Hollow Knight: Silksong Reviews
Hornet’s tale isn’t likely to be rushed into a film or television adaptation, but it is another example of the growing quality and prevalence of real storytelling in video games. It didn’t have to be that way, either. The game has a wonderful atmosphere, enthralling gameplay, and tons of content, so the developers could’ve gotten by without adding a rich narrative to highlight it all. But they chose to anyway.
Hollow Knight: Silksong is, like its predecessor, a masterclass in video game design. From a fully realised world to polished combat, it's hard to find fault outside of some general gripes around the increased difficulty. Pharloom may march to a different beat when compared to Hallownest, but it sings a similar melody all the same.
In terms of the base game, there are a lot of quality-of-life fixes that make Silksong a more manageable experience for fans of the original Hollow Knight. Team Cherry developed Pharloom with so much love and care that it’s hard to believe that a small team made it. Team Cherry's attention to detail takes Silksong beyond being a great Hollow Knight sequel to competing for a spot among the best games of all time.
The sequel surpassed the original - Silksong achieves what’s often deemed impossible. In story, action, and presentation, it embodies everything a sequel should. However, its heightened difficulty may frustrate, feeling unforgiving to anyone who hasn’t mastered the first game’s toughest challenges.
Review in Korean | Read full review
Team Cherry showcases their finest work in Hollow Knight: Silksong - a masterful Metroidvania that excels in combat, platforming, and exploration, wrapped in stunning audiovisuals and a hauntingly immersive world, offering a punishing yet unforgettable experience that demands to be played.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
All things considered, Silksong is a fascinating adventure—an emotional rollercoaster that dazzles with its audiovisual spectacle, yet at the same time bewilders with a difficulty level that drastically departs from the original. We wholeheartedly recommend stepping into the world of bugs alongside the beloved Hornet, because at its price, everyone deserves to give it a try.
Review in Unknown | Read full review
Hollow Knight: Silksong delivers an exceptional, long-awaited Metroidvania experience that combines the thrill of challenge with stunning artistic direction, featuring tough and epic boss battles, breathtaking sound effects, and an immersive soundtrack. All of this comes at a low price compared to other games that cost several times more yet offer far less in terms of quality and content.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Silksong is a bit like that simple pasta dish that manages to evoke childhood memories, only made by a Michelin-starred chef with the finest ingredients available. Going against the grain of the industry, the developers have crafted what is undoubtedly the best 2D Metroidvania ever made , incidentally generating a more powerful impact than any AAA production of 2025.
Review in Italian | Read full review
There's no doubt about the greatness of Hollow Knight: Silksong — It simply is one of the best metroidvania games of all time. But the discourse aroud its difficulty, lack of evolution, and lack of reviews at launch tell a more complicated story.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Hollow Knight: Silksong is a fantastic sequel well worth the seven-year wait. It’s bigger, bolder, and far more challenging than anyone could hope. While its steep learning curve may put off newcomers, longtime fans will appreciate how it maintains its solid metroidvania roots while inching closer and closer to a 2D Soulslike. With over 30+ hours of content for just $20, the depth on offer is nothing short of remarkable.
Hollow Knight: Silksong delivers a meticulously crafted metroidvania experience that refines its predecessor’s formula with faster combat, expressive storytelling, and brutally rewarding exploration, though some side content drags down the pacing.
Hollow Knight: Silksong stands out for its beautiful visual design, challenging combat mechanics, and captivating story. Although it can be difficult, its passionate design offers a rewarding experience for those who enjoy it at their own pace.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Hollow Knight: Silksong isn’t just a follow-up; it’s a step forward. Team Cherry improved almost every part of a well-known independent classic, including the fighting, movement, world design, and progression, without taking away any of the game’s charm or mystery that made it famous in the first place.
Silksong took everything that made Hollow Knight memorable and made it even better. It’s a faster and more demanding experience that somehow feels natural for Hornet’s journey. Pharloom is a labyrinth of beauty and menace, each corner stuffed with secrets that make getting lost feel like part of the design. Bosses will break you, platforming will bruise you, but the thrill of overcoming both is what makes it unforgettable. It’s everything you’d expect after six years of waiting—and then some.
"Game of the Year" Hollow Knight: Silksong isn't revolutionary, but it's a significant improvement on a formula that already had its own unique identity. It offers diverse vertical exploration, faster and more challenging combat, and visuals and audio that are stunning at every turn. Despite some minor issues related to pacing and difficulty, the game proves to be a rewarding and richly detailed adventure, especially for fans of the first installment.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Silksong feels like everything Hollow Knight fans dreamed it would be. It’s smoother, punchier, more alive and way more respectful of your time. Hornet brings the oomph, the world drips with atmosphere, and the bosses are absolute bangers. Honestly, I can’t wait to sink another 20 hours into this silken nightmare. Though I’m sure you already bought it before you even read this review. Let’s be real.
Hollow Knight: Silksong is special not only because of how well-made and ambitious it is, but also because of the love that went into every part of it. Fans jokingly called Team Cherry's years of work "development heaven," and it shows. It's not a rushed release that was fixed after it came out; it's a fully realized vision, with every corner made with care.