As a fan, I can confidently say that *Hollow Knight: Silksong* was a huge success in 2025. It not only sold incredibly well and received amazing reviews, but it’s all anyone could talk about! Some people have struggled with how challenging it is, but overall, it’s a really inspiring story about a dedicated indie team who poured their hearts into this game and waited until they were absolutely sure it was ready. It really shows!
Every time a game becomes a hit, other developers try to figure out what made it successful – and what didn’t. What valuable lessons can other developers and game series take from Hollow Knight: Silksong’s successes? Was its achievement based on a repeatable formula, or was it just a lucky break?
Don’t Wait Until Launch Day To Post The Game Online
Preorders Online Actually Matter
It’s a bit unfortunate that after years of anticipation, many fans couldn’t actually purchase *Hollow Knight: Silksong* when it finally launched. The game caused digital storefronts like Steam, the Nintendo eShop, Xbox, and PlayStation Network to crash. Adding to the frustration, even Xbox Game Pass subscribers, who were supposed to get the game for free, experienced significant delays in accessing it.
Here’s a key takeaway for game developers: digital preorders are important. They let players automatically have the game downloaded and ready to play as soon as it releases. Even major platforms like Steam can struggle with the huge amount of traffic that comes with a big launch, so preorders help smooth things out.
But…Keep Your Game Mysterious
Discovery Can Create Thriving Communities
Team Cherry’s strategy of revealing very little about *Hollow Knight: Silksong* after the first trailer in 2019 actually worked well. It created a lot of excitement among fans, and other companies – like those making movies – could learn from this approach. Keeping details under wraps can build anticipation!
As a huge movie fan, one of my biggest pet peeves is when trailers give away too much of the plot. It totally kills the surprise and enjoyment of seeing the film for the first time! A recent movie that really nailed the trailer game was *Weapons*. They showed just enough to get me excited, but left plenty of mystery. Honestly, movie and game studios need to realize they don’t have to show *everything* in a bunch of fancy trailers to get people to buy tickets or pre-order. Less is often more, and building anticipation is way better than spoiling the fun!
If You Price Your Game Cheaply Enough, Players Will Come
And It May Even Dissuade Pirates
For years, people speculated about how much *Hollow Knight: Silksong* would cost. When Team Cherry finally revealed the price, the internet was shocked. At just $20, it was surprisingly low, and the reaction was the opposite of what usually happens – players actually wished they could *pay more*! It’s probably best not to tell developers that, though, as it could backfire.
The game was so affordable that even people who usually pirate games were encouraging others to actually buy it. It’s a positive sign that lowering the price can get more people to purchase games legitimately. While Nintendo likely wouldn’t discount a game like *Donkey Kong Bananza* to $20, it would be fascinating to see a major game publisher try a similar strategy with a big new release.
Difficulty Matters To A Lot Of Players
Options Are Always Appreciated
Fans are excited about *Hollow Knight: Silksong*, but there’s been a lot of talk about how challenging it will be. It appears to be more difficult than the original *Hollow Knight*, with things like enemies doing more damage – potentially two points instead of one – adding to the challenge.
One concern players have is the long run back to boss arenas after dying. Generally, *Hollow Knight: Silksong* feels a bit harsh at times. While Soulslike games are known for being difficult, fans usually accept that as long as the game feels balanced. But if it becomes *too* challenging, even dedicated players who enjoy a tough experience might get frustrated.
Hiding Critical Mechanics
The Diagonal Slash Should Have Been Optional From The Start
One particularly frustrating aspect of *Hollow Knight: Silksong* deserves special mention. Many players are struggling with the new downward jump attack, which hits enemies at an angle. It’s a tricky move to learn, and it makes both combat and navigating the levels more difficult.
In *Hollow Knight: Silksong*, you can customize the downward strike using Crests like the Reaper, but these options aren’t obvious. Many players might not realize they *can* change the attack without looking up a guide. Developers shouldn’t hide control options like this, and making downward strikes move diagonally is a poor design choice.
There’s Such A Thing As Too Big
The Biggest Metroidvania Map Ever?
Players will reach a point in the game where they realize the challenge is greater than they expected. In *Hollow Knight: Silksong*, Act 2 is roughly twice as large as Act 1. As a Metroidvania, the game will encourage exploration and revisiting old areas with newly acquired abilities and items to discover hidden paths.
Large Metroidvania maps can become overwhelming if players have to remember too many areas to revisit. While Team Cherry’s ambition to create a vast and affordable game is admirable, developers should remember that simplicity can be better. Some players might disagree, wanting as much content as possible for their money, but it’s still an important point to consider.
If The Game Is Good, Players Will Wait
The Golden Lesson
As a huge fan of games, I think the ongoing wait for *Hollow Knight: Silksong* is actually a really important example for developers. It shows that it’s okay to take the time you need to get things right, especially if you can manage financially while doing so. That one amazing trailer they released really hooked everyone, and it’s kept us talking for years! It definitely helps that the original *Hollow Knight* was so good – it wasn’t just a lucky hit, you know? It built trust and excitement for the sequel, and that’s something studios can really learn from.
Because the original *Hollow Knight* was so popular, there was already a large and eager audience waiting for *Hollow Knight: Silksong* when it was released. While every game is different, a strong launch generally boosts both immediate and ongoing sales for a good game.
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2025-09-16 00:05