Spoilers ahead: This guide names all five numbered endings and explains their story outcomes. Hollow Knight has five numbered endings, plus an optional Mister Mushroom cutscene, Passing of the Age. To see every numbered ending on one save, defeat the Hollow Knight before acquiring Void Heart: that first ending becomes permanently unavailable on that profile once you obtain the charm.
How the endings are decided
There are three progression checks to keep in mind: whether you have Void Heart, what you do when Hornet intervenes during the Hollow Knight fight, and whether you complete the Pantheon of Hallownest with or without giving the Godseeker a Delicate Flower. The endings are branches in progression, not a ranking by difficulty. The Hollow Knight Wiki’s endings reference documents the requirements and outcomes.
The five numbered endings
1. The Hollow Knight
Defeat the Hollow Knight before acquiring Void Heart. The Knight absorbs the Infection and is sealed inside the Black Egg. This is the only numbered ending that Void Heart permanently locks out on that save profile.
2. Sealed Siblings
Acquire Void Heart, then defeat the Hollow Knight. When Hornet pins the boss, do not use the Awoken Dream Nail to enter the Radiance fight. If the Hollow Knight breaks free and the battle continues, this ending follows; Hornet is added to the seal.
#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..
3. Dream No More
Acquire Void Heart and use the Awoken Dream Nail on the Hollow Knight while Hornet has them pinned. Then defeat the Radiance. The Infection is purged, and the Black Egg disappears.
4. Embrace the Void
Unlock the Pantheon of Hallownest by conquering the preceding Pantheons, then defeat Absolute Radiance at its summit. Do not give the Delicate Flower to the Godseeker.
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.
5. Delicate Flower
Complete the same Pantheon of Hallownest sequence and defeat Absolute Radiance, but give the Delicate Flower to the Godseeker beforehand. The flower changes the closing events.
Can you get multiple endings on one save?
Yes. After an ending, reload the save and you can fight the final bosses again. The important exception is The Hollow Knight: acquiring Void Heart permanently closes that ending on the profile, and reloading will not restore it.
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!
- Defeat the Hollow Knight before obtaining Void Heart to see The Hollow Knight.
- Obtain Void Heart and return to the Hollow Knight fight. Use the Awoken Dream Nail during Hornet’s intervention, then defeat the Radiance for Dream No More.
- Revisit the encounter and allow the Hollow Knight to break free instead of using the Dream Nail to reach Sealed Siblings.
- For the two Godmaster endings, unlock and complete the Pantheon of Hallownest. Give the Godseeker the Delicate Flower for Delicate Flower; leave it ungiven for Embrace the Void.
Passing of the Age: the extra cutscene
Passing of the Age is an optional cutscene, not a sixth numbered ending. Complete Mister Mushroom’s quest by finding him in the required areas and order, then finish any other ending to see the scene.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is there a single canon ending?
The Hollow Knight Wiki reports that Team Cherry initially described the endings as equally canonical, with no single “true ending.” It also notes that later sequel events complicate that interpretation. This is the reference’s summary of the reported position, not a direct quotation or a definitive resolution of how sequel events relate to every ending.
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.
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