Should You Play Hollow Knight Before Silksong?

Should you play Hollow Knight before diving into Silksong? Get the lowdown on whether it's necessary for understanding the story, gameplay, and world.

Hey there! So, you're wondering if you absolutely *need* to play the original Hollow Knight before jumping into Silksong? Let's break it down like we're just chatting about it.

The short answer? It's not strictly necessary. Silksong is designed to be a standalone adventure. You're playing as Hornet this time, and the world you'll explore, Pharloom, is a completely different area from Hallownest. So, there's a ton of new stuff that doesn't rely on you knowing the first game inside and out.

However, playing Hollow Knight first *does* give you a nice leg up. You'll get a better feel for the main character's origins (even though you're not playing as them), the overall atmosphere, the general gameplay style, and some of the lore. Hollow Knight is a Metroidvania, meaning it's all about exploring and backtracking to areas you couldn't access before. The first game didn't hold your hand much, so exploring naturally led you to new places and optional content. Playing it means you'll have a better sense of that kind of exploration.

Now, Silksong is packing even more content. Hornet is way more agile than the Knight, with new movement abilities like latching onto things, super-dashes, and aerial combat. This emphasis on movement is a big deal! Veterans of Hollow Knight might need to adjust their playstyle, but honestly, new players might even have a slight edge since they won't have to unlearn old habits.

The core systems are similar, too. You'll find Crests and Tools that function much like Charms from the first game, offering similar utility. The world map and towns feel familiar in structure, though Silksong's towns are much more vibrant and lively. Plus, Silksong has a more robust side quest system compared to the original's looser approach.

So, if you're looking for a reason to play Hollow Knight before Silksong, it's mainly to get a feel for the game's DNA. It might even be that Silksong is the better game, and going back to the first one afterward might make it feel a bit dated. Ultimately, it's your call, but hopefully, this gives you a clearer picture!