We’ve been waiting years for Silksong, and now that it’s finally here, I can say right up front: the wait was worth it. Playing it on the Nintendo Switch, it feels surprisingly smooth. Handheld mode runs at a steady 60fps, and although it doesn’t look as crisp as it does on newer hardware, it’s still visually stunning. The art style carries the game more than raw resolution ever could, and the animation is just as hypnotic as its predecessor.
Price and Purpose
What really shocked me was the price. Team Cherry could have easily charged £30-£40, and I don’t think anyone would’ve complained. But it’s only £16 on the Nintendo store and similar on Steam. In today’s market, that feels almost unreal for a game of this scale and polish. It immediately made me feel like they cared more about getting it into people’s hands than squeezing wallets.
As for the big question: do you have to play Hollow Knight first? Honestly, no. Silksong is totally approachable as its own thing. Hornet’s story is self-contained, and you won’t feel lost if you didn’t play the original. That said, if you *did* play Hollow Knight, you’ll definitely catch little echoes and call-backs that add to the experience, and I very much enjoyed finding little call-backs to the first game.
Gameplay That Challenges in a Good Way
Hornet is fast!!. She moves and fights in a way that makes the game feel sharper and more energetic than Hollow Knight. At times, it almost feels like a different genre, still a Metroidvania, sure, but one that rewards quick reflexes, much more souls-like than the original. I loved how agile she felt, grabbing ledges automatically and darting around enemies with ease. It took a bit to rewire my brain after being used to the Knight’s slower, heavier movements, but once it clicked, I definitely had fun.
Accessibility Could Be Better
For all the brilliance of this game, it doesn’t do much for players who need text support (like larger fonts or dyslexia-friendly options), or for those who might want adjustable difficulty (shhhh, ok, I’m talking about myself).
The game is tough, sometimes really tough, and I wish there were at least a few more options to make it friendlier without diluting the challenge. That being said, a lot of the likability from Hollow Knight was the sheer difficulty of some of the combat scenarios, and well, this is harder, trust me.
Final Thoughts:
So, is it as good as Hollow Knight? In my opinion, it’s not just “as good”, it’s different good. Hollow Knight was slow, haunting, and methodical. Silksong is quick, vibrant, and alive. I don’t think one replaces the other personally; they complement each other beautifully. After all these years, I half-worried that nothing could live up to the hype. But stepping into Pharloom, hearing that first track swell, and watching Hornet spring into action… it hit me: yeah, this was worth every second of the wait.
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, MAC, Xbox X & S, Playstation 4 & 5, Nintendo switch
Developer: Team Cherry
Genres: Metroidvania, Fighting game, Action-adventure game
Publisher: Team Cherry
Played on: Nintendo Switch
If you enjoyed this review, then please see other reviews by Eminog HERE.
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