is already included on modern platforms or the Voidheart Edition:

• Hidden Dreams
• The Grimm Troupe
• Lifeblood
• Godmaster: Each update adds bosses, QoL tweaks, or endgame challenges. 

Key beginner tips (spoiler-light)

1. Prioritise mobility. Movement upgrades open the map faster than raw damage boosts.
2. Bank your Geo. Unlock Stag Stations early to minimise losses after deaths.
3. Use spells. Early-game spells are powerful with the proper Charm support.
4. Map smart. Buy the Quill, Compass, and other mapping tools as soon as you can.
5. Respect bosses. Learn movesets first; greed kills more runs than low damage.

Best early and mid-game Charms to look for

• Shaman Stone for spell damage; pairs well with early spells to melt bosses. 
• Longnail / Mark of Pride for safer melee spacing. 
• Quick Focus to make healing windows safer; later combine with Deep Focus if you prefer risk-averse play. 
• Fragile/Unbreakable Strength for big nail damage spikes once you can afford the notch cost and risk. 

Suggested progression flow (high-level, spoiler-light)

• Explore the first two biomes thoroughly to stock up on Charms, Mask Shards, and Stag Stations.
• Chase mobility upgrades before late-game combat upgrades.
• When a boss walls you, try another path. Hollow Knight often rewards a detour with health, money, or new tools that trivialise the roadblock.

Difficulty modes

After finishing the game once, you unlock Steel Soul Mode, a permadeath variant with no Shade recovery. Only attempt this if you’re comfortable with the map and boss patterns. 

How Silksong changes the conversation

You’ll switch from the Knight to Hornet, who’s faster and more acrobatic, with a new resource system and many more enemies. Multiple towns, quest systems, and craftable tools push the formula forward without losing what made Hollow Knight special. If you want to catch the references and returning characters in Silksong, playing the original first is ideal. 

Frequently asked questions