After years of anticipation, Hollow Knight: Silksong has finally arrived, and its launch has already left a mark across the gaming industry. Released on September 4, 2025, Team Cherry’s long-awaited sequel opened to rave reviews and record-breaking engagement across Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo platforms. The release proved so highly anticipated that it temporarily disrupted multiple storefronts, with Steam, the PlayStation Network, Xbox Store, and even the Nintendo eShop experiencing brief outages due to overwhelming demand.
The game’s reception has been glowing across major platforms. On the PlayStation Store, Silksong holds an impressive 4.94 rating from over 8,400 reviews, while Xbox players have given it an average of 4.5 stars across nearly 800 ratings. On Steam, the title has quickly amassed over 28,000 reviews in multiple languages, with English-language reviews rated “Overwhelmingly Positive.”
Much of the positive feedback highlights the game’s gorgeous visuals, intricate level design, and polished presentation. Many reviewers noted that Hornet, the new protagonist, is “a dream to control,” while others praised the immersive worldbuilding and the enhanced soundtrack. The inclusion of voice acting for Hornet has also been singled out as a meaningful improvement that strengthens the narrative experience. For many, the excitement stems not just from the game itself, but from the relief that the long wait is finally over—a sentiment often expressed with playful memes across fan communities.
Yet, not all feedback has been uncritical. A portion of players voiced frustration with certain core gameplay changes. Chief among the complaints is the new 45-degree downward attack, which some described as clunky and less precise than the pogo mechanic in the original. The revised healing system, now tied to a full silk bar, has been criticized as restrictive and overly punishing, especially when healing is interrupted. Similarly, the addition of a two-currency economy has drawn negative reactions, with complaints that farming for essential resources slows progress unnecessarily. Others pointed to the limited customization offered by the new crest system, which they felt reduced build diversity compared to the charm system of the first game.
Despite these criticisms, the launch has been a clear success. The game reached over 500,000 concurrent players on Steam during its opening weekend, a remarkable feat for a Metroidvania title.
In terms of technical specifications, the game also boasts a surprisingly modest download size across all platforms, with the PlayStation 5 version being the smallest. While Switch players will notice a difference in resolution quality between the original hardware and the Switch 2, performance on both platforms has been described as solid.
With its blend of critical acclaim, massive community engagement, and strong sales momentum, Hollow Knight: Silksong has quickly positioned itself as one of 2025’s standout releases. Whether it will maintain its early acclaim once the dust of launch settles remains to be seen, but for now, Team Cherry’s long-awaited sequel is enjoying the spotlight it has long been promised.
