Should I Play Hollow Knight Before Silksong?

When It Makes Sense

• Good fit: You enjoy methodical exploration, challenging combat, and dark fantasy worlds. Hollow Knight remains one of the most celebrated modern Metroidvanias, and completing it gives you a strong sense of the series’ tone, mechanics, and lore before Silksong arrives. The game rewards curiosity: hidden paths, optional bosses, and environmental storytelling are woven into a large underground kingdom. It also includes several free expansions—such as Godmaster and The Grimm Troupe—that add late-game challenges and story, giving you more value if you want to spend significant time in its world.
• Good fit: You want maximum context for Silksong’s world and returning ideas. Although Silksong is expected to stand on its own with Hornet as the protagonist, it shares setting DNA with Hollow Knight. Characters, factions, and themes from the first game may reappear or be referenced in the sequel, so playing the first game can make callbacks more meaningful and reduce the need to look up lore explanations later.

When You Should Avoid It

• Warning sign: You dislike high difficulty, repeated boss attempts, or backtracking through large maps. Hollow Knight demands patience, precise platforming, and the willingness to learn enemy attack patterns. Players who prefer relaxed, heavily guided, or shorter experiences may find its pacing and challenge frustrating rather than rewarding. The game does not offer an easy mode, so the core difficulty is unavoidable.
• Warning sign: You have very limited gaming time and Silksong is your main interest. Hollow Knight can take dozens of hours to complete, with completionist playthroughs stretching considerably longer. Since Silksong is designed as a separate adventure with a new protagonist and new setting, you can reasonably start with the sequel if the first game’s length, pace, or genre conventions do not appeal to you.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Playing Hollow Knight first builds familiarity with the series’ combat rhythm, exploration structure, and environmental storytelling, which may make Silksong easier to pick up and more satisfying to understand. Skills such as reading enemy tells, managing soul for healing, and remembering map layouts transfer naturally between the two games.
• The first game is a complete, critically acclaimed experience with substantial post-release content. It offers many hours of quality gameplay that stands on its own regardless of the sequel, making it a low-risk purchase if you enjoy the genre. Because it has been out for years, it is also widely available, frequently discounted, and supported by a large community of guides and discussion.

Cons

• Hollow Knight is deliberately difficult and can feel punishing, especially during boss encounters and precision platforming sections. Some players may burn out or lose interest before reaching the end, which could also dampen enthusiasm for Silksong.
• Investing 30 to 50 or more hours into Hollow Knight may delay or dilute your excitement for Silksong, particularly if you prefer to play new releases while their communities are most active. There is also a risk that a long first playthrough could leave you fatigued by the time the sequel launches. Additionally, the game’s melancholic atmosphere and sparse guidance can feel isolating if you prefer games with clear objectives, frequent checkpoints, or cheerful presentation.

Decision Checklist

• Do you generally enjoy challenging 2D action games, Metroidvanias, and games that require patience and pattern recognition? If not, Hollow Knight may not be the right preparation.
• How much time do you realistically have before Silksong releases, and would you rather experience one polished game deeply or wait and jump into the sequel directly when it becomes available?
• Are you motivated more by story and lore context, or by fresh mechanics and a new protagonist? Your answer can help you decide whether the first game is essential preparation or optional enrichment.

Alternatives to Consider

If you are unsure about Hollow Knight’s difficulty, try its early areas or watch gameplay to see whether the pace and combat suit you. You might also sample other Metroidvanias—such as Ori and the Blind Forest, Metroid Dread, or Castlevania: Symphony of the Night—to learn whether you like the genre before committing to a long game. Another option is to play Hollow Knight with a guide or community resources if you want the story and atmosphere without the full challenge. Some players also choose to watch a concise lore summary or Let’s Play of Hollow Knight to absorb the story without committing to the full playthrough. You could wait for Silksong reviews and community impressions after launch to judge whether it requires Hollow Knight knowledge before buying either game. Finally, if Silksong is available as a standalone title, you can simply start there and return to Hollow Knight later if the world draws you in.

Final Recommendation

For players who enjoy challenging exploration-based games and have the time, playing Hollow Knight before Silksong is a strong choice: it builds skill, provides lore context, and delivers a complete adventure on its own. If you prefer shorter, less demanding games or want to prioritize Silksong as a fresh release, starting with Silksong and returning to Hollow Knight afterward is also reasonable, since the sequel is expected to be designed as a self-contained experience. Choose based on your taste for difficulty, available time, and how much you value narrative continuity. In either case, you can change your mind later: Hollow Knight will still be available if Silksong convinces you to explore its predecessor, and Silksong is designed to welcome newcomers if you decide to skip ahead. Neither path is objectively wrong; the best option depends on your preferences and schedule.