Hollow Knight: Silksong is out now, after years of waiting and plenty of fan speculation. It launched yesterday (September 4) for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch 2, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. From what I've played so far, it's a faster and more challenging game than its predecessor. Early signs are good, pointing to a huge launch for Silksong and developer Team Cherry.
Now that the dust has settled, and storefronts have fully stabilized after the massive demand from players eager to download Silksong, I'm shifting into review mode. It's far too early to put together a full verdict, but I'll be offering my early impressions of Silksong as part of TechRadar Gaming's Silksong review in progress. So far, I've played 6 hours, leading up to a brilliant 1v1 boss fight that truly impressed me.
Hopefully, Silksong will end up on our best indie games list alongside the first game, and what I've played so far has been extremely promising. Here's our Silksong review in progress, as well as everything you need to know now that the Hollow Knight sequel is here. Moving ahead, you'll find my early gameplay impressions, updated live throughout the day.
Hollow Knight Silksong - cut to the chase
- When did Silksong come out: September 4, 2025
- What can you play it on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Linux, MacOS, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch
- How much does it cost: $19.99 USD / €19.99 EUR / £16.75 GBP
- Is Silksong on Game Pass: Yes
- Review in progress: I've now played 5 hours of Silksong, and you can read my live thoughts below
What platforms is Silksong on?
Silksong launched on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC, Linux, and MacOS. That's quite a spread, and great news for those playing on older consoles. Generally, this isn't expected to be a graphically intensive game, so it should be right at home on all consoles. If you're playing on PC, here are the system requirements:
- OS: Windows 10 version 21H1 (build 19043) or newer
- Processor: Intel Core i3-3240, AMD FX-4300 (Minimum); Intel i5-3470 (Recommended)
- Memory: 4 GB RAM (Minimum); 8GB (Recommended)
- Graphics: GeForce GTX 560 Ti (1GB), Radeon HD 7750 (1GB) (Minimum); GeForce 1050 2GB, Radeon R9 380 2GB (Recommended)
- DirectX: Version 10
- Storage: 8 GB available space
If you're playing on MacOS, you'll want to check the system requirements below:
- OS: Big Sur 11 or newer (Minimum, Recommended)
- Processor: Intel Core i3 (Minimum); Intel i5, Apple M1 (Recommended)
- Memory: 4 GB RAM (Minimum); 8GB RAM (Recommended)
- Graphics: Metal capable Intel and AMD GPUs (Minimum); Metal capable Intel and AMD GPUs, Apple M1 (Recommended)
- Storage: 8 GB available space (Minimum, Recommended)
How much does Silksong cost?
Hollow Knight: Silksong costs $19.99 / €19.99 / ¥2300, which puts it around the same price point as Hollow Knight, when adjusted for inflation. In the UK, you can pick up Silksong for £16.75.
Given that the original offered up to eighty hours of gameplay, this is a great value deal if you look at game purchases this way. We'll have to wait and see how substantial Silksong is, but all signs are pointing to a meaty game, with a lot of side bosses and optional paths to explore.
Is Silksong on Game Pass?
Silksong launched on Game Pass on September 4, 2025. Subscribers can now download and play the game at no extra cost. Hopefully, the game will end up on our best Xbox Game Pass games list by the end of 2025.
Live review in progress
Welcome in!
Hello and happy Silksong release day-eve. The long awaited game will be out very soon indeed, allowing players to jump back into the vibrant and mysterious world of Hollow Knight. I’ll be covering the build up to launch, providing everything you need to know before jumping in. Once the game is out, you’ll get our up to date impressions, before a full review goes live next week.
What time does Silksong come out?
Four days until release! Hollow Knight: Silksong will be available on 4th September.Release times:7AM PT | 10AM ET | 4PM CEST | 11PM JSTGame price:USD $19.99 | EUR €19.99 | JPY ¥2300 pic.twitter.com/JeDmozItpXSeptember 1, 2025
Silksong is now just a day away, coming September 4, 2025 at the following times:
- United States (East Coast): 10AM ET
- United States (West Coast): 7AM PT
- United Kingdom: 3PM BST
- Central Europe: 4PM CEST
- Japan (Tokyo): 11PM JST
- Australia (Sydney): 12AM AEST (September 5)
Can you preload Silksong?
Currently, you cannot pre-order or preload Hollow Knight Silksong. This is likely to be the case until launch, with the game going live for everyone at the times listed in the post below. We do know that it’ll cost USD $19.99 | EUR €19.99 | JPY ¥2300.
Map revealed
We got a good look at the Silksong map during the reveal trailer. It features areas like Deep Docks, Far Fields and Greymoor. It certainly looks like Hollow Knight to me, with a huge interconnected map with plenty of hidden routes and secret areas to explore.
Where can you play Hollow Knight Silksong?
Hollow Knight: Silksong launches on PS5, PS4, Switch 2, Switch, XSX|S, Xbox One, PC, Linux, and MacOS. This is certainly a wide spread, ensuring that pretty much everyone can get in on the fun. It’s great to see a day one release for Mac users too; quite rare, in my experience.
What I’m hoping to see from Silksong
Having looked through all of the gameplay trailers for Silksong, I’m thinking it’s going to be a very different game to its predecessor. This mostly comes from the change in protagonist. The knight from the first game felt like a real underdog; underpowered and up against the wall at all times. By comparison, Hornet is much more competent. She’s faster, has better traversal abilities, and should be more formidable in combat.
I’m hoping to see this shift in power dynamic translate to the boss battles. Will we still feel like David facing down Goliath? I’m hoping so, which would mean a change in how bosses measure up to the player in terms of power level. I’d also love to see some returning characters, but mostly I’m happy for Silksong to tell its own story.
Silksong is launching in Nintendo Switch 2
Silksong will launch on Nintendo Switch 2, as well as Switch. Personally, I’ll be picking the game up on Switch 2, making use of handheld mode to play on the go. I’ve always enjoyed Hollow Knight on portable devices, and hopefully Silksong will run well on the new hardware.
We consider Hollow Knight to be a “game of the (last) generation”
Looking back, TechRadar published a selection of games that it considered to be the best of the generation (PS4, Xbox One in 2020). Writer Henry St Leger picked Hollow Knight, calling it “a haunting 2D platformer you need to master.” You can read the full write-up here.
Where are the Silksong reviews?
Team Cherry has not sent out early copies of Silksong to reviewers. Everyone will be getting the game at launch, likely to honor the Kickstarter campaign supporters, and keep spoilers to a minimum. That means there won’t be any reviews for Silksong at launch. We’ll be following up some time next week with a review, so stay tuned to see how Silksong measures up to its predecessor.
Hollow Knight Silksong countdown
It's now just under 23 hours until the release of Silksong. After years of waiting, fans will soon be able to dive into the fully-fledged sequel to Hollow Knight. Personally, I'll be jumping in as soon as it goes live. Thankfully, it's unlikely to be a big download.
Reach the kingdom’s peak
Hollow Knight: Silksong sees Hornet captured and brought to a whole new world. She then has to battle powerful insectoid foes, while uncovering mysteries and meeting new allies. The goal is to reach the kingdom’s peak, though that’s sure to be a very challenging journey indeed. From what we've seen so far, there's areas to explore deep underground, and a fast-travel beetle like in the first game to speed up traversal.
That’s all for today
I’m signing off now until tomorrow morning. I’ll then be jumping back on, counting down the hours until release. Once Silksong is out, you’ll get my live impressions of the first couple of hours. See you there!
Silksong countdown - just 6 hours to go!
Hello and welcome back to my live coverage of today's Silksong launch. We're now just 6 hours away from the release of the Hollow Knight sequel, which has been top of the wishlists of many gamers over the last few years.
How much is Silksong going to cost?
Ahead of today's Silksong launch, Team Cherry has shared pricing info for the game. It'll cost USD $19.99 / EUR €19.99 / JPY ¥2300. There's no word on other regions just yet, but I'll update you once we get more info.
There will be some enhancements for Nintendo Switch 2
According to a post on the Silksong Kickstarter page, supporters receiving a Nintendo Switch code for the game will need to additionally download a "Hollow Knight Silksong Upgrade Pack" from the eShop. This suggests some differences between the two versions. We'll have to wait and see how the game performs on both.
Over 40 Legendary Bosses
The Silksong release date trailer details some of the game's bosses, and there's set to be over 40 Legendary Bosses to conquer. In addition, there's 200 enemy types to take on throughout your adventure, including intense 1v1 stand-offs.
You can preload Hollow Knight Silksong on the Xbox App
You can pre-install Hollow Knight Silksong now, but only on the Xbox Game Pass app. The game isn't available for preload anywhere else. But if you plan to play on Xbox Game Pass, then you can get the game installed before launch. Just look for the game using the Xbox Game Pass App on your mobile device (we had to scroll for it). Our Hardware Writer Dash Wood was able to do so, as seen in the screenshot above.
Let's recap the Silksong release time
You'll be able to download Silksong at the following times:
- United States (East Coast): 10AM ET
- United States (West Coast): 7AM PT
- United Kingdom: 3PM BST
- Central Europe: 4PM CEST
- Japan (Tokyo): 11PM JST
- Australia (Sydney): 12AM AEST (September 5)
Hollow Knight Silksong is Steam Deck verified
Those wanting to play Silksong on Steam Deck can rest easy, as the game is officially verified for Valve's handheld device. This means it should work without issue. Elsewhere, you can play portably with the Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch. I'll likely be picking Silksong up on PS5 Pro, and using the PlayStation Portal occasionally to test it handheld.
Silksong's soundtrack has double the tracks of the first game's
Silksong's soundtrack is now available to view on Steam. It boasts 53 tracks, which is more than double the 26 tracks featured in the base version of Hollow Knight.
Three hours to go!
Hollow Knight Silksong launches in just three hours! It'll go live at the same time for everyone, though hopefully it'll be a small file size. You should be able to download it and jump in quickly. Of course, those on Xbox can make use of the cloud streaming to play right away.
Silksong PlayStation Store countdown
If you head to the PS Store page for Silksong, you can see a countdown clock. Follow along with this and you'll know exactly when you can download the game on PS5 and PS4.
Just two hours until Silksong launches
Two hours to go until you can download and play Silksong. I'll be picking it up immediately, and this blog will then be updated live with my thoughts and early impressions. As I'm handling the full review, you can consider that to be my review in progress.
Hello gamers!
Dash here. Jake has just run out for some lunch, so I'm taking over. We're getting closer and closer to that launch time, with just under 1 hour and 30 minutes to go the anticipation is mounting.
I've been chatting with some of the wider TechRadar team about Hollow Knight, trying to gauge just how excited we are about the upcoming game.
Here's what Managing Editor Roland Moore-Colyer had to say:
"It’s been a long wait for me and pretty much every other Hollow Knight fan, so I’m champing at the bit for Silksong. But my burning question is what should I play it on?
I have Xbox Game Pass so it would be a easy download on console but I very much enjoyed Hollow Knight in handheld mode on my Nintendo Switch.
Yet I don’t have a Switch 2 and maybe it’s a bit odd to play Team Cherry’s new game on rather old hardware.
My Steam Deck is a chunky machine for extended bouts of platform gaming, and it’s not exactly a handheld with a lengthy battery life.
Decisions, decisions…"
Less than one hour to go
Jake here, signing back on. The wait for Silksong is nearly over. There’s less than an hour left until the game unlocks around the world, and we’ll all get our hands on this highly anticipated sequel. I’m certainly glad with the price point, which will no doubt be more than worth it for the hours and hours on gameplay on offer here.
Hollow Knight Silksong file size should be around 8GB
Over on Steam, you can see the memory requirements for downloading Silksong. It's listed as 8GB, which is in line with what we expected. Hopefully, this means you won't have to wait too long to jump in.
15 minutes until launch!
We're now just 15 minutes away from the launch of Silksong. After many years of waiting, we'll get to return to the world of Hollow Knight. There's a whole new kingdom to explore this time around, with much of the game's plot still an absolute mystery.
Silksong is out now!
Hollow Knight Silksong is finally here. Head to your storefront of choice and get it downloaded. I'll now be playing the game's first section, and will report back with early gameplay impressions. Until then, I'll be handing things off to our Hardware Editor, Rhys Wood, who is also jumping into Silksong.
Looks like Steam's having issues
Yeah, we kinda saw this coming. Steam servers are rammed right now, and the 'Add to Cart' button for the game is currently not working. We'll keep you posted!
PS Store running into issues too!
Looks like the PlayStation Store listing might not actually be live yet, either!
What about Switch 2?
Yep, that about sums it up...
Struggling with other storefronts? Try GOG!
Hollow Knight: Silksong has a store page on GoG. I've managed to buy the game there myself. So if you're struggling and just want to dive in now, give GoG a try at its store page.
I have the game installing on GOG Galaxy as we speak. Didn't think it'd come to this, and I didn't even have CD Projekt's launcher installed until this very moment. But desperate times call for desperate measures, right?
Downloads now available on Nintendo Switch 2
Jake signing back in. I've now managed to download Silksong on Switch 2. The store crashed for 20 minutes, with the Silksong listing not loading at all. Time to finish up the download and jump in!
And we're in!
GOG turned out to be the right call. Rhys here, and I'm officially in the game and the wait is over!
Steam goes down, and PS Store listing instantly crashes under Hollow Knight: Silksong demand
The Steam store is still experiencing massive issues, with many unable to access the listing for Silksong, or even login. I can't sign into my account, and there's a bunch of error messages when I try a direct link to purchase the game. Nintendo Switch users appear to be able to download Silksong, while Xbox Game Pass users have had fewer issues.
Over on the PlayStation side of things, the Silksong listing has disappeared entirely. On the PlayStation App, it's still listed as "Wishlist", so hasn't been updated for the launch.
Silksong "There was a problem displaying this item" error
Some of the TRG team are still attempting to purchase Silksong on Steam, but have been greeted with a "There was a problem displaying this item" error. It seems that the listing for the Steam Store has broken due to overwhelming demand. I'll update once this changes.
120hz output on Switch 2 TV Mode
Silksong has an option to enable 120hz on Nintendo Switch 2. Compatible displays can make use of this in TV Mode, though resolution will take a hit. This offers a massive upgrade on the Switch version, though players can upgrade the game version for free if they do end up picking up the new console.
Steam version added to cart
I'm now able to add Silksong to my cart. Hopefully, this will be the same for others trying to pick up the game on PC. Unfortunately, I'm still unable to move through to my cart to actually start the payment process.
Having just checked, the PS Store listing for Silksong is still unavailable.
Silksong is still not out on PlayStation
Over an hour after launch, Silksong is still unavailable on PlayStation. Over on Xbox, you can grab it easily as a subscriber. The Xbox store is a bit hit and miss, and I've had to refresh several times for the listing to load.
Impressions after an hour
Rhys here again! I've put an hour into Hollow Knight: Silksong now and I can confirm that it is indeed real. It is a game that you can play. And so far, so good.
Hornet controls brilliantly, with slick and responsive movement and animations. The ledge grab is a great addition, and you can initiate a stylish flip if you jump while ledge-grabbing. I've not found a practical use for this yet, but it's awesome.
Environments are utterly gorgeous, from the verdant greens of the Moss Grove to the boney darkness of The Marrow. These introductory areas are visually distinct - already an improvement from the original game's opening hours.
I've only fought one boss so far, and it was a simple one. Meanwhile, I've only just found this game's map merchant about an hour in. Oh, and you still do need to purchase a compass trinket and assign it to Hornet's crest in order to see yourself on the map. So get used to that.
Overall, though, I'm really enjoying Silksong so far, and I'm excited at the prospect of playing it for many, many more hours before credits roll.
Storefront update!
GOG, Nintendo eShop and the Xbox version of the Microsoft Store currently have no issues with Silksong purchases. However, Steam is still struggling; I can add the game to cart, but continuing to the payment is still a no-go. Meanwhile, the PlayStation Store still does not have the store page live for the game. Sorry, PS5 owners, but you might be waiting longer than anyone.
Avoid multiple Silksong refunds!
MY FUCKING STEAM CART pic.twitter.com/QgXkjTsGXwSeptember 4, 2025
Some Steam users are reporting Silksong is being added to their carts multiple times over. This also happened to me, and was the result of the 'Add to Cart' button not working at the immediate time of launch.
So to avoid having to do a big Silksong refund, make sure to remove any duplicates in your cart before checking out!
Jake's impressions on early gameplay
I've now had a bit of time to play Silksong on Nintendo Switch 2. It's all definitely sharper than the first game in terms of graphics, and having the 120hz option is nice for when I'm playing on TV Mode later this evening.
I'm mostly surprised by Hornet's dive attack ability, which moves in a diagonal direction towards enemies. This definitely takes some getting used to, but you can chain attacks in the air, bouncing around and between foes. I imagine this will lead to some complex combos later on in the game. It sure is lovely to return to Hollow Knight, and I'm excited to play more!
Yes, it's overwhelmingly positive on Steam
So some fans have managed to breach the threshold and get Hollow Knight: Silksong downloaded on Steam. Whether these were Kickstarter backers or just lucky with checkout remains a mystery, but what isn't as such is the game's already 'Overwhelmingly Positive' Steam rating.
At time of writing, over 1,500 people have put out a review to tell you that game indeed good. On the flipside, this is maybe why you shouldn't rush to trust Steam reviews. Not that Silksong appears to be a poor quality product or anything, but being able to post a review within hours of a game's release perhaps isn't the best practice.
Then again, people are just having fun, so I'll can it for now.
We're signing off for now!
It's the end of the work day, meaning we'll be winding down our Silksong live coverage for now. However, we'll be back at it again tomorrow morning (UK time) with more coverage and impressions as we spend the evening really getting stuck in with the game. We hope to see you there!
One last bit of information!
Silksong has *just* appeared on the PS Store! If that's what you're searching for, then here's the link:
Otherwise, keep it steady, and tune in again here tomorrow for our review-in-progress.
Ciao for now!
Welcome to my Silksong review in progress
Hello and welcome to TechRadar Gaming's Silksong review in progress. I'll be sharing my thoughts on the game as I play, with early impressions on exploration, boss fights, and the new combat system throughout the day.
Boss fights are excellent
I've now played around 5 hours of Hollow Knight Silksong, and the boss fights have really impressed me. I'll be keeping things spoiler free for players that haven't put as much time in yet, but one fight at the end of my play session last night was a fantastic 1v1 battle. There's a real beauty to the way these kinds of fights play out, with Hornet leaping, dashing and diving around an enemy's attacks. Throwing knives really up the pace of the action too, and I can't wait to unlock new abilities.
The map design is better this time around
I personally found the map system to be a little bit frustrating in Hollow Knight, especially in the first few hours. You still have to purchase maps, compasses and pins from an NPC vendor, but you have the opportunity to do so very early on in Silksong.
I do wish there was more freedom in how you customize your map, akin to how modern games like Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown allowed you to add screenshots. It's possible that additional tools will become available later on, but for now, I'm definitely enjoying Silksong's map design more than the first game's.
How difficult is Silksong?
So far, Silksong is pretty challenging. While you have more options in combat, enemies hit very hard indeed. Some boss attacks will take away two full chunks of health if you don't avoid them, and it's easy to get cornered and taken out in seconds.
The throwable needle spear is an interesting mechanic, but it depletes your silk, which is usually better applied to healing abilities. This risk vs reward mechanic really makes boss fights feel more tense. You have to weigh up finishing the fight faster against keeping some healing in reserves.
Hornet is a much more compelling protagonist
Hornet has dialogue in Silksong, making her feel like a much more involved protagonist when compared to the first game's. In general, the world-building is excellent so far, with vibrant NPCs having distinct designs and some neat backstory details. I found myself looking for a particular vendor early on, after she'd moved following a boss fight. While searching around, I heard some singing that I recognized. This lead me to the NPC, in a great little bit of audio design.
Vendor NPCs sell items that'll make certain areas easier
While primary ability unlocks are tied to finding shrines around the map, there's secondary items sold by vendors that can power Hornet up in interesting ways. Early on in the Deep Docks, I found myself taking a lot of damage from environmental fire and lava. That was until I met the Forge Daughter, who sold me an item that reduced fire damage. This really opened up exploration for me, allowing me to reach secret areas and extra resources more easily.
Rosaries are well worth seeking out
Silksong has two major forms of currency: shell shards and rosaries. The latter is the one you want to focus on tracking down, as most vendors accept them in exchange for powerful upgrade items. I've found that red enemies tend to drop rosaries, and you can find them strung up and hanging from the ceiling in certain areas.
Silksong runs great on Nintendo Switch 2
I had planned on picking up Silksong on PS5, but given the PS Store issues, I decided to go with Switch 2. I'm glad I did, as the game looks and runs brilliantly in handheld. The 120hz mode is nice on the TV too, though I'm not sure the animation style of Silksong really needs boosts up to 120hz. So far, I've had no slow-down, no noticeable frame drops, and have been really enjoying how well the Pro Controller pairs with Silksong.
Map markers are far more useful than you think in Silksong
It's not the most glamorous purchase you can make from one of Silksong's many vendors - especially given the amount of useful trinkets and such you can buy from them. However, definitely don't sleep on Shakra's various map marker sets. They're fairly cheap to purchase from the map-making vendor, and they can make your backtracking endeavors far less stressful.
I'm only a few hours in personally, but I've picked up a couple of different types of map marker pin. One resembles a shiny brass shell, which I'm currently using to marked locked doors and barred gates. Another is a silver disc, which I've used (as suggested by the game) to mark powerful enemies and boss fights.
Like the first game, Silksong's map doesn't reveal a ton of information besides an area's general layout. So making a note of things I can return to later will definitely be making Hornet's life easier in the long run.
What are the shards for?
Dispatching enemy bugs in Hollow Knight: Silksong will often cause them to drop silvery shards, which are a separate currency from rosaries. These do not disappear upon death, and I've been able to use them in a couple of ways.
The first was for a sidequests which I picked up in the town of Bone Bottom. It was a simple turn-in quest where I donated 200 of these shards for a trinket reward. The second usage, and what I presume to be the primary use for them, is for refilling any weapon-based trinkets you have when you rest at a bench.
I've only found one of these so far; a ranged dagger projectile, of which I can hold up to 12. These are replenished when you sit at a bench, at the cost of some of these shards. With that in mind, it's always a good idea to defeat enemy bugs even while you're just moving from room to room, if only to keep yourself topped up on 'ammunition', so to speak.
Are you struggling with the difficulty level?
It's safe to say that Silksong is a little trickier than its predecessor. If you're struggling with this sequel, then you're not alone as players have taken to social media to complain.
Most of the criticism seems to stem from the sheer number of enemies that deal double damage.
""I feel like they’re really overusing double damage so far," reads one popular thread on Reddit.
"Been having a really hard time physically and mentally (especially mentally)," added another gamer in the comments.
"[I] was looking forward to my most anticipated game ever after having the worst work day ever, got really hyped, sat down, played it, it made the depression worse [...] I’m upset I don’t like it and I’m upset I’m not good enough at the game to like it."
Will Team Cherry hear this feedback and adjust the difficulty level? We'll just have to wait and see...
What is the right stick press button for?
Weirdly, there's a move bound to right stick (press/click) that's not listed in the controls menu. It consumes silk, and sees Hornet doing a sort of taunt animation. This doesn't have any effect on enemies, at least not that I can find so far. Doing it next to NPCs does cause them to react, however. Perhaps it'll be used later on. I'll have to wait and see.
Hornet is slowly becoming more agile with each new ability
Once thing that struck me in the opening hour of Silksong was how slow Hornet felt compared to what I'd been expecting. Now, after acquiring a few movement abilities, the game feels completely different. I'm able to reach new paths in early map areas, and can battle more proficiently in the air.
Backtracking is mostly optional so far
Games like Silksong and Hollow Knight often have their fair bit of backtracking (moving back through discovered areas to find a way forward), as you gain new abilities that open up paths that couldn't be accessed previously. Silksong is very focused in its first 5 hours, with backtracking easily done by opening up fast travel points. I haven't really had to go back through every area yet, with the main objective usually being hidden in the next explorable area. You can revisit earlier sections if you want, as there are still Vendors to meet and items to purchase.
I've re-downloaded Hollow Knight
As it's been five years or so since I beat Hollow Knight, I've just re-downloaded it on Switch 2. I aim to play for a few hours to compare its gameplay with Silksong's. Mostly, I'm looking to see how Hornet's movement and abilities differ to that of The Knight, given that she's a very different kind of fighter. This will likely influence my final review, as I'd like to evaluate how Team Cherry has evolved the original formula.
I have fallen down the hole by the starting town so many times
I'm not particularly proud of this, but I've now fallen into the pit in Bone Bottom several times. It takes you back to the starting area, and then you have to climb all the way back up. I'm aware this is my fault, but it's becoming a problem for me. Maybe a ladder would be nice.
Looking at the Silksong Reddit, it appears I'm not the only one wandering into the pit by accident. I feel your pain, fellow Silksong players.
Silksong feels right at home on Nintendo Switch 2's handheld mode
I've been playing Silksong on Nintendo Switch 2. I'm impressed with the game's performance in handheld (120hz), even if the resolution isn't quite as crisp as in TV Mode. I'll be docking the console this evening while I play, preferring the 4K visuals over the 120hz mode, which doesn't seem to make much difference to how the game plays in TV Mode.
Over half a million playing Silksong on Steam right now
At the time of writing, and according to SteamDB, there are 558, 117 people playing Silksong on Steam right now. That puts it as the fourth most popular game on the platform over the last 24 hours, beating out Delta Force, Rust, Apex Legends and Path of Exile 2. This points to a huge launch for Silksong, and of course, that's just Steam.
Over on the PlayStation Store, Silksong is listed as one of the top 10 games currently in the UK. No specific numbers or positions are given here, however. Silksong is also currently the top selling game on the Nintendo Switch 2 charts.
How are you finding Silksong so far?
How are you finding Hollow Knight: Silksong so far?
Share some of your impressions over on X / Twitter and tag us with @TechRadar for a chance to be featured here in our live coverage!
On that note, we've already had some responses to an earlier article talking about players struggling with the game's difficulty. As you can see, they are... less than sympathetic.
Git gudSeptember 5, 2025
Silk issueSeptember 5, 2025
Silksong has hit an all new peak player count
With the weekend almost here, it should come as no surprise that Hollow Knight: Silksong player counts are continuing to climb.
As of about ten minutes ago, the game has managed to hit a new all-time peak player count at a whopping 562,814 over on Steam. This comfortably beats its previous record of 535,213 yesterday when it launched.
Will we see this number get even higher? It's certainly possible, especially as more and more players get off work or come from school and log on for some gaming.
What do you make of Silksong's difficulty?
There's already plenty of talk online about Silksong being on the tougher side, with many enemies and bosses taking a chunky two points of health from Hornet upon hit. It's been a while since I played the first game, but I do think the difficulty spikes a little harder in the early game than the 2017 original.
It's been nothing insurmountable yet in these early hours, but there are definitely trickier platforming elements, tough enemy placement, and some pretty challenging boss encounters. I'm very much enjoying the experience so far, but if you were hoping for a more mellow introduction, you may wish to see if developer Team Cherry has any kind of response with a patch to make the early game a bit more forgiving.
At least here, collecting your dropped currencies on death is much easier than it was with the original Hollow Knight, where you also had to vanquish a specter to reclaim your goods.
How long will it take to beat Silksong?
The original Hollow Knight was a lengthy game, even without its numerous post-launch free updates. HowLongToBeat estimates the 2017 original takes around 27 hours to clear just the main story, and roughly 65 hours for a completionist playthrough.
We know from Silksong's gameplay trailer, that launched a couple of weeks before release, that the game boasts more enemies and bosses than its prequel. Of course, such encounters could be presented in a more condensed fashion, but I am expecting a longer game in Silksong.
If I had to do a rough estimate now, I'd probably say anywhere between 30-35 hours for a straightforward first run, and perhaps around 70-80 for full completion. Though I'm still very early on, so I can't say anything conclusive at this stage without looking up spoilers, and I'm not going to be doing that, now, am I?
I've now played 6 hours of Silksong
I just put in some more time with Silksong, and it's really starting to open up. There's been a great ability unlock that's completely changed how I approach platforming, adding new options for how I tackle aerial combat. In terms of boss fights, one new foe has stood out in today's playthrough. It makes great use of everything you've learned so far, and is a real visual spectacle. I even met a little snail friend, who gave me a journal to fill.
Updated Silksong review in progress
Having now unlocked some new abilities for Hornet, and having finally gotten the hang of the diagonal dive attack, I'm really starting to love Silksong. It's definitely more challenging than the first game, with enemies dealing double hits being quite frequent in the early game. Still, I haven't actually lost any resources yet, which means I'm learning fast from my mistakes.
I'm enjoying how focused Silksong feels, and the way it has used Hornet's dialogue to add context to the NPCs she meets. So far, I'm liking Silksong's first 6 hours even more than my first hours with Hollow Knight. I'm very interested to see how it evolves as I play more, as it took a while for me to warm up to the first game during my initial playthrough.
