Games

Hollow Knight: Silksong at Gamescom — 120fps TV Mode Highlights Nintendo Switch 2 Power

23 August 2025
Nintendo Switch 2
9 min.
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Hollow Knight: Silksong at Gamescom — 120fps TV Mode Highlights Nintendo Switch 2 Power

Summary:

Hollow Knight: Silksong finally let fans go hands-on at Gamescom 2025, and the buzz is real. We saw Hornet’s lethal grace up close and noticed how much more assertive the movement and combat feel compared to the original. On Nintendo Switch 2, Silksong includes a TV Mode that supports 120Hz on compatible displays, delivering ultra-fluid responsiveness with a deliberate trade-off in resolution. That matters for precision platforming and boss reads, where extra frames help you react faster and commit with confidence. Off-screen footage from the show floor backs up those impressions, while outlets on the ground confirm the high frame-rate option and explain when you’ll actually notice it most. In handheld, the feel remains snappy and readable, with the smaller screen keeping motion crisp even at lower refresh rates. With a release date locked in and the finish line finally in sight, the Gamescom demo shows a sequel that respects everything players loved—open-ended routes, expressive movement, and an art style that never stops breathing—while tuning the pace so Hornet pushes you to be bold. Below, we break down how it plays, how the 120Hz option changes the experience, and what to expect as launch approaches.

Hollow Knight: Silksong steals the show at Gamescom 2025

There are show-floor hits, and then there are moments that swallow the hall. Silksong did the latter. Queues curled around the booth as fans watched off-screen footage and swapped strategies for the boss at the end of the slice. The demo wastes no time: Hornet sprints, vaults, and threads narrow gaps with the kind of intent that says, “you’re the hunter now.” That tone shift is felt instantly, especially if you remember the cautious cadence of Dirtmouth’s early hours. The controls snap, the screen reads cleanly even during chaotic enemy stacks, and the visual language guides you without nagging. It’s the sort of hands-on that has people walking away grinning, partly because it confirms what everyone hoped—Silksong feels right—and partly because the performance on Nintendo’s new hardware sets a high bar for fast 2D action. You can sense the confidence, both in the design and in the tech that’s driving it.

Nintendo Switch 2 hands-on proves a silky-smooth 120fps option

The headline is simple: Silksong includes a TV Mode on Switch 2 that supports 120Hz for compatible displays, prioritizing feel over pixel count. That means more visual updates per second when docked, which in practice translates to smoother animation arcs, tighter input feedback, and less motion ambiguity when you dash through dense attack patterns. It’s not just “numbers on a box”; in a twitchy Metroidvania where parry windows and air-control decide fights, the extra refresh can steady your hand. You still get the same elegant art and animation, but the motion has a liquid quality that makes long platforming chains feel natural. There’s a trade-off—resolution—so it’s a mode you choose intentionally, not a default. The key is choice: if your television supports 120Hz, you can lean into speed; if you prefer maximum sharpness, you stick with the higher-resolution path. Either way, the takeaway from the booth is that Switch 2 gives Silksong room to breathe.

What 120Hz TV Mode means for you (and when it matters)

Ask yourself what moments make you tense up in a Metroidvania. Precision hops over spike teeth? Multi-phase bosses that bait you into early commits? That’s where a high-refresh mode shines. At 120Hz, the animation between keyframes is more granular, which makes hitboxes and wind-ups easier to read. Think of it as going from a flipbook to a smoother reel—your eyes do less guessing. It doesn’t turn you into a speedrunner overnight, but it lowers the friction when learning a boss, landing pogo strings, or threading a needle mid-air. The caveat is obvious: you need a 120Hz-capable TV to benefit, and resolution drops in this mode. For players who sit close to big screens, that sacrifice is visible; for those who value feel above everything, the trade is worth it. The best advice is straightforward—try both profiles on your setup and let your eyes (and hands) decide.

Handheld feel versus docked: clarity, responsiveness, and trade-offs

In handheld, Silksong still feels snappy. The smaller screen compresses motion, which naturally reduces perceived blur and makes enemy tells easier to follow even at conventional refresh rates. Platforming lines remain readable, and the crispness of Hornet’s silhouette helps you judge distance at a glance. Docked mode, by contrast, gives you space—big vistas, far-off hooks, and more air under your jumps—but also magnifies whatever your display does well or poorly. That’s why the TV Mode choice matters: some players will gravitate to the high-refresh path for responsiveness; others will prefer the cleaner image. What’s encouraging is how consistent the input feel is across both contexts. Jumps snap, slides bite, and directional changes happen when you mean them to. If you bounced off games that feel mushy on big screens, Silksong on Switch 2 doesn’t have that problem.

Gameplay impressions: a sharper, more assertive Hornet

Hornet doesn’t shuffle; she pounces. Movement defaults to forward pressure, and encounters reward proactive decisions. If Hollow Knight taught us to survive, Silksong nudges us to dominate. The demo’s rhythm emphasizes confident spacing—dash through danger, turn, and strike with a needle flick that lands exactly where you pictured it. The heal system and resource economy push the same mindset: find your moment and take it, rather than turtling until a perfect window appears. That change in posture reshapes how rooms are read. Instead of inching toward a new enemy type, you test them fast, learn the punish, and move on. It’s the familiar structure with a different heartbeat, and it suits the sequel’s identity—Hornet is a predator in a world that won’t stop moving.

Level slices: from mossy caverns to searing foundries

The Gamescom build offered contrasting slices that underline pacing variety. One route drops you into lush green overgrowth, with layered parallax and drifting spores that make space feel alive. It’s exploratory and a little sly, with secrets tucked just off the main line. The other route turns the heat up—industrial platforms, pipes that cough steam, and hazards that force you to chain movement skills without hesitating. That pairing shows how Silksong intends to alternate breaths: wander, then sprint; search, then execute. Importantly, both slices communicate through environment design. Foreground elements frame jumps; background motion suggests where the safe pocket will be once the hazard cycles. It’s the kind of clarity that keeps your flow intact even when you’re seeing a room for the first time.

Combat flow, needles, and tools: how timing has changed

Needle reach and speed define Hornet’s personality, and the demo leans into both. Standard strings feel crisp, with just enough end-lag to make greedy inputs risky. Utility tools—traps, throws, and mobility augments—slot into that flow as punctuation rather than pauses. You’re encouraged to maintain momentum by weaving them between jumps, not stopping to set up contraptions unless the encounter demands it. Boss design mirrors this architecture: readable telegraphs, punish windows that reward discipline, and damage races that reward mastery without erasing cautious play. The upshot is a system that feels authored for expressive movement. When a hit lands, you feel responsible in the best way—your hands and the character are in sync, and every recovery is a chance to take control back.

Exploration and mobility: speed, verticality, and smart shortcuts

Traversal is where Hornet truly sings. Wall interactions, air options, and bounce opportunities create routes that look impossible until you try them. The demo sprinkles small skill checks—micro chains of inputs that fold together into a single motion—so you’re constantly learning without being lectured. Shortcuts are placed like winks: master a trick and you’ll shave seconds; miss it and you still progress, just a beat slower. This philosophy respects different skill ceilings. Speed fiends get their lines. Newcomers get readable routes. And everyone gets the dopamine hit that only a clean sequence delivers.

Audio and art: animation layers that make the world breathe

Silksong’s look isn’t just pretty; it’s functional. Layered backgrounds, animated foliage, and deliberate color separation keep the player character legible even in noisy rooms. That visual clarity is crucial when arenas fill with overlapping effects. The soundscape follows suit with crisp cues for wind-ups, impacts, and environmental hazards. You can track a dangerous enemy just by ear, and spells telegraph their payoffs with satisfying timbre shifts. High frame rates amplify this craft—more animation samples let those layers glide, so your brain spends less time interpreting and more time deciding. That’s why so many people call the motion “buttery”: the eye relaxes, and the hands can focus on execution.

Release timing and platforms: what’s officially locked in

For once, the calendar isn’t a question mark. Silksong is scheduled to launch on September 4, 2025, arriving on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. The multi-platform rollout means communities won’t be split by long gaps, and it gives players freedom to choose the screen and controller that feel best. The Gamescom demo arriving this close to release suggests polish is the priority now—last-mile tuning, performance profiles, and certification. Given how clean the show-floor build felt, expectations are justified. The important part is that the wait has a finish line, and what’s playable today lines up with what fans have imagined for years.

What this says about Switch 2’s hardware and indie performance

If you’re wondering whether Switch 2 can meaningfully change the feel of fast 2D games, Silksong provides a clear case study. The high-refresh TV Mode confirms that indies can target responsiveness without surrendering visual identity. Resolution compromises are a lever, not a defeat; when used intentionally, they let animators keep pacing and input smoothness front and center. That matters because the platform lives and dies by libraries full of expressive, performance-sensitive titles. The takeaway is optimistic: Switch 2 has room for both cinematic 3D showpieces and razor-sharp 2D action that benefits from extra frames. For players, that means more choice in how games look and feel on the couch.

What to watch next: launch day notes, patches, and TV support

Heading into release, keep an eye on a few practical details. First, check whether your TV actually supports 120Hz at the resolution the dock outputs; not every set handles every combo cleanly. Second, expect a day-one patch that tunes profiles and knocks off last-minute bugs—standard procedure for a game of this scope. Third, try both image and performance-focused modes instead of assuming one is “right.” Silksong’s art sings at higher resolution, and the 120Hz option can transform how boss practice feels; your ideal choice depends on your eyes, distance, and habits. With those boxes ticked, you’re set to enjoy what the Gamescom demo already promises: a confident, fast sequel that rewards decisive play and doesn’t waste your time.

Conclusion

Silksong doesn’t coast on legacy. It’s familiar in structure and fearless in feel, built around a protagonist who demands that we meet the world on her terms. The Switch 2 implementation respects that ethos—giving players a performance profile that amplifies control while preserving the studio’s signature look. If this is how the finished experience lands, we’re looking at a highlight of the year, the kind of release that reminds you why precise movement and clear design never go out of style.

Gamescom 2025 confirms it: Silksong is fast, focused, and built to feel great on Switch 2. The 120Hz TV Mode gives action purists a clear option, handheld play remains tight and readable, and the demo’s routes showcase a sequel confident in its own rhythm. With launch set and performance options in place, all that’s left is to choose how you’ll play—and then let Hornet do the rest.

FAQs
  • Q: Does Silksong really support 120fps on Nintendo Switch 2?
    • A: Silksong includes a TV Mode on Switch 2 that supports 120Hz on compatible displays, trading some resolution for higher frame rate. Hands-on reports from the show floor confirm the option, and off-screen footage supports those impressions.
  • Q: Is the 120Hz mode available in handheld?
    • A: The high-refresh option is tied to TV Mode for compatible displays. Handheld still feels responsive thanks to the smaller screen and tight input timing, but the explicit 120Hz support is a docked feature.
  • Q: How long was the Gamescom demo?
    • A: Attendees reported roughly 15 minutes of off-screen footage captured from the show floor, enough to highlight movement flow, combat pacing, and a boss encounter without revealing too much.
  • Q: When does Silksong release and on which platforms?
    • A: The release is scheduled for September 4, 2025, with availability on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
  • Q: Should I pick performance or resolution on Switch 2?
    • A: Try both on your setup. If you value ultra-smooth inputs and clearer motion, the 120Hz TV Mode is compelling. If you prefer sharper imagery, the higher-resolution profile may suit you better.
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