Envisioning six years of waiting for a game and still being hungry when it comes. That’s what happened to Silksong. The fans played jokes, made hopes and doubts, for years. Then it was time for Team Cherry, and the internet almost broke. In the meantime, new visitors continue to ask the same questions. So what is the special about this sequel? Is it too hard? Would it be a good investment? This guide has the answers to all of them! You’ll learn what happened, what the gameplay looks like, the difficulty levels and what’s coming next. Let’s dive in.
The Silksong Story has made the journey from Cancelled DLC to Global Phenomenon
There were few games that took as long as this one to get released. The project was revealed by Team Cherry in February of 2019 as a sequel to the game Hollow Knight, which was released in 2017. The original release was as DLC. The concept expanded, though, and the studio decided to make it a complete sequel. Then silence followed. Fans updated trailers, went through livestreams every single year and teased the delay. After a while, memes were no longer just occasional occurrences, but a way of life.
Lastly, the team announced the release date as August 2025. The game was released on September 4, 2025. Storefronts began to buckle under the traffic as a result. Over half a million players were playing at the same time online. In addition, they are commended for their depth and polish. It has also won Best Action/Adventure at The Game Awards 2025.
What made expectations so high? Its original had a loyal following for its close combat, creepy atmosphere and hidden secrets. The sequel was supposed to be even more of all these things. Furthermore, it replaced the quiet knight with the fast-flying, needle-wielding knight beloved by fans, Hornet. She speaks, she’s quicker and she fights with much greater style.
The set-up of the story is that Hornet is taken prisoner and transported to the kingdom of Pharloom. She runs away, and begins the long ascent to the Citadel at the top. En route, she encounters pilgrims, bug traders, doomed bosses and weird cults. It’s not a big scene, it’s small pieces of the narrative. Clues are picked up through dialogue, descriptions of items, and from the environment.
Silksong Gameplay: Hornet’s Moves, Crests, and Tools
Hornet is quite different from the Knight. She runs, leaps and slashes quickly. She also has a resource called ‘Silk’. You can get Silk from hit damage, then use it to heal or level up your special skills. This is a design that encourages aggression. You DO NOT hide, but you fight AND heal.
Add another layer of crests. These are the items that can be outfitted to alter your attack style and playing approach. One crest may feature quick combinations, the other may be for strategic positioning. This means that you can customize the combat to your liking. The lessons learned through experimentation are worthwhile, so be sure to swap crests if you find a boss to be a problem.
The tools are as important. Hornet has throwable weapons, traps and utilities, which you can tweak before a battle. In addition, there is the capability to upgrade your equipment by collecting metals and materials from all over the land. In-game currency, Rosaries, are used for purchases of items, maps and rest stops. As such, each excursion into the wild is a risk with a reward.
Exploration stays central. You get new abilities like gliding, wall climbing and jumping twice, which open up new routes. Old areas, therefore, seem fresh on your return with a new move. Maps also require a certain amount of work. You find a map maker and purchase her map, filling in the blanks yourself.
There’s more to pursue with side quests. They direct you to secret corners and unexpected characters in the game, which is called Wishes. But the game is a hard out or a hard in. Be prepared to lose your way, retrace your steps and find shortcuts along the way.
The basics are summarized below:
- Rewarded for combat, used for healing and skills.
- Crests: The equipment used to alter your combat style.
- Tools: Weapons and utilities that can be changed out
- These things are worth trading with rosaries: Upgrades, maps and supplies.
These are optional quests that offer additional rewards.Wishes: These are optional quests that offer additional rewards.
How hard is Silksong? This situation is about to change.
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. This game bites. Foes are ferocious, patterns are fast evolving, and plenty of bosses take a dislike to greedy attacks. Furthermore, some matches are played, and played with safety, without a stopover. Therefore, you do not have any room for error and may end up returning to the arena on a long run again.
Death also stings. You drop your Rosaries, and must get them from the site where you fall in a cocoon. If you fail again before you come back, you will lose them for good! This rule is not always easy to follow, but also the players who do not like to repeat long routes.
But Team Cherry took notice. The studio issued patches following launch for balance tuning and bugs fixes. Besides, there are numerous ways to skew the chances within the game. Later fights are fairer because there are better crests, stronger tools and health.
If you’re struggling, here are some tips:
- Learn patterns first. Block, dodge and watch before swinging.
- Switch your loadout. It’s about as predictable as change of a crest or a tool.
- Take breaks. Take a break and come back with a clear mind.
- Explore elsewhere. You may find another route that has enhancements that will make the fight more manageable.
- Collect health upgrades. Extra health provides you with some leeway for error.
Importantly, this difficulty here is fair more often than not. The challenge educates you, and winning is all earned. Players find the initial fight with their first boss to be an unforgettable experience.
The 4th World of Silksong is a collaboration of Art, Music and Silksong
Pharloom looks stunning. Each region is distinct in terms of hand-drawn artwork and layered backgrounds, as well as smooth animations. You scoot up mossy caves, glowing marshes and towering mechanical halls. In the meantime, the kingdom rises up, so, moving forward often involves climbing up and not down.
The world is also full of activity. The merchants of bugs babble, the pilgrims walk in herds and the competitors mangle back-and-forth. Plus, there are also some subtle details that will please the curious player. An unexpected lore tablet, tool, or bench could be found in a hidden room.
Music is an important factor as well. Composer Christopher Larkin brings his own score, ranging from soothing to thunderous. Furthermore, Hornet’s needolin enables her to play tunes in the world, giving the playfulness. If possible, use headphones, as the audio design is worthy of consideration.
Lastly, performance is consistent from platform to platform. It’s smooth to play on modern consoles and PC with an art style that’s not lost on handhelds. This means you can savor it on the sofa, at the desk or while traveling.
There is a table for comparing Hollow Knight vs Silksong
Numbers and labels indicate change. The table given shows the comparison between the first and second part of the story. Notice the change in the sequel towards speed, aggression and larger worlds.
| Feature | Hollow Knight | Hollow Knight: Silksong |
| Release year | 2017 | 2025 |
| Protagonist | The Knight (silent) | Hornet (speaks) |
| Setting | Hallownest | Pharloom |
| Healing resource | Soul | Silk |
| Customization | Charms | Crests and tools |
| Currency | Geo | Rosaries |
| Pace | Measured | Fast and aggressive |
As the table indicates, the sequel retains the essence of the original. It reinvigorates the notion of the combat built on speed and flexibility, though. So, the world will be familiar to veterans, but they will have to learn how to react.
How to play Silksong, Price and Sea of Sorrow expansion
The game is available for PC, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation and Xbox. It also launched with Xbox Game Pass. It costs about 20 dollars in the United States, and is a good value for the material. The cost will differ from place to place, so be sure to check your local shop.
For the good news, here it is. The developer says there’s a free expansion with Sea of Sorrow, which Team Cherry announced. Furthermore, the expansion will feature a new area based on the sea, new tools and new bosses. This will not mean that current owners will have to pay additional amounts. In the sources I’ve seen, however, there was no specific release date so watch the Team Cherry official channels.
When you are looking to purchase, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Time commitment: 30 hours (no more than) for the main path, longer for completionists.
- Platforming is best suited to a controller, so a gamepad is recommended for this.
- Save habits: Rest often, deaths can rob you of progress.
- Spoilers: Do not use forums until you have brought the game to a close because secrets are important here.
Final Thoughts: Does Silksong live up to the hype?
However, having waited so long, Silksong turned out to be above expectations of many fans. It provides quick action, a beautiful world, and challenging puzzles with patience. Moreover, it allows you to explore, trust your intelligence. It’s a bargain and the free expansion makes the package really good.
So should you play? Yes, if you’re a fan of hard, gritty adventures. If you lose your temper and leave the restaurant prematurely, try it on a small scale and follow the steps. In either case, Silksong is a testament to the fact that good things come to those who wait—whether they are gamers or creators. Pick up your needle, breathe deeply, and enter into Pharloom. Your climb awaits.
Frequently Asked Questions FAQs
Q1: What is Silksong about?
It follows Hornet, a nimble warrior captured and taken to the kingdom of Pharloom. She escapes and climbs toward the Citadel. Along the way, she fights bosses, explores dangerous regions, and uncovers the secrets of a strange pilgrimage.
Q2: When did Silksong release?
The game launched on September 4, 2025. Team Cherry first announced it in February 2019. It arrived on PC, Nintendo consoles, PlayStation, and Xbox, and it joined Game Pass on day one.
Q3: Is Silksong harder than Hollow Knight?
Most players say yes. Enemies hit harder, bosses move faster, and rest stops sometimes sit far from tough fights. However, better gear and upgrades help, and patches after launch smoothed out some rough spots.
Q4: How long does Silksong take to beat?
The main story takes roughly 30 hours. Completionists who chase every upgrade, quest, and secret can spend far longer. Your playtime depends heavily on how often you explore and how many bosses block your path.