Few indie sequels have been as much awaited as Hollow Knight: Silksong. After years of anticipation, Team Cherry’s second act is finally here, bringing us into the haunting kingdom of Pharloom with Hornet as our new protagonist. But does it live up to the legacy of Hollow Knight?
We played through a good part of the game, and our verdict is already pretty much settled!
Developer Background
For a bit of context, Silksong is once again the work of Team Cherry, the small three-person studio who made an amazing first game that became a classic. Every environment is hand-drawn in 2D, full of details and atmosphere. The soundtrack is composed by Christopher Larkin, and his music already made the melancholy beauty of Hollow Knight.
Atmosphere & World
The game takes place in Pharloom, a strange, vertical kingdom that feels both mysterious and sacred. Exploration follows the Metroidvania formula. This means platforms, interconnected areas, hidden paths, and layered backgrounds that give the world a good sense of depth.
The sound design alternates between relaxing and oppressive, increasing the mixed feeling of whimsical charm and creeping dread. We particularly loved the lush forests, chapels, and organic caverns that feel brighter and more colorful than Hollow Knight’s dark corridors, and they still hide plenty of threats.
Gameplay & Mechanics
This time, you play as Hornet, who moves faster and more fluidly than the Knight. Her combat is built around quick needle thrusts, aerial mobility, and constant movement.
Key mechanics include:
- Silk Meter: This time it is shared between healing and spellcasting, forcing you to carefully manage your resources.
- Mobility Upgrades: You can now grab ledges and pull yourself up, and that makes vertical exploration feel much smoother.
- Relics & Shops: Beads, charms, masks, and merchants return with new features.
Right from the start you get to explore caves, mysterious hubs, hidden shortcuts, and even more things that are only waiting to be discovered.
Combat & Difficulty
If you thought Hollow Knight was punishing, Silksong is much harder. There is no block or parry system, so your survival depends entirely on dodging, spacing, and timing. Bosses demand patience and pattern recognition. Chance are you will die and retry each one of them. At least we did so far, but that might just be a personal skill issue…
Fights are a bit like a “dance”, but of thrusts, dives, and counters, with victories feeling really euphoric after repeated failures. But the challenge can also be frustrating sometimes. Many enemies deal two masks of damage, and punishing difficulty spikes arrive early on. So be prepared!
Story & Characters
Hornet’s story begins with her capture by veiled insects and transport to Pharloom. After that, she meets a few pilgrims, merchants, and weird NPCs, all hinting at a sacred citadel that raises above the kingdom. Themes of captivity, faith, curses, and pilgrimage echo throughout the dialogue.
Unlike the Knight, Hornet speaks, giving her more personality and making conversations feel more real.
Strength
- Exploration: The game is open-ended, feels rewarding, and full of secrets.
- Art Direction: Silksong is much brighter, more expressive, and does not lose its mysterious side.
- Music: It is beautiful. Christopher Larkin’s best work yet.
- Movement & Pacing: Movement feels much faster and smoother, making pacing feel better as well.
- Accessibility: Benches are closer together, and bead recovery is more forgiving, and this makes it a bit more manageable.
Weaknesses
- Punishing Choices: Some design decisions feel “trollish”, like misleading paths that loop back to the start.
- Combat Mistakes: Collision damage and unreliable downward strikes can be really frustrating.
- Enemy AI: Airborne enemies can feel deliberately annoying to hit.
- Charm System: Less build diversity than expected due to category restrictions.
Our Verdict
Hollow Knight: Silksong is not a reinvention. If you are looking for a completely new game, different from the first one, this will not be the case. Take it more like a refinement. It is faster, sharper, and more colorful. It feels like Hollow Knight but on steroids, with the music, combat, exploration, and difficulty all ranking up.
Silksong may divide players, but if you are willing to embrace the challenge, it does deliver another unforgettable journey.
Global Score: 8.7/10
A worthy successor to Hollow Knight. Not flawless, but the art, music, and exploration are top-tier, making it one of the standout Metroidvania releases of this generation.
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