Hollow Knight: Silksong | Critical Reception

In late August, fans of Hollow Knight were surprised to learn that the long-awaited sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong, would be released in just a few weeks. Following a lengthy wait, Team Cherry launched Silksong on September 4, 2025, to tremendous fanfare, breaking digital storefronts worldwide. The game achieved over half a million concurrent players on Steam within a day of its release and sold more than three million copies on the platform in just three days, according to Alinea Analytics. Since no review codes were sent out prior to the release, reviews have been emerging gradually. Nevertheless, it is clear that Silksong has rapidly become one of the biggest titles of 2025, boasting a Metacritic score of 92 for the PC version. Critics have been exploring the fantastical yet unforgiving world of Pharloom, where they were initially introduced to Silksong's protagonist, Hornet, in the original Hollow Knight as a recurring boss. For PC Gamer's Tyler Colp, who rated the game 90 out of 100, the excitement of playing as Hornet is what makes Silksong an outstanding action game. Having access to a boss's powerful skills was a major draw. Colp noted that when he wasn't being defeated, it felt like the tables had turned, and the high bar for mastery set by Silksong made it a worthwhile challenge. VGC's Ashley Schofield, who rated the game 3 out of 5, was impressed by Hornet's "graceful movement" and "gorgeous motion" in Silksong. The gradual unlocking of Hornet's abilities, such as dash, float, and wall jump, added to the sense of freedom and precision in navigating Pharloom. DualShockers' Monica Phillips, who scored Silksong 9 out of 10, praised the improvements to Hornet's moveset and the overall gameplay. Phillips observed that Silksong takes the base gameplay of Hollow Knight, reworks and improves it, and implements it in a way that few sequels have achieved. The increased difficulty in the sequel has been a point of discussion among critics, with some finding it a welcome challenge and others feeling it is excessive. Rock Paper Shotgun's James Archer felt that the difficulty is implemented in a somewhat blunt manner, with enemies having more health and bosses dealing more damage. However, Phillips enjoyed the increased difficulty, finding it a test of skill, knowledge, and patience, where every fight feels like a dance with death. Some critics, like Schofield, found that while some bosses presented fair challenges, the emphasis on player suffering in Silksong tested their patience rather than their skills. The placement of benches, which serve as spawn points and allow players to change equipment and recover health, has been criticized for being too far apart, leading to repetitive gameplay. Archer noted that while the intention behind the "runbacks" is to penalize carelessness and add tension, it doesn't quite work, as players can simply dash past non-boss enemies, and losing to a boss already carries a significant punishment. Exploration has been a highlight for critics, with Rock Paper Shotgun's Archer enjoying getting "lost on purpose" in Pharloom and appreciating the worldbuilding. The symbiotic relationship between worldbuilding and exploration also enhances the narrative, striking a balance between a forefront narrative and complex lore. While some critics have been skeptical of the difficulty spike, others have found it to be a positive aspect of the game, with Colp stating that the experience pays off, despite the brutal difficulty. Schofield, however, was critical of Team Cherry's approach to merging Metroidvania and Soulslike genres, feeling that it results in a playable identity crisis. The beauty of Silksong's art and design, as well as the precise movement, are undeniable wonders, but the sadistic approach to challenge undermines the experience of exploration and combat.