I got into Hollow Knight last year. The video game, published by Australian independent developer Team Cherry, sucked me into a world that I adored. In fact, I adored everything about the map and bosses. Everything was so unique and lively I just couldn’t be pulled away.

When I found out a few months later that the long awaited sequel, Hollow Knight : Silksong, was coming out late 2025, I was excited. Silksong is in told from the perspective of a beloved character that you fight and befriended in the previous game, Hornet. The excitement over this seven year long awaited game caused the internet to go crazy, and I can’t deny that I was a part of this craze.

The game follows Hornet as she explores the new world of Pharloom. Hornet is on a new quest to find out why she’s here, as well as find the bugs who brought her here and figure out exactly what they’re doing to others.  We learn about the world through different NPC’s, though most players would agree the story isn’t the main purpose of the game (unless you’re a theorist). 

Rather than the story, the gameplay mechanics are the main selling point. Like Hollow Knight, the game has a huge map with a multitude of different and diverse areas the player is able to explore. While most players start off getting lost in the twists and turns throughout the map, once they are able to grasp the routes, the game gets ten times more fun.

While players take the time to explore, they will encounter a variety of different bosses. These can range from a simple starter fight that gets you familiar with your nail swing and down slash, to a boss that takes 3 hearts of damage and has flying creatures surrounding you. While this may sound stressful (and believe me, it is,) the game is able to provide different abilities you can unlock to help make the boss fights easier. For example, Thread Storm makes Hornet able to release a ball of silk around her to deal damage to surrounding enemies. The game also has abilities such as cling grip, which lets you grip to walls, Faydown Cloakz which lets you double jump, and Drifter’s Cloak which helps the player float down areas slower. Each of these abilities help the player access different areas of the map so much easier, as well as defeat bosses that may be tricky.

The game doesn’t stop there. As you explore the lands of Pharloom and take a moment to listen to the soundtrack you realize the music is breathtaking! Each area of the game has a unique sound to it, making the game feel all the more ethereal. The boss music is heavy and loud, rushing you into a battle and making the fight all the more intense. I’m not one for listening to music during games, in fact I normally have it muted, but Silksong is my exception.

Silksong, in my heart, is truly the game of the year. From the gameplay, to the compelling characters, the music and the art style, to the price being only $20, which in modern gaming is astronomically rare, each part of the game makes the player need to come back for seconds. If you’re into metroidvania games, a fan of Hollow Knight, and in need of a new game, you should absolutely give this game a try.

I promise you it will not let you down.