Hollow Knight: Silksong – A Hauntingly Beautiful Evolution

After years of anticipation, Hollow Knight: Silksong finally arrives, expanding upon everything that made the original a modern classic. Developed by Team Cherry, this sequel shifts the spotlight to Hornet, the agile and fierce protector of Hallownest, now thrust into her own perilous journey through a mysterious new kingdom. The result is a game that retains the haunting atmosphere of its predecessor while evolving into something faster, sharper, and more ambitious.

Gameplay and Exploration

Exploration remains at the heart of the experience. Players traverse the sprawling, interconnected world of Pharloom, a kingdom filled with gothic architecture, dangerous caverns, and ruined cities teeming with hostile creatures. Each area is distinct, featuring new biomes, environmental hazards, and intricate platforming challenges. The absence of heavy guidance forces players to rely on observation, curiosity, and gradual mastery of the map, reinforcing the sense of discovery that defined the original.

Traversal feels smoother and more dynamic with Hornet’s agility. Her ability to vault, dash, and climb gives exploration a fluidity that makes backtracking less tedious and platforming more engaging. Pharloom itself feels alive, brimming with secrets hidden in its depths, rewarding persistence with lore, upgrades, and tools that steadily reshape the player’s approach.

Combat and Mechanics

Combat is faster and more acrobatic compared to Hollow Knight. Hornet’s needle and thread provide a combat style that emphasizes range, speed, and precision. String-based maneuvers allow her to tether enemies, close gaps quickly, and pull herself into the air for follow-up strikes. This makes combat a constant dance of positioning and timing, demanding both reflexes and strategy.

Crafting and resource management introduce another layer of depth. Players can collect materials from fallen enemies and the environment to craft tools, upgrades, and consumables. This system encourages exploration while offering more customization of playstyles. Boss encounters, a highlight of the series, are spectacularly designed—each a test of skill that pushes players to fully embrace Hornet’s versatile toolkit.

Story and Lore

The narrative in Silksong unfolds with the same cryptic elegance as its predecessor. Hornet’s journey to the peak of Pharloom is driven by mysterious forces, with her role as both protector and prisoner casting her into morally complex situations. The lore expands upon themes of cycles, decay, and sacrifice, with Pharloom’s citizens and its regal structures revealing a kingdom both beautiful and tragic.

NPCs scattered throughout the land add color and depth, offering quests, cryptic dialogue, and glimpses into Pharloom’s layered history. Much like Hollow Knight, the story rewards players who dig deeper, piecing together fragments of lore to uncover the larger tapestry of Hornet’s fate and the kingdom’s downfall.

Playtime Estimate

For players focused primarily on the main quest, Hollow Knight: Silksong takes around 20 to 25 hours to complete. Those who venture into side quests, secret bosses, and hidden areas can expect closer to 35 to 40 hours. Completionists aiming to uncover every charm, blueprint, and lore fragment will easily invest 50 hours or more, especially at higher difficulty levels where mastery of Hornet’s moveset becomes essential.

Verdict

Hollow Knight: Silksong is a triumph of refinement and expansion. It retains the haunting atmosphere and layered storytelling of its predecessor while pushing combat and exploration into more dynamic territory. Though its difficulty curve remains steep and its storytelling as enigmatic as ever, the payoff in mastery and discovery is extraordinary. It is both a worthy successor and a game that stands firmly on its own, cementing Team Cherry’s reputation as masters of the Metroidvania genre.

Final Score: 9.5/10 — A breathtaking and challenging evolution of the Hollow Knight formula, Silksong delivers unforgettable combat, exploration, and lore, setting a new standard for indie excellence