Hollow Knight was an indie game success story back in 2017, praised for its atmospheric world-building, its impressive hand-drawn art style and its well-crafted Metroidvania gameplay. Fans have eagerly waited seven long years for its sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong.
So now, after that successor has drawn lots of buzz and more than five million players across various platforms like a moth to a flame, what might you expect to encounter? Let’s unpack that question.
Hollow Knight: Silksong follows Hornet, a key princess-protector from the first game. This time around, she’s being held captive in a cage and has been badly weakened. She’s being carted into the mysterious kingdom of Pharloom. Upon finding release, however, Hornet is at something of a loss as to how to escape this darkly cursed place connected by “silk and song.”
After interacting with several other captives and insect pilgrims, Hornet decides to make a danger-filled trek to the kingdom’s highest mountain peak. She’s seeking answers at the Citadel located there. Perhaps she will gain the keys to her freedom and be able to confront a deadly threat that holds this land in its thrall.
Gameplay-wise, Silksong is all about exploration and combat set in a Metroidvania playstyle. What that amounts to is a sprawling, interconnected web of 10 different biome area maps. Players must platform through and repeatedly retrace their steps in these areas as they gain abilities or find objects that will help them overcome the environmental obstacles and traps in their path.
Gamers grapple, dash and float from ledge to ledge, avoiding spikes, slashing bones, flowing lava and other dangers at every turn. And, of course, there are the many, many insect foes—armored roaches, bladed beetles, bone-clad ants, scissor-wielding mites, etc.—and aggressive boss bugs that must be beaten along the way.
Hollow Knight: Silksong is a single-player game that does not require an online connection to play.
Gamers embody a hero who is not just concerned with her own safety, but also the wellbeing of all those held captive in a cursed kingdom. And Hornet slowly regains her abilities and strength as she proceeds.
The game’s hand-drawn artwork is captivatingly beautiful. And the musical score suits the story and its dynamics well.
Those who enjoy this style of combat-heavy platforming and exploration will find Silksong’s well-crafted challenges and character-build options rewarding.
All of that said, Silksong’s story narrative can also feel rather dark and mature. You’ll encounter creepy environments. And there are dark themes of mass executions as well as references to self-harm and suicide in the mix. Some of the creepy crawly insect bosses can also be intense or even frightening for some players. Gamers encounter dead insect bodies and creatures that spring to life.
On top of those content concerns, players should be forewarned that this is a difficult game.
Just getting around outside of combat can be challenging at times. And though the death-dealing battles aren’t messy—instead displaying flashes of light when Hornet’s needle blade or silk spear hit home—the required timing and acrobatic character leaps could be frustrating for younger players. The game does not offer an “easy” mode.
In addition, Metroidvania’s gameplay style requires constant backtracking, which can be a bit irritating as well if you’re not relishing the challenge.
If gamers enjoy combat-heavy exploration and graphically beautiful platforming, Hollow Kight: Silksong may hit their Metroidvania bull’s eye.
But the game’s high difficulty level and creepy-crawly world could still be a sticky web for younger players.
After spending more than two decades touring, directing, writing and producing for Christian theater and radio (most recently for Adventures in Odyssey, which he still contributes to), Bob joined the Plugged In staff to help us focus more heavily on video games. He is also one of our primary movie reviewers.
