5 Things To Do After Beating Hollow Knight

by enricofairme · Published October 29, 2017 9:59 PM · Updated February 13, 2025 3:16 PM

So you’ve conquered the Hollow Knight and finished your journey through Hallownest—but what’s next? If you’re looking for more challenges, hidden secrets, or ways to deepen your experience, there’s still plenty to do.

Below are five things you can do after beating Hollow Knight, whether you’re aiming for 100% completion, testing your skills, or preparing for your next adventure.

1. Challenge Yourself in Steel Soul Mode

Steel Soul difficulty selection screen. — Steel Soul difficulty.

If you thought Hollow Knight was tough the first time, Steel Soul Mode takes it to another level. This permadeath mode means that if you die, your save file is deleted permanently.

Why Try Steel Soul Mode?

Test Your Skills – Only 3.4% of Steam players have completed it.
Earn Exclusive Achievements – Completing Steel Soul Mode is required for 100% achievement completion.
Experience a Faster Economy – No need to recover your Shade after death; Geo drops are higher than normal mode.

If you’re serious about attempting this mode, I recommend checking out this video series by YouTuber Rangris for expert tips.

2. Explore the Recent Content Updates

Hollow Knight has received multiple free updates, each adding new bosses, abilities, and lore. If you haven’t explored them yet, now is the perfect time.

Notable Content Updates:

Hidden Dreams – Features two new bosses and an upgraded Dreamgate ability.
The Grimm Troupe – Introduces a new questline, powerful charms, and the Nightmare King Grimm boss fight.

Not sure how to access these updates? Check out my Hidden Dreams Guide and Grimm Troupe Guide for step-by-step instructions.

3. Complete Your Collection (100%+ Completion)

If you’re a completionist, there are many collectibles to find in Hollow Knight, including:

All 40 Charms – These grant unique abilities and can be combined for powerful effects.
All Mask Shards & Vessel Fragments – Increase your health and Soul capacity.
Hunter’s Journal Entries – Log all enemy encounters to complete the bestiary.

Need help finding everything? I highly recommend using this detailed map by DEMAJEN, which marks every collectible and secret in the game.

4. Try Speedrunning the Game

If you enjoy mastering a game’s mechanics, consider speedrunning Hollow Knight. The game has built-in achievements for completing it under a certain time:

Speed Completion Under 10 Hours
Speed Completion Under 5 Hours
Speed Completion Under 4 Hours (for the “Speedrun 2” achievement)

Even if you’re not an official speedrunner, trying to beat your personal best time adds an exciting challenge.

5. Complete Side Quests for Extra Lore & Rewards

Hollow Knight has several hidden side quests that expand its world and unlock extra rewards. If you missed them during your playthrough, now is a great time to go back and complete them.

Notable Side Quests:

The Delicate Flower Quest – A challenging escort mission requiring zero damage.
The White Lady & The Kingsoul – A key to unlocking the game’s true ending.
The Grey Mourner’s Quest – An emotional and difficult side quest for completionists.

If you want a full list, check out the Hollow Knight Fandom Wiki for all available quests.

Bonus: Get Ready for Hollow Knight: Silksong

Originally planned as a DLC featuring Hornet, Silksong has evolved into a full-fledged sequel. While its release date remains uncertain, it’s shaping up to be one of the most anticipated indie games ever.

If you’re excited for Silksong, now’s the perfect time to sharpen your skills in Hollow Knight before the next adventure begins.

What did you think of this 5 things to do after beating Hollow Knight guide? Let me know in the comments below.