Let me tell you, folks, conquering all 63 achievements in Hollow Knight is no walk in the park. As a seasoned gamer who's seen it all, I can say with certainty that this journey through Hallownest was one of the most grueling, yet utterly rewarding, challenges I've ever undertaken. It's a marathon, not a sprint, and every single trophy tells a story of perseverance, mastery, and a little bit of madness. I remember first dropping into that forgotten kingdom, feeling like a small, insignificant bug in a vast, decaying world. Little did I know, I was about to embark on an odyssey that would test my resolve to its absolute limit.
My first real test came early. Beating the False Knight in the Forgotten Crossroads felt like a rite of passage. That clumsy, armored brute taught me the rhythm of combat. But the real kicker was coming back later with my Dream Nail to face his dream-version, the Failed Champion. Talk about a wake-up call! That fight was on a whole other level. Each boss felt like a new lesson. Hornet in Greenpath was a dance of precision, while the Soul Master in his gothic sanctum taught me the meaning of desperation. And who could forget the graceful, deadly Mantis Lords? Earning their respect and seeing the other Mantis warriors bow as I passed? That was a real 'mic drop' moment.
The Dream Bosses became my personal white whales. Seeking out the bodies of fallen warriors to challenge their stronger, spectral forms was a brutal but necessary path to power. From the frantic Lost Kin to the relentless Soul Tyrant, each victory made me stronger. But the real story was in hunting the Dreamers. Descending into the mind of Herrah the Beast in the terrifying Deepnest, confronting Monomon the Teacher in the volatile Fog Canyon, and scaling the Watcher's Spire to find Lurien—these weren't just boss fights; they were pivotal moments in the lore, and unlocking them felt like peeling back the layers of Hallownest's tragic history.
Then came the DLCs, and boy, did they ramp up the difficulty. The Grimm Troupe brought a carnival of pain to Dirtmouth. Defeating Troupe Master Grimm in his grand performance was exhilarating, but facing his nightmare form, the Nightmare King, was absolutely bonkers. I still have flashbacks to that crimson inferno. Choosing to banish the troupe instead on another save file felt like a different kind of victory, a quieter, more solemn one.
But nothing, and I mean nothing, prepared me for Godhome. Entering that realm and facing the Pantheons was the ultimate endgame. It's where you truly learn what you're made of. Let me break down that gauntlet:
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Pantheon of the Master: A warm-up, introducing you to the concept with bosses like the Nailmasters.
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Pantheon of the Artist: Where you face the creative fury of Paintmaster Sheo.
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Pantheon of the Sage: A test of focus against the whirlwind that is Nailsage Sly.
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Pantheon of the Knight: The penultimate challenge, culminating in a heartbreaking duel with the Pure Vessel.
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Pantheon of Hallownest: The big one. Over 40 bosses back-to-back, ending with the Absolute Radiance. Claiming the 'Embrace the Void' trophy after this ordeal was a feeling of pure, unadulterated euphoria. I literally had to put the controller down and just breathe.
Of course, not all challenges were about boss mastery. The Colosseum of Fools was its own brand of chaotic fun. Beating Zote in the first trial (a small consolation for saving his ungrateful hide) and finally conquering the brutal Trial of the Fool were massive achievements. Then there were the extreme challenges: Steel Soul Mode. Beating the entire game without dying once? That required a zen-like focus and a lot of bench-quitting strategy. Doing it with 100% completion for the 'Steel Heart' achievement? That's the stuff of legends, my friends.
The collection grind was a whole other beast. Tracking down every last Mask Shard and Vessel Fragment, hunting for all 40 Charms to get Salubra's Blessing, and rescuing all 46 cute, wiggling Grubs (sorry, Grubfather) were journeys that took me to every dark corner of the map. I became a master cartographer, a keen hunter filling my journal, and an essence collector, listening to the Seer's final, haunting words.
The narrative achievements were the soul of the journey. They weren't about skill, but about witnessing the world. Sharing a final, quiet moment with Quirrel by the Blue Lake hit me right in the feels—the 'Witness' trophy is aptly named. Uniting the Abyss to claim the Void Heart was a lore-rich pilgrimage. The delicate flower quest for the Grey Mourner was a nerve-wracking test of patience. And the choices... letting the Nailsmith find happiness with Sheo, or granting him a warrior's death with my Pure Nail. Even the choice to neglect Zote felt strangely significant.
Chasing the multiple endings was the final chapter. From the default Hollow Knight ending, to consuming the light and achieving 'Dream No More', to the tragic 'Sealed Siblings' ending—each one painted a different finale for this doomed kingdom. And the speedrun achievements? Beating the game in under 5 hours was a frantic, heart-pounding race against the clock. But achieving 112% Pure Completion in 2025, which means conquering every bit of content from the base game and all DLCs, was the ultimate badge of honor. It's the definitive sign that you've left no stone unturned, no boss unchallenged, no secret unfound.
Looking back, this wasn't just about getting trophies. It was about mastering a world. It was about the struggle, the moments of sheer frustration, the breakthroughs, and the quiet, beautiful moments in between. Hallownest is a masterpiece, and achieving 100% (and beyond) is the ultimate way to git gud and pay respect to its intricate, haunting beauty. It's a journey I'll never forget. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go lie down. My hands are still cramping.
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