| Game Title: | Hollow Knight: Silksong |
| Developer: | Team Cherry |
| Publisher: | Team Cherry |
| Release Date: | September 4, 2025 |
| Platforms: | PC, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S |
Team Cherry set an incredibly high bar with the original Hollow Knight, a game that redefined the metroidvania genre and has remained the gold standard ever since. After seven long years of waiting, filled with excitement, curiosity, and even moments of doubt, Hollow Knight: Silksong has finally arrived. The wait was grueling but the payoff is nothing short of extraordinary.
This is not just a sequel. It feels like a reimagining, a fresh masterpiece that stands distinct while still rooted in the DNA of the original. Silksong builds upon the foundation laid by Hollow Knight with a level of refinement and ambition that elevates nearly every aspect of the experience.
Chapter 1 – A Distinct Yet Familiar Journey
At its heart, Silksong captures what made the first game so beloved while charting its own path. The shift in perspective, guiding Hornet upward through a world of ascension rather than descending ever deeper as the Knight once did, gives the game a thematic freshness. It is still dark, mysterious, and haunting, but beneath that shadow lies a glimmer of hope that permeates the journey.
The hand drawn art style, one of the series most iconic hallmarks, returns in stunning fashion. Gothic architecture looms large, intricate and oppressive, while beautifully detailed sprites animate every movement with grace. The environments feel alive, grand yet melancholic, offering both awe and unease in equal measure. Silksong does not abandon its dark fantasy roots but adds a sense of light and growth that perfectly matches Hornet’s narrative arc.
1.1 Music and Sound Design
Christopher Larkin’s score is breathtaking. Every note feels deliberate, as though the world itself breathes through the music. Gentle and contemplative tracks guide you through moments of quiet exploration, while thunderous orchestral compositions turn boss battles into monumental duels.
Leitmotifs weave through the soundtrack, connecting locations and characters with recurring emotional threads. From heart wrenching melodies to pulse pounding climaxes, the score amplifies every emotion the game evokes. As a gift to fans, Larkin released the full soundtrack on YouTube right after launch, allowing players to relive the journey outside the game itself.
1.2 Higher Budget in Sight
From the very first step Hornet takes, it becomes clear that Team Cherry has pushed the production value far beyond its predecessor. Every detail in the world feels alive. When Hornet steps on moss-covered ground, the moss gently sways in response, creating a sense of presence that was never there before. Hornet’s animations are also much more expressive. Her movements are graceful, agile, and elegant, turning every action into something that feels like a dance.
The enemies in Silksong feel more alive than ever. Even in the opening act, the variety of designs is striking. Each enemy comes with its own movement style, unique attacks, and more complex animations. Combat feels more engaging as a result, pushing players to adapt and learn patterns instead of relying only on reflexes. One of the biggest changes from Hollow Knight is that Hornet can now speak with NPCs. This simple adjustment transforms the way players experience the world. Conversations reveal new layers of characterization and give Hornet more personality. From a lore perspective, this choice makes sense.
In the first game the Knight was intentionally silent, following the “JRPG-Esqued” mute protagonist design. Hornet, on the other hand, had already spoken before, and her voice now brings more weight to the narrative. Side quests expand this idea further. NPCs ask for personal favors, and completing them often rewards you with new tools, upgrades, currency, or even special keepsakes that connect to the lore. This system enriches exploration and builds stronger emotional ties with the characters you meet.
1.2 Quality of Life Improvements
Exploration has also received major improvements. Cornifer may no longer be with us, but his absence is softened by the arrival of Shakra, a warrior searching for her missing master. Just like Cornifer, Shakra provides maps and pins, but instead of a cheerful hum, she greets players with a gentle song whenever you enter a new area. Because she is also a fighter, she sometimes lends a hand in battle, making her role feel more connected to the journey.
Quality-of-life features also make a big difference. Purchased maps now show entire areas right away, with the exception of hidden sections. Explored parts of the map are highlighted in distinct colors, making it easy to see where you have been and what is still uncharted. This is especially important because Silksong is massive, and revisiting old areas almost always leads to new discoveries.
In Hollow Knight: Silksong, the economy works differently than in the first game. Instead of Geo, the main currency here is Rosaries. At first glance, this change may not seem drastic, but it completely reshapes the flow of progression, especially in the early hours. During the opening level, I quickly noticed that enemies did not drop Rosaries. Instead, they dropped Shards, which are used for crafting tools. While crafting feels rewarding in its own way, it creates an early challenge because Rosaries are required for essential progression. Resting points, which act as your checkpoints, need Rosaries to unlock. On top of that, key items like maps and simple keys also come with Rosary price tags.
This design choice makes the early game feel like a grind. Progression is slowed because you are constantly balancing between collecting crafting materials and saving up Rosaries. It demands a different mindset than Hollow Knight. Instead of spending freely, you are forced to plan carefully, prioritize purchases, and manage your deaths more strategically. Losing Rosaries to a bad fall or an unlucky encounter stings even more than losing Geo in the first game.
That said, there are ways around the initial struggle. Grinding is always an option, and once you learn enemy routes or hidden farming spots, it becomes easier to build up a small stockpile. Over time, the system pushes you to become more efficient with your runs and smarter about risk-taking. In a way, it adds another layer of tension that fits the unforgiving world of Silksong.
While the Rosary system can feel punishing at first, it also adds depth to resource management. Every purchase matters, and every death carries weight. For some, this will be frustrating. For others, it is exactly what makes Silksong’s design so compelling.
Chapter 2 – Gameplay Overview
Hollow Knight has always been my all-time favorite game. Just a week before Silksong’s release, I went back and completed Hollow Knight at 112 percent, including all the additional Godmaster content. That gave me a proper baseline to say that Silksong feels distinct, even if you already know the mechanics of Hollow Knight inside and out. Team Cherry has managed to design a sequel that gives both veterans and newcomers a fresh perspective.
Within the first two hours, Silksong immediately shows a cleaner, more intuitive pacing compared to the original. Hornet’s movement is faster, more agile, and more fluid than the Knight’s, and early navigation feels smooth even without upgrades. This makes the game far easier to pick up in its opening hours compared to Hollow Knight, where progression was deliberately more restrictive.
2.1 The Evolution of Pogo Mechanics
One of the most striking changes comes in the pogo system. In Hollow Knight, you had only one type of downward attack pogo. Silksong adds diagonal pogo from the start. At first, it seems like a small tweak, but it drastically changes platforming and combat strategies.
If you are used to Hollow Knight’s classic down-attack pogo, you will need to adapt. The diagonal pogo requires precise movement and needs to land on specific hitboxes to trigger the bounce animation. That bounce gives you a few extra frames to reach higher platforms, but mastering it takes time.
Team Cherry does not stop there. Silksong introduces the Crest system, which lets you customize your playstyle. With crests like Reaper and Wanderer, you can alter your pogo approach. The Reaper Crest provides a slower startup but stronger down pogo, while Wanderer Crest trades range for faster attack speed. This system creates new layers of experimentation, letting players adapt their tools to both platforming and combat. Early on, I found myself struggling with my usual Hollow Knight strategies, but gradually rewiring my approach became one of the most rewarding parts of Silksong.
2.2 Crest Pane and Tools
The familiar charm system is now replaced by Crest Panes, which can be slotted with different tools. Unlike charms, which had more strict limitations, Crest Panes emphasize optimization. Yellow crests enhance utility, offering trinkets like map markers or tools that deal double damage. Blue crests lean toward defense, while red crests expand your offensive arsenal with new weapons.
Each Crest Pane is tied to the crest you choose, which creates a flexible, player-driven system. This customization feels like a natural evolution from charms, giving more freedom to shape your build.
2.3 Movement and Speedrunning Potential
From a pure gameplay standpoint, Silksong’s movement is where the game truly shines. Hornet is faster and more responsive, making exploration exhilarating. Items like Silkspeed Anklets and Flea Brew emphasize this agility, allowing you to chain speed boosts into attacks. Diagonal pogoing also doubles as a rapid vertical drop, making platforming smoother and faster.
Even basic dashing can be pushed to new extremes. Bunny hopping with short jumps and dashes quickly becomes addictive, especially when combined with speed-boosting items. The addition of the Drifter Cloak, which lets Hornet glide safely or ride gusts of air, further enriches vertical exploration. These tools open the door for a speedrunning scene that will likely surpass what we saw with Hollow Knight.
2.4 Combat, Healing, and Difficulty
Silksong changes the way healing works too. Using Silk, which you regain by attacking enemies, Hornet heals three masks at once. This feels powerful, but it comes with a catch, the enemies now, are far more aggressive and deal heavier damage. Many foes and traps deal two masks of damage, even early in the game. Combined with platforming challenges, this creates a higher difficulty spike than Hollow Knight’s slower introduction.
For this reason, I would not recommend Silksong as an entry point for new players unfamiliar with 2D precision platformers. The game was originally planned as a DLC before becoming a full sequel, and that heritage shows in its design. Silksong assumes you already know the rhythm of a metroidvania and challenges you immediately.
This is also why some players may drop the game or turn to difficulty mods. Personally, I prefer the tougher progression curve. Overcoming early hurdles like Hunter’s March sets the stage for the rest of the game and builds the skills needed for later acts. Team Cherry’s level design feels intentional here, steadily preparing you for greater challenges.
For fans of tight platforming, Silksong is relentless in the best way. Some of the early-game upgrades are gated behind tricky platforming trials with strict timing, yet those upgrades are essential for both exploration and boss fights. It can feel punishing, but the payoff is worth it.
Despite its difficulty spikes, Silksong is incredibly addictive. The constant push to master new mechanics, coupled with the freedom of movement, kept me glued to the screen for hours on end. It is the kind of game where frustration and exhilaration live side by side, and victory feels sweeter because of the struggle.
Chapter 3 – Final Verdict
Hollow Knight: Silksong carries incredible replay value. Speaking as someone who has played countless games in the same genre, I am genuinely amazed at the depth Team Cherry has packed into this experience. If the original Hollow Knight already felt massive, requiring hundreds of hours to uncover all of its secrets, Silksong pushes that scale even further.
The potential here for speedrunning and challenge runs is enormous. Mastery in this game will demand patience and dedication, but it is the kind of mastery that feels rewarding to pursue over and over again. Beyond achievements, there are boss patterns to memorize for no-hit runs, intricate mechanics to optimize, and countless moments that test both skill and persistence.
For me, Silksong is special. It is the kind of game I can see myself playing for years to come, just like I did with Hollow Knight. Seven years of waiting has delivered an experience that could easily sustain another seven years of exploration, experimentation, and mastery. That is how deep it goes.
That is why I firmly believe Silksong deserves a 10 out of 10. The gameplay mechanics are complex yet thrilling to learn, punishing but fair, challenging but always rewarding.It sets itself apart from Hollow Knight while honoring its legacy.
It will not be for everyone. Newcomers may find the difficulty harsh, and veterans will need to unlearn some habits from the first game. But for players willing to adapt, Silksong offers one of the most rewarding and addictive experiences in recent memory.
