Hollow Knight: Silksong is the highly anticipated sequel to Hollow Knight, delivering an expansive metroidvania experience with improved combat fluidity, a beautiful hand-painted world, and a rich soundtrack. Players control Hornet, who offers a more agile and nimble playstyle compared to the original Knight, with diverse builds enabled by crests and tools. The game features over 40 bosses, intricate platforming, and a large world to explore, with a story that is more accessible due to Hornet's voiced interactions.
However, Silksong is notably more challenging and punishing than its predecessor. Common frustrations include lengthy boss runbacks, scarce resources, and an artificial difficulty spike caused by enemies dealing double damage and high health pools. Some quests feel like tedious fetch tasks, and the economy demands grinding. The design choices around difficulty and progression may alienate casual players, making it a game best suited for dedicated metroidvania and soulslike enthusiasts. Despite these criticisms, many players hail it as a masterpiece and a strong contender for game of the year.
Players praise Silksong for its fluid and responsive combat mechanics, with Hornet's agility providing a fresh and exciting gameplay feel. The art direction and hand-crafted environments are lauded as stunning and immersive, complemented by Christopher Larkin's exceptional soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere. The game's storytelling and character development are more accessible and engaging than the original, with memorable NPCs and lore. The sheer scope and content including over 40 bosses and vast exploration areas offer a rewarding experience for genre fans.
Common criticisms focus on the game's high difficulty and frustrating design choices, such as lengthy and repetitive boss runbacks, which disrupt pacing. The scarcity of resources like rosaries and shards leads to tedious grinding. Many players find the double damage enemies and large health pools create an artificial difficulty spike that is punishing rather than skill-based. The quest system includes tedious fetch quests that detract from exploration enjoyment. Some bosses and areas are perceived as unfair or overly tedious, and the limited charm (crest) system restricts build variety. The game’s design is seen as less accessible to casual players, favoring a perfectionist, hardcore audience.
Discover a vast, haunted kingdom in Hollow Knight: Silksong! Explore, fight and survive as you ascend to the peak of a land ruled by silk and song.