Silksong gameplay features revealed by Team Cherry

Team Cherry has revealed a ton of new info on the gameplay, setting, and enemy variety of the upcoming Hollow Knight: Silksong.

After years of anticipation, Team Cherry is finally peeling back the curtain on Hollow Knight: Silksong. A recent press release for the game has spoiled a ton of details about the upcoming Metroidvania’s world and enemies. In addition, the release reveals a mysterious new game mode named Silk Soul. Here are all the gameplay features info revealed by Silksong developer Team Cherry. 

The release opened up by discussing the brand-new world featured in the game, which is teased to include coral forests, mossy grottoes, gilded cities, and more. It uses unfamiliar terms such as weapons, traps, and mechanisms to describe combat mechanics. This could mean swappable weapons or consumable items to aid in battle. Traps were previously hinted at in an early trailer, with Hornet scattering caltrops across a nearby surface. It also mentioned that players will be able to craft such items, though specifics on the Silksong crafting system are still under wraps.

Variety was also touted in the official press release, which listed the game as featuring over 150 enemy types throughout the world. That number likely includes bosses, of which there were 47 in the original game after all DLC.  Team Cherry also advertised Silksong’s quest system. The exact number will only be known after Silksong’s release date, which will be sometime in 2023.

“Hunt down rare beasts, unearth ancient mysteries, and search for lost treasures to fulfill the wishes of the downtrodden and restore the kingdom’s hope,” the press release said.

Fans of Hollow Knight’s soundtrack will be glad to learn that Christopher Larkin has returned from the first game for Silksong. His enthralling mix of moody ambient tracks and bombastic boss anthems will return in full force with a full orchestral score. A small sample of Larkin’s work was previously shown off in a late 2022 trailer.

Silksong reveals Silk Soul alternate game mode

Hollow Knight: Silksong will feature a new game mode in Silk Soul.

Info on Silksong’s alternate mode is still scarce, but Team Cherry said that Silk Souls will “test your skills in an all-new mode that spins the game into a unique, challenging experience.” It’s not clear exactly what kind of game mode it is, but the wording may imply a boss rush mode featuring procedurally generated progression. It could also be a hard mode with tougher challenges than the base game. 

The original Hollow Knight’s boss rush mode, which was added in Godmaster, was accepted to mixed reviews, with some criticizing the decision to lock story content behind that game’s absolute toughest content. By changing the boss rush mode to a non-canonical game mode, Team Cherry can satisfy both combat and lore enthusiasts. Then again, Silksong’s Silk Soul mode could be more similar to the platforming combat gauntlets in Hollow Knight’s Colosseum of Fools.