Is Silksong Harder Than Hollow Knight?

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.

Silksong players are noticing a significant increase in difficulty compared to Hollow Knight. Explore what makes the combat more intense and how Hornet’s new abilities reshape the challenge.

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Silksong vs. Hollow Knight

How Much Harsher is Pharloom Than Hallownest?

Silksong takes place in a kingdom teeming with enemies, but it’s also generating plenty of real-world frustration. Forum threads, Reddit posts, and Discord servers are flooded with players venting their frustrations or quitting in anger. A vocal segment of the community has declared Silksong punishing—perhaps even too punishing. The outcry grew so intense that Team Cherry responded yesterday with a patch that softens several early-game bosses and eases the first few hours in Pharloom.

The memes have been nonstop. If Hollow Knight was Dark Souls, Silksong is Dark Souls 2 in difficulty. Some even call Hollow Knight the tutorial for Silksong, as if Team Cherry had been preparing us all along. But the real question remains: is Silksong genuinely harder than Hollow Knight, or are we simply being reminded to, as Hornet says, “git gud”?

The answer, unfortunately for your patience, is yes. Silksong is harder. I noted in my review how it demands a level of dedication and precision that turns even a simple trip back to a boss into a nerve-wracking ordeal. I still feel the aches in my fingers after finishing all three acts—but honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.