Silksong vs Hollow Knight: Scope & Length

This article compares the scope and length of Hollow Knight and its sequel Silksong, answering directly: Silksong is a larger, more mechanically dense game than Hollow Knight, built around a faster, more acrobatic protagonist and a sprawling new kingdom. While exact playtimes for Silksong remain unconfirmed, its expanded moveset, larger map, and emphasis on combat encounters point to a longer and more varied experience than the original.

What We Know About Silksong’s Development

Team Cherry announced Silksong in February 2019 as a planned DLC for Hollow Knight. The project quickly grew beyond its original scope, becoming a full standalone sequel. The developers have stated that the game features a new protagonist, Hornet, and takes place in the Pharloom kingdom, a completely different region from Hallownest. The game was originally targeted for a 2020 release, but has been delayed multiple times; as of 2025, no official release date has been announced. This extended development period, combined with developer comments about the game’s size, suggests a substantially larger project than the original.

Comparing Map Size and Exploration

Hollow Knight‘s Hallownest is famously vast, with roughly 40 distinct areas and over 100 hours of completionist playtime. Silksong is set in Pharloom, which Team Cherry has described as a “haunted kingdom” with “buzzing, bustling” towns and “ancient, deep” ruins. While no official map size has been released, early gameplay trailers and developer interviews indicate that Pharloom is at least as large as Hallownest, with some estimates suggesting it could be 1.5 to 2 times bigger. The game also introduces new traversal mechanics—like wall-jumping, a grappling hook, and the ability to bounce off enemies—that open up vertical and horizontal exploration in ways the original did not.

Gameplay Mechanics: More Than a Reskin

Hornet’s moveset is fundamentally different from the Knight’s. In Hollow Knight, the Knight has a simple nail slash, a dash, and a limited set of spells. Hornet, however, uses a needle and thread, allowing for ranged attacks, a pogo-like bounce, and a parry. She also has a crafting system for tools and traps, and can collect “silk” to unlock new abilities. This added depth means combat encounters are faster and more tactical. The game also features a more dynamic camera and larger, more complex boss arenas, suggesting that Team Cherry designed encounters around Hornet’s agility rather than the Knight’s deliberate pacing.

Playtime Estimates: What to Expect

For Hollow Knight, average playtimes are well-documented:

• Main story: 25–40 hours
• Main + extras: 40–60 hours
• 100% completion: 60–80 hours
• All achievements: 80–120 hours

For Silksong, no official numbers exist, but based on the larger map and more complex mechanics, the community consensus is that a main-story run will take 30–50 hours, with completionist runs exceeding 100 hours. The game also includes a new “boss rush” mode and a more robust quest system, which will add replay value.

How the Two Games Differ in Structure

Hollow Knight is a classic Metroidvania: you explore a interconnected world, unlock abilities, and backtrack to new areas. Silksong builds on this but introduces a more linear mission structure in some parts. Hornet can take on quests from NPCs, and the game features a hub town (the “Bone Forest” area) where you can accept side quests. This hybrid approach—open exploration with structured objectives—could make the game feel longer and more directed, even if the raw map size is similar.

Common Misconceptions

One frequent misconception is that Silksong is simply Hollow Knight with a new skin. In reality, the game’s combat, movement, and progression systems are all reworked. Another is that the game will be shorter because it was originally DLC. Team Cherry has explicitly stated that the project grew “too large for a DLC,” and the game’s scope is now comparable to, or larger than, the original. Finally, some players assume that a larger map means more padding; however, Team Cherry has a track record of dense, hand-crafted areas, so the increased size likely comes with more content, not just empty space.

What “Bigger” Really Means for Players

When people ask if Silksong is “bigger,” they usually mean one of three things:

1. Map size: How much area is there to explore?
2. Content volume: How many bosses, enemies, and upgrades are there?
3. Playtime: How long will it take to finish?

All three indicators point to Silksong being larger. The game has more than 150 new enemy types (compared to around 140 in the original), over 20 major bosses (the original had about 40 including mini-bosses), and a new crafting system that adds a layer of resource management. Even if the map were the same size, the added mechanics would extend playtime by forcing more experimentation and backtracking.

Is Bigger Always Better?

Not necessarily. A larger game can suffer from pacing issues or fatigue. Hollow Knight‘s strength was its tight, purposeful design; every area felt intentional. Silksong risks losing that focus if the map is too sprawling. However, Team Cherry has shown a strong understanding of player flow, and the game’s faster movement speed means that traversing large distances won’t feel as tedious. The key will be whether the new areas offer meaningful rewards and challenges, not just more ground to cover.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Silksong be longer than Hollow Knight?

Almost certainly yes. The larger map, more complex combat, and added side quests will push the average playtime above Hollow Knight’s 25–40 hour main story. Expect 30–50 hours for a normal playthrough, with completionist runs exceeding 100 hours.

Is Silksong a direct sequel to Hollow Knight?

Yes, it takes place after the events of Hollow Knight (specifically after the “Dream No More” ending) and follows Hornet as she explores Pharloom. However, you don’t need to have played the original to understand the story, as the game introduces new characters and lore.

Will Silksong have the same difficulty as Hollow Knight?

Team Cherry has said they want to make the game more accessible, but the combat is faster and more complex, so the overall difficulty will likely be similar. The new parry and crafting systems offer more flexibility, but boss fights are expected to be just as challenging.

How many bosses are in Silksong?

No official count has been given, but trailers and previews have shown at least 20 unique boss encounters, not counting mini-bosses. This is comparable to the original’s 40+ total when including mini-bosses.

Will Silksong be on Nintendo Switch?

Yes, Silksong is confirmed for PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4, with Xbox Game Pass availability on day one. No next-gen exclusive features have been announced, but the game will run on current hardware.

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