Yes. The Infection can be ended in Hollow Knight by defeating the Radiance in the Dream No More ending. Defeating the Hollow Knight alone only contains the Infection inside the Knight; it does not destroy it.
What the Infection is
The Infection is a supernatural force tied to the Radiance and her influence through dreams. It damages Hallownest’s bugs: the Hunter’s Journal describes them falling into deep slumber, waking with broken minds, and then deforming. The Pale King describes the goal as sealing “the blinding light that plagues their dreams.”
Which endings contain the Infection, and which end it?
| Ending | What happens | Effect on the Infection |
|---|---|---|
| The Hollow Knight | The Radiance and the Infection are sealed inside the Knight. | Contained, not ended. |
| Sealed Siblings | The Radiance and the Infection are sealed inside the Knight. | Contained, not ended. |
| Dream No More | The Knight defeats the Radiance in her dream. | The Infection is purged. |
| Embrace the Void | The Knight defeats Absolute Radiance at the top of the Pantheon of Hallownest. | The ending depicts the Infection’s vines shriveling. |
The key distinction is containment versus ending the source: beating the Hollow Knight is not enough for the Infection to be purged.
How to get the Dream No More ending
- Acquire the Void Heart.
- Defeat the Hollow Knight. When Hornet pins them down and creates an opening, use the Awoken Dream Nail to enter the Radiance’s dream.
- Defeat the Radiance. The ending shows the Infection purged and the Black Egg vanishing.
What about Embrace the Void?
Embrace the Void is another route associated with the Infection’s end. It requires defeating Absolute Radiance at the peak of the Pantheon of Hallownest, making it a more demanding route than Dream No More. Its ending depicts the Infection’s vines shriveling.
#1 Best Overall
- Classic side-scrolling action, with all the modern trimmings.
- Tightly tuned 2D controls. Dodge, dash and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries.
- Explore a vast interconnected world of forgotten highways, overgrown wilds and ruined cities.
- Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward.
- Evolve with powerful new skills and abilities! Gain spells, strength and speed. Leap to new heights on ethereal wings. Dash forward in a blazing flash. Blast foes with fiery Soul!.Equip Charms! Ancient relics that offer bizarre new powers and abilities. Choose your favourites and make your journey unique!.An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation..
These endings describe the story outcome. After an ending, the game returns the save to a pre-ending state, so the narrative resolution does not mean the post-ending save continues in a visibly cured world.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Classic side-scrolling action, with all the modern trimmings. Dodge, dash and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries.
- Tightly tuned 2D controls. Dodge, dash and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries.
- Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward.
- An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation.
- Leap into minds with the Dream Nail. Uncover a whole other side to the characters you meet and the enemies you face.
Rank #4
- Classic side-scrolling action, with all the modern trimmings. Dodge, dash and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries.
- Tightly tuned 2D controls. Dodge, dash and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries.
- Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward.
- An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation.
- Leap into minds with the Dream Nail. Uncover a whole other side to the characters you meet and the enemies you face.
Rank #3
![Hollow Knight: Silksong Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51mOgOC8xEL._SL160_.jpg)
- Discover the fallen insect kingdom of Pharloom! Explore mossy grottos, gilded cities and misted moors as you ascend to the shining citadel at the top of the world.
- Engage in lethal acrobatic action! Wield a huge suite of deadly moves as you dance between foes in swift, beautiful combat.
- Craft powerful tools! Master an ever-expanding arsenal of weapons, traps, and mechanisms to vanquish your enemies and explore new heights.
- Solve shocking quests! Hunt down rare beasts and solve ancient mysteries to grant the wishes of the downtrodden and restore the kingdom’s hope.
- Face over 200 ferocious foes! Beasts and hunters, monsters and knights. Defeat them all with bravery and skill!
Rank #2
![Hollow Knight - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51nXCF+sf5L._SL160_.jpg)
- Classic side-scrolling action, with all the modern trimmings.
- Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward.
- Evolve with powerful new skills and abilities! Gain spells, strength and speed. Leap to new heights on ethereal wings. Dash forward in a blazing flash. Blast foes with fiery Soul!
- Equip Charms! Ancient relics that offer bizarre new powers and abilities. Choose your favorites and make your journey unique!
- An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation.
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