Hollow Knight: Silksong Is an Instant Hit

By Leif Lesperance

On Sept. 4, Team Cherry released “Hollow Knight: Silksong,” a sequel to their most popular game that had been in the works for nearly seven years. Fans of “Hollow Knight,” the game’s predecessor, followed each update from Team Cherry over the years, hoping to catch a hint of news about the sequel since its official announcement in 2019. Although players continued to occupy themselves with “Hollow Knight” content during their wait for “Silksong,” many fans still wondered: Will it be worth the wait?

Similar to its predecessor, “Hollow Knight: Silksong” is a metroidvania, a subgenre of video games named after the popular Metroid and Castlevania franchises. It involves two-dimensional non-linear exploration through a large map full of abilities and items. The story of “Silksong” follows Hornet, the protagonist and only playable character, on her journey to reach the top of a forgotten land called Pharloom. During her travels, players encounter charming characters, gorgeous scenery, difficult platforming, and deadly enemies.

Team Cherry, the developer behind the “Hollow Knight” games, is composed of three people: Ari Gibson, William Pellen, and Jack Vine. Gibson and Pellen, the co-directors of Team Cherry, designed the world and story of Pharloom, while Vine primarily headed the coding. The group also worked with Christopher Larkin, a talented composer who returned to create the soundtrack for “Silksong” after his success with the music of “Hollow Knight.”

Nearly a month after the game’s release on platforms such as Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch, long-time “Hollow Knight” fans have determined the answer to their question: “Silksong” has been well worth the wait. With the release of so much new content, “Hollow Knight” content creators, modders, and speedrunners burst onto the scene with more vigor than ever before. Fans of the franchise don’t even need their own copy of the game to enjoy the vast world and story of “Silksong.”

In the first three days after its release, “Hollow Knight: Silksong” had over 5 million players across multiple available platforms, a number that only continues to rise. Although most fans are more than satisfied with the excitement and content that “Silksong” brought to the “Hollow Knight” community, a new question has emerged: Will there be a third “Hollow Knight” game, and how long will it take to release?