Both games contain fantasy violence, unsettling imagery, difficult boss encounters, and themes involving decay, loss, imprisonment, and ruined civilizations.
Fast answer
The answer before the background
For most players, start with Hollow Knight. It is the more established introduction to Team Cherry’s exploration, combat, map-reading, and boss design, and its four free content packs are included in the game. Buy Silksong first only if you specifically want to play as Hornet, value faster and more acrobatic movement, or prefer a new setting instead of returning to Hallownest. The sequel is not simply an expansion: it takes place in Pharloom, adds its own progression systems and objectives, and is designed to stand on its own. If you plan to play both, the original first is the best order for story context; if you mainly care about modern movement and a fresh campaign, Silksong is a valid starting point.
At a glance
The main differences
The original follows the Knight through Hallownest, a vast interconnected kingdom filled with branching routes, hidden abilities, optional bosses, and environmental storytelling. Its identity is built around deliberate exploration: you often discover a blocked path, gain a new ability elsewhere, and return with a better understanding of the map.
Silksong follows Hornet after she is taken to Pharloom. Its official descriptions emphasize a vertical journey toward a citadel, quicker acrobatic action, craftable tools, new quests, and a substantially different cast of enemies and bosses. That makes it feel like a sequel with a distinct design focus rather than a reskinned return to the first game.
- Hollow Knight is the slower, more exploratory starting point.
- Silksong places more emphasis on mobility, tools, quests, and upward progression.
- The two campaigns use different protagonists, kingdoms, progression structures, and enemy rosters.
- Both retain hand-drawn 2D presentation, challenging combat, atmospheric worldbuilding, and single-player exploration.
| Criterion | Hollow Knight | Silksong |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Hallownest, a ruined and highly interconnected underground kingdom. | Pharloom, a new kingdom that Hornet must ascend toward its citadel. |
| Playable character | The Knight, with abilities and Charms that support different builds. | Hornet, whose movement and tools are central to the combat and exploration loop. |
| Combat feel | Measured attacks, evasive movement, spells, and Charm-based customization. | More acrobatic movement, a larger tool focus, and a faster-feeling approach to encounters. |
| Exploration | Open-ended route-finding with maps, abilities, and many optional detours. | A new progression path built around ascent, quests, tools, and unfamiliar regions. |
| Extra content | Includes four major free content packs in the complete game listing. | A full sequel with its own campaign and additional challenge content listed by the publisher. |
| Best first choice for | Players who want the original foundation and the safest introduction. | Players who already know the formula or want the newer, more mobile interpretation. |
The settings, protagonists, features, release information, and included content are based on official listings. Statements such as “slower,” “faster,” or “better first choice” are recommendations based on how those advertised systems affect the play experience, not objective review scores.
Choose by playstyle
Which game fits you better?
Choose Hollow Knight if your priority is discovery. Its world is designed around getting lost, noticing landmarks, learning routes, and gradually turning confusion into mastery. The map tools, Charms, spells, and ability gates give you several ways to approach the same broad adventure. It is also the stronger choice if you want to understand the series before following Hornet’s story.
Choose Silksong if your priority is momentum. Hornet’s movement is the defining difference: the sequel is presented around acrobatic attacks, silk abilities, crafted tools, and quests. That combination should appeal to players who find the original’s deliberate pace rewarding but sometimes restrictive, or who want more active options during traversal and combat.
Choose the original for value-conscious buying when both are available at different prices. Storefront prices change, but the official Steam listings currently show the original at a lower base price than the sequel. Check your local store before purchasing rather than treating any listed price as permanent.
- For exploration and atmosphere, begin with Hollow Knight.
- For movement and combat variety, begin with Silksong.
- For story context, play the original before the sequel.
- For a completely fresh world, choose Silksong.
- For the lowest-cost entry, compare the current regional store prices.
| Your priority | Recommended choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First game in the series | Hollow Knight | It establishes the setting, tone, controls, and recurring lore more naturally. |
| Fast traversal and aerial movement | Silksong | Hornet’s acrobatic moves are a central part of its identity. |
| Build experimentation | Hollow Knight | Charms, spells, and ability choices make its combat more customizable. |
| Crafting and objective-driven tasks | Silksong | The sequel officially highlights tools and quests as major systems. |
| A self-contained new adventure | Silksong | It uses a new protagonist, kingdom, enemies, and campaign. |
| A proven, complete starting package | Hollow Knight | Its major free content packs are already part of the established release. |
If you are undecided, buy and play the original first. If you have already completed it or know that movement speed is your main concern, choose Silksong without waiting for a discount or replaying the first game.
Play order
Do you need to play the original first?
No. Silksong is a full sequel, but its official premise introduces Hornet, Pharloom, and the immediate goal of the new adventure. A new player can treat it as an independent action-adventure game.
Playing Hollow Knight first is still recommended for players who care about continuity. It gives you stronger context for Hornet’s role, the series’ visual language, and the way Team Cherry hides history in environments, enemy behavior, and optional encounters. The benefit is background and appreciation, not basic comprehension.
A good compromise is to begin the original and continue only if its slower opening and deliberate traversal appeal to you. Do not force yourself through every optional challenge before trying the sequel; the main value of the first game here is familiarity with its world and design philosophy.
- Play in release order if you want the most natural series progression.
- Start with Silksong if you are primarily interested in Hornet and faster movement.
- Use the original as background rather than treating it as a mandatory prerequisite.
- Avoid judging one game solely by the other’s pace; their combat priorities are intentionally different.
Alternatives
What should you play instead?
If neither choice suits your priorities, consider other 2D exploration games with different emphases. Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a strong alternative for fluid traversal and a more openly emotional presentation. Dead Cells is better if you want repeated runs, weapon variety, and roguelite progression rather than one large connected kingdom. Blasphemous is a darker option with deliberate combat and a more linear sense of discovery.
These are alternatives by design preference, not direct replacements. None should be assumed to match Team Cherry’s exact map structure, lore delivery, or boss pacing. Choose based on the feature you want to change.
- Choose Ori and the Will of the Wisps for movement-first exploration and a more cinematic tone.
- Choose Dead Cells for replayable runs, rapid combat, and randomized progression.
- Choose Blasphemous for heavier combat, grotesque imagery, and a darker religious setting.
- Choose either Team Cherry game when interconnected exploration and environmental mystery matter most.
These alternatives are genre comparisons, not claims that one game is universally better. Their availability, pricing, and platform support should be checked on the relevant official storefront.
Bottom line
The final recommendation
Hollow Knight is the better default recommendation because it teaches the series’ fundamentals, offers a broad and established adventure, and remains the clearest way to experience the setting before moving on. Silksong is the better targeted recommendation for players who want Hornet, more aerial movement, craftable tools, and a completely new kingdom.
If you only plan to buy one, match the purchase to your preferred rhythm. Pick the original for patient discovery and customization. Pick the sequel for speed, mobility, and a fresh campaign. If you expect to play both eventually, start with the original, then carry your knowledge of the world into Pharloom.
- Best overall starting point: Hollow Knight.
- Best for Hornet and acrobatic movement: Silksong.
- Best series order: Hollow Knight, then Silksong.
- Best choice for players avoiding backtracking: compare each game’s current route and quest guidance before buying; neither should be treated as a purely linear action game.
FAQ
Common questions
Is Silksong a DLC expansion for Hollow Knight?
No. Team Cherry describes it as a full-scale sequel that grew beyond its original DLC concept. It has a new kingdom, protagonist, campaign, enemies, bosses, and progression systems.
Which game is harder?
There is no fully objective answer because difficulty depends on movement, boss patterns, and your familiarity with the design. The original is more deliberate and punishes careless positioning, while Silksong’s faster action can demand quicker reactions. Treat difficulty claims as playstyle-dependent rather than as a verified ranking.
Can I play Silksong without knowing the story of Hollow Knight?
Yes. Its premise introduces Hornet and Pharloom directly. Playing the original first is recommended for extra context, but it is not required to understand the sequel’s immediate objectives.
Which game has better combat?
Choose based on the feel you want. Hollow Knight favors measured attacks, spells, evasive positioning, and Charms. Silksong emphasizes Hornet’s mobility, acrobatic attacks, silk abilities, and crafted tools. The sequel is not automatically better; it is more suitable for players who prefer active movement.
Are both games available on PC and console?
Both have official PC and console storefront listings, but the exact supported platforms and edition features differ by device and region. Check the current official store page for your platform before buying, especially for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 editions.
Sources
What we checked
Official listings establish current availability and product facts. Community pages are used for mechanics and build history, then labeled separately.
- OfficialHollow Knight official game site
- OfficialHollow Knight official Steam listing
- OfficialHollow Knight: Silksong official Steam listing
- OfficialTeam Cherry announcement describing Silksong as a full-scale sequel
- OfficialNintendo announcement confirming Silksong availability and Switch 2 enhancements