I’ve kept a close eye on Hollow Knight: Silksong’s post-launch reception, and after nearly two weeks of reviews filtering in, the picture is remarkably clear. Team Cherry’s long-awaited Metroidvania sequel currently sits at a 92 on OpenCritic across 45 critic reviews, including our own Josh Robertson’s 4/5. That score is two full points higher than the original Hollow Knight and ties it with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a game many considered the frontrunner for 2025’s Game of the Year before Silksong finally emerged.



That 92 is not just a number. It places Silksong at the top of an unusually crowded year while also outperforming one of the most beloved indie breakthroughs of the last decade. I’ve seen plenty of sequels struggle under expectation, but Silksong has managed to turn years of anticipation into critical validation.

What Critics Are Saying

Our own review captured the consensus well: “Its boss fights are exhilarating and challenging, its world is a gorgeous marvel to explore, its unpredictable art design is impeccable, and everything else about it looks and sounds stunning.” Robertson’s only real criticism was that Silksong’s punishing difficulty can sometimes feel “obnoxious,” which kept it just short of a perfect five.

That difficulty conversation has become one of the most debated points of the launch. VGC handed the game a 3/5 and argued that Silksong’s challenge sometimes becomes tiring rather than exciting, with spikes that hurt overall pacing. It is an interesting split: some reviewers see those same spikes as part of the game’s identity, while others think they go too far.

Outlet
Score
Key Takeaway

TheGamer
4/5
Exhilarating boss fights, gorgeous world, occasional obnoxious difficulty

VGC
3/5
Difficulty spikes feel tiring and disrupt pacing

Screen Rant
10/10
Masterful bosses and a high skill ceiling

Eurogamer
5/5
Mean-spirited at times, but charmingly so



Screen Rant gave Silksong a 10/10 and framed its controversial difficulty as a “high skill ceiling,” praising the boss encounters as masterful. Eurogamer was similarly unmoved by the difficulty complaints, awarding a 5/5 and describing the game as mean-spirited, but charmingly so. For me, that tension is exactly why the review spread feels so healthy: Silksong is demanding enough to produce radically different experiences depending on player temperament.

A Tight Race At The Top

The race for best-reviewed game of 2025 has shifted several times. Monster Hunter Wilds, Split Fiction, and Blue Prince all led at various points earlier in the year. Now the top of the pile is messier. Silksong and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are tied at 92 on OpenCritic, which makes direct comparisons difficult because both games occupy very different design spaces.



There are also two titles with higher aggregate scores worth acknowledging. Shujinkou sits at 94, but that average comes from only seven reviews, making it statistically fragile compared with Silksong’s larger sample. Tears of the Kingdom’s Switch 2 edition also holds a 94, though I hesitate to treat that as a brand-new 2025 release. It is a port or enhanced version of a game that already made its own historic mark elsewhere.

So as 2025’s award conversations move into their final phase, Silksong has done exactly what Team Cherry needed it to do. It did not merely match the original; it exceeded its critical standing, anchored itself at the center of the difficulty debate, and forced every other major contender to share the spotlight. Whether it ultimately takes Game of the Year honors depends on how voters weigh punishing challenge against flawless execution — but from where I sit, Silksong has earned its place among the very best of the year.

For players who have been waiting on the sidelines through the Silksong review discourse, the urge to finally dive into Hallownest is understandable. But with so many other major 2025 releases also competing for attention and budget, choosing where to commit your time and money is not always easy. PC players in particular have become savvy about waiting for the right moment to pick up a game, especially when a critical darling like Silksong is still hovering near full price after launch. Keeping an eye on PC game discounts can make the decision much simpler, letting you grab several of this year's biggest contenders without blowing past your gaming budget.

That practical side of the hobby matters more as the calendar fills with heavy hitters. Even if Silksong or Clair Obscur ends up taking the top prize at year-end ceremonies, the conversation around 2025 will stay alive for months—and players will keep looking for ways to experience these games at a reasonable cost. Whether you are chasing the next high-skill boss fight or simply curating your backlog for the holidays, checking a reliable deals hub before you buy is a small move that can stretch your library much further, leaving you free to focus on what actually matters: the games themselves.

When Hollow Knight: Silksong finally arrived on September 4, 2025, it was more than just the end of a six-year wait. The long-anticipated sequel to Team Cherry's beloved indie hit launched with record-breaking player counts, crashed digital storefronts, and even pushed the original Hollow Knight to a new all-time high on Steam. But amid the chaos of millions of players diving into the Kingdom of Pharloom, one particular boss encounter carried a story far deeper than any health bar could suggest.



The boss in question is Seth, a Shrine Guardian who can be found in a secret area of the Grand Gate. His design feels both charming and fierce: an ant-like figure clutching a pin as a weapon and carrying a circular shield that was meant to be a coin by his creator. That shield serves double duty in battle—it blocks Hornet's attacks and then spins toward her with surprising speed. After the fight, Seth reappears in Shellwood, a calmer presence within a world full of threats.

So why does this particular enemy stand out? Because Seth was not born from Team Cherry's design studios. He was the creation of a fan named Seth Goldman, known online as big_boi878 on Reddit. Back in 2019, Goldman was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. His wish was simple but profound: to meet the developers behind Hollow Knight, the game he loved. Team Cherry granted that wish and went a step further—they allowed him to design a character for the upcoming sequel. Goldman provided a drawing, and fittingly, he named the NPC after himself.



The developers promised Seth a code so he could play Silksong on day one. Tragically, he passed away shortly after creating the character, never getting to see the final game. Instead, his legacy lives on in two ways: first, through the boss that bears his name and likeness, and second, through a special mention in the game's end credits. It is a quiet tribute, but one that has resonated deeply with the community.

However, encountering Seth is no easy feat—and defeating him is even harder. Many players have discovered that Hollow Knight: Silksong is significantly more difficult than its predecessor. The changes are subtle when considered individually, but together they create a brutal experience.

Consider the following challenges players have reported:

? Boss runs are longer and more punishing, forcing repeated treks through dangerous areas.

⚔️ Enemies hit harder, meaning a single mistake can erase large chunks of health.

? The healing mechanic has been altered, leaving less room for error.

?️ Platforming with Hornet feels trickier than ever, with tighter timing and more complex layouts.

These combined elements mean that even mini bosses can feel like walls. For some players, the difficulty shift became so frustrating that they turned to mods within days of release.



The modding community responded quickly. Within a short time, players had created tools to ease the pain. One popular mod causes Hornet to respawn on the current screen rather than at a distant bench, cutting down on repetitive backtracking. Another reduces the amount of damage enemies inflict, making the journey slightly less punishing. There is also a mod that increases Hornet's damage output for players who prefer a power fantasy. Of course, for those who found the base game too easy—a brave claim—there are mods to make things even tougher.

Some purists argue that modding waters down the intended Hollow Knight experience. They believe the struggle is part of the art, that Team Cherry designed the difficulty deliberately. And they are not wrong. Yet for others, the story of Seth reminds us why accessibility matters. A player may not have infinite time or reflexes. They may simply want to explore Pharloom, meet its strange inhabitants, and uncover every hidden corner. Mods offer a bridge to that experience.

In retrospect, the launch of Hollow Knight: Silksong was a landmark moment for gaming. It broke records, sparked conversations about difficulty, and showcased a passionate fanbase. But beneath the hype lies a quieter truth: games are made of more than code and art. They are made of people—developers, players, and sometimes a young fan whose final gift was a tiny ant warrior with a coin for a shield.

And now, years later, players who discover Seth in the Grand Gate will know that every swing of that spinning shield carries a story of hope, loss, and remembrance. It is a boss fight that transcends mechanics. It is a memorial hidden in plain sight.

That is the true power of Hollow Knight: Silksong—not just its unforgiving combat or its beautiful world, but its ability to weave heartfelt human stories into the fabric of a bug kingdom.

Stories like Seth's are exactly why so many players are drawn to games like Hollow Knight: Silksong in the first place. They remind us that video games can be more than just challenges to overcome—they can be emotional journeys that stay with us long after we put down the controller. And with so many incredible titles out there, each carrying its own hidden stories and meaningful moments, it is no wonder players are always on the lookout for the best game deals to expand their libraries without breaking the bank.

Whether you are a veteran hunter of every boss or a newcomer who simply wants to wander through Pharloom and take in the sights, there has never been a better time to explore the medium's most heartfelt creations. Platforms like DealNest track price drops across major stores, helping players discover their next unforgettable adventure at a price that feels just right. Because in the end, every great story deserves to be played.

I've been deep in Pharloom since the 2026 release, and after multiple clean saves I've now seen every unique finale Hollow Knight: Silksong has to offer. Team Cherry kept the original's habit: one default ending you'll find naturally, plus several alternatives that demand real detours. The payoff is worth it, because each route has its own fully animated cutscene showing the consequences of your choices.

For my own checklist, I count five endings, not three, because some special scenes can chain together on one file while others are mutually exclusive. From my runs, I could see Weaver Queen, Snared Silk, and Sister of the Void on a single save, while Twisted Child required a deliberately cursed Act 2 run. Passing of the Age is a bonus coda that plays after the true ending.



How the endings fit together

Ending
Type
Notes

Weaver Queen
Default ending
Can be seen in a normal playthrough if conditions are not met

Twisted Child
Cursed Act 2 ending
Mutually exclusive once you move into Act 3

Snared Silk
Void entrapment
Credits roll, then leads to the next ending

Sister of the Void
True ending
Follows Snared Silk

Passing of the Age
Mushroom coda
Not exclusive, adds a new final scene

Weaver Queen: the default finale

This is the ending most players will stumble into. I reached it by completing the main quests, reaching the Cradle at the peak of the Citadel, and avoiding the conditions for Twisted Child or Snared Silk. The minimum kit for the route is the dash, wall jump, and Needolin.

You can enter the Citadel either by ringing the bells and killing the Last Judge, or by taking the back path through the Mist and defeating Phantom. After that, I fought the Cogwork Dancers, collected the three song parts from the Cogwork Core, the Vault, and the High Halls, pushed past Lace on the ascent, and finally brought down Grand Mother Silk. In this ending, Hornet binds with Grand Mother Silk, absorbs her power, and becomes the Weaver Queen of Pharloom. It felt like an introductory ending, not the full stop.



Twisted Child: the cursed run I planned from the start

For this one I intentionally kept the Twisted Bud instead of taking it to the surgeon. That meant heading to the Cradle while still cursed and fighting the final boss with no tools, no silk abilities, and no healing. To me, the fight didn't become unbearably hard, but it did force a more focused style.

The big caveat is the lockout. If you start the Rite of Rebirth and move into the next act, you miss this ending. So if you want everything on one character, I recommend holding off on that quest until you are ready to finish the game. After the fight, Hornet cannot bind Grand Mother Silk. The Twisted Child erupts from her instead, and the cutscene suggests it takes over Hornet, Grand Mother Silk, and possibly the whole kingdom.



Snared Silk: not quite an ending, but it still rolls credits

I count this one because the credits do roll after its cutscene. Instead of rushing into the Grand Mother Silk fight, I did every quest on every quest board in all three towns, including donation quests. I also grabbed the Faydown Cloak, assembled the Cogheart and gave it to the Second Sentinel, and finished the world side objectives.

The most demanding part was finding the Putrified Ducts, reaching the lake inside, and relocating almost every flea. After that, the strange guy at the chapel in Songclave gave me a mission. I traveled around the kingdom, spoke with his siblings, trudged through Bilewater, and grabbed a tool from Weavenest Atla. At the end of the Grand Mother Silk fight, I played my Needolin. That entrapped both Grand Mother Silk and Lace in the void, and the scene rolled into the next route.



Sister of the Void: the true ending

After Snared Silk, I broke the void-soaked threads binding the save file, reopened it, and found the world ruined. The Snail Shamans at the ruined chapel in Moss Grotto sent me after three dream bosses: one at the Coral Tower, one near the Grand Gate, and one in the Far Fields. If you want an easier route, you can collect a heart from the Green Prince at the right edge of Greymoor instead.

With three hearts in hand, I returned to the Snail Shamans, played through an excellent retelling of Hornet's backstory, and claimed the Everbloom. Hornet then took it into the Abyss, dived in, and fought one last duel against a void-soaked Lace. This route feels like the true ending, and the final cutscene includes an appearance from a certain character that made the whole run feel complete.



Passing of the Age: the Mister Mushroom coda

This one is not mutually exclusive with the previous ending, so I added it to the same file. I started in the lake where the Fleas had taken residence and found a hole in the ceiling near the highest rocks. A super jump and a Needolin tune let me speak with Mister Mushroom.

He then visited a set of locations in order: Moss Grotto, Bone Bottom, Far Fields, Greymoor, The Slab, the peak of Mount Fay, and finally a newly unlocked room at the very top of The Cradle. After some genuinely scary platforming, I spoke to the mushroom man one last time, then fought Lost Lace again. After the normal ending, Mister Mushroom takes off with another "To Be Continued," just like the original Hollow Knight.



If you want the full 2026 completion route, I would do this: normal playthrough for Weaver Queen, back up your save, then do a dedicated cursed run for Twisted Child, and finally a completionist run through Snared Silk into Sister of the Void while stacking Passing of the Age. It takes time, but seeing all five cutscenes in Silksong is one of the best reasons to explore every corner of Pharloom.

The full completion run is a serious time investment, but it is also the kind of experience that makes Hollow Knight: Silksong worth every hour you put into it. Between the boss gauntlets, hidden dream fights, and those Mister Mushroom platforming sections, there are moments that will stick with you long after the credits roll. If you have not picked up the game yet or you want to gift a copy to a friend so they can finally understand why Hornet is such a beloved protagonist, it is smart to check a game price comparison before you buy. Prices fluctuate across storefronts and regions, so a quick look can easily save you enough for a nice DLC or a fresh keycap set.

For anyone planning their own five-ending run, the main thing to remember is that Pharloom rewards patience and curiosity. Whether you are chasing the void-soaked true ending or just want the whimsical mushroom farewell, every route adds a layer to the story that makes the world feel alive. And once you have seen everything the game has to offer, you can always revisit your favorite areas or wait for the next content drop without worrying about having overpaid for the journey in the first place.

In September 2025, the long-awaited release of Hollow Knight: Silksong sent shockwaves through the gaming industry, igniting celebration among fans while simultaneously stirring frustration among some independent developers. The creative director of the action-adventure title Hell is Us, Jonathan Jacques-Belletête, publicly expressed mixed feelings about Team Cherry's decision to shadow drop the sequel, calling it both a monumental indie event and a somewhat callous move for smaller studios. His comments, made during an episode of the Friends Per Second podcast, highlighted the complex dynamics of a release calendar dominated by one of the most anticipated indie games in modern history.



The journey toward Hollow Knight: Silksong's arrival had been a test of patience for fans. For years, Team Cherry remained largely silent, with sporadic updates fueling both hope and anxiety. Rumors began intensifying in early 2025, and on August 21, the studio finally confirmed a September 4 release date. The announcement was met with euphoria from the Hollow Knight community, as players who had awaited the sequel since its original 2019 announcement finally saw a concrete date on the horizon. The sudden announcement, coming only two weeks before launch, exemplified the modern trend of surprise reveals and immediate availability.

However, not everyone in the industry welcomed the timing. The release date placed Silksong directly in the path of several other independent projects. Games such as Baby Steps, Little Witch in the Woods, Demonschool, and Faeland were among those that shifted their own launches to avoid being overshadowed. For Hell is Us, which shared its original release date with Silksong, the decision was more complicated. Jacques-Belletête explained that although the situation felt harsh—jokingly referring to Silksong as "the GTA 6 of indie"—his team decided to stand firm. He acknowledged that while Hell is Us was large enough to weather the storm, smaller studios would have been disproportionately affected.



The numbers behind Silksong's debut were staggering. Within its first three days, the game attracted over five million players across all platforms. On Steam alone, it reached a concurrent player peak of more than 587,000 users within hours and maintained a steady baseline of around 286,000 concurrent players during its opening weeks. Such figures placed Silksong among the most successful indie launches of the decade. Despite this commercial triumph, the title was not without controversy. A review bombing campaign emerged, primarily driven by complaints about the game's Chinese localization, which many players considered subpar. Team Cherry later addressed the translation issues, but the incident underscored the global expectations faced by high-profile indie releases.



Hell is Us ultimately forged its own success path. The game's blend of exploration, intricate dungeons, atmospheric world-building, and addictive gameplay earned praise from both critics and players. Many reviewers highlighted its unique narrative structure and haunting horror vibes, which made it a particularly fitting release for the approaching Halloween season. The parallel trajectories of the two titles demonstrated that even in the shadow of a blockbuster indie release, a well-crafted game could still find its audience. By the end of 2025, the conversation had shifted from initial fears of overshadowing to a broader discussion about the health of the indie ecosystem and the increasing importance of strategic release timing.



Looking back from 2026, the September 2025 release of Hollow Knight: Silksong stands as a defining moment for independent gaming. It illustrated both the immense drawing power of a beloved franchise and the fragility of smaller studios navigating an increasingly crowded market. Jacques-Belletête's candid remarks resonated with many developers, prompting renewed conversations about release transparency and collaboration within the indie scene. Meanwhile, both Silksong and Hell is Us continued to thrive, with ongoing updates and community engagement keeping them relevant well into the new year. The shadow drop may have been a shock to the system, but its long-term effects ultimately underscored the resilience and diversity of the independent game development landscape.

For players inspired by the success stories of 2025's standout releases, the current gaming landscape offers more opportunities than ever to explore titles like these. With the industry continuing to expand and new projects constantly emerging, finding the right time to dive into a game can be just as important as knowing which ones are worth playing in the first place. Whether you are revisiting a classic or jumping into a brand-new adventure, staying informed about pricing trends and seasonal discounts has become an essential part of planning your next gaming experience.

That is where smart shopping tools come into play. Dedicated platforms have made it easier for fans to track price drops across multiple stores and wait for the perfect moment to purchase a title they have had their eye on. For those eager to expand their libraries without overspending, checking the best game deals at DealNest can provide a straightforward way to discover offers across popular releases and hidden indie gems alike, ensuring the next great adventure fits comfortably within any budget.

Silk is the high-octane bug juice that keeps Hornet alive in Hollow Knight: Silksong. She burns it to heal, and she also burns it to pull off some seriously flashy offensive moves. The usual way to refill the meter is to land hits, which is great for aggressive players who treat every room like a boxing ring. But for anyone who prefers a little passive income, the three Silk Hearts are the real prize. These things quietly restore a portion of the Silk meter without asking for much in return. A player can grab two of them by simply playing well and clobbering major bosses, but the third one? Oh no, one of them is a proper sneaky little needle in a very large haystack. This guide covers every Silk Heart location in Silksong, including the boss fights, the keys, the weird locks, and the Regenerated trophy that comes from collecting all three.

Silk Heart
Boss
Location
Act
Missable?
Extra Reward

First
Bell Beast
The Marrow
Act One
No
Bellway fast travel

Second
The Unravelled
Whiteward, Citadel
Act Two
Yes
Sneaky bragging rights

Third
Lace
The Cradle
Act Two finale
No
Regenerated trophy

1. First Silk Heart: Bell Beast in The Marrow

The first Silk Heart is a nice warm-up. Early in Act One, players roll into The Marrow and find the Bell Beast wrapped up like a leftover burrito in webbing. At first, the poor thing looks more like set dressing than a boss. But after Hornet grabs the Silkspear ability, she can cut the beast loose, and then the real fight begins. The Bell Beast is not the cruelest fight in the game, but it can absolutely punish a player who treats it like a tutorial pushover. Once the beast goes down, the first Silk Heart will be floating right over its body. The key here is not to fast travel away in a post-victory daze. Snag that heart. On top of that, beating this boss also unlocks the Bellway fast travel system, which is basically a quality-of-life gift from the developers.

2. Second Silk Heart: The Unravelled in Whiteward

If completionist anxiety had a mascot, it would be this heart. While the first Silk Heart practically hands itself over, the second one apparently took lessons from a hide-and-seek champion. It is hidden in the Citadel during Act Two, and a player can completely walk past it if they are not poking their antennae into every corner. The target is the Unravelled boss in the Whiteward area. To get there, players first need to pass through the Coral Chambers and track down a white key. That key opens a lift with a lock bearing a surgical symbol, which is the game's subtle way of saying \u201cabandon all comfy vibes.\u201d

After riding into Whiteward, the hunt continues. There is a Surgical Key needed to open an ornate lock mechanism, because one ominous medical lock simply was not enough. Once inside the crypt, things get spicy. A gang of enemies jumps out, and then the Unravelled boss crashes the party. This fight can be a genuine head-scratcher, especially for players who like to brute-force bosses without learning patterns. When the Unravelled finally falls, the second Silk Heart will be floating in the air like a smug little prize. Players should grab it immediately, because second chances are not exactly on the menu.

3. Third Silk Heart: Lace at the Cradle

The final Silk Heart shows up during the Act Two finale, and it is tied to Hornet's most stylish rival: Lace. To reach this showdown, players have to learn three melodies. Think of them as the world's creepiest elevator music:

The Melody of Conductor

The Melody of Architect

The Melody of Vaultkeeper

Once all three tunes are learned, the lift unlocks and the player can enter the Cradle. That is where Lace is waiting, probably sharpening her needle and practicing dramatic entrances. Lace is fast, elegant, and more than happy to remind a careless player that standing still is a death sentence. After she is defeated, the third Silk Heart appears, and a player can finally complete the collection.

All Three Silk Hearts? Trophy Time

Collecting all three Silk Hearts causes the Regenerated trophy to pop like a champagne cork. These hearts are not just shiny collectibles; they make Hornet's Silk management a little more forgiving over a long run. The second heart is the main reason some players miss the Regenerated trophy, so anyone aiming for full completion should double-check Whiteward before moving on. As of 2026, the Silksong community has these three locations thoroughly mapped, but that second heart still catches plenty of overconfident players sleeping.

Silk Hearts are one of those small upgrades that feel minor on paper but make a huge difference in practice. A player who picks up all three will have a much smoother time in later sections, especially when healing windows are tight. So the next time someone asks why their Silk meter keeps refilling on its own, they can point to these three little treasures and say, \u201cThat\u2019s the good stuff.\u201d

For players who want to chase down every last boss and secret in Silksong, being patient with the grind is only half the battle. Managing time and knowing where to look is what separates a casual explorer from a true completionist. And for those who like to stock up on new adventures after finishing their Silk Heart hunt, keeping an eye on the best game deals today is a smart way to keep the momentum going without emptying the wallet.

Hornet's journey may end once those three hearts are in hand, but the broader world of action-platformers is full of similar challenges waiting to be conquered. Whether it is a fresh indie gem or a polished AAA title, grabbing a solid discount at the right moment can turn a casual evening into another unforgettable playthrough. After all, the hunt for rewards does not have to stop at the Cradle.

Here in 2026, I still remember the collective whiplash on August 21, 2025, when Team Cherry finally pulled back the curtain on Hollow Knight: Silksong. The announcement of a September 4, 2025 release date hit like a well-placed nail bounce in Greenpath. After years of memes, speculation, and near-total radio silence, giving the indie world just a couple of weeks’ notice felt less like a victory lap and more like a jump scare. I’ve been covering games long enough to know that timing is everything, and Silksong’s near shadow drop blew up the calendar for plenty of smaller studios.



The collateral damage was real. As of August 2025, at least seven indie titles shifted their launch plans to steer clear of Silksong. I’m not talking about tiny, under-the-radar projects either. The list included Aeterna Lucis, Baby Steps, CloverPit, Demonschool, Faeland, Little Witch in the Woods, and Megabonk. Some of those games had been in the “when it’s done” oven for years, and suddenly their teams had to decide whether to share oxygen with the most anticipated Metroidvania sequel since, well, Hollow Knight itself.

? Delayed Game
? Reaction

Aeterna Lucis
Avoided Silksong launch window

Baby Steps
Avoided Silksong launch window

CloverPit
Avoided Silksong launch window

Demonschool
Avoided Silksong launch window

Faeland
Avoided Silksong launch window

Little Witch in the Woods
Avoided Silksong launch window

Megabonk
Avoided Silksong launch window

Hell Is Us Director Calls the Surprise Date “A Little Callous”

Jonathan Jacques-Belletête is no stranger to high-pressure projects. Before serving as creative director on Hell Is Us, he worked on Guardians of the Galaxy, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, and Deus Ex: Human Revolution. His first solo project was critically praised in our review: “Hell Is Us is a rare gem that we don’t normally see in the gaming industry. It’s more than a game that simply “doesn’t have waypoints or quest markers.” Instead, it’s an engaging experience that truly trusts the player’s intelligence, curiosity, and active listening skills.”

But the buzz didn’t quite match the reception. Speaking on the Friends Per Second podcast, Jacques-Belletête admitted he believes Silksong absolutely affected Hell Is Us’ performance, even if he can’t prove it with hard numbers. That’s not sour grapes; it’s just the reality of a packed year. Borderlands 4 was breathing down everyone’s neck, and the summer had already been swallowed by Nintendo Switch 2, a new Mario Kart, and a fantastic 3D Donkey Kong platformer.



Still, the way Team Cherry dropped the date got under his skin. “As the ‘GTA 6 of indie’… to shadow drop something like this is a little callous,” he said. And honestly, I get it. In the same way major publishers tiptoe around Grand Theft Auto 6, Silksong is the indie equivalent of a cultural black hole. Attention is finite. We saw this with The Dark Knight in 2008—when the only movie brave enough to open alongside it was Space Chimps. The Barbenheimer schedule clash worked out, but that’s the exception, not the rule.

The moment the Silksong date hit, Jacques-Belletête and his team went into scramble mode. He described it bluntly: “We all jumped on our phones really quickly with our publisher and all sorts of things like that...a lot of emails and texts and messages back and forth between a lot of people, between us and our publisher. It was a real thing.” That image of tiny teams firing off messages while Hollow Knight fans celebrated is the indie games industry in a nutshell.

Looking back from 2026, I don’t think this is about whether Silksong deserved its moment. It did. But for smaller studios, a two-week notice from a giant can feel like being asked to politely move out of the way. The lesson for me is simple: surprise drops are thrilling for players, but they can be brutal for developers who don’t have a marketing budget big enough to shout over the noise.

For players, the flip side of a crowded release calendar is that it's harder than ever to catch everything at launch. Between surprise drops, packed summers, and tight budgets, waiting for the right moment to pick up a game has become just as important as knowing which ones to play. That's especially true for indie titles like Hell Is Us, which can easily slip under the radar before a player's backlog clears up.

That's why many gamers now track the best game deals before committing their wallet — giving smaller releases a second chance to shine when the spotlight finally moves on. A little patience, a saved search, and a timely discount can turn a game you almost missed into your next favorite experience.

Let me paint you a picture: back in Hollow Knight, Hornet was the boss who made me hurl my controller across the room in Greenpath and later in Kingdom's Edge. Now, in Silksong, I finally get to play as her. But the universe has a twisted sense of humor, because Lace has arrived to fill the vacant role of 'nightmare that lives in my head rent-free.' If you have already fought Lace once in Deep Docks and thought that was the end of it, surprise! She is back for round two near The Cradle, and she has not come to cuddle. I was on my way to confront Big Momma Silk when Lace jumped me for the second time, and honestly, I was not emotionally prepared.



This guide is written from the perspective of an ordinary player—me—who got absolutely shredded by Lace 2 the first few tries. I will walk you through where to find her, what to equip, and how to survive all three phases without losing your mind.

Where This Rematch Happens

I will not lie to you: getting to Lace's second fight is a mini-quest in itself. You will need to collect the threefold melodies required to operate the elevator near Cogwork Core. That means:

Clearing Whispering Vaults, which includes finding a secret sound cylinder for one very particular NPC.

Surviving High Halls, home to one of the deadliest battle arenas in Silksong.

Getting through Cogwork Core, a platforming and puzzle combo that will test your patience.

Once you have all three melodies, return to the elevator, play the tunes, and ride it up. Fair warning: the moment you step out of that elevator, the fight starts. No dramatic cutscene to catch your breath. Lace is just there, ready to ruin your day.

Preparing for Round Two (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Cogfly)

Before I talk strategy, let us talk gear. Honestly, there is no single must-have item for this fight, but after my own trial and error, I found a combination that kept me alive long enough to actually enjoy the choreography.



Here is what I ran with:

Tool / Crest
Why It Matters

Cogfly
Your tiny mechanical buddies do consistent damage in phase three and help end the fight before Lace's nastiest attacks can stack up.

Silkspeed Anklets
This fight is all about hit-and-run. The extra speed lets you dart in, poke, and sprint to the other side of the arena before Lace can punish you.

Barbed Bracelet
Only use if you are extremely confident in phases one and two. It can shorten the fight, but if you are sloppy, it will cost you.

The core idea is to stay mobile. Standing still against Lace is basically asking her to turn you into a pincushion. Keep moving, keep poking, and let the Cogfly do a chunk of the heavy lifting when things get chaotic.

How To Beat Lace 2

Phase One: The Needle Dance

The first phase is all about reading Lace's quick stabs and closing the distance before retreating. Her main attack is a steady string of stabs that she uses to chase you down. My advice? Sprint away, and when you are out of room, pogo off her head to escape.

She also has a jump-and-diagonal lunge. Watch where she is going to land, jump above the impact point, and pogo on her after she touches down. Her thrust attack is even nastier: she slides across nearly the entire arena in one motion. The trick is to wait for her to commit, leap up, pogo on her head, and then haul yourself to the opposite side.

One more thing that caught me off guard: her parry. If you hear the clink of her blocking your attack, run. Fast. She will immediately launch into a flurry that can drain two masks if you are too close. Treat that sound as your early warning system.

Phase Two: Bubbles of Doom

After you stun Lace for the first time, she decides to get a little more creative. Her jump attack now leaves behind three light bubbles that deal damage if you touch them. Instead of trying to dodge around them, I found it more consistent to dash under her jump and hit her from behind—there is a small safe pocket between the bubbles if you time it right.

Beyond the bubbles, phase two is mostly the same as phase one. Keep chipping away at her health, avoid the new AOE trick, and you will eventually stun her again. That is when the real chaos begins.

Phase Three: Thread Storm Nightmare

Phase three is easily the worst. Lace takes flight and marks out a huge circle covering much of the arena, then unleashes a flurry of attacks that looks a lot like your own Thread Storm ability. The saving grace? It is very well telegraphed. Whenever you see that large glowing circle with white light fizzing in the center, dash away as fast as you can.

This is also the moment I started spamming my Cogfly minions like there was no tomorrow. They deal solid damage and can shorten this terrifying phase so you do not have to survive her barrage any longer than necessary. If you can stay calm, keep moving, and let your little mechanical helpers chip away at her, you will finally put Lace down for good.

Rewards (Or the Lack Thereof)



After all that effort, you might expect a shiny new crest or a pile of currency. Nope. Lace 2 gives you no tangible reward. Instead, she unlocks access to The Cradle, the game's final gauntlet between you and the credits. So in a way, the reward is more pain. But hey, that is Silksong for you.

Look, I am not going to pretend this fight is easy. But once you understand the rhythm—poke, retreat, pogo, dash—and you save your Cogfly spam for phase three, Lace 2 becomes less of a wall and more of a very sharp, very angry dance partner. Just remember to breathe, keep those Silkspeed Anklets on, and do not let the bubbles pop your morale. You have got this.

Regardless of how many attempts it takes, that moment when Lace finally crumples is well worth every death. Once you push through The Cradle and roll credits, you may find yourself craving another challenge that tests your reflexes and patience just as fiercely. If you are looking to expand your collection without emptying your wallet in the process, checking out the best game deals curated by DealNest is a great way to stumble upon your next obsession for a fraction of the price.

And who knows—maybe a discounted gem will introduce you to a new favorite that gives you that same addictive blend of triumph and despair. Either way, you have more than earned a break. Go play something that lets you be the one dealing two-mask damage for a change.

When I first dropped into the hidden corridor below Grand Gate in Hollow Knight: Silksong, I expected another silent guardian to throw itself at Hornet. Instead, Shrine Guardian Seth stopped, looked at me, and spoke. That small gesture changed everything. In 2026, after all the waiting and speculation, his boss fight still feels less like a duel and more like a conversation. The music is unusually slow and a little sad, which makes sense once you know the story. Seth was designed with and named after Hollow Knight fan Seth Goldman during his cancer treatment, thanks to the Marty Lyons Foundation and Team Cherry. I’m not going to lie, I put the controller down for a moment before the fight began.

It hit different.



Finding the Hidden Path to Seth

I had to climb the Grand Gate elevator shaft, hug the left wall near the top, and smash a breakable panel. The path beyond demanded a few careful pogo jumps over gaps. It felt like the game was asking me to slow down. Seth wasn’t guarding a main route; he was waiting at the end of a quiet detour.



Preparing for a Fair Fight

I’ll be honest—I overprepared for this one. In the end, my usual Crest worked fine. Seth seems to want a clean, evenly matched exchange. Ranged tools and area attacks can sneak in extra damage, but they aren’t required. Comfort mattered more than optimization.

Seth’s Moveset and How I Learned to Punish Him

Seth fights in two phases with a needle and a cymbal shield. In phase one, he signals much of what he does, and the real battle is patience. His shield isn’t just gear; it feels like a partner with its own rhythm, humming whenever it lands.

Attack
Tell
My Response

Three-hit melee lunge
Jumps backward before starting
Back away, then strike once or twice after the combo ends

Ground shield toss
Hurls shield across the arena, then dashes to catch it
Jump over the shield, run to the end of its arc, and hit him during recovery

Aerial shield throw
Leaps and throws the shield diagonally
Let the shield hit the ground, run beneath it, and attack when he lands

Downward dive
Dives from the air on a diagonal
Avoid it, then keep away from the golden shockwave after he lands

No joke, that shockwave caught me more times than the dive itself. After landing, Seth usually followed it with a lunge, so I learned to stay patient instead of forcing a hit.

In phase two, Seth chains multiple dive attacks before a final lunge. The same rule applies: avoid the golden shockwaves, keep him in sight, and wait for recovery. I prioritized front or back hits because his shield made aerial approaches feel sloppy.



Rewards, Rivalry, and a Song

Beating him opened a way to Shellwood Shrine and gave me the Shellwood Shrine Key plus 200 Rosaries. But the bigger reward was that Seth survived. He lost his Shrine Guardian status and became a wandering NPC. During Act Three, I found him in Greymoor, Shellwood, Grand Gate, and Fleatopia. Each meeting gave him a little more peace. In Fleatopia, he bragged—politely, I think—about setting high scores in all the flea mini-games. When I beat those scores, I earned the Guardian’s Memento, a spiny medallion that now hangs in Bellhome.



The final touch? If I played my Needolin in front of Seth after Fleatopia, he sang along. The melody wasn’t flashy; it was an ode to perseverance and courage. That moment turned a cameo into a tribute. Maybe that’s why the boss music always felt like a memory rather than a threat.

That quiet tribute stuck with me long after I put the game down. Silksong rewards that kind of patience—the willingness to learn a boss’s rhythm, adapt, and eventually turn a struggle into something close to harmony. It’s a feeling I chase in other games too, and it’s part of why I keep an eye on what’s coming next to Steam. Between the recent Hollow Knight-inspired metroidvanias and bigger indie showcases, there’s always another arena to learn and another melody to uncover.

But with so many releases dropping each week, the price tags add up fast. That’s where I’ve found the steam deal finder at DealNest genuinely useful—it lets me wishlist everything that catches my eye and then jump in when the discounts line up. That way, the next song I’m humming doesn’t have to come with a full-price sting, and I can spend more time mastering the next boss instead of second-guessing a purchase.

Nobody picks up a wailing, vine-covered baby for fun—except the most stubborn completionists in Hollow Knight: Silksong. The Rite of Rebirth sounds like a noble wish, but it quickly turns into a multi-zone scavenger hunt that strips Hornet of her healing, her tools, and her patience. Here is how Hornet can survive the ordeal without losing her mind.

Finding the Twisted Bud

The Twisted Bud sits in a cradle on the outskirts of Bilewater, hidden behind tiny passageways. To reach it, Hornet needs the grappling hook from the Whispering Vaults in The Citadel. From there, she should head east, pull down a hook, dodge a series of very rude gears, and drop into Bilewater. After progressing a little east, she must look for a hidden path on the left near the bottom. Small side paths eventually lead up and to the right, where the cradle waits.

The real problem starts after pickup. The Twisted Bud is described as consorted mass of ashen vine. Cries out incessantly. Opening the inventory becomes psychological warfare, because the bud screams every single time.

Greyroot’s “Help” Is a Trap

After grabbing the bud, Hornet heads to Greyroot. Players who completed the Rite of Pollip will gain access to the Rite of Rebirth. It sounds like a wholesome delivery. It is not.

Greyroot accepts the Twisted Bud, grabs Hornet, infects her with a parasite, and drops her at the Chapel of the Witch in Shellwood. So much for maternal warmth. The infection imposes three miserable restrictions:

? Cannot change Crests

?️ Cannot equip tools

❤️? Cannot Bind or heal

That final restriction hurts most. Every skirmish turns into a no-hit challenge. There is one upside: finishing the game while infected opens a different ending. Most first-time players, however, will want the parasite gone before the controller goes through a window.

Curing the Infection

The easiest lead comes from the Bell Hermit in Bellhart. He tells Hornet to seek an exiled bug named Yarnaby, who has moved “high up into the moors.”

Yarnaby lives in the northwest of Greymoor. Hornet must climb the towers, push all the way west, and eventually reach a small home belonging to a rather rude individual: Yarnaby. After Hornet explains the illness, Yarnaby agrees to help, but only in exchange for a specific item: Steel Spines.

Yarnaby’s directions are deliberately vague—“a tangled mess of cages.” Players who have visited Sinner’s Road will recognise the cages in the central section. At the top right of that area, two bugs named Benjin and Crull wait. They will sell the Steel Spines for 260 Rosaries.

Item
Cost
Location

Steel Spines
260 Rosaries
Benjin & Crull, Sinner’s Road central cages

Return to Yarnaby with the Steel Spines, and she will rip the parasite out of Hornet with zero bedside manner. The reward is the Witch crest, plus the return of healing and tools. The Twisted Bud’s crying finally stops.

Final Tips for the Rite of Rebirth

? Save 260 Rosaries before visiting Benjin and Crull.

? Avoid opening the inventory while carrying the cursed bud.

? Explore Sinner’s Road early to mark the cage location.

? If attempting the infected ending, do it on a second run, not the first.

The Rite of Rebirth is less about rebirth and more about being repeatedly inconvenienced across Pharloom. But the story, the Witch crest, and the sweet sound of silence after the parasite is removed make it one of Silksong’s most memorable detours.

Once the parasite is gone and the Witch crest is equipped, the rest of Silksong opens up at your own pace. For many players, finishing this quest is also a signal to revisit other parts of Pharloom — or to start hunting for similar action-platformers with the same rich atmosphere. Whether you're picking up a physical copy of Silksong, investing in a new controller, or eyeing expansion packs, every Rosary saved at Benjin and Crull reminds us that frugality pays off.

That same mindset carries over into real-world gaming purchases. Before committing to a full-price order, it's worth checking whether a better offer is hiding nearby — just like a secret room in Greymoor. DealNest regularly rounds up discounts, promo codes, and bundles across the gaming and tech space, so you can spend less time hunting for bargains and more time actually playing. A little patience rewards exploration in Hallownest, and it can do the same for your wallet.

When I set out to collect all 20 Memory Lockets in Hollow Knight: Silksong, I thought it would be a short side errand. A few hours later, I was deep in hidden alcoves, breaking cocoons in Bilewater and juggling Rosaries at three different vendors. Memory Lockets are the key to expanding Crests, which lets Hornet equip more Tools on each Crest. Since maximizing her loadout can completely change how a fight plays out, I knew I had to find every single one.

First, let me mention the gear and unlocks I needed. The hunt is much smoother if you have wall jump, double jump, at least one Simple Key, Silk Soar from Act 3, and a decent pile of Rosaries. You will spend 480 Rosaries just on vendor lockets: Mort sells one for 150 after you pay 30 to enter his building in Pilgrim's Rest, and Frey in Bellhart sells another for 330. Keep those funds ready.



My early route looked like this. In Bone Bottom, I accepted the Volatile Flintbeetles Wish from the Wish Board and completed it to receive a Memory Locket. In the Marrow, I waited until I had wall jump, then climbed the route to a locket. Wormways, above Moss Grotto, was easier to reach once I knew the path; it sits just above the grotto. In Deep Docks, I used a Simple Key on the locked door and followed the path to the reward. The Far Fields area held two more: one from Mort in Pilgrim's Rest after paying the entrance fee and his price, and one at the end of a hidden path in the secret area that only opens after Act 3.

After that, I moved through Hunter's March and Greymoor. In Hunter's March, I found a cage at the marked position and hit it repeatedly until it released a Memory Locket. In Greymoor, the path to the locket forced me past a Mitemother, so I kept my guard up. The Bellhart region gave me three lockets. First, I entered Halfway Home and jumped to the top-left ledge to reach a hidden alcove. Second, I bought one from Frey for 330 Rosaries. Third, I used Silk Soar above Bellhart to reach an alcove that would otherwise be unreachable. That third one is easy to overlook because the unlock only arrives in Act 3.

The midgame regions tested my movement. In Blasted Steps, I followed the mapped route to the locket. In the Sands of Karak, the third seed created a forked tree; I took the left path, found the seed hanging from the ceiling, and that seed opened another leftward path ending at a Memory Locket. In the Slab, I double-jumped and broke through the ceiling, entered the cave, climbed the wall, and took the first path on the right to an alcove. In the Underworks, the room with three Rosaries devices hid a platform on the left wall; from there, I found a hidden hole in the ceiling and followed the path to another locket.

The late-game lockets required more careful navigation. For the Choral Chambers locket above the Grand Bellway Bell Beast, I started at Songlcave, passed through the Cogwork Core and Whispering Vaults, used the elevator down to the Underworks, hit the switch at the bottom without riding the elevator, and accessed the area beneath it. That route feels obscure, but the locket is sitting there once you commit to the detour. In the Whispering Vaults, a hidden path in the top-right corner of a room leads to a climb and another Memory Locket. In Memorium, I used double jump to enter and made my way to the marked position. Finally, Bilewater gave me two more. One was down a hidden path near the fast travel point, and the other was hidden inside suspended cocoons at the marked position; I broke them open and claimed the last locket.

I often ask myself: was every detour worth it? When I look at Hornet's Crests now, each one can hold an extra Tool or two, and that flexibility makes the whole hunt feel justified. If you are only planning to use a couple of Crests, you can skip some of these, but for a full build, all 20 Memory Lockets are worth collecting.

Here is my quick checklist:

#
Region
Method

1
Bone Bottom
Complete Volatile Flintbeetles Wish

2
The Marrow
Climb with wall jump

3
Wormways
Path above Moss Grotto

4
Deep Docks
Open Simple Key door

5
Far Fields / Pilgrim's Rest
Pay Mort 30 + 150 Rosaries

6
Far Fields
Hidden path after Act 3

7
Hunter's March
Hit the cage repeatedly

8
Greymoor
Follow path past Mitemother

9
Halfway Home
Top-left ledge alcove

10
Bellhart
Buy from Frey for 330

11
Bellhart
Use Silk Soar above Bellhart

12
Blasted Steps
Follow mapped route

13
Sands of Karak
Third seed left path, then ceiling seed

14
The Slab
Double jump through ceiling, first right path

15
Underworks
Left wall platform, hidden ceiling hole

16
Choral Chambers
Elevator switch route from Songlcave

17
Whispering Vaults
Hidden top-right path

18
Memorium
Double jump enter, marked position

19
Bilewater
Hidden path near fast travel

20
Bilewater
Break suspended cocoons

I hope this checklist saves you some backtracking and helps you fill out your Hornet's Crests without pulling your hair out. Sticking to the route above should get you through every locket in a single dedicated sweep, so you can spend less time wandering and more time actually enjoying the extra Tool flexibility.

Once your collection is complete, you might already be eyeing the next world to explore. If you're looking to pick up a similar Metroidvania without overpaying, a quick game price comparison can point you toward the best deals on titles that reward that same sense of discovery — because hunting down hidden secrets is always better when you got the game at a fair price.