Hollow Knight: Silksong Could Be the Defining Indie Game of the Year

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Fans of Hollow Knight were pleasantly taken aback during Gamescom 2025, as they discovered they were just a few days away from experiencing the long-anticipated sequel to Team Cherry’s highly acclaimed platformer, which made a significant impact in 2017. For those who haven’t yet played it, the game’s appeal is well-deserved, as its unique setting, engaging combat system, immersive world-building, and overall gameplay offer a breath of fresh air to gamers.

The captivating journey of an insect-like warrior in a realm scarred by an unidentified plague was irresistible to numerous gamers, myself among them. What drew me in immediately was the unique portrayal of a desolate landscape, and it seldom let go due to its appealing aesthetics and top-notch battle mechanics. In this ever-expanding universe filled with intrigue and activities, Hollow Knight was impossible to ignore.

Despite a long wait of eight years without much news about its sequel, causing much anticipation, Team Cherry’s recent announcement of the release date for “Hollow Knight: Silksong” has generated a lot of excitement, as it looks set to be another triumph for the studio. From what I’ve observed of its gameplay, “Silksong” might just give some of this year’s top games a run for their money.

In its initial conception, Silksong was intended as an additional chapter for Hollow Knight, but due to its expanding size and ambition, it transformed into a sequel instead. The excitement surrounding Silksong is certainly warranted. However, what truly sets it apart from its precursor lies in its unique qualities.

Let’s find out!

Familiar But Fresh

One significant factor right off the bat is the selection of Hornet as the game’s main character. By doing so, Team Cherry has ingeniously connected the two games, creating a sense of continuity for returning players while sparking curiosity among newcomers about what makes Horner such an integral part of the series.

Previously known as a princess, there’s no denying her exceptional combat abilities when confronted in the initial game. Her backstory and reasons for action are equally captivating, leaving us eager to explore her journey further in the upcoming game as she encounters and overcomes various obstacles.

Her skills indeed qualify her as an ideal candidate for navigating a broader, intricate realm. I’m eagerly anticipating if this journey will provide insights into her history and relationships with characters from the initial game, who share strong connections with her.

However, Hornet is just a single component. There are other factors that lead me to believe that Silksong will be the standout game in 2025.

New Fights to Face

The combat system in Hollow Knight was already impressive, but it really shone when players encountered various enemies who challenged its effectiveness. In the initial game, there was an astounding assortment of foes that the Knight squared off against, some of which were ingeniously designed and utilized the environment to test my skills. These creative adversaries, with their smart designs and clever utilization of the surroundings, made for thrilling battles that truly put me to the test.

In simple terms, Silksong appears well-positioned to expand upon its notable strength, which could indicate positive developments for the forthcoming game. Pharloom will introduce a variety of new enemy types, bosses, and resting spots for Hornet to explore, across a world that is bigger than the previous one.

In this follow-up, ambition is skillfully blended with enlightening examinations of what made the precursor exceptional, while Team Cherry’s remarkable design and aesthetic flair promise to maintain captivation through substantial interactions.

The swiftness and nimbleness displayed in gameplay demos of Hornet indicate a more polished, offensive-focused combat system that could further promote an aggressive playstyle compared to the original game. With certain mechanics being adjusted to invite players into a more active engagement, _Silksong_ might surpass its forerunner in ways that even the most devoted fans of _Hollow Knight_ may not have anticipated.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but marvel at how the fundamental design principles that made Hollow Knight 1 an extraordinary exploration experience are still deeply ingrained in the new game. The subtle refinements in their application this time around make me feel that Hollow Knight: Silksong could potentially mark the pinnacle of a journey that Team Cherry embarked on nearly eight years ago.

But wait. There’s more.

Balancing Continuity and Change

Another exciting reason I’m looking forward to playing “Silksong” is how Team Cherry has made improvements to their systems, offering a smoother and enhanced gaming experience.

For instance, consider the new Rosary items. Unlike in the previous game, where Geo wasn’t involved, now you can only acquire these by defeating enemies. However, if you get defeated, you will lose them. This is a fairly traditional method used to penalize losses that has been widely adopted in numerous successful games today. Nonetheless, Team Cherry has introduced a novel twist to this storyline. They’ve incorporated a feature whereby tying your Rosaries together with a string can help prevent their loss upon death.

Initially, this method might appear quite ordinary for gamers concerned about their abilities hindering enjoyment. However, when you factor in the expansive universe and upgraded enemy roster, it’s a shift signifying a more balanced character development strategy, offering challenges yet alleviating much of the exasperation from repeating tough levels in a world as vast as Pharloom.

In the upcoming game, there’s a good chance that the Soul mechanic from the original game remains unchanged, which is fantastic news because battling the Shade enemy was fun and should remain so in the new version. It’s exciting to see how Team Cherry will seamlessly combine old and new elements, leveraging the strengths of their franchise while addressing potential issues.

The Pieces of Shell serve as an exciting new feature. They will likely function as materials for upgrading crests and tools, similar to the equippable bonuses we saw in the initial game. If my predictions hold true, this addition could provide players with a great deal of customization options for their character build, as Crafting these items is now possible according to Team Cherry.

If Hollow Knight: Silksong includes an option for repeccing using Shell Shards, this could signify that the game may offer a diverse character build selection, potentially outshining the original 2017 title. This added versatility enables players to tailor their strategies better to various situations. Additionally, with the introduction of new enemy types and bosses, some of which might require multiple respecs before mastery, this feature becomes even more advantageous.

My enthusiasm for the game Silksong is running high, and what makes it even more promising is that I’m not the only one feeling this way.

A Community of Fans

The significant impact of Hollow Knight’s success should not be underestimated when examining the growing anticipation for Silksong prior to its launch. To put it simply, each public showcase of the game has garnered a substantial amount of praise, and E3 2019 serves as a prime illustration of this trend.

Feedback on the demo of the game largely mirrored my own opinions, focusing on appreciating how the game significantly enhanced its predecessors in aspects that truly affected the playing experience.

The game likely won the title of Most Anticipated Game at the 2021 Unity Awards because it was highly anticipated, and it may have received similar acclaim at Gamescom 2025 like it did at E3 2019. It’s clear that Team Cherry has spent the years since then to enhance the game’s polish on an already well-crafted experience, making Silksong a strong contender for setting new standards in visual and graphics quality as well as offering a compelling gameplay structure.

4.8 million Steam users have added Hollow Knight: Silksong to their wishlists, indicating a high level of anticipation among players. At just $20, the game is affordable and widely accessible, demonstrating that Team Cherry has carefully considered its value proposition for

Given that Silksong is expected to surpass its predecessor in size and may require more time to complete, not to mention the possible return of multiple endings, it’s clear that this game will be a standout entertainment choice at a price point that undeniably merits inclusion among 2025’s top games.

Even though I tend to be wary of games that receive a lot of buzz before they come out, I’m optimistic that Silksong could reignite the enchantment of its precursor and elevate it in ways that make the latest edition even more captivating. Only time will tell if all the excitement was justified, but I have a strong feeling that it’s going to be an engaging experience, potentially even the standout performer of the year.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

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2025-09-03 16:48