Hollow Knight: Silksong

Hollow Knight: Silksong is a 2D action Metroidvania game. It is the sequel to the 2017 Hollow Knight. The game takes place in Pharloom, a new insect kingdom distinct from Hallownest, the setting of the first game. Pharloom is depicted as a land of verticality, with regions such as mossy caverns, gilded cities, moors, crypts, and a citadel at the kingdom's peak. The world is populated by both friendly non-player characters and hostile creatures.

The protagonist is Hornet, a recurring character from the original game. At the beginning of the story, Hornet is captured and taken to Pharloom. Her journey is described as a pilgrimage through the kingdom, where she seeks to ascend to the citadel and uncover mysteries tied to her origin and the land’s history. The narrative expands through environmental storytelling, quests from various inhabitants, and lore tied to Pharloom’s culture of silk and song.

Hollow Knight: Silksong retains the core structure of a Metroidvania game, with interconnected areas, ability-based progression, and non-linear exploration. Hornet's movement set emphasizes agility and speed, with expanded acrobatic actions compared to the Knight from the previous title. Players can perform swift melee attacks, backsteps, and aerial maneuvers. Healing is tied to Silk, a resource Hornet accumulates and spends to restore health or perform special abilities.

Exploration features platforming, puzzles, and quests given by characters across Pharloom. Players can craft tools, traps, and mechanisms to aid exploration or combat. The game introduces a quest system where side objectives are tracked and can influence the state of the world.

The game includes over 200 enemy types and more than 40 bosses. Enemies range from beasts and hunters to mechanical constructs, while bosses are designed as major encounters tied to story progression or optional challenges. Defeating enemies rewards materials and items that contribute to crafting and upgrades.

In addition to the standard campaign, the game features a Steel Soul mode, a permadeath variant returning from the first Hollow Knight. The game maintains the hand-drawn, 2D art style of its predecessor.