Hollow Knight: Silksong review

Pharloom’s First Punch

After years of memes, speculation, and hype, Silksong smacks fans awake, not with a warm “welcome back,” but with “hold my silk.” From the moment Hornet lands in Pharloom, the game pummels you with vibrancy, speed, and zero mercy. Colors pop like neon in a bug-infested fever dream, and everything about Hornet—her animations, her jumps, her needle-thin focus—feels refined and relentless.

Hollow Knight: Silksong Review- Silk Gauge The All-Or-Nothing Gamble

Healing used to be safe. Not anymore. The Silk gauge is this beautiful, pulsing life-line. Want to heal multiple masks? That’s gonna cost your whole gauge, and if you get hit mid-heal, you lose it all. It’s bold. It’s punishing. It makes healing feel like a heist: risky, urgent, exhilarating.

Combat & Movement: Rhythm of Precision

Hornet’s new moves are sharp, snappy, and oh so fluid. Her diagonal dive replaces the old pogo, demanding that you learn new muscle memory quickly or risk getting clipped trying. Enemies hit harder now—some smack you for two whole masks right off the bat. Combat isn’t about playing safe; it’s about weaving, mastering momentum, and striking with purpose.

Quest Overhaul and a World Wired With Purpose

Pharloom isn’t just a map, it’s a living puzzle. The new quest system, Gather, Hunt, Wayfarer, and Grand Hunt, not only keeps you moving forward but threads purpose into every corner. Add in crest/tool customization, and the loop beats stronger: fight, craft, upgrade, repeat with every choice reflecting your style.

Difficulty: Spice, Not Just Burn

If the original was a slow burn, Hollow Knight: Silksong is a flamethrower. Bosses land earlier and hit like freight trains. Platforming is tighter, punishing, and so satisfying when you string it together. It’s not unfair, it’s fierce. And for the players who crave that burn, it’s sublime.

Launch Day Madness

Fans chanted, and Silksong delivered—not just gameplay, but chaos. At launch, digital storefronts struggled to keep up with demand. Errors, crashes, “retry” loops, everyone got a stress test. But eventually, we all broke through, and the game that broke the internet earned every heartbeat.

Polish, Presentation & Audio

Visually, Silksong dazzles. Hand-drawn art pops. Areas feel alive, unique, and emotionally textured. The soundtrack? It’s haunting, urgent, and perfectly in sync with Hornet’s wild pace. When music, movement, and art align, it doesn’t just pull you in; it roars.

Minor Rough Edges

Yes, the learning curve is steep. Diagonal pogo takes practice. Enemies early on deal double damage in ways that can sting even vets. Some crest combos feel like they need better guidance. But honestly? Those rough edges are part of the charm, not bugs, but challenge designs asking, “Are you in?”

Value & Verdict

Priced fairly and packed to the threads with content, Silksong isn’t just a sequel; it’s a statement. If you adore tight Metroidvania combat, punishing mechanics, and gorgeous worlds that demand exploration, this is your adrenaline shot.

‘Hollow Knight: Silksong’ review Final Score: 9/10

Hollow Knight: Silksong isn’t about being hollow; it’s about being sharp, alive, and daring. If you fell in love with Hollow Knight, this sequel pays back every cent of that devotion with interest. And if you’re new? Be warned: this world is beautiful, brutal, and absolutely unforgettable.

FAQs

**What makes Silksong different from the original Hollow Knight?**

Silksong amps everything up. You play as Hornet faster, more agile, and packing acrobatic flair. The Silk gauge replaces Soul healing; healing is riskier, quests are meaningful, tools/crests let you build your playstyle, and Pharloom is bigger, brighter, and constructed for speed.

Where and when did it launch—and is it on Game Pass?

The game launched on September 4, 2025 on PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox One/Series, and PlayStation. And yes, it was Day One on Xbox Game Pass.

How brutal is the difficulty curve?

Challenge mode engaged. Bosses land early and hit like trains. Many regular enemies now deal double-mask damage—the kind of blow that hits hard, fast, and demands instant precision. It’s a steep curve, but for the thrill-seeker, it’s ecstasy.

How does healing with the Silk gauge work?

Fill your Silk bar by defeating enemies, then trigger Bind to heal multiple health masks at once. Doesn’t sound risky until you get hit mid-heal and lose it all. Still, when it works? Liquid adrenaline.

Is there a quest or progression system now?

Absolutely. Silksong has a proper quest system (“Wishes”) categorized into Gather, Hunt, Wayfarer, and Grand Hunt. Each one nudges you into new zones, bosses, or upgrades—but doesn’t rail you. It keeps the world both structured and open.

How big is Silksong compared to Hollow Knight?

Way bigger. Over 200 new enemies, 40+ bosses, and about 100 benches. Areas like Greymoor push Silksong into genuinely vast Metroidvania territory.

Did launch day go smoothly?

Far from it. Storefronts across Steam, Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox loaded up, crashed, and tested our patience. But fans eventually broke through, and the chaos just proved how hyped we all were.

Is there a Hollow Knight: Silksong physical edition?

Digital went live on all platforms, but physical copies are scheduled to be released later, starting in 2026, for the Switch (and Switch 2). No exact dates yet for PlayStation or Xbox physical editions.

**Is it okay to stream or monetize Silksong content?**

Team Cherry designed it that way. Stream, YouTube, Let’s Plays monetize freely. Make fan art or merch in small batches? That’s cool too, as long as it’s fair game and not mass-produced by big businesses.

**Do I need to play Hollow Knight before Silksong?**

Nope. Silksong stands on its own, but if you loved Hollow Knight, you’ll catch so many extra beats. Fans will get the nods. Newcomers get a stunning (and tough) introduction to Hornet’s world.