Get instant answers to the most frequently asked questions about Hollow Knight Silksong. From basic gameplay to advanced secrets, our comprehensive 2025 FAQ covers everything you need to know.
Yes, interactive maps are available for each major area
Yes, between discovered Bell stations
Yes, accessible from the pause menu
Yes, 50+ achievements across all platforms
No, Silksong is a single-player experience
Yes, with New Game+ features unlocked after completion
Hollow Knight Silksong is more accessible than the original while maintaining challenging gameplay. The game includes a comprehensive tutorial area in Moss Grotto that teaches all basic mechanics. However, it's still a challenging Metroidvania that requires patience and practice to master. New players should expect to die frequently while learning enemy patterns and movement techniques.
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No, Hollow Knight Silksong is designed as a standalone experience. While there are references and connections to the original game, Silksong tells Hornet's own story and can be fully enjoyed without prior knowledge. However, playing the original Hollow Knight will enhance your appreciation of the lore and character relationships.
Hollow Knight Silksong is available on PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox Game Pass. The game launched simultaneously on all platforms on September 4, 2025.
Main story completion takes approximately 12-15 hours. For 100% completion including all secrets, collectibles, and optional bosses, expect 25-35 hours. Speedrunners can complete the game in under 3 hours, while thorough explorers may spend 40+ hours discovering everything Pharloom has to offer.
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Hornet's combat is faster and more aggressive than the Knight's. She uses silk-based ranged attacks, has a parry system instead of blocking, and focuses on mobility over tanking damage. Her needle attacks are quicker but generally deal less damage per hit, requiring more active combat engagement.
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Perfect parrying requires precise timing - you must press the parry button just as an enemy attack would hit you. Successful parries restore silk energy, deal damage to the attacker, and often create counter-attack opportunities. The timing window is narrow (about 0.2 seconds) but becomes muscle memory with practice.
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Yes, Hornet can be upgraded significantly. Collect Silk Threads (47 total) to upgrade abilities, find Health Shards (16 total, combine 4 to make 1 health upgrade), and discover Ancient Rosaries (12 total) for powerful new abilities. Each upgrade category serves different purposes in character progression.
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Prioritize Swift Step first as it's essential for platforming. Then upgrade Silk Bind for combat effectiveness. Aerial Silk should be your third priority for exploration. Health upgrades are also crucial - aim for at least 2-3 additional health segments before attempting major boss fights.
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The Shade Weaver (secret superboss) is universally considered the most challenging, requiring mastery of all game mechanics. Among main story bosses, the Last Judge and The Widow are typically the most difficult. Each boss tests different skills - some focus on timing, others on mobility or pattern recognition.
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The Shade Weaver (ultimate secret boss) requires collecting all 12 Ancient Rosaries and solving the Bell Tower puzzle. Other optional bosses are unlocked by exploring secret areas, completing specific quest chains, or meeting certain collectible thresholds. Each secret boss offers unique rewards essential for 100% completion.
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Most bosses cannot be refought in the same save file after being defeated. However, the game includes a Boss Rush mode that becomes available after completing the main story, allowing you to challenge any previously defeated boss with your current abilities and upgrades.
Hollow Knight Silksong doesn't have traditional difficulty settings. However, the game naturally adjusts challenge through your upgrade choices and exploration thoroughness. Players can make the game easier by fully upgrading before major encounters or harder by attempting bosses with minimal upgrades.
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Hollow Knight Silksong has 5 different endings: The Hollow Crown (standard), The Wanderer's Path (freedom), The Silk Weaver's Legacy (mastery), The Shattered Crown (sacrifice), and The True Weaver's Ascension (secret true ending). Each ending requires different choices and completion requirements.
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100% completion requires: all 47 Silk Threads, all 16 Health Shards (4 full upgrades), all 12 Ancient Rosaries, all 6 Crystal Hearts, all 28 Lore Tablets, defeating all bosses (including secret ones), discovering all areas, and completing all major quest chains. This unlocks the True Ending.
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Most collectibles remain accessible throughout the game, even after major story events. However, a few rare items are tied to specific choices or quest outcomes. The game warns you before points of no return, and maintaining multiple save files is recommended for completionist players.
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The intended progression is: Moss Grotto → Deep Docks → Greymoor → Coral Forest → Citadel → Hidden Kingdom. However, the game encourages exploration and backtracking. Some areas become easier with specific upgrades, while others can be partially explored early for valuable items.
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Hollow Knight Silksong launched in a very polished state with minimal bugs. The most common issue is rare save file corruption, which can be prevented by backing up save files regularly. A few minor visual glitches exist in specific areas but don't affect gameplay. Team Cherry continues to release patches for any discovered issues.
Save file transfer depends on the platform. Steam saves can be backed up manually. Console versions support cloud saves within the same ecosystem (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo). Cross-platform save transfer is not officially supported, but community tools may offer solutions.
PC minimum requirements: Windows 10, Intel Core i5 or AMD equivalent, 4GB RAM, DirectX 11 compatible graphics card, 9GB storage space. The game is well-optimized and runs smoothly on most modern systems, including Steam Deck and lower-end hardware.
Yes, Hollow Knight Silksong includes colorblind support, remappable controls, subtitle options, visual indicators for audio cues, and difficulty-assist options that can be toggled independently. These features make the game more accessible while preserving the intended challenge.
Didn't find your answer? Our comprehensive Hollow Knight Silksong guide collection covers every aspect of the game. From complete walkthroughs to advanced strategies, we have everything you need for your Pharloom journey.
Step-by-step guide through every area of Pharloom
Master every boss with detailed combat strategies
Discover every secret location and collectible
Essential tips for beginners and advanced techniques
Unlock every ending with detailed requirements
Master all abilities and optimize your skill progression