he weight of expectation is the heaviest burden a creator can bear. For Team Cherry, a studio of three whose debut title, Hollow Knight, became a pillar of the indie scene, that weight must have felt overwhelming upon their shoulders. The years of waiting, the fervent speculation, the endless loop of trailers and snippets of information—it all culminated in a single, terrifying question: could they possibly do it again?
After my time exploring every corner of Pharloom, I can say with confidence: Team Cherry has done it again. Silksong isn’t just a worthy sequel—it’s a huge step forward in almost every way. It takes everything I loved about the first game and somehow makes it even better. I don’t throw around the word ‘perfect’ lightly, but Silksong comes pretty close.
This time around, instead of heading down into Hallownest, we start out as Hornet, trapped in a strange new land. If you remember her from the first game, you know she’s fast and deadly, and now she’s the main character. The big twist is that you’re climbing up through Pharloom, not down, and that simple change actually makes a huge difference in how the whole game feels.
Elegant Movement
The first thing you’ll notice is how different Hornet feels to control. Where the Knight was slow and careful, Hornet is quick and agile. She jumps higher, dashes through the air, and can climb up ledges, which totally changes how you move around. Pharloom is built for her speed, and places that would have been dead ends before are now just another part of the path. The whole game feels faster and more exciting because of it.
Combat has also gotten a big upgrade. Hornet’s needle has more reach than the Knight’s nail, so you can play more aggressively and keep moving. Instead of collecting SOUL, you build up Silk, which you use for healing and special moves. It’s a small change, but it makes fights feel fresh and different.
The new Bind mechanic is a game changer. Instead of the slow healing from the first game, Hornet can use all her Silk to heal three masks almost instantly. This totally changes how you approach boss fights. Now, healing is a quick decision you make in the middle of the action, and you have to choose between using Silk to heal or saving it for a special attack. It keeps every fight tense and exciting.
The enemies in Pharloom are no joke. They’re faster and smarter than what you faced in Hallownest. Some will rush you, others fill the screen with projectiles, and you really have to use all of Hornet’s moves to survive. Parrying, dashing, and grappling all come into play, and it never gets old.
The Kingdom of Pharloom
Pharloom feels totally different from Hallownest. Instead of crumbling ruins, you get bright, living areas full of moving parts and gold. You start at the bottom in the Moss Grotto and work your way up through all kinds of places, like glowing forests, busy city streets, and windy mountain peaks that can blow you right off the map. Each area stands out and keeps things interesting.
But it’s not just about looks—Pharloom is packed with clever level design. Team Cherry is still the king of interconnected maps. You’ll find shortcuts and hidden paths everywhere, and it’s always satisfying to unlock a door you saw hours ago. There are secrets tucked into every corner, and the game rewards you for being curious and paying attention.
Pharloom also feels more alive than Hallownest. There are towns full of NPCs who give you quests, sell you items, or just share bits of lore. The new quest system gives you some direction without taking away the fun of exploring. Sometimes you’ll get a vague hint about where to go, but it’s up to you to figure out how to get there. It makes the world feel like it has a real history and a lot going on.
A New Batch of Systems
Silksong adds a lot of new systems, but they all make the game better instead of more complicated. The old Charm system is gone, replaced by Crests you can craft and equip at benches. These let you change up Hornet’s abilities in big ways, like leaving a trail of silk behind your attacks or turning your dash into an explosion. Figuring out which Crests work best together is a lot of fun.
The biggest new feature is the crafting system. Hornet can collect materials from around the world and use them to make different Tools at benches. Some are simple, like throwing pins or bombs, while others are more creative, like a grenade that stuns enemies. These aren’t just for show—you’ll need them to get through certain areas or deal with tough bosses. It adds a nice layer of strategy and makes you think ahead before jumping into a fight.
All of this runs on the game’s currency, Rosaries, which you get from enemies and hidden spots. If you die, you drop your Rosaries and have to fight your way back to get them, just like in the first game. It always makes things tense when you’re deep in a tough area and mess up.
The Visuals
Silksong looks incredible. The hand-drawn art is even more detailed than before, and Hornet’s animations are super smooth. The backgrounds are packed with little details, from tiny bugs to huge old buildings in the distance. The colors are brighter and more varied, but the game still knows how to set a dark, moody atmosphere when it needs to.
The music is just as good as the visuals. Christopher Larkin is back, and somehow the soundtrack is even better than the first game. There are more big, sweeping string pieces and energetic tracks that fit each area perfectly. The Gilded City theme is upbeat and lively, and the music for the final climb is unforgettable. Every boss has its own theme, and they all add a ton of personality to the fights.
Conclusion
Silksong is a game that trusts you. It doesn’t hold your hand, and it expects you to get lost, die to tough bosses, and figure things out on your own. But it’s always fair, and finally beating a tough section or boss feels amazing.
Team Cherry took everything that made Hollow Knight great—challenging combat, a huge world to explore, and subtle storytelling—and made it even better. The new movement and combat are a blast, Pharloom is a joy to explore, and the new systems give you tons of ways to play. The wait was long, but it was absolutely worth it. Silksong is easily one of the best games I’ve played in years, and I can’t recommend it enough.