GameTimeline

Release & story order

Hollow Knight timeline

Hollow Knight games in order from the 2017 1.0 launch through Hollow Knight: Silksong (2025)—US release dates, Hallownest then Pharloom story timeline, free DLC packs, Silksong's Sea of Sorrow expansion (2026), and FAQ for play order, endings, and Silksong spoilers.

Updated August 2026

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Release order Story order

Release order

When Team Cherry shipped each chapter—Hollow Knight 1.0 (February 2017) after Steam Early Access, then Hollow Knight: Silksong (September 2025). Four free Hollow Knight DLC packs and Silksong: Sea of Sorrow (free expansion planned for 2026) are optional—not separate must-play titles until they ship as dated chapters.

  • Newcomers → Hollow Knight (2017) then Silksong (2025)
  • Add Godmaster DLC before Silksong if you want full Hollow Knight endings—FAQ
  • After Silksong → Sea of Sorrow free expansion (2026)—FAQ; no calendar date yet
  • Early Access 2015–2017 history in FAQ—not separate story-order titles
  • Both on PC, Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox—check current bundles
Story order tips

One connected saga: Hollow Knight (the Knight in Hallownest) → Hollow Knight: Silksong (Hornet in Pharloom). Release and story order match—play Hollow Knight before Silksong for lore and character payoff. Sea of Sorrow expands Silksong after you finish the sequel.

  • Core arc: Hollow Knight → Silksong
  • Silksong assumes you know Hornet and Hallownest basics from the first game
  • DLC expands Hollow Knight side stories—optional but Godmaster ties to main lore
  • Sea of Sorrow → play after Silksong's main campaign—new areas and bosses
  • On Story order, Silksong may be hidden—reveal when ready or use Show all spoilers

Timeline

When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

Release order

  1. Hollow Knight

    Hollow Knight

    PCMacLinuxMetroidvaniaMainline

    Hollow Knight is Team Cherry’s Hallownest metroidvania—the Knight explores ruins beneath Dirtmouth.

    Overview
    Hand-drawn exploration, challenging boss dreams, and cryptic lore delivered through environments and Nail arts. Later chapters still answer the systems and tone this entry set.
    In-game setting
    Hallownest campaign. Godmaster / dream content is optional endgame. Neighboring story-order titles cover continuity if you skip optional branches.
    Should you play it?
    Series start and still essential. Finish before Silksong. Current storefront editions are the practical buy for newcomers.
    Release date
    US February 24, 2017 on PC; consoles later. Frequent free content updates historically.
  2. Hollow Knight: Silksong

    Hollow Knight: Silksong

    PCSwitchSwitch 2PS4PS5Xbox OneXbox Series X|SMetroidvaniaMainlineSequel

    Hollow Knight: Silksong follows Hornet into Pharloom—long-awaited sequel with new movement and crest systems.

    Overview
    Sequel metroidvania shifting protagonist, tools, and vertical citadel spaces beyond Hallownest. Later chapters still answer the systems and tone this entry set.
    In-game setting
    Pharloom / Citadel arc. Direct sequel—do not treat as a soft reboot.
    Should you play it?
    Current sequel destination. Play Hollow Knight first for character and tone context. Current storefront editions are the practical buy for newcomers.
    Release date
    2025 multiplatform launch including PC, Switch, Switch 2, PlayStation, and Xbox families.

FAQ

Hollow Knight games in order & timeline (HK → DLC → Silksong → Sea of Sorrow), release vs story, and where to start in 2026.

Release order

They match: Hollow Knight (2017) → Hollow Knight: Silksong (2025). Free DLC packs sit inside the first game (FAQ)—not separate mainline entries. Release uses US 1.0 dates; story follows Knight in Hallownest, then Hornet in Pharloom. No prequel shuffle—Silksong is the sequel.

Games in order: play Hollow Knight to completion (include free DLC, especially Godmaster, before Silksong—see DLC FAQ), then Hollow Knight: Silksong. After finishing Silksong, wait for Sea of Sorrow (free 2026 expansion—FAQ). Both main games are on modern consoles and PC. Allow 40–60 hours for Hollow Knight with DLC; Silksong is a full sequel-length campaign.

Story & lore

Yes for story order. Silksong stars Hornet and references Hallownest events, characters, and endings from the first game. Silksong is playable without it mechanically, but major plot beats lose impact. Play Hollow Knight first—avoid Silksong spoiler videos until then.

Editions & DLC

Sea of Sorrow is Team Cherry's free major expansion for Hollow Knight: Silksong—new areas, bosses, tools, and more, planned for 2026 (no exact calendar date as of July 2026). Play it after Silksong's main campaign, not instead of Hollow Knight or between the two games. Team Cherry called Patch 5 the last significant Silksong update before this expansion. It stays optional here until a launch date ships—then it can become a dated Release note or entry.

All four free packs belong inside Hollow Knight—not between HK and Silksong as separate games. Hidden Dreams and The Grimm Troupe—mid-game optional. Lifeblood—minor content patch. Godmaster—late game, after main story access to Kingdom's Edge / Black Egg Temple; adds Godhome and true ending paths. Voidheart Edition bundles base + DLC on consoles. Then move to Silksong, then Sea of Sorrow when it launches.

Optional & related

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.