Hollow Knight: Silksong

Hollow Knight: Silksong has been a long time coming and it’s well worth the wait. It’s a difficult task to follow up the masterpiece that was Hollow Knight, yet Team Cherry have not only expanded upon the formula, but significantly improved it. The world is absolutely gorgeous, and the biomes vary significantly, from the beautiful lush forestry to the putrid backwater sewers.

Hollow Knight: Silksong is so much more than I expected from a sequel, deftly avoiding the pitfalls that come with following up from one of the best indie games. Team Cherry’s second masterpiece is not for everyone, but it’s absolutely proven to be worth the wait. It rewards patience in its combat, platforming, and exploration, before daring the player to take big risks during boss fights. Frustrating map design decisions and a tendency to punish the player early on dampen the experience from time to time, but make no mistake, Silksong is every bit as great as its predecessor.

So while I don't always like Silksong I'm not sure I'd want it any other way. And when I really don't like it, I know I can break off from what I have to do next and just explore speculatively, bringing this rich world back into focus with my roving attention.

Silksong is a game that refuses to be anything other than what it is, an unflinchingly robust and brutal sequel that will push you to your limits. Persevere, and you’ll be able to see past its more frustrating choices to experience one of the greatest games of the year, and a testament to giving developers the time and freedom to realise their visions.

Hollow Knight: Silksong is an incredible game, only held back by a couple questionable decisions. When the game is at its best, it's far beyond any game I've ever played, near-perfect in its design, and a masterpiece that I can't put down. The combat feels incredible, the visuals are stunning, the story is engaging, and the soundtrack is lovely.

Hollow Knight: Silksong is a near perfect followup to its justifiably revered predecessor. Unfurling from its cocoon, this Metroidvania has evolved on just about everything I loved about the original. With a gorgeous, labyrinthine world full of secrets, and twitchy acrobatic controls, Silksong can be rewarding when it's not being overly punishing. It's a bit tougher out the gate than last time around – but Silksong has been worth the wait.

Hollow Knight: Silksong is as beautiful and endearing as it is brutal and uncompromising. It isn't a game that newcomers (or even longtime fans) can quickly come to grips with. Yet, Hornet's journey through Pharloom stands as one of the genre's greatest and a testament to pure passion.

Hollow Knight: Silksong has a long road ahead of it, and I'm ready to follow it on its entire journey. Whether that includes a swath of free updates just like the original game, or potential DLC, I'll be there. In fact, I'm still there, slowly chipping away at a 100% completion rate. I won't be putting this one down for weeks.