After years of waiting, Hollow Knight: Silksong finally arrived, and within minutes of launch, it was clear just how much anticipation surrounded it. Servers across platforms went down under the weight of demand, and for good reason. Silksong takes the foundations of Hollow Knight and expands them into a larger, sharper, and more ambitious experience that both fans and newcomers can enjoy.
The first hours establish the tone well. Hornet immediately feels different from the Knight — more agile, expressive, and combat-focused — and Pharloom itself is a vibrant, dangerous kingdom filled with character. Areas like Moss Grotto show off Team Cherry’s refined art direction, while the expanded NPC interactions and Hornet’s voiced personality add a new layer to the atmosphere. The presentation shines across the board, from the hand-drawn visuals to the orchestral score that shifts naturally between calm exploration and frantic battles. It feels familiar yet distinct, a world worth getting lost in.
Gameplay
Hornet’s mobility is the most immediate difference. She is faster, more agile, and better equipped for fluid exploration. Dashing, slashing, and throwing daggers all feel smooth, and her dialogue gives the game a slightly more present tone without losing the quiet mystery that defined the original. She’s not overly talkative, but she offers just enough commentary to ground you in her perspective.
Exploration has been improved in meaningful ways. The map is easier to track from the start, removing some of the frustrations from Hollow Knight’s opening hours, while still keeping the thrill of venturing into unknown spaces. Pharloom offers more branching paths earlier, which encourages curiosity and makes progression feel flexible. Secrets, quests, and environmental storytelling give the world density, and it’s easy to see how players will be uncovering hidden corners for dozens of hours.
Combat is the other major shift. Hornet’s needle and acrobatics create a faster pace compared to the Knight’s more grounded style. The crest system and secondary tools add options that can significantly alter how fights play out, though early on they feel restrictive since you have to choose between basic utilities like keeping a compass equipped or gaining extra resources. Boss design is strong, often punishing but rarely unfair. My run through the early acts included some brutal stretches — a fight against the Last Judge comes with a long, enemy-filled runback that tested both patience and skill — but the learning curve is steady, and victory feels earned.
Where some concern starts to creep in is the “tools” system, which limits the number of abilities you can equip at once. Early game choices can feel restrictive, like having to choose between a working compass or other passive buffs. There’s a question of whether this will eventually evolve into a meaningful build system or just a frustrating limitation. Similarly, while charms are now color-coded and tied to slot types, it’s too early to tell if this system supports real diversity or leads to clearly optimal builds.
Review
Not everything works perfectly. The game’s economy, centered around rosaries, can feel unrewarding. Dying twice in quick succession often means losing large amounts of currency, and while there are systems to bank or mitigate losses, the costs of saving progress or unlocking fast travel spots sometimes pile up unfairly. Combined with traps that can strip multiple health points in one mistake, this side of the progression loop feels harsher than it needs to be. Some players may also find the difficulty spikes discouraging, though for many, they will be part of the appeal.
Despite these frustrations, Silksong succeeds in being more than just a sequel. It smooths out the rough edges of Hollow Knight’s early hours, introduces new layers of depth through tools and combat variety, and delivers a world that feels alive with detail. Its challenges are demanding but rewarding, and its atmosphere is unmatched in the genre.
