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When Team Cherry released Hollow Knight, those who played the game raved about its quality and became amazed at how it set the standard for 2D platformers and Metroidvanias. It was certainly an excellent title, so much so that fans wondered how the developer could ever top it.
Fast forward to 2025, and Hollow Knight's sequel, Silksong, ended up proving that something amazing can still be improved. Team Cherry went above and beyond with the sequel, as they understood what worked in the previous game and made the necessary improvements that many would be satisfied with.
Silksong truly lives up to being Hollow Knight's successor, and I cannot overstress how great it is. While many others and I, who've come to love it, can list many reasons why it's held in such high regard, there is one quality in particular that stands out even among all the good things about the sequel: its sound design.
Fans can rave about things like how much better Hornet feels compared to The Knight or how Pharloom is superior to Hallownest, but I think it's the way Team Cherry handled what one hears that triumphs all the other qualities of the sequel.
But why sound? What is it about that particular part of Silksong that makes the game even better than it's supposed to be and allows it to surpass the finely crafted Hollow Knight? Let's take a look!
1. It Gives Life to Silksong’s Main Protagonist
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As soon as people start playing Silksong, one of the things that will immediately be noticed, especially by veterans of the previous game, is that Hornet actually makes noise whenever she does just about anything. When compared to Hollow Knight's main protagonist, this change does so much in letting players know that the entity they're controlling is someone they should care for.
From simple grunts after performing acrobatic moves to pained screams of anguish after getting hurt by a random attack from an enemy, the sounds Hornet produces give her life, and because of that, they can generate an instinctive feeling of wanting to ensure that she doesn't lose it. That simple thing can make players connect with her deeply, establishing a relationship with the character that was never possible with The Knight, thus making Silksong a more immersive game.
2. It Makes Battles More Intense
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The boss battles of Hollow Knight, and even its regular fights, were difficult, intense, and a lot of fun, but for me, it always felt like something was missing that would have made them even better. Silksong was able to show me exactly what that was with its sound design, as the different things you can hear and how they're generated make combat more intense than ever.
For those of you who are looking for a good example, all one needs to do is look at the battle between Hornet and what would be the creature responsible for in-game fast travel, the Bell Beast. This is where I believe the sequel gives players the first taste of how much it puts more emphasis on sound, as the falling bells during the fight really catch the attention of those who hear it, and it's wonderful.
What's great is that something like that isn't limited to just Silksong's boss battles, as the sequel ensures that regular enemies point it out as well. A random threat could throw a spear or attack with a club, and you'll easily be able to feel the strength behind those attacks because of the polished sound design, which makes you take every fight more seriously.
3. It Makes Emphatic Moments Feel Even More Impactful
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Hollow Knight had many memorable moments, and they definitely did their job in leaving lasting impressions on those who have experienced them. However, I feel that those of Silksong's have way more impact, and it can all be attributed to the sequel's better sound design.
Scenarios that are meant to be grand, like when Hornet binds her Silk to learn new moves or rings any of the Old bells scattered throughout Pharloom, really feel like it and are more emphatic because of the incredible audio aspect. You can really feel the sounds reverberate when listening to them through headphones or speakers, allowing you to immerse yourself during those moments in the sequel.
If the more-than-affordable price of Silksong wasn't enough to sell you on how much more amazing it is than its predecessor, especially given the improvements it made, then all you have to do to convince yourself is to play it and listen. I can say with confidence that the way the sequel handles sound makes a huge difference in how it's enjoyed, and there's no doubt that it's a fun time from beginning to end because of how the design is executed.
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