I absolutely love Hollow Knight: Silksong so far. Team Cherry's sophomore release was well worth the wait in my opinion, taking the best elements of Hollow Knight and remixing them in clever, effective, and nuanced ways. Indeed, Silksong isn't just more of the same; it's a drastic departure from its predecessor in a number of ways, offering a meaningfully distinct gameplay and narrative experience.
Hornet's characterization and the incredible environment design of Pharloom are among my favorite aspects of Silksong, but I would be remiss if I didn't call special attention to what I consider the game's crown jewel: its traversal mechanics. The first Hollow Knight is a pretty great platformer at times, though this is belied by somewhat simplistic, slow-to-develop movement abilities. The Knight's suite of locomotion options is respectable and winds up being rather fun, but movement is also intentionally clunky and unforgiving at times, demanding perfection from players rather than giving them a flexible sandbox to play around in. Hollow Knight: Silksong makes important changes to the platforming pillar of the series' gameplay, and it's making it hard to imagine what going back to the first Hollow Knight might be like.
Hollow Knight: Silksong's Movement Abilities Blow Hollow Knight's Out of the Water
Hollow Knight: Silksong Is Smoother and More Satisfying to Play
I'm sure I've yet to unlock a great deal of Silksong's movement abilities, but even in the early game, it's clear that Team Cherry is pulling out all the stops. Small features like Hornet's ability to sprint open up new doors for expressive gameplay and technique, and a thoughtfully designed, simple physics engine heightens immersion and allows for greater leaps—literally. Other movement abilities, like the Drifter's Cloak, essentially revolutionize Silksong's traversal kit in one fell swoop, making both exploration and combat infinitely more enjoyable and multifaceted.
I think that's what has me so giddy about Hollow Knight: Silksong's gameplay: traversal and combat are intertwined in a way that greatly outshines the first Hollow Knight. Indeed, just about every major upgrade is as much a boon for battling as it is for platforming, lending the gameplay a holistic, interconnected quality. For instance, Hornet's infamous diagonal air strike can be used to deal quick damage against otherwise stalwart foes, but it can also be used to dodge attacks midair, and to bounce off the heads of enemies and specific environment features for swift, acrobatic movement. Similarly, the Drifter's Cloak glide can be used to ride updrafts (of which there are many), close wide gaps between platforms, and avoid damage during fights.
All of this is to say that Silksong's approach to traversal is so satisfying and bombastic that it makes its predecessor look weak by comparison. Nothing will ever make me call Hollow Knight's platforming bad, but it feels more like a prototype or proof of concept before Silksong's movement sandbox. Granted, I'm partial to more acrobatic, fluid locomotion mechanics—it's a big reason why games like Metroid Dread and Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus number among my favorite metroidvanias. Unsurprisingly, Silksong's gameplay puts it squarely alongside those favorites as well.
Silksong also doles out essential movement upgrades at a faster pace than Hollow Knight, putting its best foot forward, as it were.
The first Hollow Knight is a once-in-a-generation sort of game, a humble indie project that soared against the odds. Hollow Knight: Silksong is coming from the same small team, made with the same earnest intentions, but it's clear that Team Cherry wasn't content to rest on its laurels. It's rare for such a highly anticipated game to live up to expectations, but with incredible movement, tightly design combat, and myriad other highlights, Silksong has done exactly that.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 91 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- September 4, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Developer(s)
- Team Cherry
- Publisher(s)
- Team Cherry
WHERE TO PLAY
Become the Princess Knight
As the lethal hunter Hornet, adventure through a kingdom ruled by silk and song! Captured and taken to this unfamiliar world, prepare to battle mighty foes and solve ancient mysteries as you ascend on a deadly pilgrimage to the kingdom’s peak.
Hollow Knight: Silksong is the epic sequel to Hollow Knight, the award winning action-adventure. Journey to all-new lands, discover new powers, battle vast hordes of bugs and beasts and uncover secrets tied to your nature and your past.
- Engine
- Unity
- Franchise
- Hollow Knight
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- PC Release Date
- September 4, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- September 4, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- September 4, 2025
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
- September 4, 2025
- Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date
- September 4, 2025
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- Wiki
