The Wait is Over! Our First Deep Dive into Hollow Knight: Silksong at Gamescom 2025

After what has felt like an eternity, the moment we’ve all been dreaming of finally arrived at Gamescom 2025: we got our hands on Hollow Knight: Silksong. The air crackled with anticipation, and as the Team Cherry logo faded to reveal the ethereal beauty of Pharloom, every single second of the wait felt undeniably worth it.

This wasn't just a brief demo; it was a substantial dive into Hornet's new kingdom, offering a tantalizing glimpse into what promises to be one of the most masterful Metroidvania experiences ever crafted.

From the very first moments, Silksong immediately feels familiar yet refreshingly new. Hornet moves with a newfound agility and grace, her needle slicing through enemies with satisfying precision.

Her unique abilities, like the iconic Silk Dash and the new healing mechanics which utilize silk, feel fluid and intuitive, adding layers of strategic depth to both combat and traversal. We explored parts of the Moss Grotto and a section of the Glassworks, each biome pulsating with Team Cherry's signature atmospheric design and intricate level layouts.

The verticality in particular is astonishing, with clever pathways and hidden secrets around every corner, begging to be thoroughly explored.

Combat is elevated to new heights. Hornet's array of tools, from the devastating Pimpillo bombs to the protective Line Shields, introduce a versatile toolkit that encourages creative approaches to enemy encounters.

We faced off against a range of new adversaries, from agile insect warriors to towering, grotesque automatons, each demanding a unique approach to defeat. The mini-boss we encountered, a towering, chitinous guardian named 'The Weaver's Bane', was a masterclass in pattern recognition and skill, pushing Hornet's abilities to their limits and leaving us breathless yet exhilarated upon its defeat.

The parry system feels incredibly responsive, rewarding precise timing with powerful counter-attacks that make every engagement feel impactful.

Beyond the exhilarating combat and exploration, the world of Pharloom itself is a character. The art style, while distinctly Hollow Knight, feels richer, more vibrant, and yet still retains that melancholic charm.

The orchestral score, as expected, is breathtaking, weaving intricate melodies that perfectly complement the on-screen action, from tense boss battles to serene moments of discovery. Little details, like the way Hornet’s silk interacts with environmental elements or the subtle visual cues of hidden passages, showcase Team Cherry’s unparalleled attention to detail.

While the full narrative remains shrouded in mystery, the snippets we experienced hinted at a grander purpose for Hornet’s journey, one that feels both personal and epic.

The new NPCs encountered were quirky, intriguing, and instantly memorable, promising a cast of characters as beloved as those from Hallownest. Hollow Knight: Silksong is not just a sequel; it’s an evolution. It takes everything that made the original a masterpiece and expands upon it with confidence, creativity, and a clear vision.

The demo left us more than just impressed – it left us utterly captivated, counting down every single second until we can dive back into Pharloom and experience the full scope of Hornet’s magnificent adventure. Get ready, the wait is almost over.