Silksong: How to Unlock Steel Soul Mode Early

In the upcoming game Silksong, a familiar challenge from its predecessor Hollow Knight – Steel Soul Mode – will reappear. This mode represents a permadeath experience, which means players are granted only one opportunity to live. The objective is to successfully navigate through the entire game without dying once.

In case you find the standard playthrough of ‘Silksong’ challenging, the Steel Soul Mode offers a unique perspective on the game. This mode is designed for experienced players who are certain about their skills. Let me guide you through the process of unlocking it.

How to Unlock Steel Soul Mode in Hollow Knight: Silksong

By normal game progress, Steel Soul Mode becomes accessible following a standard playthrough of Silksong. However, there’s a hidden technique to trigger it earlier. To unlock the permadeath features of Steel Soul Mode, players need to enter a secret code found in the “Extras” section on the main menu screen. The secret code for this is:

Up, Down, Up, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right

Here is how to do it:

  1. Open the main menu of Silksong.
  2. Select the “Extras” menu.
  3. Hit “Up, Down, Up, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right.”

You can use a Keyboard’s directional keys or a Controller’s D-Pad/joystick to input the code.

If you enter the correct information, the screen momentarily turns white as a sign of success. Upon starting a fresh game, you’ll be presented with not one, but two choices to pick from.

  • Classic Mode:Normal Play Mode
  • Steel Soul Mode: No Reviving. Death is Permanent.

As I opt for the Steel Soul Mode, I embark on a challenging journey with just a single life to play. If my health depletes completely and Hornet falls, it’s game over for me.

On the screen where you choose your save slots, a lost Steel Soul run will be labeled as “Defeated.” In this situation, you’ll only have the option to remove/delete the failed run to make room for a fresh one.

You can exploit the force-quit method to trick the game into thinking you haven’t died in a Steel Soul run, by exiting before the auto-save takes effect. Another option is to pause the game and quit when your health is low, then reload the save to respawn with full health at the last bench. This technique can also be used to bypass difficult map sections that seem too challenging for your character.

There are two achievements tied to completing a Steel Soul run in Silksong. They are:

  • Steel Soul: Finish the game in Steel Soul Mode.
  • Steel Heart: Achieve a 100% game completion and finish the game in Steel Soul Mode.

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2025-09-07 21:35