Hollow Knight: Silksong

Hollow Knight: Silksong is the long-awaited sequel to the cult metroidvania from Australian studio Team Cherry, this time seen through the eyes of the nimble huntress Hornet. The player travels through the vast, interconnected kingdom of Pharloom, collecting new abilities and silk-based weapons, and gradually unlocking shortcuts between already-visited areas that open up in entirely new ways as more gear is acquired. Combat is faster and more acrobatic than in the first game, with an emphasis on precise dodge timing, parrying, and combining close-range attacks with ranged strikes using needles and silk ribbons. The world is full of secret passages, bosses with their own distinctive flair, and side quests that reward patient exploration and conversations with the strange inhabitants of Pharloom. The music and visual style follow on from the first game, but the environments are more colorful and thematically varied, from damp caves to tall towers wrapped in cobwebs and crumbling temples beneath the surface. New ways of moving are gradually unlocked as well, such as fast wall-running or an extra jump, which open up previously unreachable corners of already-visited areas.

The PC version launched on the same day as all the console versions, with no delay whatsoever. Players can set the resolution, frame rate, and graphics detail according to their own system's performance, and control the game with keyboard and mouse or any gamepad. In terms of content and gameplay, it's exactly the same title as on consoles - the PC version's only advantage is a wider range of technical settings and the option to play on ultra-widescreen monitors, which comes in handy when taking in the sweeping views from the map's upper levels.

Why play: Silksong is the ideal choice for players who loved the first Hollow Knight and want an even more refined combat system, more varied environments, and a heroine with a different, nimbler movement style. The difficulty and slower pace will be appreciated by metroidvania fans who want to take their time with exploration, searching for hidden shortcuts, and gradually uncovering Pharloom's story, rather than rushing straight to the end credits.