As the full-fledged sequel to the widely accepted Hollow Knight, the developer Team Cherry offers Hollow Knight: Silksong to transition the franchise from the subterranean ruins of Hallownest to the sprawling kingdom of Pharloom. The game puts players in control of Hornet, the princess-protector of Hallownest, who has been captured and brought to this mysterious land for reasons unknown. This second installment stands as a landmark in the action-adventure genre, blending precise platforming with a high-stakes combat system.

Ascend through the kingdom of Pharloom

Hollow Knight: Silksong takes place after the events of the original Hollow Knight game, following Hornet as she wakes up in the Moss Grotto at the base of the new kingdom. Unlike the original protagonist’s descent into a fallen empire, Hornet’s journey is one of ascension as she climbs toward the Citadel at the kingdom’s peak. The story is rooted in the spider-like architects of silk known as the Weavers, and their complicated history with the deity Grand Mother Silk. Throughout the game, players uncover Hornet’s personal lineage as a child of three queens while contending with the Haunting, a silk-based madness that has afflicted local inhabitants.

For those familiar with the first installment, the transition from the Knight to Hornet introduces a significant shift in gameplay feel. This installment moves from a grounded and deliberate style to one that is faster and more dynamic. Hornet is characterized as an acrobatic warrior who can mantle onto ledges and perform diagonal lunges, making traversal feel more fluid. Instead of the Soul system from the first game, Hornet uses Silk collected from enemies to Bind her wounds, which is a healing process that is nearly instantaneous but requires the character to be stationary for a brief moment.

Gothic art and world-building

Visually, the game retains the hand-drawn 2D aesthetic of its predecessor, but with a noticeably higher level of detail and color variety. The environments are generally framed by a silk and song motif, where music is woven directly into the atmosphere, often changing dynamically based on the player’s proximity to specific landmarks or boss arenas.

The world itself is vast and interconnected, featuring biomes that range from the golden fields of the Marrow to the industrial grime of the Underwork. These areas contain secrets that expand the narrative, often requiring new movement abilities like the Silk Soar or the grappling Clawline to reach, rewarding players who take the time to investigate the kingdom’s many layers.

Complete intricate quests to earn rewards

Exploration in Pharloom is structured around a robust quest system known as Wishes, which can lead to hidden rewards or lore revelations. By interacting with various pilgrims and residents of Bone Bottom and other settlements, Hornet can track specific tasks in her journal. However, there is a notable increase in difficulty compared to its predecessor, but while the difficulty curve is steeper compared to the original Hollow Knight, particularly in the late-act challenges and the high-stakes Silk Soul mode, the expanded tools and more responsive movements provide players with the means to overcome higher levels of difficulty.

Expanding the world of Hollow Knight

Hollow Knight: Silksong delivers a rewarding experience for fans of the original game. By shifting the focus to a more vocal and agile protagonist, the game is able to achieve a fresh start while remaining faithful to the first installment. Its combination of skill-based combat, atmospheric world-building, and massive array of secrets ensure that players are able to explore the heights of the Citadel and the kingdom of Pharloom.