Note: The following article contains spoilers for some mid- to late-game bosses in Hollow Knight: Silksong. Proceed with caution if you have not yet completed the game.

Players of Silksong are discovering that its difficulty level represents a significant increase over Hollow Knight. Learn why the combat feels more demanding and how Hornet's new skills reshape the gameplay experience.

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Silksong vs. Hollow Knight

How Much Harsher is Pharloom Than Hallownest?

While Silksong is set in a kingdom teeming with adversaries, it's also generating plenty of real-world frustration. Forum discussions, Reddit posts, and Discord channels are flooded with exasperated players either voicing complaints or abandoning the game entirely. A vocal segment of the community declares Silksong unforgiving—perhaps excessively so. The outcry grew so intense that Team Cherry intervened with a recent patch, easing the challenge of several early-game bosses and smoothing the initial hours in Pharloom.

The memes have been merciless. If Hollow Knight was Dark Souls, then Silksong represents Dark Souls 2 in terms of difficulty. Some joke that Hollow Knight was merely the tutorial for Silksong, as if Team Cherry had been preparing us for this greater challenge all along. Yet the core question remains: is Silksong truly more difficult than its predecessor, or do players simply need to, as Hornet might say, "git gud"?

The answer—unfortunately for your peace of mind—is yes. Silksong is indeed more challenging. As I noted in my game review, it demands a level of dedication and skill that can transform even a simple retreat to a boss arena into a tense trial. After completing all three acts, my fingers still remember the strain, though honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way.