What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Hollow Knight has four free content packs: Hidden Dreams, The Grimm Troupe, Lifeblood and Godmaster. There is no official quality, difficulty or playtime ranking, so the best one depends on what you want: Hidden Dreams for bosses and an upgrade, The Grimm Troupe for a major quest, Lifeblood for a boss and game refinements, or Godmaster for new characters, a quest and boss fights. They are included with the game, not sold as separate expansions.
Which Hollow Knight expansion is best for you?
Team Cherry describes the four packs as “4 Giant Free Content Packs.” Their official summaries make it possible to match each one to a preferred kind of content, but do not establish a universal ranking by quality, length or difficulty.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Pack | Best fit if you want… | Officially described content |
|---|---|---|
| Hidden Dreams | Boss encounters and an upgrade | New boss fights, upgrades and music; its announcement specifies two optional boss encounters, two accompanying music tracks, the Dream Gate upgrade and a newly uncovered Stag Station. Team Cherry’s announcement |
| The Grimm Troupe | A quest-led addition | A major quest, new boss fights, charms, enemies and friends. Team Cherry |
| Lifeblood | A new boss alongside broader refinements | A new boss, upgraded bosses, and tweaks and refinements across the game. Nintendo also lists mapping tools, music and hidden extras. Nintendo’s Switch listing |
| Godmaster | New characters, a quest and boss content | New characters and a quest, new boss fights and new music; Nintendo also mentions hidden surprises. Team Cherry |
What each content pack adds
Hidden Dreams: bosses, music and Dream Gate
Choose Hidden Dreams if you are most interested in optional boss encounters and a useful upgrade. Team Cherry’s announcement names two new optional bosses, two music tracks, the Dream Gate upgrade and a newly uncovered Stag Station. The announcement says the content is accessible at any point in the game, whether starting fresh or pursuing completion; its displayed date omits a year, so no publication year is specified here. Read the announcement.
The Grimm Troupe: a major quest and charms
The Grimm Troupe is the clearest match for players who want a substantial quest at the center of the addition. Team Cherry and Nintendo describe it as bringing a major quest, boss fights, charms, enemies and friends. The available official summaries do not give a comparable playtime or difficulty rating.
#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..
Lifeblood: a new boss and game-wide refinements
Lifeblood stands out for pairing a new boss with upgraded bosses and tweaks across the game. Nintendo’s US Switch listing additionally names mapping tools, music and hidden extras. Those are the storefront’s advertised features; they do not establish a measured amount of content or a difficulty level.
Godmaster: new characters, a quest and boss fights
Godmaster is the content pack to consider if its combination of new characters, a quest, boss fights and music appeals to you. Nintendo also advertises hidden surprises. The official descriptions do not rank its challenge against the other packs.
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.
Do you have to buy the Hollow Knight expansions separately?
No. Team Cherry identifies these as free content packs, Nintendo says its Switch version includes all four, and Steam labels the packs free. Existing owners do not need to purchase four separate expansions. Availability and storefront wording can vary by platform; Nintendo’s confirmation is for its US digital Switch listing. Team Cherry · Nintendo · Steam.
What is not one of the four Hollow Knight expansions?
Hollow Knight – Official Soundtrack and Hollow Knight – Gods & Nightmares are listed separately on Steam as soundtrack products, not as additional content packs. Steam’s listing.
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!
Also keep the Hollow Knight: Silksong announcement separate from this list. On 15 December 2025, Team Cherry announced Sea of Sorrow as a free expansion planned for 2026 for Silksong. That announcement does not make it a fifth Hollow Knight pack or confirm its current release status. Team Cherry’s announcement.
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.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
