I keep getting lost

[Danger Dwarf]

So, I've made a few attempts in this game, but I've never made it very far, but this time around I decided to sit down and really give it a go, but the issue is that I keep getting lost. Early in the game I found an with spikes on the walls and used my nail to jump up. I fought a boss called brooding mawlek (and false knight and the giant mother bug at around the same time I think I just can't remember what I killed first). Eventually I fought hornet and got dash and kept going lower in. I got the light from the shopkeeper and went to the resting grounds and got the dream nail. I kept looking for this city where you can supposedly get a better nail, but never found it, so I fought the mantis lords, and now I'm stuck in Deepnest wondering what to do. I feel like I've been going in the complete wrong direction since I've started.

[Pckables]

The only "wrong direction" is a dead end. As long as you're discovering items and abilities, you're making progress.

Hollow Knight is a metroidvania, meaning it's not linear. You may have made it all the way to the Deep Nest, but that doesn't mean its your only destination, nor even possible to beat yet.

Look at your map (and use the "You Are Here" charm) and check at paths you may have ignored or didn't have the ability to explore in previous areas. Use colored map pins from the store to mark areas you want to remember for later. Just explore as much as you want, theres always something at the end of a path.

If you still need a little bit of direction:
You can reach the City from the Fungal Wastes

[playeri]

the game takes a lot of exploring, just remember your inventory map and if you have to there are spoilers on many sites, if you don't want spoilers you don't have to look, but most people said its a 50-60 hour game without them when it first came out, and there have been updates since, so no telling now.

I'm about 20 or so hours into my first play myself and am a bit farther than you, but not much.

Remember in metroidvania type games areas are often reused, so you might have to revisit places after getting certain powerups or defeating a boss.

[mdesaleah]

Welcome to Metroidvania. You’re supposed to get lost, that’s why people enjoy the genre

[Nibbie]

The next direction you should probably go is the east side of the Fungal Wastes, with the Mantis Hook you can access that area now.

[✯ El Juancho]

bro you have a map, how the F are you getting lost LMAO

[PhyreMatrix]

I've found that the map markers are a great resource to keep track of where I can't go. Every time I reach a dead end I'll use a red marker to know to come back to it when my powers increase. I also keep track of the dream bosses I need to kill with a different color. This greatly reduces the amount of areas you can travel to making it easier to find areas you CAN access and come back to those you can't later.

[Cockroach]

Just keep trying those entrances you see on the map that lead to an area where you don't have a map yet. When you get new abilities it unlocks those areas, this includes the starting areas.
I'd agree with the other poster, the only wrong direction is a dead end

[Cotoi]

Originally posted by Pckables:

The only "wrong direction" is a dead end.[/spoiler]

yea, exept when you got in an area where you can't come back and do not have the required skill unloked to get out and you willl need to start another game and delete the current one.

[ramonpontes]

Originally posted by Cotoi:

Originally posted by Pckables:

The only "wrong direction" is a dead end.[/spoiler]

yea, exept when you got in an area where you can't come back and do not have the required skill unloked to get out and you willl need to start another game and delete the current one.

There is no such place. Just name the place you got stuck. There is always a way to get back.

[(Edgy) Asriel Dreemurr]

Originally posted by Cotoi:

Originally posted by Pckables:

The only "wrong direction" is a dead end.[/spoiler]

yea, exept when you got in an area where you can't come back and do not have the required skill unloked to get out and you willl need to start another game and delete the current one.

The only time they do that is in small areas that lead to the ability you need in order to escape.

[Cotoi]

Originally posted by (Edgy) Asriel Dreemurr:

Originally posted by Cotoi:

yea, exept when you got in an area where you can't come back and do not have the required skill unloked to get out and you willl need to start another game and delete the current one.

The only time they do that is in small areas that lead to the ability you need in order to escape.

not really, I am not talking about that, I am talking about stuff like Crystal city where you can't go back and you need dash to advance, if you don't have the dash, guess who will start the game all over

[PalmTree]

Originally posted by Cotoi:

Originally posted by (Edgy) Asriel Dreemurr:

The only time they do that is in small areas that lead to the ability you need in order to escape.

not really, I am not talking about that, I am talking about stuff like Crystal city where you can't go back and you need dash to advance, if you don't have the dash, guess who will start the game all over

You can't get to the Crystal Peak or City of Tears without the Dash. No idea what you're talking about. Unless you somehow broke the game, what you're talking about is impossible.

[PlaymateXxx]

Remember the places or entrnaces you've been visited and you will not lost. Buy maps, compass charm(i forgot the name) then equip it so you can track your location.