r/HollowKnight

I’m somewhat new to Metroidvanias, but, prior to Hollow Knight, I’d played and beaten Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion, and Blasphemous. I really enjoyed all three, but Blasphemous was one of my favorite games I’ve ever played. The balance of story, atmosphere, music, and boss difficulty was perfect for me. After completing that, and looking for something to do as I wait for the upcoming Castlevania, I finally played Hollow Knight.

The first 2/3 of the game was incredible. The world! The music! The lore that you have to dig to find. The combat! The humor of some of the fights. Just absolutely incredible.

But, after releasing the Dreamers and making my way to the Black Egg and defeating the Hollow Knight, I just felt… so irritated. I’d sunk 35ish hours into the game, only to one-shot the “final” boss in ~50 seconds?

It was then that I found out that this was the simplest, and arguably worst, ending possible. Whew! There’s hope for a better one! I already had defeated the Traitor Lord and nabbed the left half of the white fragment - and had the Awoken Dream Nail. So, on to the White Palace I went.

And… what the F is this?! The game has had some rather difficult platforming, like in Crystal Peak or Deepnest, but there is nothing like White Palace in the game. I’ve been in there for two hours, barely making progress. I have the Hive charm, Grubsoul, Deep Focus, and Mark of Pride (all things this sub has recommended). Progress is slow and super demoralizing.

Anyway, I know the answer is git gud, but - for the first time in this game - I am not having fun. I don’t even know if I care enough at this point to keep going. I’d love to see [any other ending at all], but this is leaving a massively sour taste in my mouth.

Did anyone else feel this way? Or is abject suffering just something I should look forward to enjoying in Metroidvanias? 😂

Edit 1: took a lot of folks’ advice and set it down for the night. Woke up this morning and, before work, made it through the part that was vexing me. (I don’t know how to describe it well, but it was the first floor, left side after you get to the horizontal room with vertical saw blades on either side of the larger static saw blade).

Appreciate the kind comments and encouragement!

Edit 2 10/07/26 10 PM: got through! Holy shit, that was intense. Again, appreciate the encouragement!

Now, onto the better stuff!

Why didn't it count it!!!

Edit: yes, this is a vent post.