In this review
The big picture
Hollow Knight: Silksong has moved beyond being something people ask about and become something that can ask quite a lot of them. Team Cherry's single-player adventure released on 4 September 2025, putting Hornet at the centre of an acrobatic journey through Pharloom. The sensible buying question is now whether you want to learn that journey, rather than whether the name alone makes purchasing it inevitable.
Movement, crafted tools, quests and an interconnected kingdom provide the appeal. So does the art, although attractive surroundings are not a legally binding promise that they will leave you alone. If you admired Hollow Knight while avoiding its demanding encounters, a sequel doesn't automatically resolve that disagreement. Hornet brings her own action vocabulary, and you'll want an actual interest in speaking it rather than simply recognizing the surname on the invitation.
Reasons to look closer
Acrobatic combat makes position and timing central, while tools and quests supply decisions beyond the next attack. Pharloom's varied illustrated spaces give exploration a reason of its own. Native releases cover a broad range of platforms, and Nintendo offers a free Switch 2 upgrade route for Switch owners. Those are useful invitations, provided the central activity of practising a demanding solo adventure sounds more appealing than politely looking at it from a safe distance.
Being agile creates more decisions
The official PlayStation description emphasizes movement between enemies and a developing collection of weapons, traps and mechanisms. Mobility therefore belongs to the combat problem. Where you go matters because it changes what you can do next, and an impressive move is less helpful if you finish it somewhere unfortunate. Hornet's agility still needs the player to supply the judgement.
That makes the design attractive for people who enjoy learning an active character. The other side is sustained attention: someone who wants time to pause and calmly assess every situation may find the acrobatic emphasis less welcoming. Familiarity with the series can provide enthusiasm, but it shouldn't be mistaken for proof that all your existing habits will be accepted without further discussion.
Pack something useful before making a dramatic entrance
Crafted weapons, traps and mechanisms give preparation a role around the immediate action. Quests involve beasts, mysteries and the kingdom's inhabitants, providing different reasons to investigate a place or pursue an objective. Exploration can therefore be worthwhile even when you aren't in the mood to walk straight toward the next major confrontation and request its opinion of your timing.
That combination suits players who enjoy trying an approach, seeing what it enables and adjusting accordingly. Equipment decisions can also feel like administration if all you really want is uninterrupted movement. More options only help when choosing among them is enjoyable. The quest structure supplies direction without promising a straight corridor through everything important, so bring some curiosity. A passage shouldn't need to announce a guaranteed improvement to your equipment before you're willing to see what's there.
Pharloom has a very persuasive exterior
Team Cherry describes mossy grottos, coral forests and elaborate cities, with traditional two-dimensional artwork and music by Christopher Larkin. Contrasting environments can make seeing the next area a motivation independent of acquiring another ability. That matters in an interconnected adventure, where the surroundings need to sustain interest beyond serving as wallpaper for difficult movement.
There is still a gap between admiring a screenshot and wanting to navigate what it depicts. A lovely place can contain an encounter you'd rather postpone indefinitely. Silksong makes the strongest case when the beauty and the challenge appeal together. Players seeking purely restful exploration should give the action emphasis more weight than the reassuring quality of the illustration. An exquisitely drawn hazard has not necessarily become more considerate by being exquisitely drawn.
The platform list is generous, but read the labels
Official listings cover Windows, macOS and Linux, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. Steam marks the PC release Verified for Steam Deck. PlayStation explicitly lists a native PS5 version, while Xbox identifies an optimized Series release with Smart Delivery and Play Anywhere. Those are availability and feature statements, not a guarantee of identical performance or universal cross-saves among unrelated stores.
Nintendo's genuine Switch 2 Edition provides higher resolution, improved frame rates and extra effects. Switch owners can obtain the upgrade at no additional cost, with an internet connection required. Check that the correct edition or upgrade is installed; simply running the older application through compatibility doesn't establish that every enhancement is active. Inspect your entitlement before buying again. Even an enthusiastic return to Pharloom needn't involve paying twice out of administrative confusion.
Choose the practice, not just the anticipation
An unlockable Steel Soul challenge mode offers a further target, but the first question remains whether Hornet's core journey suits you. Curiosity, equipment experimentation and repeated engagement are the useful starting ingredients. The sequel's reputation and its attractive art can encourage a look; neither can do the movement learning on your behalf.
Silksong is most persuasive for players who want discovery to alternate with concentrated execution. Approach it cautiously if difficult encounters are the part you hope a beautiful world will politely skip. Choose the platform you enjoy using for precise solo play, check the edition and give the adventure room to teach you. There will be plenty to admire once you have established where you're about to land.
Sources
Information checked on 16 October 2026. Features, platform compatibility and editions can change.
- Team Cherry: Hollow Knight Silksong official site ↗Hornet, interconnected world, acrobatic combat, artwork and Christopher Larkin score.
- Team Cherry on Steam: Hollow Knight Silksong ↗September 4 2025 release, PC operating systems, tools, quests, Steel Soul and Steam Deck metadata.
- PlayStation: Hollow Knight Silksong ↗Released native PS4/PS5 versions, solo play, combat and quest design.
- Xbox: Hollow Knight Silksong ↗Xbox One and Series versions, Smart Delivery, Play Anywhere and current store availability.
- Nintendo: Hollow Knight Silksong – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition ↗Native Switch 2 edition, release, enhanced visuals, frame rates and 120 Hz output support.
- Nintendo: Hollow Knight Silksong is now available ↗Switch/Switch 2 release and free upgrade pack.