After years of waiting, Hollow Knight: Silksong is finally real—and it’s arriving on Nintendo’s brand-new Switch 2. This isn’t just another indie sequel; it’s the follow-up to one of the most beloved and successful indie games of all time, Hollow Knight, which has now sold nearly 15 million copies worldwide. But with years of delays, sky-high expectations, and an entirely new Nintendo console to launch alongside, Silksong feels less like a game release and more like an event. So today, let’s look at how we got here, why Silksong took so long, and what early impressions tell us about the future of Team Cherry’s masterpiece.

What is Hollow Knight Silksong?

Hollow Knight: Silksong is the long-awaited sequel to the indie phenomenon Hollow Knight, but it didn’t start out that way. Originally conceived as a small DLC expansion, the project quickly outgrew its original scope. Team Cherry, the small Australian studio behind the series, soon realized the new protagonist, Hornet, needed her own world, mechanics, and story. That shift transformed Silksong into a full-scale follow-up, set in an entirely new kingdom filled with new enemies, bosses, and mysteries to uncover.

Instead of playing as the silent Knight from the first game, players step into the role of Hornet—a character fans will remember as both ally and rival in Hollow Knight. Unlike the Knight, Hornet is faster, more agile, and armed with a needle and thread that allow for a wider range of movement and combat techniques. This shift in playstyle not only makes the game feel quicker and more dynamic, but it also forces players to unlearn some of their old Hollow Knight habits and adapt to a new rhythm.

The game takes place in Pharloom, a mysterious new kingdom that’s both more vertical and more vibrant than the depths of Hallownest. Pharloom is filled with handcrafted areas, each with unique biomes, quests, and enemies. Where the first game thrived on a haunting sense of decay, Silksong feels alive—brimming with color, speed, and danger. It’s not just a continuation of Hollow Knight’s world, but an expansion of its themes and atmosphere, pushing into new territory while staying true to the series’ DNA.

At its heart, Silksong remains a Metroidvania: a sprawling, interconnected world full of secrets, upgrades, and tough-but-rewarding combat. But with Hornet’s speed, expanded moveset, and a redesigned quest system, the game aims to feel both familiar and fresh. If Hollow Knight was about slow, methodical exploration through a crumbling underground, Silksong is about momentum, precision, and the thrill of constant motion.

Hollow Knight’s Legacy

When Hollow Knight released in 2017, few could have predicted just how big it would become. Developed by the small Australian team Team Cherry, the game quickly earned a reputation as one of the finest indie titles of all time. It combined precise combat, a sprawling interconnected world, and a haunting hand-drawn art style that set it apart in a crowded genre. What began as a Kickstarter project soon transformed into a global success story.

Over the years, Hollow Knight has sold nearly 15 million copies worldwide, an astonishing figure for an indie game. Critics praised it as a masterpiece, and players fell in love with its brutal but fair difficulty, its mysterious lore, and the sheer depth of its exploration. The game’s success wasn’t just about sales—it became a cultural touchstone in the indie gaming community, often held up as the gold standard of modern Metroidvanias.

Hollow Knight also built one of the most passionate fanbases in gaming. Players spent years dissecting its cryptic story, speedrunning its brutal boss fights, and sharing theories about its mysterious world. Mods, fan art, and community challenges kept the game alive long after release. For many, Hollow Knight wasn’t just a one-off indie hit—it was a world they never wanted to leave.

This legacy is what makes the arrival of Hollow Knight: Silksong so significant. It’s not just another sequel—it’s the continuation of a phenomenon. Fans have waited years, their expectations fueled by the original game’s brilliance. For Team Cherry, Silksong carries the weight of one of the most beloved indie titles ever made, and its release on Nintendo’s brand-new Switch 2 feels like a moment that could define the next era of indie gaming.

The Long Wait For Silksong

Hollow Knight: Silksong has been one of the most anticipated games of the past decade, and part of that comes down to just how long fans have been waiting. Originally announced back in 2019, the game began life as a small expansion to the first Hollow Knight before growing into a full-blown sequel. Team Cherry realized that Hornet’s movement, abilities, and story demanded far more than a simple add-on, and so Silksong was born. What was supposed to be a modest follow-up quickly expanded into a sprawling project that rivaled—and in many ways, exceeded—the scope of the original.

But with that ambition came delays. Team Cherry is a tiny studio of just a handful of developers, and their meticulous approach to design meant progress was slow. Every environment is hand-crafted, every enemy hand-animated, and every system polished to perfection. Fans grew restless as the years passed, especially as the game skipped major showcases and updates. Memes about “Silksong never releasing” became almost as much a part of its identity as the game itself.

External factors added to the delay. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted development, and with a game of this size, even small setbacks had an outsized impact. On top of that, the success of Hollow Knight raised the stakes enormously—Team Cherry knew millions of players were waiting, and the pressure to deliver something worthy of the original only grew heavier with time. In interviews, the developers admitted that the weight of expectation influenced their decision to keep pushing the game until it met their vision.

Now, after six years of waiting, the release of Silksong feels almost surreal. For some fans, the journey has been frustrating, but the long silence has also built an aura of myth around the game. The delays, the mystery, and the sheer anticipation have turned Silksong into more than just a sequel—it’s become a once-in-a-generation event in indie gaming, a title that people have spent years imagining before they’ve even had the chance to play it.

Silksong Preview Reaction

At Gamescom 2025, critics finally got hands-on time with Hollow Knight: Silksong, and the early impressions have only fueled the excitement. From the very first moments, it’s clear that Silksong feels different from its predecessor. Hornet’s agility and speed stand out immediately, giving the game a faster, more kinetic rhythm. Eurogamer described it as “harder and faster than the original” and noted that the change in pace makes Silksong feel like a game with its own identity rather than just a re-skin of Hollow Knight.

Game Informer echoed those sentiments after playing through the opening level. They praised Hornet’s movement options, pointing out that “she has a bigger moveset right out of the gate, and that makes encounters feel fresh even for Hollow Knight veterans.” The preview highlighted how this agility doesn’t just affect combat—it changes how players explore, with platforming challenges that encourage momentum and precision in a way the first game rarely demanded.

That speed and difficulty, however, might not be for everyone. Eurogamer questioned whether the increased pace might alienate some players, asking directly: “Is it better?” The tone of their preview suggests that while Silksong is thrilling to play, it may be more punishing than Hollow Knight, demanding sharper reflexes and tighter execution. For a game already known for its challenge, this could push it into even more divisive territory.

Despite those caveats, the reaction is overwhelmingly positive. Game Informer concluded their preview by saying “Silksong already feels like a game that will define conversations around indie games for years to come.” That kind of early praise signals that the long wait may have been worth it. And with the Switch 2’s stronger hardware, players can expect smoother performance and richer visuals, making Silksong feel like a natural showcase title for Nintendo’s next-gen console.

The Future Of Silksong

Looking ahead, Silksong’s future already seems bright—and expansive. Team Cherry has confirmed that work on additional content is already underway, with a DLC expansion in development alongside the main game. According to Polygon, the studio sees Silksong not just as a single release, but as a foundation to build upon, much like Hollow Knight’s own free content updates kept players coming back for years. Combined with the power of the Switch 2, which gives Silksong a platform that can handle its demanding speed and detail, this sequel feels positioned to live well beyond launch. Rather than just being the end of a long wait, Silksong could be the beginning of a new era for one of indie gaming’s most beloved worlds.

Hollow Knight: Silksong isn’t just another sequel—it’s the return of a phenomenon, launching alongside Nintendo’s brand-new Switch 2 to mark the start of a new chapter for indie games. After years of delays, speculation, and anticipation, the wait is finally over, and fans can step into Hornet’s world at last. But the real question is: will Silksong live up to the towering legacy of the original, or carve out something entirely its own? I want to know what you think—are you planning to play Silksong on Switch 2, PC, or somewhere else? And do you believe it can surpass Hollow Knight’s legacy? Let me know in the comments below.