Hollow Knight: Silksong Review - Worth the Wait

After years of anticipation, Hollow Knight: Silksong has finally arrived, and it exceeds even the loftiest expectations. Team Cherry's sequel shifts focus to Hornet, delivering a faster-paced, more aggressive Metroidvania that builds on everything that made the original special while carving its own identity. This is essential gaming.

The Verdict

Score: 10/10

Pros:

• Hornet's movement and combat feel incredible
• Massive interconnected world with exceptional design
• Over 150 enemies and 12 major bosses
• Stunning hand-drawn art and atmospheric music
• Meaningful exploration with rewarding secrets

Cons:

• Difficulty may be too high for some players
• Map system can be confusing in complex areas
• Some late-game areas feel slightly less polished

Hornet's Journey

Silksong follows Hornet, the princess-protector of Hallownest, as she awakens in Pharloom, a kingdom of silk and song. Captured and brought to this strange land, Hornet must ascend from the depths to reach the kingdom's peak. The narrative is told through environmental storytelling, NPC interactions, and cryptic lore, maintaining the mysterious atmosphere that defined Hollow Knight.

Hornet's characterization is excellent. Unlike the silent Knight, she speaks and interacts with the world, providing personality without sacrificing the game's contemplative tone. Her determination and wit shine through dialogue, making her a compelling protagonist. The story explores themes of duty, identity, and the cost of protection.

Combat and Movement

Hornet plays dramatically differently from the Knight. Her needle provides faster attacks with less range, encouraging aggressive close-quarters combat. The thread mechanic allows binding enemies, creating strategic opportunities. Her movement is more acrobatic, with wall-running, aerial dashes, and the ability to use silk to swing across gaps.

Combat feels incredible. Hornet's speed demands quick reflexes and precise timing. The parry system rewards perfect blocks with counterattack opportunities. Tools (Silksong's equivalent to charms) provide abilities that dramatically change playstyle. The Weavers Needle offers ranged attacks, while the Pimpillo provides healing at the cost of offensive power. Build variety encourages experimentation.

World Design

Pharloom is massive, featuring over a dozen distinct regions. The Moss Grotto introduces basic mechanics with lush vegetation and friendly inhabitants. The Coral Cascades present underwater sections with unique movement challenges. The Bonebottom features industrial machinery and hostile environments. Each area has distinct visual identity, enemy types, and navigation challenges.

The interconnected world design is masterful. Shortcuts unlock as you progress, creating satisfying moments of recognition. Secrets are hidden everywhere—behind breakable walls, in obscure passages, and through clever use of abilities. The sense of discovery rivals the original game, with each new area offering surprises and challenges.

Boss Battles

Silksong features 12 major bosses, each a masterclass in design. Lace, encountered early, establishes the game's aggressive combat philosophy with relentless attacks and minimal recovery windows. The Moss Mother provides a multi-phase spectacle with environmental hazards. Each boss feels unique, with attack patterns that are challenging but fair.

Optional bosses offer extreme challenges for skilled players. These encounters test mastery of mechanics and reward completion with powerful tools and lore. The difficulty is significant—expect to die repeatedly while learning patterns. The satisfaction of finally overcoming these challenges is immense.

Exploration and Progression

Progression follows the Metroidvania formula with new abilities unlocking previously inaccessible areas. The Weavers Wing allows double jumping, while the Spike ability enables wall climbing. Each new ability opens multiple paths, encouraging backtracking to discover secrets. The game respects player intelligence, rarely explicitly telling you where to go.

The map system returns with improvements. Cartographers sell maps for each region, which you must fill in through exploration. Markers can be placed to note points of interest. However, complex areas with multiple layers can be confusing to navigate. The lack of fast travel (except for specific locations) emphasizes the journey but can make backtracking tedious.

Tools and Customization

Tools replace charms, providing passive abilities and active skills. The system is more flexible, allowing switching tools at benches without cost. Tools have synergies that encourage specific builds. The Thorn of Agony provides damage reflection, while the Weavers Song summons allies. Experimentation is encouraged, with no objectively best loadout.

Rosaries (Silksong's equivalent to soul) power special abilities. Managing rosary during combat adds strategic depth—using powerful abilities leaves you vulnerable if you run out. The balance between offense and resource management creates engaging moment-to-moment decisions.

Visual and Audio Design

Silksong is visually stunning. The hand-drawn art style features incredible detail and fluid animation. Character designs are memorable and distinct. Environmental storytelling through visual details creates atmosphere without explicit exposition. The game runs smoothly across all platforms, maintaining 60fps even during chaotic encounters.

Christopher Larkin's soundtrack is exceptional. Each region has distinct musical themes that enhance atmosphere. The Moss Grotto's peaceful melodies contrast with the Bonebottom's industrial sounds. Boss themes are memorable and intense, perfectly complementing the encounters. The sound design for combat and abilities provides satisfying feedback.

Difficulty and Accessibility

Silksong is challenging, potentially more so than Hollow Knight. Enemies are aggressive, bosses are relentless, and platforming sections demand precision. The game provides difficulty options including assist mode with adjustable parameters. However, even on easier settings, the game demands skill and patience.

For players who struggled with Hollow Knight's difficulty, Silksong may be frustrating. The game is designed for players who enjoy overcoming challenges through practice and mastery. Those willing to persevere will find immense satisfaction, but it's not for everyone.

Content and Replayability

A first playthrough takes 25-35 hours depending on exploration thoroughness. Completionists will spend 50+ hours finding all secrets and completing optional challenges. Multiple endings encourage replays to see different outcomes. Speedrun modes and boss rush provide additional content for dedicated players.

Technical Performance

Silksong runs excellently across all platforms. PC version supports ultrawide monitors and uncapped frame rates. Switch version maintains stable performance in both docked and handheld modes. Load times are minimal on all platforms. Some minor bugs exist at launch, but nothing game-breaking.

Value Proposition

At $29.99, Silksong offers exceptional value. The content rivals many full-priced games, and the quality is consistently high. For fans of Metroidvanias or challenging action games, this is essential. Even players new to the genre will find a masterfully crafted experience, though the difficulty may be daunting.

Final Thoughts

Hollow Knight: Silksong is a masterpiece that justifies its lengthy development. Team Cherry has created a sequel that honors the original while establishing its own identity. Hornet is a fantastic protagonist, the world is beautifully crafted, and the combat is some of the best in the genre. This is essential gaming that will be remembered as one of the greatest Metroidvanias ever made.