Hollow Knight: Silksong Doesn’t Need to Redefine Metroidvanias to Shine

by

The April 2nd Nintendo Direct broadcast announced that “Hollow Knight: Silksong” will launch in the year 2025 and will be available on the Switch 2. Indie developer Team Cherry’s latest update has left fans excitedly anticipating further news about the game. Following years of limited information regarding the sequel to 2017’s hit “Hollow Knight,” its appearance during the Direct was a positive development for fans eager for any updates on a release date. Importantly, while “Hollow Knight: Silksong” has now been unveiled, it did so somewhat discreetly, and beyond revealing its 2025 launch window, there were few additional details shared about the game.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is scheduled to come out on June 5 across many regions. Consequently, the sequel to “Hollow Knight” might drop sometime later, possibly even before it’s showcased at ACMI’s Game Worlds exhibition in September. As stated on the ACMI website, Game Worlds will offer a journey through the stages of 30 iconic video games, including the eagerly awaited Australian game “Hollow Knight: Silksong.” However, if “Hollow Knight: Silksong” by Team Cherry doesn’t become a groundbreaking title in the Metroidvania genre, that’s perfectly fine.

Expectations Are High for Silksong, But It Doesn’t Need to Meet Them All

Hollow Knight and the Birth of the Modern Indie Metroidvania

Upon its release in 2017, Hollow Knight garnered numerous honors such as PC Gamer’s Best Platformer for 2017 and the Independent Game of the Year at the 2018 Australian Game Awards. It’s no wonder why, as not only did the game contribute significantly to the Metroidvania genre, it pushed the boundaries of what that genre could achieve. At an affordable price point of $15 USD, Hollow Knight offered a wealth of content, seamlessly interconnected environments and narratives, regular free updates, and a gameplay experience that was straightforward to learn but challenging to master.

The allure of playing Hollow Knight is easily understood: its strategic battles, intricate level design, and captivating storyline in the decayed realm of Hallownest play a substantial role in its popularity. Much like 1994’s Super Metroid, which conveyed a meaningful tale using minimal dialogue and cutscenes, inspiring games such as Hollow Knight and Ori and the Blind Forest, Hollow Knight has sparked a trend of games that can be labeled as “similar to Hollow Knight.” For example, Team Cherry’s 2017 release has directly influenced indie games like Haiku the Robot, while titles such as Dead Cells and Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights also bear obvious traces of its impact.

Silksong Doesn’t Need to Reinvent the Wheel to Be Great

As a devoted fan of Metroidvania games, I must confess that following the enchanting world of Hollow Knight often leads to inevitable comparisons with other games in the genre. However, it’s essential to remember that Hollow Knight: Silksong shouldn’t be judged by the unfair expectations set by its highly-acclaimed predecessor.

The truth is, Silksong has found itself in an unusual position, seemingly overshadowed by the immense success of its forerunner. Fan anticipation for this game has reached unprecedented heights, despite the infrequent updates from Team Cherry. With the sequel having been in development for over six years, it’s no secret that meeting or surpassing the community’s sky-high expectations is a daunting task, given the immense hype surrounding it.

Absolutely, with fresh tools, collectibles, a fresh character, boss battles, and quest maps, Hollow Knight: Silksong promises an immersive adventure. However, it’s not necessary for it to revolutionize the gaming world to be appreciated. Simultaneously, this game is expected to become a benchmark for both Metroidvanias and Team Cherry as a studio. If its 2025 release doesn’t completely redefine the genre or push the limits to their extremes, that should be acceptable to fans.

Read More

2025-06-01 18:05