Released on Sept. 4, Hollow Knight: Silksong is the long-awaited sequel to the beloved indie game Hollow Knight. The game has been in development by Team Cherry for approximately seven years, and was one of the most anticipated games of 2025, crashing Steam’s servers on its release. 

Silksong is nothing short of a masterpiece. It expands on everything that made the original special, delivering deep world building and a beautifully woven story. This time, you play as Hornet, who finds herself in a mysterious new kingdom called Pharloom after being taken from her home, Hallownest. After breaking free and falling into the kingdom’s lower depths, she begins her ascent, determined to uncover the truth behind her capture and confront the entity pulling the strings from behind the scenes.

As you climb through the diverse areas and biomes of Pharloom, you encounter a wide range of creatures, some hostile, others friendly. These encounters, combined with the incredibly detailed environments, create a vivid sense of immersion that allows you to see the world as Hornet.

The visuals are breathtaking, and the attention to detail is phenomenal. Every environment feels alive, filled with intricate details that bring the kingdom of Pharloom to life. The hand-drawn art is stunning with every animation, backdrop, and character masterfully designed. The cutscenes and animation are extremely well done and incredibly smooth. 

Silksong also features a diverse combat system featuring many different abilities, tools, fighting styles that help personalize the combat experience for everyone who plays. Each weapon and ability feels distinct, which encourages experimentation that allows players to craft a playstyle unique to themselves. 

While Silksong is an amazing game, it is not without flaws. For example, many traps and enemies in the game deal two points of damage per hit. In the original game, this mechanic was reserved for certain characters, but now it feels overused and redundant. Another complaint is the needlessly long distance you have to run back after losing to a boss, which can pull you out of the excitement of the fight and make the experience feel a little tedious. Despite these minor flaws, Silksong is largely an incredibly well designed and enjoyable game. 

This game is a must-play. What’s more, the game is priced affordably at just $20, while still offering just as much or more than other modern titles that cost far more.  Hollow Knight: Silksong is a masterpiece that I believe everyone should try.