Hollow Knight: Silksong vs Mina the Hollower
Both are pixel-art action adventures with punishing difficulty, but only one is a 28-hour Metroidvania and the other an 18-hour top-down burrower.
Updated 8d ago
Hornet's pogo-and-dash silk kit moves better than the original's, and 40 hours at $20 is absurd value — unless you bounce off punishing boss timing.
Mina's burrow-and-whip combat dethrones its Game Boy inspirations — essential for retro action fans.
By the numbers
Prices checked Sep 9; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Sep 9.
| Measure | Hollow Knight: Silksong | Mina the Hollower |
|---|---|---|
| Value Hollow Knight: Silksong wins on value | ||
| Price now | $19.99 Microsoft Store | $19.99 Steam |
| All-time low | $14.99 | $17.99 |
| Cost / hour | $0.71/hr $19.99 · 28 h main story | $1.09/hr $19.99 · 18 h main story |
| Off its low | +33% low was May 2026 | +11% low was Aug 2026 |
| Main story | 28 h | 18 h |
| Health Hollow Knight: Silksong wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 89% 423k reviews | 88% 9k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 91% 4k votes · vs 89% lifetime | 82% 296 votes · vs 88% lifetime · souring |
| Peak players | 12,305 Aug 2026 · ↓ 10% MoM | 641 Aug 2026 · ↓ 59% MoM |
| Launch peak | 3% of Sep 2025 launch peak · as of Aug 2026 | — |
| All-time peak | 462,134 Sep 2025 | 8,760 Jun 2026 · now at 7% |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 6 months ago | 2 months ago |
| Patch cadence | 0 in last 90 days | 6 in last 90 days |
| Steam Deck | Platinum | Platinum |
Shared scale — same months across the bottom, same player-count axis up the side, so the two lines are directly comparable. A shorter line means a younger game.
What players say
Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Hornet's silk-tool kit—pogo, wall-cling, and the needling dash—keeps veterans experimenting well past hour 100, with the movement system called smoother than the original.
from our August 2026 verdict
Mina the Hollower
The burrow-and-whip combat loop is the hook that genre veterans keep returning to.
The initial difficulty spike is the biggest friction point for new players.
from our July 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick Hollow Knight: Silksong if
- You consider map-reading a hobby and loved Hollow Knight's dead-eyed charm.
- You own a Nintendo Switch and want a 40-hour exploration epic on a budget.
- You prefer bosses with clear telegraphs and punishing punishes over forgiving platforming.
Pick Mina the Hollower if
- You enjoy front-loaded difficulty that rewards persistence without hand-holding.
- You appreciate pixel-art authenticity with modern smoothness and 60fps combat.
- You're a Yacht Club fan eager for their next game after Shovel Knight.
Bottom line
Pick Silksong for a 28-hour Metroidvania with 89% positive reviews and under $1 per hour; choose Mina for an 18-hour top-down adventure with active patches, unless you avoid unexplained mechanics.