Hollow Knight Silksong crashed onto the gaming scene on September 4, 2025, and it’s already making waves – both good and challenging. After years of anticipation, Team Cherry’s sequel has achieved something remarkable: it literally broke the internet on launch day, with digital storefronts struggling under the massive demand.
The Launch That Shook Gaming
When Hollow Knight Silksong launched, it didn’t just meet expectations – it obliterated them. Steam alone saw over 535,000 concurrent players, an absolutely massive number for an indie game. Every major digital storefront experienced issues as hundreds of thousands of players tried to download the game simultaneously.
The game reached over 5 million players within its first three days, including 1 million on Xbox Game Pass and 3 million on Steam. These numbers put Silksong in rarified air for indie titles, proving that the six-year wait was worth it for many fans.
What Makes Hollow Knight Silksong Different
Playing as Hornet instead of the Knight brings fundamental changes to the gameplay experience. Hornet moves faster and more aggressively than her predecessor, wielding a needle and thread weapon system that creates a completely different combat flow.
The game introduces several new systems that expand on the original formula:
- Quest System: Unlike the original, Silksong features structured quests called “wishes” with four categories – Gather, Wayfarer, Hunt, and Grand Hunt
- Dual Currency: Shell Shards and Rosaries replace the simple Geo system, with Rosaries being lost on death unless secured on a string
- Tool Crafting: Players can craft and repair tools using Shell Shards, adding a resource management element
- Crest System: Hornet can swap between different crests that modify her attacks and tool slots
- Silk Skills: New abilities unlock by finding Weaver sites throughout the world
The Difficulty Debate That’s Dividing Players
Here’s where Hollow Knight Silksong gets controversial. Players are struggling with two specific changes that make the game significantly more challenging than its predecessor:
Double Damage Everywhere: Many common enemies now deal double damage, taking away two hit points instead of one. In the original Hollow Knight, this kind of damage was typically reserved for major boss fights. Now, even basic enemies can kill you in just two hits.
Hornet’s Angled Downward Strike: Hornet’s downward attack hits at an angle rather than straight down. While useful in combat, this creates problems when bouncing off red pods in areas like Hunter’s March, causing players to overshoot and fall to their deaths.
The frustration is real. Players have created entire Reddit communities dedicated to hating specific bosses like the Savage Beastfly, which despite having only two attacks, has claimed millions of virtual lives due to its hard-hitting nature and minion spawning abilities.
Team Cherry Responds With Critical Updates
Recognizing player feedback, Team Cherry quickly rolled out the first major patch (1.0.28497) within weeks of launch. This update focused on making the early game more manageable:
- Reduced difficulty for early bosses Moorwing and Sister Splinter
- Decreased damage from Sandcarvers
- Fixed numerous bugs including floating issues and quest completion problems
- Resolved tool deflection problems and mirror mechanics
A second patch followed shortly after, focusing on additional bug fixes and tool-related issues, showing Team Cherry’s commitment to addressing player concerns.
The Scale of Hollow Knight Silksong
Team Cherry wasn’t kidding when they said Silksong would be massive. The game features:
- Over 200 new enemies (compared to 140+ in the original)
- More than 40 bosses (versus 30+ in Hollow Knight)
- Around 100 different bench rest points (compared to 51 in the original)
- Massive areas like Greymoor, one of the biggest environments Team Cherry has ever created
The world of Pharloom spans coral forests, mossy grottos, gilded cities, and misted moors, all leading up to the shining citadel at the top of the world. Each area is crafted with the same attention to detail that made the original Hollow Knight a masterpiece.
Why Players Keep Coming Back
Despite the difficulty complaints, Hollow Knight Silksong is receiving critical acclaim for its core strengths. The controls start simple but offer incredible depth – easy to pick up, impossible to master. The world design maintains that signature Team Cherry atmosphere where every bug character feels like they belong in their environment.
Players consistently praise the game’s ability to make them feel truly lost in a world that existed long before they arrived, capturing that same sense of discovery that made Dark Souls legendary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hollow Knight Silksong harder than the original?
Yes, significantly harder. Many common enemies deal double damage, and the overall difficulty curve is steeper from the beginning. Team Cherry has released patches to address some of the early game difficulty spikes.
Do I need to play Hollow Knight before Silksong?
While not strictly necessary, playing the original Hollow Knight will give you important context about Hornet’s character and the world’s lore. However, Silksong tells its own story in the new kingdom of Pharloom.
What platforms is Hollow Knight Silksong available on?
The game is available on PC (Steam, GOG), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. It’s also available on Xbox Game Pass.
How long does it take to complete Hollow Knight Silksong?
Based on early player reports, the main story takes around 20-30 hours, with completionist runs extending to 45+ hours. The exact length depends heavily on your skill level and exploration thoroughness.
What’s the difference between playing as Hornet versus the Knight?
Hornet is faster and more agile than the Knight, with different combat mechanics using needle and thread weapons. She has access to new systems like tool crafting, crest swapping, and silk skills that weren’t in the original game.
Are there any major bugs in Hollow Knight Silksong?
Team Cherry has addressed most critical bugs through patches. The first major update fixed quest completion issues, floating problems, and tool deflection bugs. A second patch continued addressing smaller issues.
Why did some enemies get nerfed in the first patch?
Player feedback showed that early game bosses like Moorwing and Sister Splinter were creating difficulty walls that prevented progression. Team Cherry reduced their difficulty to improve the new player experience while maintaining the game’s challenging nature.
The Verdict on Team Cherry’s Ambitious Sequel
Hollow Knight Silksong represents both triumph and growing pains. Team Cherry has crafted a sequel that expands meaningfully on the original’s foundation, introducing complex new systems and a vast world to explore. The difficulty issues that frustrated early players are being addressed through responsive patching.
Whether you’re a returning Hollow Knight veteran or jumping into the series for the first time, Silksong offers an experience that rewards patience and skill. Just be prepared for a challenge that doesn’t pull its punches – this is a game that believes you can rise to meet its demanding standards, even if it takes a few tries (or a few dozen).