Hollow Knight: Silksong
A 2D action-platformer Metroidvania where you dash through Pharloom, piercing foes with your needle, and fight towering bosses that demand dozens of attempts.
Six years late and worth the wait — Silksong is faster, meaner, and bigger than Hollow Knight, even if its early-game wall is taller than its predecessor's.
For you if
- You replayed Hollow Knight and finished the Pantheon of Hallownest, and you've been ready for more for half a decade.
- You like Metroidvanias that lean closer to action games — Hornet's tools and movement are sharper than the Knight's nail-and-soul loop.
- Punishing-but-fair difficulty, with bosses you'll fight 30+ times before clicking, sounds like the goal not the cost.
Not for you if
- You bounced off Hollow Knight in the first hour — Silksong front-loads harder bosses and zones than HK1 did at the same point.
- You want hand-holding navigation — Pharloom's map gates are less generous than Hallownest's, and side-content can be obtuse.
- The 2D Metroidvania genre as a whole isn't for you — Silksong won't convert you, however widely praised.
The beautifully crafted, challenging yet rewarding gameplay loop is what keeps players returning.
Media
What critics say
- 9/10IGN
Packed full of sharp platforming, enticing exploration, and nail-biting combat that's unapologetically challenging.
- 5/5Eurogamer
Pretty and charmingly mean-spirited, this is a game filled with revelations and genuine personality.
- 90/100PC Gamer
Silksong can be ruthless, but it's hard to pry yourself away from its haunted little world.
Before You Play
Refreshed monthlyWhat's the best early-game Crest and Tool loadout in Hollow Knight: Silksong?
Stick with the default Wanderer Crest for your first playthrough — it gives you one slot each for red (offensive), blue (utility), and yellow (passive) tools, the most flexible loadout while you're learning. Recommended early picks: Magnetite Brooch (yellow) so you don't lose Rosaries on death, Long Claw or Injector Band (blue) for reach or healing efficiency, and Conchcutter or Curvesickle (red) for ranged pressure on bosses. Save Silk for healing rather than flashy abilities — bosses usually let you land 1–2 safe hits before punishing the third.
Source: Silksong Charm Builds
Does Hollow Knight: Silksong have selectable difficulty modes?
No — Silksong has a single base difficulty with no easy/normal/hard toggle, mirroring the original Hollow Knight. Steel Soul Mode (a permadeath run unlocked after your first clear) is the harder mode for veterans, but you can't lower the baseline. The game expects you to learn boss patterns, master the Silk economy, and adapt your Crest loadout — coming in with that mindset matters more than any setting choice.
Source: GAM3S.GG Beginner's Guide
Which achievements and content are missable in Hollow Knight: Silksong?
Two of Silksong's 52 achievements are missable. "Pharloom's Welcome" requires fighting Lace at the Greymoor encounter — bypassing it via the Wormways or moving the Flea Caravan first locks the achievement. "Twisted Child" requires defeating Grand Mother Silk while cursed; unlocking the witch crest before that fight permanently breaks the path. Several true-ending paths involve hidden questlines that aren't gated by act transitions but are easy to overlook without a guide.
Source: AllThings.how Achievements Guide
Do I need to play the original Hollow Knight before Silksong?
Not strictly. Silksong takes place in a new kingdom (Pharloom) with new gameplay systems — the Crest loadout and Silk economy work differently from the first game's charm system, so you're not missing mechanical foundations. Lore-wise, Hornet's role and certain references gain depth if you've played the original, but the story is largely self-contained and signposts what newcomers need to know. Play Hollow Knight first if you're a metroidvania completionist; skip ahead if you mainly want to play Silksong now.
Source: Wikipedia
What is there to do after beating Hollow Knight: Silksong?
A lot. Silksong has multiple endings with distinct trophies — after the second ending, your save loads back into Act 3 with the main boss gone, and you can hunt down hidden bosses, complete Mister Mushroom's quest, finish Lost Lace, and chase the true ending. Steel Soul Mode (permadeath) unlocks for a second-pass challenge run, and 100% completion in Steel Soul is the toughest achievement in the game. Plenty of optional content is gated behind specific endgame paths, so a single playthrough won't see most of it.
Source: Hollow Knight Wiki Endings
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