What happens after you beat Hollow Knight?

What happens after you beat Hollow Knight depends entirely on which ending you achieve, as this challenging metroidvania offers multiple conclusions to the Knight's journey through Hallownest.

The Hollow Knight Ending

In the basic ending, defeating the Hollow Knight results in the Knight taking its place as the new vessel containing the Infection. The Knight becomes chained within the Black Egg Temple, sacrificing itself to temporarily seal away the Radiance. This ending suggests the cycle will eventually repeat, as the Infection isn't truly destroyed.

The Dream No More Ending

For players who obtain the Void Heart charm, a more definitive conclusion awaits. After breaking the Hollow Knight's chains, you enter the Dream Realm to face the true final boss: the Radiance. Successfully defeating this ancient moth god completely destroys the source of the Infection, freeing Hallownest from its plague. The Knight dissolves into void, having fulfilled its purpose.

The Sealed Siblings Ending

This variant occurs when you have the Void Heart but choose to attack the Hollow Knight instead of using the Dream Nail. Both the Knight and Hollow Knight become sealed together, creating a supposedly stronger containment for the Radiance.

Post-Game Content

Steel Soul Mode

After completing the game, you unlock Steel Soul mode, a permadeath challenge where dying once deletes your save file.

Godmaster DLC

The Godmaster content pack adds the fifth ending through the Pantheon of Hallownest, where defeating Absolute Radiance leads to either the "Embrace the Void" ending or triggers a delicate choice involving Hornet.

Each ending provides different implications for Hallownest's future and the fate of its remaining inhabitants. Ready to explore the deeper mysteries hidden within the kingdom's various pantheons and secret areas?