Hollow Knight: Silksong has five endings: two branches at the Grand Mother Silk fight, one cursed variant, the true ending in Act 3, and a secret epilogue layered on top of whichever you finish with. Each one has its own Steam achievement (Weaver Queen, Snared Silk, Twisted Child, Sister of the Void, and Passing of the Age), which is a handy checklist for completionists. Here’s every ending and its exact requirements.
Updated October 1, 2026: clarified that Sylphsong is optional for the true ending.
1. Weaver Queen (the Standard Ending)
Defeat Grand Mother Silk and choose Bind at the decision moment. Credits roll on the standard resolution. It’s the ending most first playthroughs get, and choosing it means Act 3 stays closed on that save.
2. Snared Silk (the Act 3 Gateway)
Complete the Silk and Soul wish chain, then at Grand Mother Silk choose play the Needolin instead of Bind. You get the Snared Silk ending, and Act 3 opens on reload. This choice locks out Weaver Queen and Twisted Child for the save, which is the intended trade: this “ending” is really a door.
3. Twisted Child (the Cursed Ending)
The dark detour:
- Take the Twisted Bud from Bilewater to Greyroot in Shellwood.
- Stay cursed: skip the Rite of Rebirth and Infestation Operation that would cleanse you.
- Beat Grand Mother Silk while still cursed.
4. Sister of the Void (the TRUE Ending)
Act 3’s summit, and the game’s real conclusion:
- In Act 3, complete The Dark Below / Old Hearts questline.
- Obtain the Diving Bell Key and the Everbloom (the Everbloom feeds the DESCEND: Last Dive objective).
- Descend the Abyss and defeat Lost Lace, the endgame’s hardest fight.
- The Knight’s Shade Lord form intervenes, and Hornet’s story meets the first game’s mythology head-on.
Sylphsong is optional. Team Cherry hasn’t published ending requirements, but players report defeating Lost Lace, reached through the steps above, as the condition for Sister of the Void, and none of those reports lists Sylphsong as a prerequisite. It’s still worth having before you attempt Lost Lace: you get it by binding Eva at Weavenest Atla in Moss Grotto once you’ve unlocked enough crest slots with Memory Lockets, and players value it for the faster silk regeneration it gives (players also tie it to the hidden Entwined achievement).
5. Passing of the Age (the Secret Epilogue)
Complete the Mister Mushroom questline across his seven locations, plus the lore tablet above Pale Lake, then finish any main ending; the epilogue scene attaches after the credits. Classic Team Cherry: the reward for thoroughness is more questions.
Route Planning
One save can’t see everything: the Needolin choice forks the timeline. The efficient completionist route: first save through Snared Silk into Act 3 and the true ending, then a second run (or an earlier backup save) for Weaver Queen and Twisted Child. Keep a manual save before Grand Mother Silk, always.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which ending is canon? With a free expansion (Sea of Sorrow) coming, Team Cherry hasn’t said; the true ending’s Void connections make it the narrative heavyweight.
Can I get Twisted Child and Act 3 on one save? No; Twisted Child requires beating Grand Mother Silk cursed, which spends the fight that Snared Silk needs.
Do I need Sylphsong for the true ending? No. Player reports name defeating Lost Lace as the requirement and don’t list Sylphsong; it’s a strong optional upgrade to have before the fight.
How hard is Lost Lace? The community’s consensus final wall; come with a finished needle and a settled crest build.
Do endings affect the coming DLC? Sea of Sorrow’s relationship to the endings is unknown; Team Cherry has said only that the free expansion arrives in 2026, and we’ll update when it lands.