Hollow Knight: Silksong - The Long-Awaited Return

A Kingdom of Silk and Song

Few games have generated as much anticipation as Hollow Knight: Silksong. First announced in 2019 as what was initially planned to be DLC for the beloved original, Team Cherry's sequel has become one of gaming's most eagerly awaited releases. Now, after years of patient development, Silksong is confirmed for September 4, 2025, bringing Hornet's adventure to PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, and the newly released Nintendo Switch 2.

Moving the spotlight from the silent Knight to the agile and vocal Hornet, Silksong promises to be "a whole new adventure in a whole new kingdom" according to Team Cherry. With a 92/100 rating based on pre-release impressions from 222 reviewers, and hype levels off the charts with 220 enthusiastic fans tracking its release, Silksong isn't just meeting expectations - it's potentially exceeding them. This is everything you need to know about one of 2025's most significant releases.

Release Timeline & Platforms

The journey to release has been long - originally announced in February 2019 as DLC, Silksong grew so ambitious that Team Cherry transformed it into a full standalone sequel. While the extended development time tested fan patience, Team Cherry has maintained they're taking the time needed to deliver a worthy successor to one of the greatest Metroidvanias ever made.

Play as Hornet: Princess-Protector of Hallownest

Hornet was a standout character in the original Hollow Knight - agile, fierce, and memorably challenging as a boss encounter. In Silksong, she takes center stage as the playable protagonist, and the change fundamentally transforms the gameplay experience.

Hornet's movement is described by Team Cherry as faster and more complex than the Knight's. Her needle allows for rapid combo strings, and her thread provides creative traversal options that go beyond simple platforming. She can bind to points in the environment to slingshot herself, creating momentum-based movement that rewards skillful play.

A Whole New Kingdom to Explore

Silksong takes place in Pharloom, a kingdom above Hallownest - a land "ruled by silk and song." This isn't just a new area tacked onto the original map; it's an entirely separate kingdom with its own history, inhabitants, and mysteries. Team Cherry has confirmed Silksong's world is comparable in scope to the original Hollow Knight, meaning dozens of hours of exploration await.

Confirmed Regions & Areas

Each area features distinct visual themes, enemy types, environmental challenges, and secrets. The level design maintains Hollow Knight's trademark interconnectedness, with shortcuts that open up as you gain new abilities, creating that satisfying Metroidvania loop of exploration and backtracking with purpose.

Refined Combat & Progression Systems

While Hollow Knight emphasized patient, measured combat, Silksong leans into speed and aggression. Hornet's moveset encourages offensive play, with combo systems and aerial combat playing a larger role. The result feels distinctly different while maintaining the tight, responsive feel that made the original's combat so satisfying.

Tool System (Replaces Charms)

Instead of Charms, Silksong introduces Tools - equippable items that provide both passive bonuses and active abilities. Tools might grant defensive options, offensive power-ups, or mobility enhancements. Unlike Charms' purely passive nature, many Tools can be actively used during combat or exploration, adding tactical depth to encounters.

Shell Shards & Resources

Silksong replaces Soul with Shell Shards - fragments you collect by hitting enemies that power your healing and special abilities. This creates a more aggressive risk-reward dynamic, as staying on the offensive is necessary to maintain your resources. Strategic players will need to balance offense with positioning and resource management.

Bosses & Challenges

Team Cherry has confirmed over 150 new enemies and "a huge number" of boss fights. Given how memorable Hollow Knight's boss encounters were - from the tragic Mantis Lords to the nightmare-inducing Nightmare King Grimm - expectations for Silksong's bosses are sky-high. Early glimpses suggest intricate, multi-phase encounters that will test your mastery of Hornet's entire moveset.

Mystery, Lore, and Discovery

Hollow Knight's environmental storytelling and cryptic lore became legendary among fans, spawning countless theory videos and deep-dive analyses. Silksong continues this tradition while making Hornet a more active participant in the narrative. Unlike the silent Knight, Hornet converses with NPCs, providing clearer story context while maintaining the series' sense of mystery.

The core premise sees Hornet captured and brought to Pharloom, a foreign land far from Hallownest. As she ascends through the kingdom on a "deadly pilgrimage" to its peak, she must uncover the secrets of this strange place and discover why she was brought here. Team Cherry describes the story as Hornet's quest to master an unfamiliar kingdom while battling its denizens and solving its ancient mysteries.

Art, Music & Presentation

Team Cherry's distinctive hand-drawn art style returns with enhanced detail and variety. Pharloom's aesthetic shifts from Hallownest's gothic-underground mood to something brighter yet equally mysterious - expect vibrant bioluminescent gardens, gleaming citadels, and ancient ruins rendered in gorgeous 2D animation.

Composer Christopher Larkin returns to create Silksong's soundtrack, building on the hauntingly beautiful score of the original. Early previews suggest a more varied musical palette - from delicate string melodies in peaceful areas to intense orchestral combat themes. The music remains atmospheric and memorable, perfectly complementing the exploration and combat.

Animation quality has notably improved, with Hornet's movements appearing even more fluid than the Knight's. Enemy animations showcase distinct personalities and telegraphed attack patterns. Environmental details bring the world to life, from swaying vegetation to distant background elements that hint at the kingdom's scope.

The Long Road to Release

Silksong's development has become somewhat legendary in gaming circles. Originally conceived as DLC in 2017, it grew so ambitious that Team Cherry transformed it into a full sequel. The announcement in February 2019 generated massive excitement, but as years passed without a release date, "Silksong when?" became a running joke in the community.

Team Cherry's small size (just three core developers) and commitment to quality over deadlines meant development took longer than anyone anticipated. But the studio has maintained transparency about their philosophy: they're building Silksong to the same exacting standards as Hollow Knight, refusing to compromise or rush the process.

Why Silksong Is One of 2025's Most Important Releases

Hollow Knight wasn't just a great game - it became a cultural touchstone for indie gaming and Metroidvania design. It sold over 6 million copies, won countless awards, and inspired a generation of developers. The original proved that a tiny team with vision and dedication could create something that rivaled or surpassed AAA productions.

Silksong carries the weight of these expectations, but everything we've seen suggests Team Cherry is up to the challenge. By changing protagonists from the silent Knight to the vocal Hornet, they've given themselves room to innovate while maintaining the core appeal. The faster, more aggressive combat and tool system provide meaningful mechanical evolution. The entirely new kingdom means fresh exploration and discovery.

For Metroidvania fans, this is THE release of 2025. For those who loved Hollow Knight, Silksong promises a worthy continuation that respects what came before while charting its own path. And for anyone who missed the original, Silksong offers a perfect entry point to experience Team Cherry's vision.

Final Thoughts & Pre-Purchase

Hollow Knight: Silksong releases September 4, 2025 across all major platforms, with Day One availability on Xbox Game Pass. Pre-orders are expected to open in the coming months, likely priced around $19.99 USD to match the original's value proposition.