It's no surprise that Hollow Knight: Silksong is often compared to a hard game like those of the soulslike genre, considering how tough and unforgiving some parts of the game are. At first, players will explore the world calmly, as they start in a lush, green area, with only harmless caterpillars and flying bugs as their foes. However, this will soon change, especially if players decide to enter Hunter's March, one of the hardest early game regions, thanks to its hand-numbing pogo challenge and two tough boss fights that block the way to progress in the area.
Thankfully, some biomes in Silksong are not part of the main story, meaning they can be skipped if players don't wish to explore them. If you're wondering how long it takes to beat Silksong and how many acts there are, this article will provide an overview of both questions.
How to Get to Act 2 in Silksong
To complete Act 1 and progress to Act 2, Silksong players must beat one of the hardest bosses in the game at the entrance to the Citadel.
How Many Acts Are There In Silksong?
There are two main Acts and a secret Act 3 in Hollow Knight: Silksong. So, if you wish to fully experience the game, you will be playing 3 Acts in Silksong.
Here are the three Acts in Silksong:
- Act 1: Pharloom
- Act 2: Citadel of Song
- Act 3: Abyss
Act 1 begins when Hornet falls on Moss Grotto and will go on until she enters the Grand Gate of the Citadel. Meanwhile, Act 2 will continue until players defeat the Monarch of Pharloom. Finally, Act 3 ends when Hornet bests the Act 3 final boss.
Defeating the Monarch of Pharloom is considered beating the game for the Speedrunner achievement, regardless of whether players choose to continue to Act 3 or not. However, for a first playthrough, it's highly recommended to fully experience Hollow Knight: Silksong, meaning players should take the time to fulfill the requirements to reach Act 3.
How Long Is Silksong?
There are two speedrunner achievements in Hollow Knight: Silksong:
|
Achievement |
Requirement |
|---|---|
|
Speedrunner |
Complete the game in under 5 hours. |
|
Speed Completion |
Achieve 100% game completion and complete the game in under 30 hours. |
Therefore, it's safe to say that, for a normal playthrough, a 100% completion will take far longer than 30 hours.
The time it'll take to beat Silksong will vary based on your experience, like:
- Experience playing a Metroidvania game.
- Platforming expertise.
- Boss fight skills.
Here's an estimate of how long to beat Silksong, based on how much content is being played:
|
Amount of content |
Veteran |
Average |
Beginner |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Act 1 & Act 2 main story |
10 hours |
20 hours |
25 hours |
|
Main story, including Act 3 |
20 hours |
30 hours |
35 hours |
|
Full Completionist |
50 hours |
60 hours |
70 hours |
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 91 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- September 4, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Developer(s)
- Team Cherry
- Publisher(s)
- Team Cherry
