Screenshots & trailers
What players say
Why the number is what it is: aspect mentions counted across 429 sampled Steam reviews (397 positive / 32 negative), recent and most-helpful. Plain keyword counting, fully reproducible; nothing here is written by a machine.
What positive reviews talk about
- Story & writing12% mention it
- Combat12% mention it
- Music & audio11% mention it
- World & exploration6% mention it
- Visuals & art6% mention it
What negative reviews complain about
- Difficulty & balance38% mention it
- Story & writing19% mention it
- Combat19% mention it
- Music & audio16% mention it
- World & exploration16% mention it
Satisfaction by hours played
Same score, different games: see how sentiment holds up the longer people play.
Under 5h
93%
29 reviews
5-15h
82%
45 reviews
15-40h
93%
72 reviews
40-100h
90%
177 reviews
100h+
100%
106 reviews
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 91 | 200 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 89% | 83 | 1624 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 93 | 750 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 90% | 84 | 3000 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Mar 16, 2026) · 299 reviews sampled · 24724 total reviews in window · weighted 240.8 up / 21.9 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (140)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 80
“Hollow Knight: Silksong is a flawed masterpiece. To the right player, it can be one of the greatest games of all time. But that’s only if they are able to look past or easily overcome the grueling, unforgiving challenges that come up regularly. From the world design to the music, characters, and animations, this is a monumental achievement, but had I not been working on this review, I would have given up on Silksong a long time ago. That certainly says something about me as a player, but it also says something about the game, too.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Hollow Knight: Silksong is a sequel that definitely did not disappoint and stood the test of time after a long wait. Team Cherry has delivered a unique game that will remain in my memory for years to come. It is definitely one of the best adventures I have experienced this year, and I eagerly await further adventures from this exceptional group of developers.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Hollow Knight: Silksong offers an immersive and challenging experience at the same time, transporting you to another world full of secrets, where Hornet enjoys a faster and smoother gameplay style that combines agility with diverse attacks. The story remains mysterious and full of details, and it is considered an essential addition for any fan of Metroidvania games; it is a mixture between challenge and fun, and between visual beauty and narrative mystery.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Yes, this is a challenging game, and the Rosary Bead currency is in desperate need of refinement, but this is still an absolute joy to play through. Platforming is tightly designed, combat is both crunching and punishing, and the story beautifully told across this 15–20 hour adventure. Silksong is a game that not only meets expectations but often surpasses them. It’s haunting, challenging, and expertly crafted, a journey that lingers long after the credits roll. Minor flaws aside, this is one of 2025’s standout releases, and a game that firmly cements Team Cherry as masters of the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Without a doubt, the developers at Team Cherry didn't waste these years. They poured an immense amount of work into creating the most ambitious and visually stunning Metroidvania to date-one truly worthy of standing at the very peak of the genre. Hollow Knight: Silksong lives up to the expectations of its devoted fans in every way. Yet, like any work of art, it isn't entirely free of objective shortcomings and debatable design choices-particularly in terms of balance-that may push away less prepared players.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Fans of the original Hollow Knight, who have also completed its DLC, will have an amazing time with Silksong. Boss design is flawless, barring a few exceptions; environments and music are top-notch, basically, you’re guaranteed tens of hours of entertainment. However, the difficulty curve is a bit too steep for gamers less experienced with the genre. Couple that with intentionally infuriating design in some places, and the game can be pretty frustrating. The complete game still shows off the meticulous 7 years of work by the developers from Team Cherry.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“If you were fond of Hollow Knight, then you'll adore the Hornet's adventures. Since Silksong has improved all of the predecessor's strengths, it has become a deeper and more emotional experience. And it's hard as nails, yet rewarding as well!”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Ushering her to and fro across the game, I found myself seeking out side quests less for their prizes than for the possibility that at least one more bug might persist, and in the process seize some happiness.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“The world of Hollow Knight has been given a fresh new look and is ready to offer you a fantastic gaming experience as well as a healthy dose of nostalgia for Hollow Knight. In many ways, Hollow Knight: Silksong surpasses its predecessor, but you should be prepared for a high level of difficulty and the fact that, even in Silksong, no one will be holding your hand. Does the game deserve the attention it’s getting? Absolutely. So dive into Hornet’s story without hesitation, you won’t be disappointed.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Hollow Knight: Silksong's beauty is beguiling, hiding an interior that's deliberately harsh but endlessly rewarding. Everything feels deliberate, pushing you to learn, improve, and perfect, or simply just explore a little more. And what a world it is to dig into.Somehow, Team Cherry has surpassed my expectations tenfold and delivered a mesmeric blend of balletic combat and movement with persistence, joy, and an incredibly invigorating map at the centre. I've never felt better surmounting the challenges put in front of me, and I'm already raring to do it a second time.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Was the wait worth it? Absolutely. This is Hollow Knight, and then some. Playing as Hornet feels like an entirely new experience, offering a level of speed and finesse the Knight never had. Add in the wealth of new skills, tools, and traversal options, and the gameplay reaches incredible new heights. And once again, the world is as breathtakingly beautiful as it is haunting.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Hollow Knight: Silksong turned out to be a game only slightly weaker than the original. Still, it's a metroidvania on par with the genre's most beloved classics and a worthy sequel.”
read full review ↗
Gamepressure
ZdobywcyGier.eu
Eternal Games
TheReviewGeek
GameMAG
INDIANTVCZ
3DNews
Slant Magazine
Gaming Professors
Nintendo Life
PLAY Zine
GRYOnline.pl…and 128 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch Version 1.0.30000 Now LiveMar 16, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Version 1.0.29242 Now LiveNov 7, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Version 1.0.28891 Now LiveOct 14, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Version 1.0.28650 Now LiveSep 22, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Version 1.0.28497 Now LiveSep 12, 2025significant · resets scoring window