After six years of near-mythical anticipation, Hollow Knight: Silksong finally released on September 4th, 2025 across Linux, macOS, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. Developed by the tiny Australian studio Team Cherry, the sequel to 2017’s Hollow Knight arrived with the weight of one of gaming’s longest-running “will it ever come out” jokes — and somehow, it delivered.
From DLC to Full Sequel
Silksong wasn’t always meant to be its own game. It started life as planned downloadable content for the original Hollow Knight, but the scope kept growing until Team Cherry announced in February 2019 that it would become a full standalone sequel instead. That decision turned out to be the right one — what shipped in 2025 is a sprawling, fully-realized Metroidvania that easily stands on its own next to the original.
Hornet’s Journey Through Pharloom
This time you’re playing as Hornet, Hallownest’s former princess-protector, who is captured early on and transported to the unfamiliar kingdom of Pharloom. Pharloom is a ruined religious nation afflicted by “the Haunting” — a madness that reanimates the corpses of its bugs through corrupted Silk. After escaping her captors and falling into the Moss Grotto, Hornet — a descendant of the ancient Weavers — sets out to climb toward the Citadel at Pharloom’s summit to uncover why she was taken in the first place, meeting a colorful cast of pilgrims and NPCs along the way.
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Gameplay: Faster, More Acrobatic, More Tools
The core 2D platforming and combat loop will feel immediately familiar to Hollow Knight veterans, but Hornet moves with noticeably more acrobatic flair than the original Knight — she heals faster, and traversal options like the Drifter’s Cloak (for catching updrafts and slow-falling), the Cling Grip wall climb, and the Silk Soar vertical Needle launch open up exploration in new ways. Equippable Tools are split into passive (blue and yellow) and active (orange) categories, letting you customize Hornet’s loadout around your playstyle. Side-quests, called “Wishes,” are tracked through a dedicated menu and handed out by NPCs or quest boards scattered across Pharloom — adding a layer of structure the original game largely lacked.
Reception: Acclaimed, But Brutally Hard
Silksong received widespread acclaim for its graphics, soundtrack, story, and world design, with critics largely agreeing it lives up to — and in some areas surpasses — its predecessor. The one major point of debate has been its difficulty: opinions are split on whether the game’s notoriously punishing boss fights and platforming challenges are a thrilling step up or simply too unforgiving for newcomers. Commercially, there’s no debate — the game had sold over seven million copies by mid-December 2025, with millions more playing it through Xbox Game Pass.
Final Verdict
Six years of waiting, and Hollow Knight: Silksong still managed to exceed expectations. Hornet’s new traversal toolkit makes exploring Pharloom feel even better than navigating Hallownest did, the Wishes system gives structure to its world without feeling intrusive, and the soundtrack and art direction are as gorgeous as ever. Just go in prepared — this is one of the hardest games Team Cherry has ever made, and it doesn’t pull any punches. If you loved the original Hollow Knight, this is an essential, if punishing, follow-up.
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