How Long Is Hollow Knight? — Playtime, Length, and 100% Completion Times
How long does Hollow Knight take to beat? Main story is about 25-27 hours, 100% completion around 65 hours, and 112% over 60 hours. Full breakdown by playstyle, why the range is so wide, and the bosses/health questions beginners ask.
How Long Is Hollow Knight? — Playtime, Length, and 100% Completion Times
The direct answer: about 25–27 hours to beat the main story, around 65 hours for 100% completion, and 60+ hours for the true completionist (112%) run. But Hollow Knight's length is famously elastic — it's a game where "I finished it" can mean anywhere from 15 to 100+ hours depending on who you ask. This guide breaks down every time figure you'll see, explains why the range is so huge, and answers the playtime-adjacent questions beginners actually search for.
The Numbers First (HowLongToBeat Data)
The authoritative source is HowLongToBeat (player-submitted averages), and its numbers match what every guide cites:
| Category | Time |
|---|---|
| Main story (just the ending) | ~27 hours |
| Main + extras (side quests, some exploration) | ~35 hours |
| 100% completion (all upgrades, most content) | ~65.5 hours |
| 112% completion (everything, all endings content) | 60+ hours |
Hollow Knight's percentage counter goes past 100% because it includes DLC content — the four free expansions (Hidden Dreams, The Grimm Troupe, Lifeblood, Godmaster) added bosses and challenges that raised the completion ceiling. "112%" isn't a different game — it's the original 100% plus DLC completion.
Why the Range Is So Wide
Hollow Knight is an exploration-first metroidvania: the game never gates you onto a single path, and most of its best content is hidden. That single design decision explains the entire length spread:
- The map is enormous and mostly optional — Hallownest is one of the largest hand-built 2D maps ever made. Follow the critical path and you see a fraction of it.
- Hidden bosses are the real game — many of the best fights (the Dream Bosses, the Pantheons) are completely optional. Completionists double their playtime hunting them.
- Difficulty walls vary wildly by player — the White Palace (a brutal platforming gauntlet) and its hidden extension the Path of Pain can eat 2–10 hours by themselves depending on skill. Some players quit there; others love it.
- No map hand-holding — you buy maps from Cornifer and fill them in yourself. Players who avoid guides wander more; players who follow guides finish 30% faster.
The practical takeaway: if you're a casual explorer, plan 30–35 hours for a satisfying run; if you're a completionist, plan 60–80.
Playtime by Playstyle
| Playstyle | Expected time | What you're doing |
|---|---|---|
| Speedrun (any%) | 30–45 minutes | Route-optimized, skip almost everything |
| First-time casual | 25–35 hours | Main story + some side content |
| Thorough explorer | 40–55 hours | Most areas, most charms, no guides |
| Completionist (100%) | 60–70 hours | All upgrades, all bosses, all endings |
| True completionist (112%) | 70–100+ hours | Everything incl. DLC, Pantheons, Path of Pain |
Playtime by Game Phase
If you want granularity, here's roughly how the hours distribute on a normal first run:
- Early game (Forgotten Crossroads → Greenpath): 3–5 hours. Learning movement, buying your first upgrades.
- Mid game (City of Tears → the three dreamers): 10–15 hours. The map opens up dramatically; this is where most exploration time goes.
- Late game (Dreamers → endings): 8–12 hours. The White Palace, the final bosses, and the first endings.
- Post-game / DLC: 10–30 additional hours depending on how deep you go (Nightmare Grimm, Godhome, Pantheons).
Want the ending fast? Ignore optional charms and hunt only the three Dreamers' masks. Want it longer? The Pantheon of Hallownest (Godhome's final gauntlet) alone is a multi-session marathon — experienced players quote 20+ hours just for the hardest Pantheon attempts.
How Much Health Do You Start With?
You start Hollow Knight with 5 masks of health (each mask = 1 hit). For context:
- Masks are upgraded with Mask Shards (4 shards = 1 new mask) — the cap is 9 masks by endgame
- Lifeblood (blue health from charms/rooms) is temporary and doesn't count toward your mask total
- The starting 5 is low for a reason: Hollow Knight is a learning curve game. Your first boss fights are as much about learning not to get hit as about damage output
How Many Bosses Are In Hollow Knight?
The community count is ~40 named bosses (about 45 with all variants), broken down as:
- 10 story/area bosses (False Knight, Hornet ×2, Soul Master, Watcher Knights, etc.)
- 8 Dream Bosses (hidden, optional — the hardest base-game content)
- 4 DLC bosses (Grimm, Nightmare King Grimm, Hive Knight, etc.)
- Godhome/Pantheon variants (a separate challenge arena reusing and remixing boss fights)
What's the First Boss?
The first boss most players meet is False Knight, the armored brute in the Forgotten Crossroads — he's the game's "boss design tutorial" (pattern reading, telegraphed swings, arena control). Technically you can encounter the Gruz Mother (a miniboss) even earlier, and Hornet (the first "real" duel) comes a few hours in. The community's common first-boss advice: don't button-mash; False Knight punishes greedy play — learn his two-swing rhythm and you'll beat him first try.
Speedrun and Achievement Times
For the searchers who want the extreme end:
- Any% speedrun: ~30–45 minutes at the top level (the world record is under half an hour)
- 100% speedrun: several hours, heavily routed
- Steam achievement completion: 100% achievements typically lands in the 60–80 hour range, with "Embrace the Void" (Pantheon of Hallownest) being the famous last-achievement wall that can add 5–20 hours alone
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to beat Hollow Knight?
About 25–27 hours for the main story, per HowLongToBeat averages. A relaxed first run usually lands 30–35 hours.
How long is Hollow Knight 100% completion?
About 65 hours for the standard 100% (all upgrades, charms, most content). True completion (112% including DLC and every ending) runs 70–100+ hours.
How much health do you start with in Hollow Knight?
5 masks. You can raise it to 9 masks by collecting Mask Shards (4 shards per mask) across the game.
How many bosses are in Hollow Knight?
About 40 named bosses (45 with variants), including 8 optional Dream Bosses, 4 DLC bosses, and the Godhome Pantheon remixes.
What is the first boss in Hollow Knight?
False Knight, the armored brute in the Forgotten Crossroads — though you may meet the Gruz Mother miniboss earlier if you explore.
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Last updated: August 11, 2026.