Games

Hollow Knight: Silksong Launches Without Early Reviews — Why It Matters and How To Navigate Day One

29 August 2025
Nintendo Switch 2Nintendo Switch
10 min.
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Hollow Knight: Silksong Launches Without Early Reviews — Why It Matters and How To Navigate Day One

Summary:

Hollow Knight: Silksong finally has a date circled in ink, and the countdown is real. There’s a catch, though—there won’t be early review codes. Team Cherry told journalist Jason Schreier they don’t want critics playing before Kickstarter backers and other players, which means launch day arrives with no scored reviews waiting in the wings. That shifts how we prepare, how you prepare, and how coverage rolls out during the first hours after release. We walk through what’s confirmed, why this approach exists, and what it means in practice—platforms, timing, and smart ways to get signal without being spoiled. We also outline how we’ll handle day-one impressions, what we’ll measure, and which community indicators you can lean on while the dust settles. If you’ve waited this long for Hornet to take the stage, here’s a clear plan to enjoy that first run with confidence—no stress, no guesswork, and no fear of missing out because you didn’t have a review score to point at.

Silksong at last: where we stand heading into launch

We’ve lived through years of silence, hints, and the kind of anticipation that turns a calendar into a shrine. Now the wait is almost over. The sequel to one of the most beloved modern Metroidvanias is finally stepping out with a firm date, a fresh trailer, and a launch plan that puts everyone—critics and players—on the same starting line. That shared starting gun changes the rhythm of the days around release. Instead of reading verdicts before we play, we’ll all be on the same discovery journey at once. That means more wandering, more comparing notes, and more first-hand impressions rather than second-hand conclusions. It also means we need a smarter way to approach day one: a plan that balances curiosity with caution, keeps spoilers at bay, and helps you decide how to spend your time and money without a wall of review scores doing the thinking for you.

Release date, platforms, and what to expect on day one

The date to circle is September 4, 2025. Silksong lands across the board—with Team Cherry confirming launch for PC (Steam, GOG, Humble), Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, Xbox (including day-one Game Pass), and PlayStation 4/5. The trailer set the tone, the platform list is broad, and day one looks like a genuine all-together-now moment rather than a staggered rollout. For us, that means checking cross-platform stability and parity as fast as possible, especially on handheld hardware where refresh rate, resolution scaling, and loading times can shift the feel of a tight, timing-sensitive platformer. It also means you’ll have options for where to start, whether you want portability, achievements, or Game Pass convenience. We’ll verify install size, day-one patch details, and any platform-specific quirks as soon as the doors open.

No early reviews: what Team Cherry decided and why

Here’s the headline decision shaping launch week: there won’t be early review codes. Team Cherry told Jason Schreier they don’t plan to send pre-release keys because it would feel unfair for critics to be playing before Kickstarter backers and other players. In practice, that means you shouldn’t expect full scored reviews on September 4 itself; analysis will follow only after the public launch. The reasoning is straightforward—parity—and while it’s uncommon for a release of this scale, it’s not without precedent. We’ll treat launch day like a live event: first-hand play, transparent notes, and staged updates as we clear key milestones. For you, that means leaning on day-one impressions, spoiler-light footage, and performance checks rather than waiting for scores to trickle in.

How this changes our pre-launch expectations and planning

Usually, pre-launch is a drip of previews and technical checks that help set expectations before anyone spends a cent. Without early codes, the pre-launch phase becomes a preparation phase instead: aligning on what matters most to test first, drafting spoiler-free routes for quick verification, and setting up a clear rubric for early impressions. We’re prioritizing core feel (movement, combat elasticity, input latency), early-area performance across platforms, and basic stability like crashes, soft locks, and save security. We’ll also flag any accessibility toggles that can shape comfort—text options, vibration intensity, color contrast, and aim assists—so you don’t have to dig through menus in the heat of the moment. Think of it as tuning an instrument before a performance: the first notes you hear should be clean, confident, and helpful, even if the full composition takes a few days to play through.

The upside for players: parity, spoilers, and discovery

There’s something delightful about everyone setting foot in Pharloom at the same time. No spoilers leaking from a week-long review window. No vague “late-game twist” chatter lurking behind every timeline scroll. We all get to learn the shape of the world together, trade notes on weird corners, and swap clips without worrying we’re breaking embargo. That parity can also nudge us toward a healthier launch rhythm: play a bit, breathe, compare, then play some more. And with backers receiving their codes as launch approaches, the people who took a chance early get to enjoy that same day-one excitement right alongside everyone else, not after the conversation has moved on.

The trade-offs: accessibility, buyer risk, and trust signals

No early reviews also means fewer safety nets for cautious buyers. If you rely on a critic’s voice to filter hype, the first hours after launch can feel like stepping onto a foggy bridge—you know it’s there, but you can’t see the full span yet. The solution isn’t to rush or to wait forever; it’s to find different signals. Short, spoiler-free impressions can be powerful. Performance captures tell you what your hardware will actually deliver. Clear documentation of difficulty spikes, checkpoint spacing, and healing windows helps you predict fit. We’ll structure launch-day coverage to surface those signals quickly. In parallel, we’ll be transparent about what we haven’t tested yet so you aren’t reading tea leaves. If you’re especially sensitive to buyer’s remorse, set a 24-hour buffer: watch impressions, skim performance threads, then jump in when your comfort meter hits green.

Smart day-one strategy: how we evaluate without reviews

Let’s get practical. Start with goals: do you want to savor every inch of the map, or blitz the main route first and circle back? If it’s savor, disable notifications and social feeds for a few hours to keep temptation away. If it’s blitz, choose the platform where your muscle memory feels the snappiest; early boss timings and parry windows will punish hesitation. Next, pick your “trust triangle”: one outlet’s impressions, one creator you vibe with, and one community thread that aggregates performance reports with basic specs. That mix gives you balance without drowning you in noise. Finally, decide your spoiler boundary. For us, that’s the first region, two bosses, and the first craft/upgrade unlocks—enough to talk systems honestly without robbing anyone of surprises. Set your own line, then stick to it. Curiosity is great; regret isn’t.

What we’ll focus on in our first 48 hours with Silksong

Day zero: installation size, day-one patch notes, accessibility options, and a 60-minute feel test across platforms. Day one: the opening path, first boss, and how Hornet’s toolkit encourages aggression versus defense—dash windows, pogo punish windows, and resource recovery loops. We’ll log frame pacing on handheld and docked play, record a repeatable traversal route for apples-to-apples performance checks, and verify save integrity after crashes or hard closes (if any). Day two: expanded map exploration, two midgame builds to demonstrate divergent playstyles, and a spoiler-light look at the first major mechanical twist. Each checkpoint, we’ll publish clear timestamps and the scope of what we’ve seen so far—no coy hype, no vague gestures. Just what we tested, what we felt, and what you can reasonably expect if you follow the same steps.

Signals to watch from the community and creators

In the absence of early reviews, community signal gets louder—and sharper. Look for patterns: multiple players describing the same hitch in the same room across two platforms is signal; one viral clip of a glitch with no reproduction steps is noise. Prioritize creators who annotate their footage with inputs and context; “I died here” is less useful than “I missed the i-frame window after this tell three times; here’s how I adjusted.” When you scan performance threads, check for hardware twins—if you’re on base PS4 or a launch Switch, your experience will map closer to someone with that setup than to a maxed-out PC. And if you’re spoiler-averse, use timed check-ins: read the first post, mute the thread, return after you clear the first boss. You’ll keep the benefits of hive-mind knowledge without giving up the joy of discovery.

Our commitment to fair, transparent post-launch impressions

We’ll be playing right alongside you. That means our earliest notes will read like field reports: precise, candid, and scoped. As we push deeper, we’ll expand into system-level analysis and fuller evaluations. We won’t dress up limited playtime as definitive judgment, and we won’t bury rough edges because the vibes are good. If something stutters, we’ll say where and how often. If a boss feels overtuned for the opening skill curve, we’ll explain why and how a small tweak could smooth the landing. And when the credits roll, we’ll organize everything we’ve learned into a clear, useful verdict—rooted in hours of play, not in expectations set months ago. The goal isn’t to echo the loudest narrative; it’s to give you the kind of guidance we’d want if we were in your seat, controller in hand, ready to meet Hornet on her terms.

Why Team Cherry’s approach fits Silksong’s identity

Silksong’s predecessor earned its reputation by trusting players to get lost, to learn, and to overcome. Launching without early reviews mirrors that ethos. We all step into the unknown together and let the world teach us. It’s a little risky, sure, but it also honors the people who believed earliest—the Kickstarter backers—and invites everyone to be part of the first conversation, not the last to hear it. It puts discovery back at the center and removes the temptation to measure our excitement against a number before we’ve touched a single wall jump. In a landscape where scores can dominate the discourse in minutes, that’s a brave move—and one that could pay off in better, more personal first plays for all of us.

Platforms and parity: what we’ll verify fast

With a cross-platform launch, parity questions matter. We’ll check load times from boot to control, fast-travel transition speed, and how long it takes to recover from a death on each system. We’ll measure frame pacing in the starter area, during first-boss knockback effects, and in rooms with layered particles. If there’s a day-one patch, we’ll note whether it alters performance or input feel. On handhelds, we’ll test long sessions for thermal throttling and subtle drift impacts on precision jumps. On PC, we’ll test controller and keyboard responsiveness and verify common resolutions behave correctly in borderless full-screen. And if the experience is indistinguishable across platforms, we’ll say so—because picking where to play should be about your life, not speculation about phantom differences.

For backers: timing and what to expect

If you backed the original Hollow Knight and stuck with the journey, you’re part of the reason this sequel exists at all. As launch nears, Team Cherry has indicated that backers will receive their game codes in step with the release window. That aligns with the spirit of this no-early-reviews plan: players who helped fund the dream play in the same window as everyone else, not after verdicts have calcified. We’ll monitor backer updates closely and flag any distribution hiccups, regional timing quirks, or last-minute delivery notes so you’re not refreshing an inbox in the dark. And if everything goes smoothly, you’ll be right there with us, day one, learning the shape of Pharloom together.

How we’ll keep spoilers out of our early coverage

We’ll draw a bright line. Early footage will cover only the opening area, the first boss, and the first major upgrade or craft unlock. No late-game locations, no final-act mechanics, and no narrative beats beyond what the trailer already implies. Thumbnails will be neutral—no bosses, no unique set-pieces—and titles will signal scope clearly so you can opt in without anxiety. Written notes will front-load performance and comfort details so you get useful information before you risk seeing anything you don’t want to. And if you’re the type who wants zero exposure, we’ll include a plain-text, spoiler-free performance summary you can skim in thirty seconds. It’s your adventure; we’re just making sure you have a good map and a working compass before you set off.

Bottom line: play with confidence, buy with intention

You don’t need a score to know whether Silksong is for you—you need signal. That can be a trusted voice’s day-one notes, a ten-minute clip that shows a room you’ll actually play, or a clean performance check on your exact hardware. We’ll bring those signals fast, label them clearly, and update them as we push deeper. If the opening sings, you’ll know. If the frame pacing hiccups on a specific platform, you’ll know that too. And when the longer reads arrive, they’ll come after we’ve done the work, not before. That’s the promise: clarity, honesty, and a launch week that feels like what Hollow Knight has always been about—exploration first, mastery second, and the quiet satisfaction of overcoming challenges on your own terms.

Conclusion

Silksong’s launch without early reviews isn’t a curveball; it’s a choice that reshapes the conversation in ways that suit this series perfectly. We’ll meet Hornet together, map the unknown together, and build our understanding in real time. Our plan is simple: verify fast, explain clearly, and keep spoilers out of your way. Take a breath, pick your platform, and set your own pace. When the threads light up and the clips start rolling, you’ll have the context you need to enjoy every sting, sprint, and sky-high pogo—on your terms.

FAQs
  • Will there be scored reviews on launch day?
    • No. Team Cherry isn’t sending early review codes, so scored reviews will appear only after public release.
  • Why isn’t Team Cherry sharing early codes?
    • The studio wants parity with Kickstarter backers and other players, so critics won’t be playing ahead of the community.
  • What’s the release date and where can we play?
    • September 4, 2025, on PC (Steam/GOG/Humble), Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, Xbox (with day-one Game Pass), and PlayStation 4/5.
  • How should we decide where to buy without reviews?
    • Lean on day-one performance checks, spoiler-light impressions, and community reports from players on your exact platform.
  • Will Kickstarter backers get codes in time for launch?
    • Backer communications indicate codes are being distributed around release so supporters can play alongside everyone else.
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