Hollow Knight Silksong's agonizingly long road to release might actually be an accidental stroke of genius

Jan. 28, 2024

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Over the gate

As a big fan of the original Hollow Knight, I’m as excited to get my hands on the next step as anyone. But in the last year alone, I’ve been thoroughly impressed with so many other Metroidvanias, that I’ve found myself longing for Silksong a little less than before. While a little rough around the edges,The Last Case of Benedict Foxposed an interesting premise with its detective-styled multi-dimensional problem solving – and what that game may have lacked in depth, it definitely made up for in visual appeal.Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownmarked a watershed moment for the enduring series, giving the franchise its second major reinvention while introducing it to a new genre entirely. I wasn’t so hot on The Lost Crown’s story, but its adept understanding of what makes Metroidvania games work – in both their loudest and quietest moments – more than impressed me.

Worldless was another gem that stole my attention last year, dazzling with its unique and minimalist sci-fi aesthetic, while breaking my brain with its hectic rhythm combat. If ever there was a Metroidvania game that could be described as something that shouldn’t work but totally does, it’sWorldless. And then, not only my favorite Metroidvania game of last year, but one of favorite games of the year in general,Blasphemous 2delivered a masterclass in how to build upon a great idea and push the boundaries of an established genre further than expected.

Of course, the very fact that I’ve spent two paragraphs praising other games within a Hollow Knight: Silksong feature speaks volumes for how little new information is out there right now. The irony of this is not lost on me. But neither is my hope that Silksong does in fact land at some point this year, and when it does, it enters the ring following some really strong genre stablemates; not necessarily competing against one another, but instead raising the profile of the genre at this moment in time. We’ve seen similar situations across survival horror and RPGs in recent years, and it definitely feels like the Metroidvania space is enjoying the same at the moment – with Ultros, The Mobius Machine and Tales of Kenzera: Zau still to come in the months ahead.

Let’s be clear: Hollow Knight Silksong has spent years generating distinguished hype among its fervent fanbase, but for it to (hopefully) enter the scene in the midst of a mini-Metroidvania renaissance? That’s an accidental stroke genius from Team Cherry and everyone else involved in the scene.

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