After one of the most agonizing waits in modern gaming history, Hollow Knight: Silksong, the long-awaited sequel to the 2017 masterpiece, Hollow Knight, was officially released by Team Cherry on September 4, 2025. Originally conceived as a simple DLC expansion, the project’s massive scope led to its transition into a full, standalone game. Starring the fan-favorite princess-protector, Hornet, the game takes players on an acrobatic, vertical journey through the all-new, haunted kingdom of Pharloom. Following its launch, Silksong was met with overwhelming critical praise for its stunning hand-drawn art, expanded combat mechanics, and continuation of the lore, quickly establishing itself as a commercial success and a major contender in the 2025 awards season.
1. The Release and Reception Phenomenon
The official launch of Silksong in September 2025 was a significant cultural moment, marking the end of a six-year period of intense anticipation and speculation known affectionately as "The Wait."
Launch and Availability
Silksong released simultaneously on September 4, 2025, across all major platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, and Xbox One/Series X|S, including day-one availability on Xbox Game Pass. The digital storefronts, including Steam and the Nintendo eShop, reportedly experienced temporary outages due to the sheer volume of players attempting to purchase and download the game simultaneously, a testament to the pent-up demand (Steam peaked at over 500,000 active players on launch day).
Critical Acclaim and Awards
The game immediately garnered universal acclaim, winning major accolades in the months following its release:
- Golden Joystick Awards 2025: Won PC Game of the Year and Best Indie Game - Self-Published.
- The Game Awards 2025: Secured multiple nominations, including the coveted Game of the Year.
- Player Base: Reached over 5 million players within its first three days, demonstrating its instant market dominance.
2. The New Kingdom: Exploration in Pharloom
Hornet’s adventure takes place in the distant land of Pharloom, a kingdom afflicted by the "Haunting," a Silk-based corruption. The world is built on a philosophy of ascent, contrasting heavily with the original game's descent into Hallownest.
A Vertical Pilgrimage
Pharloom is structured as a pilgrimage from the deep, unfamiliar starting points to the holy institution at the summit, the Citadel. New biomes revealed in the game include Mossy Grottos, Coral Forests, and Gilded Cities, all leading toward the peak. This verticality emphasizes Hornet’s increased mobility and acrobatics.
Over 200 New Foes
Team Cherry vastly expanded the cast, introducing over 200 distinct, all-new enemy types and over 40 legendary bosses. Early demo footage highlighted bosses like Lace—a skilled, balletic rival—and hints at the ultimate confrontation with a deity-like entity known as Grand Mother Silk.
3. Hornet’s Lethal Acrobatic Combat
The shift in protagonist fundamentally changes the core Metroidvania gameplay, prioritizing speed, aggression, and air superiority over the Knight’s methodical, grounded combat.
The Needle and Silk
Hornet wields a needle and silk thread as her primary weapon, granting her an expanded suite of lethal acrobatic moves. Unlike the Knight's downward pogo, Hornet uses faster, more fluid combat maneuvers.
The Tools System (Replaces Charms)
Silksong replaces the Charm system with Tools. Hornet crafts and equips various items, traps, and mechanisms using the game's currency, Rosary Beads. This system focuses less on passive stat boosts and more on active utility and combat customization, such as throwing Kunai or deploying life-saving items.
Health and Healing: Silk Focus
The core health mechanic is different. Hornet heals by channeling Silk, which is generated by landing consecutive attacks. This encourages an offensive playstyle, as players must aggressively engage enemies to earn back their health, rather than defensively focusing Soul for healing, as the Knight did.
4. Post-Launch Support and Development
Team Cherry has publicly committed to supporting Silksong with continuous updates and has already begun working on post-launch content, echoing the free updates of the original game.
Early Patches and Feedback
In the immediate weeks following release, Team Cherry released several patches (e.g., v1.0.28650 and v1.0.29242) to address player feedback. Notably, they released a fully updated and improved Chinese localization following initial player criticism, demonstrating a quick response to community concerns. They also made minor adjustments to enemy and boss damage, suggesting the game's overall difficulty was slightly toned down post-launch.
Confirmation of DLC
In late November 2025, Team Cherry confirmed in an interview with Bloomberg that they are already working on DLC for Silksong. They reaffirmed their commitment to their development philosophy, noting that while they do not plan an "excessive amount of time" for the expansion, they will take the time needed to perfect it. They teased that the DLC may focus on the character Steel Assassin, who was shown in prior trailers but not featured prominently in the base game.
5. Returning to the Void and Lore Expansion
Silksong expands on the deep lore of the original, connecting the history of Hallownest to the new kingdom of Pharloom through the shared history of the Weavers and the recurring threat of the Void.
Hornet’s Heritage
The narrative focuses on Hornet's heritage as the daughter of the Pale King and Herrah the Beast, and her journey is intrinsically tied to the Weavers—the spider-like bugs from Deepnest. The quest for the Citadel reveals a story of a ruined religious kingdom and the influence of the godlike figure, Grand Mother Silk.
Void Threads
The search results suggest that the Infection in Pharloom, the "Haunting," is laced with Void-corrupted threads. This implies that the raw, chaotic power of the Void, so central to the original game's ending, is a shared threat across both kingdoms, forcing Hornet to face its corrupting influence in a new context.
6. Technical and Artistic Excellence
The game delivers an experience that is visually and audibly consistent with its predecessor, but on a grander, more refined scale.
Christopher Larkin’s Score
Award-winning composer Christopher Larkin returned to score Silksong, providing a vibrant orchestral soundtrack that captures the atmosphere of Pharloom. His music enhances the new locations with "melancholy melodies, symphonic strings, and heart-thumping, soul strumming boss themes," maintaining the emotional depth of the original.
Hand-Drawn Fidelity
The sequel retains the iconic, hand-drawn 2D art style, with developers Ari Gibson and William Pellen overseeing the art and game design, respectively. The visuals are praised for their increased detail and fluidity, showcasing the years of refinement and expanded scope.
7. The Ultimate Challenge: Silk Soul Mode
Mirroring the challenge systems of the original Hollow Knight, Silksong introduces a new ultimate difficulty mode for veteran players.
Conquer the Kingdom
Once the main campaign is completed, players can unlock Silk Soul mode. This is the game's permanent death, ultra-difficulty mode, designed to test the player’s mastery over Hornet's mechanics and the secrets of Pharloom. This mode ensures the game has tremendous replay value for the dedicated, high-skill community.
Conclusion: The End of the Wait
The launch of Hollow Knight: Silksong on September 4, 2025, ended one of the longest and most passionate waits in indie gaming history. The game did not just meet the titanic expectations but exceeded them, delivering a faster, more ambitious Metroidvania experience starring the acrobatic Hornet. With critical awards already in hand, massive commercial success, and Team Cherry confirming DLC is already underway, Silksong is set to continue the legacy of its predecessor, establishing the saga of the Hallownest bugs as one of gaming’s most profound and enduring fantasy worlds.
