Hollow Knight: Silksong reinvents the Metroidvania sequel with fierce combat, rich exploration, customizable crests, and unforgettable bosses.

In 2026, Hollow Knight: Silksong no longer needs to prove that it is more than a victory lap. Team Cherry spent nearly a decade polishing the follow-up to one of the most beloved Metroidvanias of the modern era, and the result is a sequel that knows exactly how to sink its teeth into players. At first blush, Silksong can look like more Hollow Knight with a diagonal pogo attack bolted on. That read feels quaint now. Within 30 minutes, the game opens up into a completely different beast, one that earns the sequel moniker and then some. A standard clear can land around 15 to 20 hours, with one documented run finishing at 15 hours and 16 minutes, but clock time is only the tip of the iceberg.

A Sequel That Knows How to Sink Its Teeth In

Silksong is no walk in the park. From the halfway point onward, the pressure ramps up and the game starts to feel like a Souls title in the best and most stressful ways. There is always one more upgrade to chase, one more boss standing in the way, and one more story-critical quest item that can send players combing through the map for hours. One early account describes spending three hours hunting for a crucial item, unsure whether it would ever turn up. That kind of friction is real, but guides are not the recommended first port of call. Navigation is generally more manageable than in the original Hollow Knight, largely because Hornet has a movement kit that puts the first protagonist to shame. She can float downward slowly, chain pogo attacks across platforming challenges, and call on a seemingly endless array of tools that reshape how any given situation can be approached.

Once crests enter the picture, the design clicks. Crests function like weapon types that enable different tool and passive upgrade loadouts, turning Silksong into a highly customizable experience. Combat is deep, the vistas are beautiful and haunting, and mechanical puzzles keep the brain working between nail-biting encounters. Different players gravitate toward different favorite loadouts, which is a strong sign that Team Cherry has built something with real range. The story is also more engaging this time around. Hornet is a more prominent participant in the festivities, complete with a striking design that has inspired plenty of fan art. Team Cherry has honed its craft with bosses and NPCs too, creating some devilishly delightful characters that leave a mark.

Open-Ended, Dense, and Downright Addictive

Silksong is so open-ended that it can feel overwhelming, but in a good way. Players constantly mark maps to revisit later after gaining new abilities, and forcing through challenging zones while under-equipped is part of the thrill. It is a meticulously crafted Metroidvania that ranks among the best in the genre, and that praise lands even harder for anyone who has been playing these games and their inspirations since the 1980s. The combat against smaller enemies around Hornet's size is among the best ever seen in a 2D platformer. Learning patterns, countering moves, and cutting teeth on intense encounters gives the game a sharp, satisfying edge.

With mastery of Hornet's mechanics and enough time spent studying a boss, anything feels possible. More than many genre staples, Silksong gives players complete control over Hornet and everything she does, and that amount of power is thrilling. Every 30 minutes or so, a new tool, crest, ability, or upgrade arrives to keep progression fresh. A key improvement over the original is density: areas generally feel more packed and less meandering. Getting from place to place is quicker and more fun, not just because of how Hornet moves, but because Team Cherry has years of hindsight regarding tight level design.

The Difficulty Walls Are Real

One issue that can throw players for a loop is the extreme amount of two-mask damage. In the original Hollow Knight, two-mask hits were more sparing and reserved for tougher encounters. At some point in Silksong, it can feel like most major enemies are slicing off two bars of health per hit. This feels deliberate, and while it will likely be polarizing, it becomes manageable once enemy mechanics are learned piece by piece. The upside is that normal combat stays engaging. Regular enemies remain potential threats, so traversal does not feel like going through the motions.

Another contentious mechanic is the in-game economy. Rosary beads are spent on almost everything, from shop items to benches and fast travel station unlocks. Not every enemy drops beads, so players need to strategize how to earn them consistently, sometimes to the point of farming. Even in extreme circumstances, the stingy rosary economy does not have to derail enjoyment. Uncovering a new area or cleaning out an old one can send players back into the fray rosary-rich. There are minor workarounds too, such as spending rosaries on expendable inventory items that can be cracked for instant beads when needed.

Strength
Friction Point

Deep, customizable combat with crests and tools
Two-mask damage can feel punishing at first

Dense, tightly designed areas
Rosary economy encourages farming and planning

Strong boss and NPC design
Midgame difficulty spikes are no joke

Hornet's movement and pogo traversal
Some quest items can be elusive

Why the Long Haul Matters

After the standard ending, Silksong still has plenty left in the tank. The urge to get back into the game and clear the whole map is strong, and exploration is more fun than in the original. Players can comb through every nook and cranny with a smile, because some of the toughest challenges wait in optional encounters. Every new tool or crest can potentially open a brand-new playstyle, which makes the long haul feel worth its weight in gold. In that sense, Silksong is the purest form of a Metroidvania seen in years. Even after finishing the standard ending, there is enough left to feel like an entire game remains, and that is exactly what the genre should deliver.

By 2026, the conversation around Silksong has shifted from hype to legacy. The game has a long road ahead of it, whether through free updates like the original or potential DLC, and the appetite for more is easy to understand. A 100% completion rate is not a quick weekend job; it is a slow, satisfying grind that rewards patience and mastery. Team Cherry's sequel throws players for a loop, then rewards them for bearing with it. The hype was loud, but the craftsmanship is louder. For anyone who has ever loved a Metroidvania, Hollow Knight: Silksong is a deep, demanding, and downright unforgettable ride. ️️

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