Plan on about 25–27 hours to finish Hollow Knight’s main story. Adding side content brings the estimate to about 42 hours; a completionist run is listed at roughly 65.5–66 hours. These are estimates from different sources, not a guaranteed playtime or one consistent measurement.
How long is Hollow Knight if you only do the main story?
For an ordinary story-focused playthrough, use about 25–27 hours as a planning range. Team Cherry, the developer, gave an older estimate of about 25 hours to complete the game in its developer blog. A more recently displayed HowLongToBeat listing gives 27 hours for the main story; that figure appears on IsThereAnyDeal’s Hollow Knight stats page.
The figures are close enough to suggest that roughly a few dozen hours is a sensible expectation, but they should not be treated as a precise average for every player. The sources do not establish matching sample sizes, collection dates, or category definitions.
How long with side content or completionist goals?
| Goal | Estimated time | Source framing |
|---|---|---|
| Main story | About 25–27 hours | Team Cherry’s older estimate: about 25 hours; HowLongToBeat listing: 27 hours. |
| Main story plus side content | About 42 hours | HowLongToBeat figure displayed by IsThereAnyDeal. |
| Completionist | About 65.5–66 hours | HowLongToBeat figures displayed by GOG (65.5 hours) and IsThereAnyDeal (66 hours). |
| 100% completion | About 40 hours | Team Cherry’s older estimate; its “100%” label may not match the later listings’ “completionist” category. |
The large gap between Team Cherry’s 40-hour 100% estimate and the more recent 65.5–66-hour completionist listings should not be explained away as a confirmed change in player behavior: the sources do not document comparable definitions or methods. Treat them as differently labeled estimates rather than interchangeable measurements.
#1 Best Overall
- 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.
Why your playthrough may take longer or shorter
The published figures are useful for planning, but the reviewed sources do not provide a common methodology or enough detail to predict an individual run. Your chosen goal matters: finishing the main story is a narrower target than adding optional content or pursuing completionist goals. The estimates therefore work best as broad reference points, not a promise about how long your own save will take.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
![HOLLOW KNIGHT [E10]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51gHoLA9kNL._SL160_.jpg)
- Includes four giant bonus content packs: Hidden Dreams, The Grimm Troupe, Lifeblood, and Godmaster
- Classic side-scrolling action, with all 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
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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