Keep in mind the teaser trailer for Steel Gear Strong 5: Floor Zeroes, whereby Venom Snake says, “Kept you waiting, huh?” Hornet ought to have pulled a kind of within the launch date trailer for Hole Knight: Silksong as a result of followers have infamously been drooling for this expertise since that first trailer dropped in 2019.
After years of ready, they will all lastly play Hole Knight: Silksong. To this point, the neighborhood has been robust. As is the case with most sequels, followers can’t assist however be compelled to match the sport to the unique. What issues does Hole Knight: Silksong do higher than the unique recreation? This can focus purely on gameplay and no story content material, so no spoilers will probably be added.
Hornet’s Crests
Downward Strike vs Diagonal
One of many largest issues followers will discover about Hole Knight: Silksong straight away is that Hornet’s downward assault is completely different. The Knight’s assault in Hole Knight is an easy downward strike, which gamers used successfully to bounce repeatedly on enemies much like video games like DuckTakes and Shovel Knight. Hornet’s assault is diagonal, which makes gamers must plan their strikes out extra, as there’s a fast trajectory to the assault.
That mentioned, gamers can discover and equip new Crests in Hole Knight: Silksong to alter assault patterns, just like the downward strike, if they need. For followers of the unique downward strike system, there are Crests in Hollow Knight: Silksong that may change Hornet’s assault patterns. So, whereas initially the fan response could also be damaging, there are extra methods to customise Hornet’s skills than The Knight’s, which is an total constructive factor.
A Plus For Archivists
In one of many stranger variations, a minimum of with the Switch versions, Hole Knight has video recording blocked. Gamers can take screenshots, which seem in 720p even on the Swap 2, however video footage just isn’t allowed. Something goes in Hole Knight: Silksong, as gamers can seize video or screenshots, which is able to seem in crisp 1080p, even when docked.
It’s nice for going through bosses, as some gamers will need to mark their achievement with a video, particularly with a near-death expertise. For a lot of, this received’t be an enormous deal, however it’s unusual that there’s a change right here between the 2 Swap variations a minimum of. Whether or not gamers like video seize or not, it must also be talked about that the Swap 2 model of Hole Knight: Silksong runs smoother than the launch model of Hole Knight.
The Colours And Artwork
Every thing Pops
Past the variations with Swap, each system Hole Knight: Silksong runs on showcases how a lot the artwork has modified. As a hand-drawn game, Hole Knight remains to be a minimize above the remaining, however the designs are a bit darker and pale, even within the brighter areas. For instance, when gamers first encounter Hornet in Hole Knight, her cloak just isn’t as brilliant and vibrant because it seems in Hole Knight: Silksong.
If followers rewatch the Hole Knight: Silksong announcement trailer and examine it to the release date trailer, they may see how the artwork and colours have modified over time. The coloration is simply higher in Hole Knight: Silksong, together with the artwork model. Staff Cherry, over these previous years, appears to have gotten higher with their designs, which isn’t only a graphical factor both, and showcases how proficient the small indie studio is.
Hornet’s Gear System
Charms Vs Trinkets
Each video games have variations of equipment discovered in lots of RPGs. In Hole Knight, gamers can acquire Charms, which grant numerous boosts and skills, and will be outfitted at benches. Hole Knight: Silksong’s Trinkets must be outfitted at benches, too, however there’s extra of a catch. With the sport’s Crest system, gamers can equip one blue Trinket, one yellow Trinket, and one Software.
Crests can unlock new nodes through Memory Lockets in Hollow Knight: Silksong, which is able to give gamers entry to 2 Trinkets of every colour. It’s a bit extra limiting of an adjunct system in Hole Knight: Silksong in comparison with Hole Knight, however as was talked about earlier than with the downward strike, Crests do provide extra customization choices. It simply takes a while getting used to.
There Are Extra Branching Paths Earlier
Discover To Your Coronary heart’s Content material
The brand new area of Hole Knight: Silksong is called Pharloom. Gamers will begin in some ruins, earlier than the sport opens up in Bone Backside after which The Marrow. Whereas there’s a little bit of linear development by these areas, all the things is tied collectively neatly. The branching paths make extra sense, and it’ll give gamers extra alternatives to discover as they like. Hole Knight wasn’t devoid of selection, however it’s simply higher designed within the sequel.
If one biome is just too troublesome, gamers can transfer on to one thing else. For instance, two early examples embody Hunter’s March and Deep Docks. Hunter’s March may be very laborious to grasp, particularly with Hornet’s unique downward slash, and the boss on the finish is among the hardest in Hollow Knight: Silksong, called the Savage Beastfly. Hunter’s March is nearly solely elective, with Deep Docks being extra story-driven, and it’s a extra balanced space.
Hornet’s Motion
From Pure Pace To Skills
The perfect a part of any Metroidvania is getting a brand new energy. Fight boosts will be enjoyable, however traversal skills can actually assist with gameplay. Hole Knight has some nice ones just like the Mothwing Cloak, which lets The Knight sprint, and the Monarch Wings, which give The Knight the coveted double soar potential. Amongst all of those upgrades, none of them permits The Knight to run.
From the sequel’s begin, Hornet is a quicker character than The Knight, however solely marginally. Nevertheless, as soon as gamers unlock Hollow Knight: Silksong’s Swift Step ability, gamers can sprint on the bottom, within the air, and even let Hornet run. It’s an early improve alongside together with her potential to drift like Princess Peach through her new apparel, the Drifter’s Cloak. Each of those early upgrades make gameplay extra partaking, and Hornet, as a personality, is simply higher fitted to intense fight and deep exploring.

Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Launched
-
September 4, 2025
- Developer(s)
-
Staff Cherry
- Writer(s)
-
Staff Cherry
- Engine
-
Unity
- Franchise
-
Hole Knight
- Variety of Gamers
-
Single-player