Working out how to unlock Act 3 in Hollow Knight: Silksong is rather tricky, and in fact, requires you to complete a big chunk of extra side content beyond simply battling your way up to the top of The Citadel and fighting the final boss. To unlock Act 3, you first have to complete the Silk and Soul quest, a special wish you get from the Caretaker of Songclave upon meeting certain requirements.
There were a lot of misconceptions around this quest's unlock conditions when the game launched, claiming you had to beat the final boss of Act 2 and complete all side content, which isn't true at all. Below I'll walk you through the exact requirements to unlock Silk and Soul, plus list every wish you need to complete. While most side content remains available, Act 3 does make the game harder, especially gauntlet battles, so you might want to take your time and finish side content first.
