Should You Buy Hollow Knight: Silksong?
One of the best Metroidvanias ever made — for the right player. 7 years of development paid off with a sequel that surpasses the original in scope and ambition. But the difficulty and checkpoint placement will frustrate casual players. Buy if you loved Hollow Knight or want a serious 60+ hour Metroidvania.
Quick Specs
What It Is
Hollow Knight: Silksong is Team Cherry's sequel to 2017's beloved Hollow Knight, finally released in September 2025 after 7 years of development. You play Hornet (former side character, now protagonist) — a faster, more agile, more vocal lead than the silent Knight from the original. Set in Pharloom, a kingdom afflicted by a mysterious 'Haunting' controlled through silk, you ascend through interconnected biomes solving the kingdom's mysteries.
Mechanically, it's classic Hollow Knight with significant evolution: Hornet sprints, double-jumps, grappling-hooks, and floats from heights. The Charm system from the original is replaced by Tools and Crests — equipment loadouts and movement-altering primary attack modifiers. Combat is faster, more demanding, and rewards mastery.
Why It (Mostly) Lived Up To The Hype
Critics describe it as a 'masterpiece' that 'doesn't lose itself in trying to escape Hollow Knight's shadow.' WayTooManyGames called it 'one of the most tightly designed Metroidvania titles' they've played. Multiple reviewers describe it as 'worth the seven year wait.'
But the verdict isn't unanimous. Game Informer flagged 'punishing approach to forward progression' and extreme distance between checkpoints as pacing issues. Some critics felt difficulty spikes hampered enjoyment, particularly for players who never beat the original Hollow Knight. The community largely loves it; some critics found Team Cherry overshooting the difficulty target.
The Case For and Against
BUY IF...
- You loved Hollow Knight — this is essential
- You want a 40-70 hour Metroidvania with real depth
- You appreciate punishing platforming as a challenge, not a barrier
- $20 fits your budget easily (nearly impossible to discount further)
- Hand-drawn art and atmospheric soundtracks matter to you
WAIT/SKIP IF...
- You bounced off Hollow Knight's difficulty
- You want gentle onboarding — this gets brutal fast
- Distant checkpoints frustrate you
- You want a story-first experience (Silksong's story is light)
- You play on a system without good controller support
Price & Value Math
$19.99 across all platforms. For 40-70 hours of content (and easily 100+ for completionists hunting all endings, optional zones, and bosses), the per-hour math is exceptional — roughly $0.30-$0.50/hour. Team Cherry games historically don't discount because they're already priced extremely fairly.
The Bottom Line
Hollow Knight: Silksong is one of the best Metroidvanias ever made. The seven year wait was justified. If you're a fan of the genre or you loved the original, buy it now. If you've never played a Metroidvania and you want to start, the original Hollow Knight is the gentler starting point ($15) — then graduate to Silksong.
Ready to Decide?
If you're convinced, here's where to grab it:
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