Hollow Knight: Silksong

🎮 Game Information

• Developer / Publisher: Team Cherry
• Release Date: September 4, 2025
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
• Engine: Unity
• Genre: Metroidvania / Action-Adventure
• Mode: Single-player
• Composer: Christopher Larkin

🕸️ Introduction

Okay, so playing Silksong? It's got that Hollow Knight feel, but it's definitely got its own vibe. You play as Hornet this time – she's quick, slick, and can really mess you up – and you're stuck in this huge, new place called Pharloom. Fans have been waiting forever for this (Silksanity is real!), and after playing it, I gotta say, it's worth the wait. More bosses, tons of secrets, smooth fighting, and a story that goes deeper. If you're into Metroidvanias, this one's a real treat.

🕹️ Gameplay

Silksong's all about fighting and getting around. Hornet's quicker than the Knight – she can glide, jump farther, and use cool stuff like the Silk Spear and Straight Pin. Team Cherry's changed up the fighting style too. It's not just button mashing; you gotta dodge, parry, and pull off some sweet air combos.

Checking out every nook and cranny pays off big time. As Hornet, you get new tools and skills that let you reach new areas. It's that classic Metroidvania thing amped up a bit. The world's made up of linked zones– foggy swamps, shiny cities, dark caves–that make you want to go back and see what you missed. Side missions actually matter, with characters that offer cool story bits and world info.

The boss fights–and there are a lot of them, over 40!–are tough but fun. Each one feels different, with its own moves and cool cutscenes, when you lose it seems fair. The game makes you want to be careful, patient, and good at the game.

🎨 Visuals & Art Style

Silksong looks amazing. Pharloom, the new world, has tons of detail. You've got glowing ruins, silk towers, misty swamps, and old citadels. The colors are really nice too – soft greens, deep purples, and shiny golds really make Hornet stand out.

The characters are really creative. Enemies go from see-through silk creatures to huge, gross knights. Hornet moves so smoothly, making her fights look both graceful and powerful. Moving from one area to another feels natural, so the world feels real.

🔊 Sound & Music

Christopher Larkin's back with music that's both spooky and inspiring. He's got huge orchestral pieces for the fight scenes, sad piano tunes for when you're just wandering around, and some really intense beats when stuff gets scary. The music really makes every emotional moment better without getting in the way.

The sound design is also great. The sound of Hornet's needle, the quiet flutter of her cloak, echoes way off in caves – it all comes together to make a really immersive sound world.

📖 Story & Atmosphere

So, in Silksong, the story hits harder on a personal level compared to Hollow Knight. Hornet's got to figure things out after getting snatched and dropped in this weird place. She's gotta climb her way up and get to the bottom of Pharloom's secrets. As she does this, past and present mix, and she starts wondering what her part is in all of it.

The lore is way deeper too. Every character, item, and place has got a story to tell. But the game developers keep things low-key. They hint at stuff instead of spelling it out, which is cool 'cause it lets you think for yourself, but some things might not make total sense.

The vibe changes a lot. One minute it's chill and pretty, the next it's spooky and dangerous, and sometimes it just feels huge. Pharloom is magical but tough, and the game developers nailed that mix.

🐞 Bugs & Technical Performance

While Silksong launched smoothly for many, there are some issues:

• Controller connectivity can be finicky;
• A few bosses or enemy rushes suffer from clipping or odd pathing when dealing with multiple enemies. 

These issues are disappointing given the long development, but they don’t break the core experience.

🔁 Replayability

Silksong's made for replays. The map is massive, secrets are everywhere, there are 200+ new baddies, and 40+ tough bosses, so you'll want to come back for more.

You can play around a lot with tools and skills, and speedrunners will have a blast. The game's all about exploring and getting good – once you’ve mastered Hornet, you’ll want to check out every bit of Pharloom.

🔚 Final Verdict

So, Hollow Knight: Silksong is basically what everyone wanted, maybe even better. It's got that Hollow Knight feel but with its own fresh spin. Playing as Hornet is really satisfying, the fighting feels great, and Pharloom is a cool world that’s pretty but also risky, with tons of secrets hidden all over. Sure, there might be a few small issues when it first comes out, but Silksong is an awesome indie follow-up and a top-tier game for Metroidvania fans.