Hollow Knight: Silksong Review — A Symphony of Sting and Silk

Hello Hornet

Set in the haunted, sprawling world of Pharloom, Silksong casts you as Hornet—a nimble, needle-wielding warrior who controls like the love child of a ninja and a sewing machine. If you thought Hollow Knight’s err… Knight was agile, Hornet practically dances through danger. Every leap, jab, and aerial twist is fluid, snappy, and endlessly satisfying. Her vertical mobility opens up exploration in ways that make returning to the original feel downright clunky.

Her new abilities—like the bouncing pounce of the Needle Jump or the devastating Lacerate—don’t just make combat flashier, they make it deeper. Every enemy is a deadly puzzle and bosses are trials by fire that demand focus, pattern recognition, and patience. A single mistake can cost you dearly. But when you finally overcome a towering foe after dozens of attempts, the dopamine rush is unmatched.

Harder, Better, Faster, Pharloomier

Pharloom itself is the star here. It’s a vertical labyrinth of biomes, secrets, NPCs, and nightmarish critters. Think Hollow Knight’s Hallownest—but cranked up. The biomes are more distinct, with unique enemy types, hazards, and traversal mechanics. One minute you’re parkouring through fungal ruins; the next, you’re sneaking through shimmering caverns crawling with spectral beasts. There’s a rhythm to exploration: fast-paced traversal, sudden enemy gauntlets, quiet narrative moments, and then more platforming to keep you on your toes.

Backtracking—a major criticism of the original—has been smoothed out. The sequel also features more fast travel options and better signposting. Hornet’s mobility also drastically reduces frustration without removing the thrill of discovery. This isn’t just a bigger game—it’s a smarter one.

Silk-Smooth Combat

Hornet doesn’t just feel different—she fights different. Healing no longer means ducking into a corner to recharge. Instead, you craft tools, use limited resources, and execute quick heals mid-combat. It’s faster, more tactical, and infinitely riskier. The charm system returns with new twists, letting you build around speed, aggression, survivability, or status effects. There’s no “best” build, just the one that clicks with your style.

And then there are the bosses. Silksong features some of the most creative, soul-crushing, controller-snapping bosses among 2D platformers. These aren’t just fights—they’re performances. Each one feels like a centerpiece, carefully choreographed to test everything you’ve learned up to that point. They’re not unfair, but they’re brutal, sometimes frustratingly so.

The Vibe Is Immaculate

From its colorful backgrounds to its haunting score, Silksong is a sensory feast. Composer Christopher Larkin returns with a score that blends melancholy with menace, layering violins over synths in ways that make every zone feel alive and dangerous. The sound design is equally tight—enemy shrieks, Hornet’s footsteps, ambient drips—all perfectly tuned to keep you immersed and on edge.

The story is still delivered in fragments, Metroidvania-style. If you like piecing together lore through NPC dialogue, item descriptions, and environmental storytelling, Silksong offers a feast. If you want cutscenes and hand-holding? Sorry, that’s not on the menu. This world respects your intelligence—and your curiosity.

Not All Silk and Song

For all its polish, Silksong isn’t flawless. The difficulty curve is punishing—even compared to Hollow Knight. New players are likely to hit a wall within the first few hours, and even veterans will need to unlearn old habits. Hornet’s acrobatics feel incredible once mastered, but the precision demanded from her divekicks and combo chains can frustrate anyone without fast reflexes.

Then there’s localization. While the global launch has been celebrated, the Chinese translation drew heavy criticism at release, with awkward phrasing and inconsistent terminology pulling players out of the immersion. Team Cherry has promised fixes, but it’s a blemish on an otherwise near-perfect debut.

Finally, some players may find the Souls-like DNA—scarce benches, resource penalties on death, and high-stakes boss design—either thrilling or exhausting. Silksong is not designed to comfort you. It’s here to test you, break you, and reward only those willing to endure.

Final Verdict: Silkier, Sharper, Deadlier

Hollow Knight: Silksong doesn’t exactly reinvent the Metroidvania genre, but it doesn’t have to. It builds upon a rock-solid foundation, twists it in meaningful ways, and trims away most of the fat. This is the kind of sequel you rarely see anymore—one that doesn’t just coast on the original’s success but stands on its own teeny tiny feet.

And yes, the launch was nearly flawless. No game-breaking bugs, no performance issues, and no controversy. In 2025, that’s a minor miracle.

It’s is everything fans hoped it would be—and then some. It’s faster, harder, prettier, and more elegant in every way. Hornet’s solo outing is a triumph of design, atmosphere, and challenge that cements Team Cherry’s place among the indie greats.

If this is what five years of polish looks like, then take your time, devs. We’ll wait.