Overview: Hole Knight: Silksong (Nintendo Change 2)

Hole Knight: Silksong is the extremely anticipated sequel to 2017’s indie darling, Hole Knight. It comes from Staff Cherry, a small group of three builders primarily based in Adelaide, Australia. Did I say “extremely anticipated”? Which may simply be an understatement. 

Whereas we didn’t fairly expertise the event delays of Metroid Prime 4, one might excuse Hole Knight followers for being impatient in terms of this sequel. In 2022, Silksong was slated for a 2023 launch after first being introduced manner again in 2019. Nothing else was revealed till late 2025. In reality, the ultimate launch date was posted simply two weeks earlier than the sport dropped on 4 September, 2025. Shock! Fortunately, it was nicely well worth the wait.

Enjoyable truth: Silksong was initially deliberate as DLC for Hole Knight!

For these new to the collection, Hole Knight: Silksong falls squarely into the metroidvania class. It options all the important thing elements; 2D platforming, sprawling maps that broaden as you discover, upgradeable weapons, unlockable skills, and difficult boss fights. It does the style justice, with a difficult outing that’s filled with character, collectibles, and lore. 

Silksong follows the journey of Hornet, one of many foremost non-playable characters from the unique title. Her function was fairly vital in Hole Knight, and utilizing her because the protagonist was a sensible transfer by the workforce. In reality, Staff Cherry has managed to offer followers with one thing fairly particular by replicating the profitable formulation of the unique Hole Knight whereas concurrently creating one thing that feels utterly contemporary. 

For starters, Hornet performs otherwise from the standard Knight. She’s nimble, leaping and dashing in a faster, smoother style. Whereas some strikes are kind of the identical—wall leaping and dashing are current and accounted for—Hornet has a distinct manner of utilizing particular assaults and therapeutic that shakes issues up. She’s additionally a tricky cookie who’s filled with character—one thing that may very well be mentioned to be lacking from the mute hero of the unique sport. Briefly, I like her.

This character additionally creates one thing more difficult for long-time followers by offering new methods to play. For instance, Hornet’s dive assault is on an angle, in comparison with the Knight’s model, which merely goes straight down. With loads of platforming perils requiring such a transfer to bounce throughout lethal spikes, it means even veterans have to accustom themselves with a brand new approach to play. 

Hole Knight and its sequel are each tough video games, however that’s a part of the allure. The boss fights, specifically, are difficult. They’re additionally very artistic, with bosses who seem from the ceiling, tunnel underground, or bounce out of the water to assault. Whereas they’re powerful, they’re extremely satisfying to defeat. 

The factor that stunned me most once I first performed the unique Hole Knight was the sheer quantity of content material. There’s simply a lot to do. Silksong continues this pattern, with fleas to rescue, beasts to hunt, maps to find, instruments to search out and equip, crests to unlock, and a lot extra. There’s by no means a scarcity of issues to do on this insect-based world.

Visually, the collection has by no means regarded higher. Hole Knight seems nice, however Silksong provides much more when it comes to layers, colours, and complexity. It’s significantly beautiful for a 2D side-scroller, with dynamic foreground parts and lavish backdrops. The soundtrack is equally beautiful, constructing upon the stunning work of the unique. That is the kind of soundtrack you may take pleasure in listening to any time, even whereas not enjoying. Kudos to composer Christopher Larkin for once more bringing such emotional depth to every space and character together with his orchestral rating.

Our evaluate may be late, however this reviewer spent ample time with each Hole Knight and Silksong previous to writing up her ideas. On the finish of the day, it’s a worthy entry in my listing of high video games of 2025. A evaluate, regardless of the hole in time, appeared vital. The sport surpassed this participant’s expectations, offering not only a stable followup to the most effective indie titles of the previous decade, however an excellent entry in its personal proper. The unique outing grew to become a bestselling basic with its metroidvania-style platforming and exploration. The sequel? Effectively, it broke the Web. Steam servers and even the Nintendo Change eShop reported points as a consequence of overuse by followers making an attempt to obtain the sport. 

I informed you—“extremely anticipated” doesn’t fairly cowl the thrill round Hole Knight: Silksong.

General, Hole Knight: Silksong is greater than worthy as a successor to the unique Hole Knight. Staff Cherry has completed an unimaginable job of offering followers precisely what we would have liked—an extension to the present world that’s comparable sufficient to be accessible whereas distinctive sufficient to really feel contemporary. It’s a difficult factor to stability, however the workforce pulled it off. It’s a troublesome outing that received’t be for everybody, however in the event you love powerful platformers with sprawling maps filled with secrets and techniques to uncover, you owe it to your self to attempt Hole Knight: Silksong.