5/5 ★ – jackohdee's review of Hollow Knight: Silksong.

GARAMA! At last, we’ve arrived. Like Hornet herself, Team Cherry’s follow-up to their seminal work Hollow Knight is graceful, gorgeous, and utterly unrelenting. The sprawling corridors of Pharloom reward resolve with something rare: genuine mastery - of its lore, its beasts, its pogo mechanics, its hidden corners. Hollow Knight: Silksong is, quite simply, one of the best games I have ever played. The game’s reputation for difficulty precedes it - deservedly. Some bosses (Groal the Great, Karmelita, obviously Lost Lace) took hours. But that’s the point. The satisfaction of finally besting a worthy foe is unmatched. I spent more than an hour straight throwing myself at the Last Judge, failing again and again. Eventually, I put the controller down, went for lunch at the Mandarin, came back - and beat her in one go. I had to clear my mind. Hornet’s mind is clear. And besides, the most difficult boss isn’t even a combat challenge - it’s Seth’s scores on goddamn Flea Dodge. Now that felt good. What elevates Silksong beyond mechanical excellence is how alive it feels. Hornet’s flowing, balletic animation gives every movement purpose. You become deeply familiar with guiding her through these spaces. Mount Fay’s icy climb, once punishing, becomes a place of comfort and nostalgia the more you return to it. You don’t just get stronger; you get faster, cleaner, better. The music and art glow with life. This world breathes. Like Hallownest, Pharloom is defined by those who inhabit it. Hornet herself is a remarkable lead character. Where Link is a cipher, Hornet is presence - poised, cool in a way I could never be. She’s matched with a great rival in Lace: sharp, quick, charismatic, and sadly underused. I could have used a few more encounters with her throughout my climb to the Cradle. Grandmother Silk and the haunted chorus surrounding her are deeply alluring, even if the mystery never quite reaches the cosmic heights of Hollow Knight. Still, many characters will stay with me - Styx, the Pinmaster, Shakra. Oooo lai lai lai lai. That sound meant everything in my early days, groping around without a map. I’ve never been a completionist, but I couldn’t put this one down. Hornet deserved a well-decorated bellhome. Together, we filled out the materium, collected every memento, communed with Mr. Mushroom, and returned to Bilewater - with its well-earned infamy - more times than anyone could have wanted. And honest to god, I would do it all again. I can’t wait to return to its predecessor and see it anew through the lens Silksong provides. More than that, I can’t wait to see what Team Cherry does next.