Within a few hours, it surpassed some big names in terms of player numbers. However, one criticism of the game is becoming apparent.
With major releases, it’s always worth taking a look at Steam to gauge how successful the launch is going. In the case of Hollow Knight: Silksong, we can say: Yeah, it’s going pretty well.
We’re understating it. Less than 24 hours after its release, Silksong has already reached 18th place among the most played Steam games of all time (source: SteamDB). On its triumphant march, the indie hit has also relegated some big names to the places behind it.
All rosy? Not quite. It is becoming increasingly apparent that one aspect is a thorn in the side of many players.
The numbers: Wow!
Let’s be honest: Right on time for the release on September 4, 2025, at 4 p.m., the rush on Silksong was so great that both Steam and the Nintendo eShop temporarily crashed.
Once the situation had improved, a peak of 535,213 players were simultaneously exploring the world of Pharloom. This means that Silksong has already surpassed titles such as Battlefield 6 Beta and Call of Duty on Steam – although it’s also true that these games are primarily played on Origin and Battle.net, respectively.
But even long-running Steam favorites such as Fallout 4, Valheim, and Terraria are now only seeing the dust kicked up by Silksong as it races ahead.
The reviews: Wow!
Of course, the user reviews on Steam are also largely euphoric. At the time of writing, there are just 335 reviews (most are probably still playing), but an impressive 95 percent of them are positive.
There is much to praise: graphics, sound, atmosphere, controls – but one thing upsets some players: the difficulty level.
Newcomers who have never played the first Hollow Knight may have been surprised by the challenging difficulty. But even old HK hands are speaking up in the Steam reviews, criticizing Silksong for being a tad too hard in some places.
The fact that everything in this game does double damage and the placement of the benches is just annoying.
(Source)Only being able to parry, dodge, and sprint after several hours of gameplay is the biggest nonsense I’ve ever seen.
(Source)The skill level in the game is significantly higher [than in Hollow Knight], which makes Silksong significantly less fun and rewarding, to be honest. You’re already at the end when you get to the boss.
(Source)
The newcomers mentioned earlier also often stumble over the gameplay aspects typical of Hollow Knight, such as the deliberately cryptic map, the punishment for death, and the reset points, some of which are far apart. Those who have already played the first part have a clear advantage here.
What is your first impression of Silksong? Are you also struggling with the difficulty level, or do you think the high level of challenge is just right?
