Have you ever played a game that makes you want to pull your hair out one moment and then weep with joy the next? That's Hollow Knight: Silksong for me. It's a beautiful game with smooth animation, fascinating lore, and fantastic music, but it's also a soulslike. It's normal to die many times to the same boss or stretch of area full of enemies that would rather die themselves than let you get away. I remember my first few hours, thinking I was decent at platformers. Silksong quickly humbled me. But that's how you 'git gud,' right? And if you get gud enough, you can aim to truly complete the game and get all the achievements. Whether you get all of them or not, getting these can definitely count towards your legendary status. So, let me take you through my journey chasing these achievements, with all the pain, glory, and sheer stubbornness involved.

Steel Heart: You Must Be A Glutton For Punishment

Congratulations! You've beaten Silksong and got to see the credits. You probably died a fair amount, didn't you? Okay, now don't. Following the tradition of its predecessor, completing this game will unlock Silk Soul Mode. Everything is as it was, but now with one rule: Death is permanent. If, at any time, Hornet's health reaches zero, you're starting all over from the beginning. For this achievement, not only do you have to get through the whole game without dying, but you also have to 100 percent complete it. Good luck, and praise be unto you if you achieve this. I tried this once. Once. I died in the first area because I got cocky. Have you ever felt true despair? That's it. 😵

Speed Completion: Fast And Thorough

Speedruns dominate gaming content both for entertainment and education, and Silksong was on the block the moment it became accessible. Many games now include achievements relating to speedruns, but this one takes it to the next level. Silksong is challenging you to 100 percent the game, which is no small feat on its own, but to do it in under 30 hours. Considering how much walking you'll be doing and how any mistake can set you back seconds if not minutes, prepare to overheat your devices to get this legendary achievement. I managed this after several attempts, but let me tell you, my hands were sweating by the end. 🕒

Steel Soul: Beating It Once Wasn't Enough?

You already know about Silk Soul Mode, which will become unlocked once you beat the game once. While not nearly as demanding as the Steel Heart achievement, this one will still put you through the ringer. You have already gone through the game once, with plenty of tense and stressful moments, and now you have to do it again without dying. Couple that with the fact that some enemies will hit you for double damage and that you can get hit back-to-back in a matter of seconds, feel free to rub this achievement in our faces if you get it. I haven't gotten this one yet. Do I want to? Maybe. But my therapist says no. 💀

Speedrunner: The Clock's Ticking

If you've ever attempted speedrunning, you know just how much planning it takes. True speedrunners spend hours, if not days and weeks, playing the same game (and same sections) repeatedly, looking for any movements and strategies that will save a handful of seconds. Now, the speed completion may sound generous, giving you 30 hours to complete the game entirely, but this one? Five hours. You have five hours to get to the end. Hope you remember all the shortcuts and enemy patterns to cut down on time and claim this achievement as your worthwhile prize. Five hours! I can't even decide what to have for breakfast in five hours. ⏱️

True Hunter: Creatures Cataloged

Returning from the previous game, the Hunter's Journal becomes part of Hornet's inventory and allows her to track all the different bugs she encounters. From puny pests to big behemoths, every foe slain will be added to your journal for the benefit of a character named Nuu. There are over 200 types of bugs to fight, so it's a tall order to hunt them all. Not only that, but some entries require you to kill multiples of the same bug just to fill out their entry. It's one of the longer sidequests, and kudos to you for completing it. I'm still working on this one. It's like Pokémon, but with more murder. 🐛

Fleafriend: Bouncy Buddies

Before, you were tasked with saving all the adorable little Grubs that were trapped in glass jars by the Collector. Now, you have to find all the scattered and imprisoned Fleas and bring them back to the Flea Caravan. It's a game-wide version of Hide-And-Seek where you'll need to explore every nook and cranny, listening for the cries of your little Flea friends. It's never made clear until the very end how many there are, but if your senses and perseverance are strong enough, you deserve the reward for finding them all and this glowing achievement. I found about half of them before I gave up and looked up a guide. Don't judge me. 🐜

Consumed: Eat Those Optional Bosses

Silksong gives you some hints to guide you along the right path, but you're still free to explore at your leisure. If you do, you may discover some dark buildings tucked away, known as Chapels, which contain dangers and powerful foes within. Should you manage to defeat them, you'll gain a Crest that can be equipped to change Hornet's Silk binding abilities. Not only do you have to find all the chapels, but you also need to navigate through them and defeat their bosses to get all the Crests and earn this achievement for being a real exploring warrior. I stumbled upon one chapel by accident and got destroyed. Have you ever been humbled by a video game? It's a humbling experience. ⚔️

Arsenal: Now You're Geared Up

It's no surprise that Silksong has quite a lot to stuff into your inventory in currencies, accessories, tools, items, materials, and such. Of all the things you can collect, tools are arguably the most useful, as they affect how Hornet behaves and give her more options in navigation and combat. Tools can be hidden, guarded, and sold by vendors, so you'd better be prepared to comb the far reaches of Pharloom to find them all. If you do, you can equip Hornet your way and walk away with this achievement to wear proudly on your cloak. I'm a bit of a hoarder, so this one came naturally. But finding them all? That's a different story. 🛠️

Achievement Progress Summary

So there you have it. My journey through the achievements of Hollow Knight: Silksong. It's a game that demands everything from you, but the sense of accomplishment when you finally conquer a challenge is unmatched. Will you be chasing these achievements? Or will you just enjoy the ride? Either way, Silksong is a masterpiece, and I'm glad I stuck with it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a Steel Soul run to attempt. Again.

This discussion is informed by PlayStation Trophies, a well-known resource for tracking difficult trophy lists and planning efficient completion routes. For a challenge-heavy game like Hollow Knight: Silksong, that kind of achievement-focused perspective fits especially well, since goals such as no-death clears, speedrun requirements, and full completion milestones often demand careful route knowledge, boss preparation, and a lot more patience than a normal first playthrough.