The Ultimate Guide to Hollow Knight: Silksong
Hollow Knight: Silksong is Team Cherry's sequel to Hollow Knight, putting players in control of Hornet as she explores the vast kingdom of Pharloom. The game launched on September 4, 2025, not September 2026, and is available across PC, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation and Xbox platforms.
Story / Overview
Hornet is captured and taken to Pharloom, a strange kingdom ruled by silk and song. Her journey takes her toward the kingdom's shining citadel as she battles enemies, meets allies and uncovers the mysteries behind her capture.
Setting: Pharloom
Pharloom is a large interconnected kingdom filled with diverse environments, including mossy grottos, coral forests, misted moors and gilded cities.
The kingdom is built around themes of faith and pilgrimage, with Hornet gradually climbing toward its enormous citadel.
Hornet and Silk Mechanics
Unlike the Knight in Hollow Knight, Hornet fights using her agility, silk and a range of crafted tools.
Silk is central to her abilities, while her new movement options allow her to attack, dodge and navigate Pharloom with a faster, more acrobatic style. Hornet can also craft weapons, traps and other tools to help with combat and exploration.
When defeated, Hornet leaves behind a cocoon containing silk, giving experienced players another tactical resource during difficult encounters.
Quests and Paths
Silksong expands the quest system around Hornet's journey through Pharloom. Players can take on tasks involving hunting rare creatures, finding treasures, solving mysteries and helping characters throughout the kingdom.
The game also allows players to discover characters and objectives naturally while exploring, making different paths through Pharloom an important part of the adventure.
Gameplay and Combat
Silksong features fast 2D action-platforming and combat, with Hornet's movement giving encounters a distinct feel from the original game.
Players face more than 200 enemies, including beasts, hunters, assassins, monsters and knights, while learning new abilities and tools to progress through Pharloom.
Platforms and Availability
Silksong is available on:
- PC
- Mac
- Linux
- Nintendo Switch
- Nintendo Switch 2
- PlayStation 4
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox Series X|S
It also launched day one on Xbox Game Pass.
Why It Matters
Silksong is the full-scale sequel to one of the most acclaimed modern indie games. It expands the original formula with a new protagonist, a much larger world, new movement abilities, crafting, quests and a completely new kingdom.
What to Know at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Team Cherry |
| Genre | Action-adventure, Metroidvania |
| Protagonist | Hornet |
| Setting | Pharloom |
| Release | September 4, 2025 |
| Combat | Fast-paced 2D action |
| Enemies | 200+ |
| Platforms | PC, Switch, Switch 2, PlayStation, Xbox |
| Game Pass | Yes |
| Key Mechanics | Silk, crafting, quests, exploration |
🎮 The Bottom Line
Hollow Knight: Silksong takes the foundation of Hollow Knight and builds a larger adventure around Hornet, with faster movement, silk abilities, crafting, quests and the sprawling kingdom of Pharloom.
If you enjoyed the original, Silksong is essentially a new journey through the same beautifully hand-crafted philosophy, but with Hornet bringing a completely different style of play.