Is Hollow Knight: Silksong good value? £ per hour, worked out

The 25 to 35 hour route to the normal ending

Nintendo Life estimates about 25 to 30 hours for an average player to reach the normal ending, rising past 35 for those who explore more. We use 25 to 35 hours as the main range.

Much of that time is exploration: working out where to go next, finding new abilities that open up earlier areas, and backtracking. A good chunk is also spent retrying difficult bosses and platforming sections.

The map is large and interconnected, and new movement abilities gradually open up shortcuts. That structure rewards curiosity: areas you couldn't reach early on become accessible later, so revisiting old ground is part of the design rather than busywork.

Difficulty plays a big part in where you land within the range. Players who are new to the genre may spend several evenings on a single boss, which pushes their total hours up but also lowers their cost per hour.

Side quests, extra endings and the 100% hunt

Beyond the main ending there are side quests, optional areas, additional endings and a long list of collectibles. Nintendo Life suggests 50-plus hours for first-timers chasing full completion, and we use 40 to 60 hours to cover players who do most, but not all, of it.

At that length the cost falls to around £0.28–£0.42 per hour.

Nintendo Life notes there is an achievement for completing everything quickly, a sign of how much optional content exists for those who want it.

The full range is where Silksong's value really shows. Few games at this price offer 40-plus hours of hand-crafted content, and most of it is optional, so you can stop whenever you feel you've had enough.

Replaying a map you already know

Once you know the map and your abilities, replays are much faster. That makes Silksong appealing to players who enjoy speed or challenge runs, but less so as a repeat "story" experience. For most people, the value lies in the first, longer playthrough.

If you never played the original Hollow Knight, you don't need to: Silksong follows a different character and works as a standalone game.

Note that Nintendo Life's figures were early estimates published around launch. If you see different figures elsewhere, that's normal for a game of this kind; we keep our ranges deliberately broad.

The original Hollow Knight is also on the Nintendo UK eShop at £10.99 when checked, if you want a cheaper way into the series first. Playing it isn't required, but it's another option for value hunters.

Both games share a demanding style, so if you enjoyed the first, Silksong is a safer bet; if the first was too hard, Silksong is unlikely to feel easier.

Speedrunning is a niche interest, but it's one reason the game keeps an active following. For most buyers, though, a single thorough run is the realistic expectation.

Prices across Steam and the eShop

When checked on 3 November 2026, Silksong cost £16.75 on both Steam UK and the Nintendo UK eShop. The Nintendo UK eShop also lists a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.

• On Steam it runs on Windows, Mac and Linux.
• Steam UK showed no demo when checked.
• It is also listed on pegi.info for PS5 and Xbox, so most current owners can play without buying new hardware.

Because the price is the same on Steam and the Nintendo UK eShop, choose the platform that suits how you play. Handheld play suits short sessions; a PC or TV may suit long boss attempts.

£16.75 measured in weeks and early exits

Silksong is often played in focused sessions, especially around tough bosses. On our estimated ranges:

• 5 hours a week: the main goal takes roughly 5 to 7 weeks, and the fuller range 8 to 12 weeks.
• 10 hours a week: the main goal takes roughly 2.5 to 3.5 weeks, and the fuller range 4 to 6 weeks.

Challenging games are often abandoned at a tough boss. On the £16.75 price:

• Stop after 5 hours and you paid about £3.35 per hour.
• Stop after 10 hours and you paid about £1.68 per hour.

Even if you stop early, the low price keeps the per-hour figure comparable with many full-price games played to the end. That makes it a relatively safe purchase for anyone curious about the genre.

At five hours a week, the main ending is roughly a month to seven weeks away, which is a long run of entertainment for less than the price of many new releases.

When the low price still isn't a bargain

Silksong is rated PEGI 7 for mild violence and fear, so the content is suitable for a broad age range, but the difficulty may not be.

• Players who get frustrated easily. Bosses and platforming require precise timing.
• People who dislike getting lost. The game expects you to explore without much hand-holding.
• Younger children. The age rating is low, but the challenge level is aimed at experienced players.

For players who do enjoy challenging platformers, though, few full games offer this many hours at this price. The per-hour figure is among the best on this site for a game with a defined ending.