The Ultimate Guide to Hollow Knight: Silksong
Hollow Knight: Silksong is Team Cherry's long-awaited Metroidvania sequel to Hollow Knight. Instead of controlling the Knight, players take control of Hornet as she explores the unfamiliar kingdom of Pharloom.
The game expands on the original's exploration and combat with faster movement, needle-based attacks, crafting tools, new abilities, quests, and a completely new world.
The Story: Hornet's Journey Through Pharloom
Silksong follows Hornet, princess-protector of Hallownest, after she is captured and transported to Pharloom.
She must climb through the kingdom while uncovering its mysteries and learning why she has been brought there.
Unlike the original game's underground kingdom of Hallownest, Pharloom provides a completely new setting filled with unfamiliar creatures, civilizations and dangers.
The Setting: The Kingdom of Pharloom
Pharloom is a vast, interconnected kingdom built around a massive vertical world.
Its environments include:
- Ancient cities
- Forests
- Caves
- Ruined structures
- Industrial areas
- Dangerous wilderness
The kingdom has its own cultures, inhabitants and history, giving Silksong a world separate from Hallownest while retaining the mysterious atmosphere of the original.
Characters: Hornet
Hornet
Hornet is the protagonist of Silksong.
Unlike the Knight, she is more agile and uses her needle as her primary weapon. Her movement-focused combat allows her to jump, dash and attack rapidly while navigating Pharloom.
Pharloom's Inhabitants
Silksong introduces a large cast of new characters and creatures living throughout Pharloom.
Many can provide quests, information, items or challenges as Hornet progresses through the kingdom.
Gameplay and Mechanics
⚔️ Needle Combat
Hornet's primary weapon is her needle.
Her combat style is faster and more mobile than the Knight's, allowing her to attack enemies while moving quickly through the environment.
🧰 Crafting Tools
Silksong introduces a crafting system that lets Hornet create and use different tools.
These tools can help with:
- Combat
- Exploration
- Traps
- Ranged attacks
- Traversal
🧵 Silk Abilities
Hornet can use Silk, an important resource connected to her abilities.
Silk can be used for healing and special abilities, giving combat an additional resource-management layer.
🗺️ Exploration
Pharloom is designed around interconnected areas, hidden routes and abilities that unlock new paths.
Exploration remains a major part of the Metroidvania experience.
👑 Bosses
Silksong features a large collection of new enemies and bosses, each designed around different attack patterns and challenges.
Development
Silksong was originally announced in 2019 as an expansion before evolving into a full sequel.
The game then spent years in development, creating one of the longest and most anticipated waits in modern indie gaming.
That seven-year development timeline became a major part of Silksong's story before its eventual release.
Platforms and Availability
Hollow Knight: Silksong is available on:
- PC
- PlayStation 4
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox One
- Xbox Series X|S
- Nintendo Switch
- Nintendo Switch 2
It is also available through Xbox Game Pass.
Why It Matters
Silksong is significant because it expands one of the most respected modern Metroidvania franchises while putting Hornet at the center of the experience.
The sequel keeps the exploration and challenging combat fans expect from Hollow Knight, while adding a faster protagonist, crafting, new tools and an entirely new kingdom.
The game's unusually long development period also made its release one of the biggest events in the indie gaming scene.
What to Know at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Developer | Team Cherry |
| Genre | Metroidvania / Action |
| Protagonist | Hornet |
| Setting | Pharloom |
| Combat | Needle-based |
| Release | 2025 |
| Platforms | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch |
| Game Pass | Yes |
🎮 The Bottom Line
Hollow Knight: Silksong expands Team Cherry's Metroidvania formula with Hornet, the kingdom of Pharloom, faster needle combat, crafting tools and new exploration systems.
After a seven-year development journey, Silksong became one of the most anticipated indie games ever made — making its release an important moment for both Metroidvania fans and the wider indie scene.
