Silksong is globally recognized to be a worse game then hollow knight
Executive summary
Critical and player reaction to Hollow Knight: Silksong is mixed but leans positive: many major outlets call it an outstanding sequel or even a best-game-of-the-year contender (e.g., DualShockers called it “easily the best game of 2025”) while aggregated and user responses show important disagreements about difficulty and design trade-offs (Metacritic and Steam threads record both high scores and considerable criticism) [1] [2] [3].
1. Why some say “Silksong is worse”: difficulty and design complaints
A common thread in criticism is that Silksong feels harder or less approachable than Hollow Knight, and some players say that reduces their enjoyment; outlets and community posts point to tougher boss encounters, longer runbacks, or changes to progression systems as sticking points (GamesRadar, GameSpot, Steam community) [4] [5] [3]. Metacritic’s early impressions capture this divide, noting that “Silksong has fallen short” for some reviewers who felt it “binds two conflicting genres” and produces frustration rather than satisfaction [2]. Steam discussions likewise include players who prefer the original’s exploration, progression, and charm flexibility versus Silksong’s reworked systems [3].
2. Why many critics and outlets call Silksong “better” or a worthy successor
Major reviews emphasize that Silksong refines and expands the formula: critics praise Hornet’s more expressive moveset, improved navigation, and reworked combat that many find rewarding; IGN and Screen Rant both describe it as an evolution that “stays close to the formula” while reshaping many elements to strong effect [6] [7]. Some outlets go further — DualShockers labeled it “easily the best game of 2025,” and several reviews highlight that Silksong matches or surpasses Hollow Knight in scope, polish, and creativity [1] [8].
3. The statistics and aggregate context: praise is widespread but not unanimous
Early reviews placed Silksong among the highest-rated games of 2025, with outlets reporting Metacritic scores in the top tier and headlines noting it briefly sat at the top of the year’s ratings [9] [10]. At the same time, Metacritic’s excerpts reveal meaningful dissent: while many critics hailed it, some found the design choices frustrating, producing a polarized critical conversation rather than unanimous consensus [2].
4. Design changes that drive disagreement: mechanics, crests, and navigation
Silksong replaces Hollow Knight’s charm system with Crests and tool-slot mechanics, and Hornet’s abilities (sprint, grapple, glide) change how players move and fight; several outlets credit these changes with improving traversal and combat variety, while others argue they alter the progression and experimentation that made the original’s systems so beloved [11] [6] [3]. GameSpot and other reviews also note Silksong offers more waypointing and quest-tracking, which eases navigation—some players welcome this clarity, others miss the mystery of exploration in Hollow Knight [5].
5. Difficulty: harder, different, or just perceived as harsher?
Multiple reviewers and reports emphasize Silksong’s sharper difficulty in certain encounters: GamesRadar, Gamespot, and others describe bosses and segments as more unforgiving or demanding of precision, though opinions differ on whether that’s a positive evolution or a barrier for players [4] [5] [12]. Team Cherry has explained Hornet’s faster, more skillful kit contributes to a steeper challenge curve, which helps explain why some veteran players find it tougher even as others celebrate the increased rigor [4] [12].
6. Community sentiment: fans split, historical context matters
Community threads and discussions show a split: some long-time Hollow Knight players prefer the original’s exploration and progression balance, while many newcomers and critics praise Silksong’s polish and fresh mechanics [3]. That split mirrors other sequel debates where expectations set by a beloved original shape individual judgments; the original Hollow Knight’s cult status raises the bar against which Silksong is measured [7] [6].
7. Bottom line — is “globally recognized worse” supported?
Available sources do not support a claim that Silksong is “globally recognized” as worse than Hollow Knight. The evidence shows robust critical acclaim, high aggregate scores, and strong praise from many outlets, alongside notable but vocal criticism centered on difficulty and some design changes [1] [6] [2]. In short: Silksong is widely celebrated, but not universally preferred to the original — the debate is active and depends on whether a player values accessibility and exploration or tighter, more demanding combat and refined traversal [7] [3].
Limitations: this summary synthesizes published reviews and community threads in the provided reporting; it does not include sales beyond cited concurrent-player peaks or later long-term player metrics not found in the sources [9].