Highlights

  • Zote the Mighty presents an intriguing narrative possibility beyond Hallownest in the Hollow Knight franchise.
  • Zote's past, origins, and connections to the failed Vessels add depth to exploration.
  • Hollow Knight's missed opportunity with Zote Mode as a playable character could be revisited in Silksong or a future installment.

Hollow Knight boasts a rich cast of unforgettable characters, from thieving bankers to meticulous mapmakers. While Hollow Knight: Silksong will let players explore Pharloom as Hornet, the vast world of Hollow Knight is still home to a treasure trove of personalities. Limiting the series to Silksong feels like a missed opportunity, as a number of these vibrant characters haven't yet had a chance to connect with the community.

While divisive among players, Zote the Mighty, the pompous yet humorous character from the 2017 game, presents an intriguing possibility for further exploration within the franchise. Introduced as a traveler from beyond Hallownest, Zote's narrative potential extends beyond the kingdom's borders. As such, he's the perfect candidate for a prospective Silksong DLC or even an entirely new game outside of Silksong's scope.

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Hollow Knight Already Has The Perfect Protagonist For a Threequel

Zote Deserves To Be Spotlighted

If Team Cherry is interested in investigating other narratives within the Hollow Knight universe after finishing Silksong, Zote could be the perfect option. Though the original game featured Zote the Mighty in a challenging boss fight—Grey Prince Zote in the Hidden Dreams update—it wasn't able to let players experience the world through the traveler's eyes. A third installment or DLC could benefit from exploring either Hallownest or Pharloom from his perspective, as delusional and humorous as it might be.

Zote's mysterious origin has sparked lively discussions among players, evident in numerous online forums speculating on his homeland. Some Reddit threads have gone further, theorizing that his design and the particles released upon defeating Grey Prince Zote are a connection to the failed Vessels. This possible link adds another layer of intrigue to his character, but even without it, Zote's cocky demeanor and shrouded past give him enough depth and potential to warrant further exploration by Team Cherry.

Zote's Potential in Hollow Knight Has Been Left Unexplored Since 2018

Hollow Knight Kickstarter

When Hollow Knight's original crowdfunded Kickstarter campaign was live, it had nine stretch goals, six of which were completed. Notably, one of the fulfilled goals included a second playable character, later confirmed to be Hornet. This left the identity of the third playable character shrouded in mystery, though many have theorized based on the picture that it was meant to be Zote.

During a 2018 Discord Q&A, Team Cherry revealed their original plans for "Zote Mode" in Hollow Knight, which could have become a reality if the third playable character goal was funded. This seemingly scrapped feature would have involved new dialogue and a unique experience where players would embark on the same adventure as Hollow Knight's titular Knight, but as Zote instead. During their playthrough, it would quickly become apparent that Zote is a significantly weaker character, despite all his peacocking.

This would have been further highlighted as Zote carried a much blunter nail and would have been prone to stumbling when trying to dash.

Given Zote's untapped potential, the upcoming release of Silksong could provide a fresh opportunity to introduce a mode or a brand-new game centered around him. This experience could build upon the original concept of "Zote Mode" while incorporating elements or mechanics unique to Silksong. For instance, a Zote-centric mode could mirror the Path of Pain's difficulty with a key difference: players must rely solely on luck, not skill, to overcome the challenges. This could result in an absurdly challenging and hilarious adventure where success relies on precision and a hint of good fortune.

HOLLOW KNIGHT SILKSONG
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Franchise
Hollow Knight
Platform(s)
PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series S , Xbox Series X , PC , macOS , Linux
Developer(s)
Team Cherry
Publisher(s)
Team Cherry
Genre(s)
Metroidvania