Team Cherry is years into development on Hollow Knight: Silksong, a sequel to its acclaimed 2D action-adventure game that IGN crowned the all-time best Metroidvania (that isn’t a Metroid or Castlevania game).
In anticipation of the sequel to Hollow Knight, we’ve put together this breakdown of everything you need to know about Hollow Knight: Silksong as of February 2024.
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Hollow Knight: Silksong Release Date
There is no official release date or window for Hollow Knight: Silksong. A 2024 release seems most likely given it was previously slated for the first half of 2023, though there’s been no official word from developer Team Cherry.
Last May, Team Cherry delayed Silksong beyond its initial First Half 2023 release window, saying: “We had planned to release in the 1st half of 2023, but development is still continuing. We’re excited by how the game is shaping up, and it’s gotten quite big, so we want to take the time to make the game as good as we can. Expect more details from us once we get closer to release.”
As of mid-February 2024, Team Cherry has not shared further details on the release date.
Hollow Knight: Silksong Platforms and Price
Hollow Knight: Silksong will be released on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. It’ll be available day and date on Xbox Game Pass. The official PlayStation account tweeted Silksong is coming to PS4 as well, though the platform is absent from the game’s official website and press kit.
A price has not been announced for Silksong. The first Hollow Knight retailed for $15, though there’s no guarantee the sequel will cost the same.
If you were one of the 2,158 people who backed the original Hollow Knight on Kickstarter, you’ll receive a copy of Silksong for free, according to Team Cherry.
Hollow Knight: Silksong Gameplay
Team Cherry has purposely been quiet about Silksong’s gameplay details. “Discovery is a huge part of Hollow Knight so we don’t want to spoil all the new systems and surprises,” it said. However, from two trailers and a handful of blog posts, we’ve learned a bit about what you can expect gameplay-wise.
Hornet, equipped with her needle and thread of silk, is described as an “acrobatic” fighter; she moves quickly and gracefully, as evidenced by the most recent gameplay trailer from 2022.
The sequel will feature tons of new enemies (165 as of late 2019). These include “beasts and hunters, assassins and kings, [and] monsters and knights.” Outside of combat, Hornet has the ability to craft weapons, traps, and “mechanisms to confound your enemies and explore new heights.”
As detailed by Team Cherry, Hornet uses silk to Bind (i.e., heal), similar to how the Knight uses soul to Focus in Hollow Knight. New for the sequel is the speed in which Hornet can Bind — “it’s lightning-fast” — and her ability to heal in mid-air. At the start of the game, one Bind will restore three masks. Bind consumes all of Hornet’s silk, and if she’s hit mid-heal, “the healing effect will be wasted and the silk will be gone.”
Upon death, Hornet will leave a cocoon, akin to how the Knight left a Shade. Each cocoon will contain a full supply of silk, creating a tactical decision for the player on when to break it open.
As with Hollow Knight’s labyrinthine Hallownest, Silksong’s world, Pharloom, must be mapped as you progress through its twisting layout. Team Cherry says the process uses the “same tools and restrictions” as the original game, though this time around, Hornet will be aided by the warrior Shakra, a master cartographer who provides charts, compasses, and other tools for navigation.
Silksong will feature Silk Soul Mode, available after you complete the game for the first time. Silk Soul Mode, like Steel Soul Mode in Hollow Knight, “spins the game into a unique, challenging experience.” Further details have not yet been announced.
We got our hands on Silksong back in 2019 and said, “It’s unmistakably Hollow Knight, but with the speed cranked up to 11 thanks to the nimble nature of its new protagonist, Hornet.”
Hollow Knight: Silksong Story
Hollow Knight: Silksong features a new protagonist and game world. In the sequel, you’ll play as Hornet, who appears as a boss-turned-ally in the original game. Dubbed the princess-protector of Halllownest, Hornet is captured and brought to the unfamiliar, haunted land of Pharloom. She embarks on a journey to discover the truth behind her capture and ascend to the kingdom’s peak. Here’s the official story synopsis from Team Cherry:
As Hornet, princess-protector of Hallownest, adventure through a whole new kingdom ruled by silk and song. Captured and brought to this unfamiliar land, Hornet must battle foes and solve mysteries as she ascends on a deadly pilgrimage to the kingdom’s peak.
One new area, as detailed by Team Cherry, is Greymoor, wasted caverns that house “many mysteries, several new friends, and [a] duel with a lethal, lunging foe.” It’s described as “one of the biggest” areas in either Hollow Knight game. Other areas include lakes of fire, coral forests, mossy grottoes, gilded cities, and misted moors.
Hornet, unlike the Knight, is voiced. “Dialogue and narrative are there for those that seek it,” said Team Cherry. “For those that don’t, you’ll be able to ignore nearly all characters and get on with your exploring, hunting, and powering up.”
Team Cherry has also revealed some of the new characters Hornet will befriend or face off against in Silksong. You can see them alongside their character descriptions in the gallery above.
Hollow Knight: Silksong Development
Hollow Knight: Silksong is being developed by Team Cherry, the Australian studio that created the original game. The development team consists of three people: Ari Gibson, William Pellen, and Jack Vine.
Silksong, announced in 2019, began development as DLC for the original game. “Almost from the very start, Hornet’s adventure was intended to take place in a new land, but as we dove in, it quickly became too large and too unique to stay a DLC, as initially planned,” Team Cherry wrote at the time of the announcement. “We do know that makes the wait a little longer, but we think the final, fresh world you’ll get to explore is worth it.”
Team Cherry is using Unity to create Silksong, as it did for the original. Composer Christopher Larkin is also back for the sequel; a two-song sample of the soundtrack is available on Larkin’s Bandcamp page.
How to Play Hollow Knight
The original game is available on PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC as Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition, which bundles the base game with its four content packs: Hidden Dreams, The Grimm Troupe, Lifeblood, and Godmaster. It’s available with Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Extra. Otherwise, it retails for $15.
In his Hollow Knight review, IGN’s Tom Marks wrote, “With such a high density of secrets to find and fun, challenging enemies to face, it’s worth spending every moment you can in Hollow Knight.”
Jordan covers games, shows, and movies as a freelance writer for IGN.