The conversation surrounding Hollow Knight: Silksong, after seven years of anticipation, shifted from the intense fan devotion for the sequel to the recent critiques regarding its gameplay, particularly concerning its difficulty. Just a week after its release, players have been expressing their views on whether the game is too challenging or if it requires players to simply improve their skills. In response to the growing feedback, developers Team Cherry announced plans to adjust the “slight difficulty” of early game bosses, Moorwing and Sister Splinter, in an upcoming update.
Is Silksong designed with a difficulty level that could alienate its audience? Or do players need to improve their gaming skills rather than complain?
In order to explore these questions, we decided to utilize the Ars Difficulty Matrix (ADM™), a tool we previously applied to assess the difficulty of Elden Ring in 2022. This matrix allows us to dissect various aspects of gameplay mechanics to understand how Silksong challenges its players.
It is important to note that this analysis contains minor spoilers regarding the early stages of Silksong.
Mechanical difficulty
Does the gameplay require players to execute specific button sequences with precise timing? This aspect, sometimes referred to as a “reflex test,” is prominent in Silksong.
Players must exhibit strong reflexes, especially while battling numerous bosses. These encounters often involve attacks that are telegraphed only briefly, making it crucial for players to stay alert to minor animation signals preceding an assault. Mastering the timing for dodging and counterattacking under these circumstances can be quite demanding.
Unlike many titles within the Souls-like genre, Silksong does not feature a spammable dodge mechanic that grants temporary invulnerability. Instead, players must mindfully navigate the dangerous landscape, which poses significant challenges during tense moments.
Platforming elements in Silksong also require players to chain together aerial attacks on enemies or objects. Early parts of the game pose added hurdles due to the diagonal and unpredictable nature of downward attacks, making precision necessary for success.
While upgrades that enhance mid-air mobility ease some of these challenges later in the game, the initial platforming sequences can be particularly daunting for those who lack extensive experience with such mechanics.
Punishing difficulty
What penalties does the game impose for player errors? How many mistakes can be made before facing defeat? And what progress is lost upon dying?
One positive aspect is that Silksong does not revert players back to the beginning upon death, allowing for virtually unlimited lives and respawning at the last checkpoint.
However, the placement of save points can be quite far apart. Losing progress often entails extensive backtracking through difficult sections, especially in new areas where the location of the nearest checkpoint may not be immediately known. This becomes even more frustrating when players venture into unfamiliar territory without prior map knowledge.
Individual enemies can also be unforgiving; even minor mistakes can lead to devastating damage. Boss battles are particularly punishing, as bosses have significant health and can deal heavy blows, requiring prolonged focus and execution to successfully overcome them.
Players can refill health by gathering silk from enemies, yet this ability also leaves characters vulnerable during the recharge. Attempting to restore health only to be interrupted by an enemy’s attack can be demoralizing.
Arcane difficulty
How well does the game articulate its rules and mechanics? Are there tutorials in place, or must players discover everything independently?
A major challenge within Silksong lies in navigation. Without a map in a new region, players may find themselves lost, struggling to remember which pathways have been explored. Even with a map available, recalling which areas have been accessible with new abilities can be frustrating.
The map intentionally hides some secrets, requiring vigilance or external resources to uncover. Players may overlook essential game mechanics and abilities unless they pay close attention or consult guides. For example, the ability to dash downward was not immediately clear and only became known through outside sources.
Grindable difficulty
Does the game reward dedicated players with powers, upgrades, or tools that can help them conquer formidable challenges, or are they limited to their starting skills?
For those willing to explore optional content, Silksong offers numerous upgrades that enhance health and abilities, which can prove advantageous during later stages. Players can often find hidden paths that lead to valuable improvements and more favorable results in earlier challenges.
Nonetheless, there are limits to how beneficial these upgrades can be. Players still face challenging bosses that require skillful execution, regardless of acquired enhancements.
Gated difficulty
Are sections of the game locked behind certain challenges that must be completed to progress, or can players find alternative routes around particularly difficult obstacles?
True to the Metroidvania genre, a significant portion of Silksong is contingent on acquiring new movement or attack abilities, often earned by defeating major bosses.
If a player finds themselves stuck on a particular boss, they can usually backtrack to explore side paths that might offer power gains to facilitate later encounters. Speedrunners have even discovered ways to circumvent specific challenges, but these strategies are less accessible to the average player, who may be deterred by repeated struggles.
Tunable difficulty
Does the game provide options to adjust difficulty levels or enhance accessibility? If not, does performance influence the game’s difficulty over time?
The absence of adjustable difficulty settings is evident in Silksong, with the options menu offering only limited customization, such as screen shake and HUD size.
This stands in contrast to games like Celeste, which included an “Assist Mode” to cater to players needing a gentler experience. Such inclusivity could benefit Silksong, allowing players who may struggle to still experience its rich content without compromising the game’s core experience.
ADM™ roundup
Examining Silksong through the Ars Difficulty Matrix™ reveals it to be a demanding title with many elements requiring precise reflexes and high penalties for mistakes. The game withholds significant portions of content behind difficult gameplay without offering adjustable settings that could ease the experience for some players.
As history has shown, many players may abandon the game long before facing its ultimate challenges, which raises concerns about accessibility. It’s worth noting that the original Hollow Knight faced similar critiques, as its own difficult encounters and level design led to a significant percentage of players not experiencing the game in its entirety.
While there is a place for challenging games like Silksong, it is unfortunate that the intensity of the difficulty may bar a segment of the gaming community from fully enjoying its offerings.