Hollow Knight: Silksong has emerged as one of the most anticipated and discussed video game releases of recent times, though not all feedback has been uniformly positive. While the game has achieved remarkable success, a segment of the gaming community has expressed concerns about its perceived extreme difficulty level, suggesting that Team Cherry's sequel might be even more demanding than its already challenging predecessor.

Originally conceived as downloadable content for the first Hollow Knight game, Silksong gradually expanded in scope until it transformed into a fully-fledged sequel. After years of development and eager anticipation from fans worldwide, the game finally launched on September 4, 2025, to widespread excitement and record-breaking player numbers.

Despite the overwhelmingly positive critical reception, Silksong has generated mixed reactions within the player community regarding its difficulty curve. Across various social media platforms and gaming forums, players have voiced significant concerns about specific gameplay elements. Many have pointed out that numerous bosses appear to inflict double damage, while others have criticized Hornet's hitbox as feeling disproportionately large compared to the original game's protagonist.

The primary complaint centers on Silksong's apparent escalation in challenge compared to the first Hollow Knight. Several players have expressed frustration with combat encounters that result in the loss of two masks upon contact with enemies—a mechanic that was less frequent in the original game. This increased punishment for mistakes has led some to describe the experience as excessively stressful.

However, a counterargument has emerged from players who suggest that Hornet's enhanced mobility and faster movement capabilities eventually balance out the increased difficulty. These players argue that once gamers adapt to her expanded movement repertoire, the challenge becomes more manageable and ultimately rewarding.

Given that the original Hollow Knight is widely regarded as one of the finest Metroidvania titles ever created, it's perhaps unsurprising that its sequel would ramp up the challenge. The development team likely anticipated that most players would already be familiar with the franchise's mechanics and ready for a more demanding experience. Whether Silksong will ultimately be remembered as significantly more difficult than its predecessor or if current reactions represent initial adjustment struggles remains to be seen as players spend more time with the game.

Regardless of the difficulty debates, Hollow Knight: Silksong has achieved extraordinary success by every measurable metric. The game reached unprecedented concurrent player numbers on Steam, peaking at over 540,000 simultaneous players shortly after launch, with expectations of even higher numbers during the weekend following release.

The game's popularity proved so overwhelming that it temporarily disrupted multiple digital storefronts upon release. Steam, the Xbox Store, and Nintendo's eShop all experienced significant slowdowns and occasional errors as thousands of players attempted to purchase and download the game simultaneously. While Team Cherry has yet to release official sales figures, the evidence strongly suggests that Silksong has become one of the most successful indie game launches in history, with no signs of diminishing popularity in the immediate future.