Hollow Knight: Silksong broke the internet. That’s not hyperbole, as major gaming storefronts like Steam, PSN, the Nintendo eShop and the Xbox Store all temporarily went down due to the surge of folks buying and downloading the highly anticipated sequel. At time of writing, 490,490 people are playing the game on Steam. To overstate the obvious, Hollow Knight: Silksong is a big deal.
I find this whole situation intriguing since I had no idea Hollow Knight was so popular. Sure, I’ve heard of Hollow Knight since it’s been around since 2017, but I didn’t pay it much attention since it seemed like yet another indie Metroidvania game. I was confused when some indie game devs delayed their game releases to avoid competing with Silksong. Why do that? When I searched how many units Hollow Knight had sold, I was amazed that it had sold 15 million! How did an indie game about bugs sell as much as a Call of Duty?
So, due to the overwhelming hype surrounding Silksong and the fact that it only costs $20 (which is probably another reason it’s selling so well), I decided to see what the buzz was about.
I only got to play a few hours, and though I can’t yet say I fully get why everyone’s losing their mind over it, I can see glimpses of what makes it special. With understanding that this isn’t a full review, or even a preview, here are my initial thoughts on Hollow Knight: Silksong.
A bug's life
Hollow Knight: Silksong begins with a beautifully animated cinematic that instantly pulls you in. I’m a sucker for hand-drawn animation in video games, so the intro is a great hook. It doesn’t take long before I’m in control of the game’s protagonist, who finds themselves in a strange and mossy underground cavern.
This might not be the right comparison, but the first game I thought of when starting Silksong was another indie darling — Ori and the Will of the Wisps. That game and its equally excellent predecessor are also gorgeous-looking 2D side scrollers set in a dark, fantastical world. However, Silksong is generally darker and more foreboding than the often colorful Ori series. I’d say Silksong takes the magical wonder of Ori and combines it with the dark gloominess of Limbo or Inside, which are also brilliant 2D platformers.
The other thing that stood out and continues to be somewhat disturbing is that your character and some of the insectoid denizens they encounter have human-sounding voices. They don’t speak real-world languages, but they’re all voice-acted. Having a human-sounding voice coming from bug-like creatures is just…weird, man! It would be less disturbing if everyone made inhuman, insect-like noises. But perhaps this is part of the franchise’s charm.
Given how I’m only a few hours in, I’m in no position to discuss Silksong’s plot. From what I understand, I’m in some strange new land, and I’m on a quest to find a way out. So far, I’ve met folks who are either stranded or traveling for various reasons. I’m sure the plot will reveal itself as I go on, but so far, the simple goal of escaping is enough impetus for me to continue.
Threading the needle
Gameplay-wise, Hollow Knight: Silksong has the same somewhat loose-feeling controls of many indie games I’ve played. That’s not to say the controls are imprecise, but there’s a certain floatiness to the character's movements that makes it feel decidedly “indie” to me. Performing jumps can be a little tricky since you really need to hold down the jump button for longer leaps, but it’s not too difficult to acclimate.
Right now, my main weapon is a needle, which acts as a sword. I can also toss the needle like a spear, though this is a special ability that consumes silk you generate from hitting enemies. Attacking the various bugs and other creatures feels nice and punchy thanks to the beefy sound effects and slight screen shake. Like traversal, combat feels a little loose, but it’s generally responsive when you get the hang of it.
Going in, I knew Silksong would be a difficult game, so I never blindly leaped into battle. Going in with this mindset has kept me alive (for the most part), since even small foes can be extremely aggressive. Paying attention to enemy patterns is especially important during boss battles, which can last seconds if you’re not careful. Right now, it’s the boss battles that are really keeping me going. I do love a good challenge!
I’ve heard some compare Hollow Knight to “Soulslikes” such as Elden Ring, and I understand why. For instance, if you’re killed, you’ll have to return to where you died to retrieve the prayer beads and bone shards you’ve collected. If you die before reaching your goal, you lose all of these items. I also found shortcuts that make exploration easier, just like in Dark Souls games. And naturally, the difficulty is definitely reminiscent of a FromSoftware-developed title.
2D competition
Though I now see the appeal of the Hollow Knight games, I’m still somewhat ambivalent about Silksong. Part of the reason is that I’m playing it right after finishing Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance… which are also 2D sidescrolling action games. While I acknowledge that those are quite different from Silksong, they also give me more of what I want and expect.
Where Silksong’s controls can feel floaty and loose, Ninja Gaiden and Shinobi feature tight and precise platforming and combat. This is especially true for Shinobi, which allows you to dish out multi-hit combo strings reminiscent of a fighting game. These games are also very much action-focused, giving you almost no time to think as you slice your way through foes. That’s a stark contrast to the contemplative Silksong.
I think it’s telling that I fell in love with Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance within minutes, whereas I’m still unsure how I feel about Silksong after several hours under my belt. But I’m admittedly an action-junkie who loves games that get my adrenaline pumping. Silksong has heartpounding moments, and I’m sure I’ll experience more as I continue, but this game is a slow burn compared to the two aforementioned ninja games.
The journey ahead
I don’t usually play games just because they’re trending. However, I really wanted to see why the gaming community is so stoked about Hollow Knight: Silksong. I’m glad I gave in to my curiosity since I can now (somewhat) understand why this series is so beloved. The art style is absolutely mesmerizing, and I appreciate the steep challenge that forces you to think before you act. And as I said, the $20 asking price is pretty irresistible.
I have a few other games on my plate, so I’ll likely focus on those before returning to Hollow Knight: Silksong. But even if I’m still on the fence about it, the game has stoked my interest enough to warrant my full attention when I have the time for it. Who knows, maybe it’ll become my surprise favorite game of 2025. If that happens, I’ll certainly let you all know!
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