With Hole Knight: Silksong’s large launch in full swing, group debate about its qualities and flaws has gone backwards and forwards, with some gamers insisting their criticisms about issues like the sport’s problem are legitimate and shouldn’t be immediately dismissed as “hate.”
Silksong launched over six years after it was introduced amid large pleasure, and early indications are that it’s a essential and industrial success. On the time of this text’s publication, the Steam concurrent participant depend was over half 1,000,000, with English language consumer opinions sat on a ‘Very Constructive’ score.
Nevertheless, as extra gamers work their approach by the sport, some are expressing criticism throughout social media, subreddits, Discords, and Steam opinions. Most of this criticism revolves round Silksong’s problem scaling, which is inflicting gamers issues, and brutal runbacks. There’s even one very early miniboss inflicting plenty of gamers an entire heap of hassle, too.
“Is it simply me, or are among the issues that make Silksong ‘tough’ simply merciless?” questioned redditor Machi-Ato.
“The sport has artificially inflated problem and playtime as a result of overtuned numbers and menial duties/runback,” reads a submit on Steam.
It’s the response to those types of criticisms that has sparked a debate inside the gaming group. Take that Steam submit, for instance. “Possibly you simply received older and your abilities have declined,” is the primary response.
I really like studying the unfavorable opinions of Silksong as a result of its simply folks complaining the sport is just too onerous and does not child them pic.twitter.com/65Fv9lBtAx
— Johann (@LookAtMyMeat1) September 6, 2025
“It’s okay that Silksong is difficult,” declared redditor jacked-deMamp in a thread upvoted 1,400 occasions. “It’s already getting outdated seeing that each different submit on-line about this recreation is somebody complaining in regards to the problem, particularly when there are such a lot of unimaginable issues to speak about like the search system and the brand new mechanics.
“The quantity of affection Workforce Cherry put into this recreation is insane and you may really feel it once you play, I want folks would recover from the truth that it’s difficult as a result of there’s nothing you are able to do about it apart from get higher. The sport is lastly out, and it’s onerous – identical to the unique. I personally love that the mechanics are so completely different and require plenty of studying once more, as a result of after enjoying a whole bunch of hours of HK I didn’t wish to simply breeze by Silksong.
“I feel we simply want to appreciate the sport is the way in which it’s and cherish these early days with a really particular piece of artwork. It’s okay to get annoyed however don’t make these emotions overshadow how nice of an expertise this recreation is.”
This sentiment has pushed the talk even additional, with some gamers pushing again in opposition to the “git gud” and “ability subject” feedback to insist it is completely wonderful to level out flaws in Silksong, nevertheless, beloved and essential a launch it might be.
“Criticism is not hate,” countered redditor bboy2812 in a thread upvoted 5,200 occasions. “Many of the criticism I’ve seen on right here and the Steam discussions is persistently dismissed as hate. Unhealthy rosary economic system, insane problem scaling, only a few significant unlocks/upgrades, runbacks, locked into preventing bosses, contact injury stacking with regular hits, and many others.
“The one ‘hate’ I’ve seen are from individuals who spam ‘git gud’ and ‘ability subject’ every time they encounter legitimate complaints in opposition to their excellent little recreation that can’t presumably have something unsuitable with it.”
If this sounds acquainted, it’s maybe as a result of we’ve been by this form of debate a number of occasions earlier than with FromSoftware’s Souls video games. The everyday ‘Souls Cycle’ often kicks off with adulation, adopted by complaints the sport is just too onerous, then extra perception into why they’re too onerous, then the ‘git gud’ accusations. Silksong, it appears, is following the identical path.
In the meantime, the talk about Silksong’s problem reveals no signal of slowing down, which you’d anticipate for a recreation so in style. Fortunately, IGN is right here to assist. This is easy methods to unlock and use the map, easy methods to get Rosary Beads, Achievements and Trophies listing, and our ever increasing Silksong Interactive Map. Additionally, it’s possible you’ll want the Bell Beast boss combat information. It is a onerous one!
Wesley is Director, Information at IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You may attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
