Hollow Knight: Silksong Difficulty Explained by Team Cherry at ACMI Exhibition

At the ACMI Game Worlds exhibition in Melbourne, acclaimed Australian indie developers Team Cherry provided fans with fresh insights into Hollow Knight: Silksong, one of the most eagerly awaited titles for the Nintendo Switch and other major platforms.

As anticipation continues to mount for the sequel to the critically lauded Hollow Knight, members of the Team Cherry development team addressed the evolving difficulty and design philosophy behind Silksong, emphasizing their intent to empower players with greater agency and choice. Hollow Knight: Silksong has garnered widespread support from the global gaming community since its announcement.

It follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, which launched on the Nintendo Switch eShop in 2018 and secured a place among the top contemporary Metroidvanias.

At ACMI, studio co-directors Ari Gibson and William Pellen delved into the unique challenges presented by building a sequel with higher complexity and a new protagonist, Hornet. Gibson elaborated on the team's vision for player exploration and progression, stating, "A core goal for us is to let players chart their own course through the world.

Some may pursue the main objectives directly, while others might constantly deviate, uncovering myriad secrets and alternate routes along the way." Silksong introduces a world designed with non-linear paths, encouraging both discovery and replayability.

While Gibson acknowledged there are "some moments of steep difficulty," he noted that the freedom embedded in the game world offers players multiple options for overcoming obstacles.

"If someone encounters a challenging boss, there are always ways to reduce the difficulty—be it through careful exploration, developing new strategies, or even bypassing some challenges altogether, rather than getting stuck indefinitely." Building on the legacy of Hollow Knight, renowned for its tough but fair gameplay, Silksong raises the bar with more dynamic enemies and a protagonist with a distinct move set.

"Hornet is inherently faster and more skill-based than the Knight," Gibson explained.

"This required us to craft enemies that are not only more complex but also smarter, even at the base level." William Pellen added further technical details about the design process, revealing that even the standard "ant warrior" enemy in Silksong draws from Hornet's original boss mechanics.

These enemies utilize advanced movements such as dashing, leaping, and strategic evasion, ensuring encounters remain engaging and challenging. "In contrast to the adversaries faced by the Knight, Hornet's foes required additional capabilities to contend with her agility," said Pellen.

"Rather than limiting Hornet's abilities, we opted to enhance the complexity and intelligence of the entire world to match her newly elevated skill set." In response to early feedback, Team Cherry issued targeted adjustments to some of Silksong's initial boss battles to ensure the experience remains accessible without compromising the intended challenge.

As Hollow Knight: Silksong continues development, the studio remains committed to delivering a rich, finely balanced adventure for fans worldwide. With no official release date yet announced, Silksong remains one of the most anticipated games for Nintendo Switch and modern platforms.

Team Cherry's thoughtful approach to difficulty, exploration, and enemy design underscores their dedication to crafting a worthy successor to the beloved original.

Nintendo Switch Nintendo Hollow Knight: Silksong Switch Team Cherry Metroidvania Hollow Knight Silksong Ari Gibson William Pellen Hollow Knight Silksong ACMI Game Worlds Hornet