2022 has been a pretty great year for games so far. In the first few months of the year Nintendo fans saw Pokemon Legends: Arceus release, which was soon followed by one of the greatest games of the last decade, Elden Ring. Since then, there have been plenty of titles released, ranging from small Indies to huge AAA experiences that deserve a spot on the top games of the year list. But there's one game that's still missing from the line-up, and it is one that fans have been desperate for since its first announcement all the way back in 2019: Hollow Knight: Silksong.
Originally intended to just be a DLC expansion to the critically-acclaimed, widely-adored indie Hollow Knight, Silksong has since become its own fully-fledged sequel, boasting new areas, new bosses, and a new player-character. Hollow Knight: Silksong was first announced three years ago, and since then, there's been a surprising lack of updates from developer Team Cherry, leading to the sequel becoming an infamous no-show at video game press conferences and showcases. While there's still no official release date, Hollow Knight: Silksong is certainly on the horizon, and there are a few trailers and screenshots out there to dive into.
Hollow Knight: Silksong - Announcement Trailer
Officially unveiled on the 14 February 2019, this is the very first Hollow Knight: Silksong trailer. The trailer opens with the new protagonist, Hornet, escaping a procession of some form. If players have completed Hollow Knight, then they'll likely remember Hornet as the character that follows them through Hallownest. The trailer then cuts between a variety of new locations, all carrying an eery vibe like the first game but looking markedly more impressive visually.
A titlecard states that Hollow Knight: Silksong will have "lethal, acrobatic action," and it's immediately demonstrated by Hornet lunging into an enemy bug, vaulting off them, and dashing away. A glimpse of the game's environmental puzzles and traversal is then shown, with Hornet having the ability to wall-jump and grapple between surfaces and enemies.
For the next 30 seconds, the trailer showcases a slew of new bosses, all of which firmly fit within Hollow Knight: Silksong's established art style. The same can be said for the allies that are then shown off, each of which appears to capture that same sense of charm that was present in the original Hollow Knight, with each character having a distinct personality.
A few of Hollow Knight: Silksong's brand new gameplay mechanics are then revealed, including the new Quest Log, which will track NPC questlines, and Hornet's arsenal of tools that seemingly range from bombs to throwable bugs to portable sawblades. The trailer then wraps up with an exciting montage of thrilling boss fights, stunning environments, and mysterious secret areas.
Hollow Knight: Silksong - Xbox Game Pass Reveal Trailer
After over three years of near-radio silence, Team Cherry finally released another look at Hollow Knight: Silksong. Debuting on 12 June 2022, at the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase, the Hollow Knight: Silksong Xbox Game Pass Reveal trailer does exactly what it says on the tin, announcing that the game will be coming to the service on day one.
While this trailer doesn't reveal too much more than the initial announcement, it does pack a lot into its short minute and a half runtime. A few more of Hornet's abilities are showcased in the trailer, including throwable spikes, an air drill attack, and deployable air traps. The game's traversal and environmental hazards are shown off in more detail as well, with Hornet using air vents and moving platforms to navigate various traps.
Hollow Knight: Silksong Screenshots
The official Hollow Knight: Silksong press kit has eleven screenshots in total. While these screenshots don't really reveal anything fans can't gather from the trailers above, each image does give a great overview of what the game will look like upon its eventual release. It seems as though players will be taking Hornet through a variety of environments, including lush green fields, stunning beds of stark white roses, and some dark and dingy alleyways reminiscent of the first game.
Hollow Knight: Silksong is in development for PC, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
