Hollow Knight: Silksong is one in all the largest launches of the 12 months, hitting big participant concurrent numbers on Steam alongside a optimistic reception from critics. However amid the pleasure over Group Cherry’s lengthy awaited sequel is a debate inside the group about whether or not the recreation is just too laborious — maybe even unfairly so. So it comes as no shock to see Silksong’s early days mods dominated by these which make the recreation simpler.
Over the weekend, we reported on how some Silksong gamers had been expressing criticism throughout social media, subreddits, Discords, and Steam opinions about the recreation’s issue scaling and brutal runbacks. There’s even one very early miniboss inflicting a lot of gamers a entire heap of hassle, too.
“Is it simply me, or are a few of the issues that make Silksong ‘troublesome’ simply merciless?” wondered redditor Machi-Ato. “The sport has artificially inflated issue and playtime due to overtuned numbers and menial duties/runback,” reads a put up on Steam.
Now, some gamers are saying their criticism of the issue and Silksong typically shouldn’t immediately be dismissed as “hate,” and people “git gud” feedback ought to cease. Others are countering that suggestion by saying it’s completely cheap to recommend gamers soldier on. This one is exhibiting no signal of slowing down, that’s for certain.
Greatest Hollow Knight: Silksong mods a week after launch
A cursory look at Silksong’s NexusMods page reveals a variety of mods that make the recreation simpler to play at the prime of the obtain chart. For instance, Xiaohai’s ShowDamage HealthBar, which shows enemy well being bars and injury numbers when attacking enemies in the recreation, has been downloaded 16,200 occasions already. Baiker’s No Double Damage, which prevents enemies and regular bosses hits from dealing multiple masks of harm, has been downloaded 15,100 occasions.
In the meantime, LordGregory’s Always Have Compass Effect, which all the time reveals the participant’s place on the map, has been downloaded 13,500 occasions. The identical modder’s Always Have Magnet Effect (Pulls Shards Too), which all the time makes rosaries/shards magnet to the participant, has seen 11,100 downloads to this point. All this in simply a few days after Silksong’s launch on September 4.
I’ve put in 2 #Silksong mods to not go loopy
– No double injury, trigger that is simply loopy
– Limitless Rosaries… trigger I simply acquired to a level the place they’re used like “Ink Ribbons”!!! pic.twitter.com/XHbAQIQVPa— Marauderz (@marauderz) September 7, 2025
You get the thought. Silksong mods are tapping into the recreation’s issue, making it simpler to work via not less than on PC. And it’s there, in on-line communities for the recreation, that followers are suggesting gamers who’re scuffling with the recreation give mods a shot.
For instance, redditor mckant posted an interesting thread, upvoted 3,600 occasions, about how their spouse had stop Silksong “for good” due to the issue.
“My spouse is a large hk fan and has been ready for silksong to come out for years,” mckant defined. “She will not be the most expert of gamers however she was ready to full hk and revel in her time. Silksong, as an alternative, is breaking her aside. She has spent three days preventing Moorwing with out beating it and she or he’s dropping the recreation for good. I hope she’ll decide it again up someday however it’s unhappy to see all the anticipation die out like this.
“I’m loving the recreation and I’m having a blast with it however I’ve come to the realization that this recreation is extraordinarily punishing to decrease expert gamers who nonetheless make up a sizable share of the fanbase.
“I believe that this disconnect could be very regarding and explains why so many individuals are complaining about the recreation’s issue. It looks like Group Cherry doesn’t perceive that a lot of the enchantment of hk wasn’t the problem it provided but in addition the lore, the exploration, and buildcrafting (and so forth).
“These are all facets of Silksong which are, successfully, gatekept by an arbitrary issue barrier. I’ve seen many individuals right here on reddit saying to git gud however don’t suppose that discourse about the recreation’s issue ought to be handwaved so simply. If nothing about it’s performed, I believe that a lot of ‘informal’ followers shall be inevitably estranged from the recreation.”
In response, in amongst posts debating not simply Silksong’s issue, however the way it’s troublesome, followers are suggesting mods will save the day, notably that No Double Harm mod.
“If she is taking part in on PC, try a few of the Nexus Mods for the recreation that make it simpler,” suggested Lermatroid. “For instance there may be No Double Harm which makes all assaults solely do one masks of harm!”
“I am a masochist however saving this hyperlink to share with individuals,” replied Please_Not__Again. “Each primary enemy has no enterprise doing double injury.” In fact, console gamers are out of luck, leaving them to battle Silksong with out the assist of mods.
Fortunately, IGN is right here to assist. Here is how to unlock and use the map, how 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 battle information. It’s a laborious one!
Wesley is Director, Information at IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You’ll be able to attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.