The release window of Hollow Knight: Silksong is still a mystery. Fans are hopeful that a date could be announced in 2023, but at this point there's no telling when it will be out. In the meantime, there's still the original Hollow Knight to enjoy, as well as plenty of trailers for Silksong. It's fortunate that Team Cherry has released so much footage to the public, as it inspires hope for its ambitious scope during this long wait.
Once Hollow Knight: Silksong does come out, players should have their work cut out for them while dissecting the massive indie game. With new playable character Hornet comes a host of unique mechanics, largely centered around her greater mobility and ability to craft her own tools. Hornet can also talk, a far cry from the first game's Knight, allowing her to ingratiate herself with the people of the unfamiliar kingdom of Pharloom. This will all be useful when exploring this strange new world, which could be even more packed with secrets than the first Hollow Knight.
Hollow Knight's Hallownest Was Built on Layered Secrets
Many Souls-like fans would volunteer that the best entries in the genre offer excellent environmental storytelling alongside their gameplay. The archetypical example, Dark Souls, set players loose into a land that was dripping with history, so much so that it could easily hide items, NPCs, or entire new locales in dark corners. Areas such as the Painted World of Ariamis, Ash Lake, and even the Artorias of the Abyss DLC were hidden from the player, only rewarding those who took the time to look for them. In this respect, Hollow Knight makes its predecessor proud.
Deep in the caves of Hallownest, there is plenty to find. Just progressing through the main story results in the player feeling like they've stumbled across a series of major revelations, digging down until they seemingly hit the wellspring of existence. Charm combinations with distinct effects are secrets all on their own, and several out-of-the-way areas like the Howling Cliffs and the small beehive dungeon - which can only be accessed by breaking a specific wall - leave an impression on players. Characters like the reoccurring Mister Mushroom are considered obscure secrets that many players haven't seen. That's not even going into the different outcomes of the Delicate Flower delivery side quest, or how it interacts with DLC-exclusive content.
Silksong's Pharloom Should Be Littered With Secrets
Player exploration was a core element of Hollow Knight, perhaps even more so than its tough but fair combat and platforming. It's not a stretch to ask the same of Hollow Knight: Silksong, especially with the promise that it's going to cover an entirely new place in the Hollow Knight universe. Hornet is probably going to run into the first game's secret mushroom entity again, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Just about anything could be hiding around the corner in Hollow Knight: Silksong. NPCs could take variable paths through the game while items in one corner of the map could be keys to another, and more surprises could show up in patches. There's no telling how hidden some of Silksong's secrets could get. A good chunk of the development time going into the game has likely been spent trying to outdo the first Hollow Knight's content density. That's a tough goal, but it's admirable for the same reasons. Hopefully, Team Cherry's efforts will surprise and delight players once Hollow Knight: Silksong finally comes out.
Hollow Knight: Silksong is coming soon to PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
