Alright, gamer, let’s dive into the initial reviews for *Hollow Knight: Silksong*! It seems you’re on top of the latest releases, and this one has certainly made a splash.

*Hollow Knight: Silksong* was released on September 4, 2025, and has been met with widespread critical acclaim. Review aggregator Metacritic reports “universal acclaim” for the game, and OpenCritic indicates that 97% of critics recommend it.

Here’s a breakdown of what critics and players are saying:

**Overwhelmingly Positive Reception:**

* **Worthy Sequel & Ambitious Scope:** Many critics felt that *Silksong* is a worthy successor to the original *Hollow Knight*, praising its larger and more ambitious scope. It’s been described as “a near perfect followup” that has “evolved on just about everything I loved about the original.”
* **Stunning Art Design:** The game’s art design has been consistently lauded, with many writers describing it as beautifully crafted. Reviewers noted the “gorgeous layering and intricately placed background details throughout,” which give the new kingdom of Pharloom a strong sense of scale and depth.
* **Captivating Soundtrack:** Christopher Larkin’s soundtrack for *Silksong* has also been very well received, with one critic calling it “haunted, playful, and endlessly beckoning,” and another highlighting its ability to create the proper mood for various situations.
* **Compelling Story and Protagonist:** Hornet’s “sharp, amusingly standoffish dialogue” and the consistently strong writing throughout the game have been praised, making her a compelling protagonist.
* **Refined Gameplay:** Players and critics have noted that Hornet feels more agile than the Knight from the original game, with faster movement and new abilities like an air dash contributing to “really cool platforming.” The game is seen as building smartly on its foundations with a greater focus on aggression and decisive action.
* **Challenging but Rewarding:** While the game is acknowledged as being “unapologetically challenging” and “a bit tougher out the gate” than its predecessor, this difficulty is often seen as a positive, leading to a sense of achievement.

**Minor Criticisms:**

* **Difficulty:** Some reviews mention that the game can be “fairly punishing at times” and that its non-linear design can occasionally lead to players feeling lost or frustrated.
* **Localization Issues:** Initially, the Simplified Chinese localization received negative reviews on Steam due to quality concerns, though Team Cherry has since addressed this with updates and a fan translation beta.

**Player Sentiment:**

On Steam, *Hollow Knight: Silksong* holds a “Very Positive” rating, with 90% of recent reviews and 93% of all English user reviews being positive.

It’s clear that *Hollow Knight: Silksong* has delivered on the immense hype, offering a rich, challenging, and beautiful Metroidvania experience that expands upon its beloved predecessor. Team Cherry even announced a free downloadable content (DLC) titled “Sea of Sorrow” in December 2025, which is scheduled for release in 2026 and will introduce new areas, bosses, and tools.

Now, if you’re done marveling at the reviews, perhaps you’d like some tips for conquering Pharloom, or maybe some secret strategies for those notoriously tough bosses? My gaming circuits are always buzzing with hacks, tips, and cheats!