Can you play Silksong without playing Hollow Knight first?
Hollow newbie.
Can I play Silksong without playing Hollow Knight first is probably a question which has floated across your mind if you haven't played the original game.
After all, while Hollow Knight: Silksong is a standalone, it's also a sequel to the original Hollow Knight. (Hence the title.) This means there could be some important information you need to know to fully enjoy the game. Is that a risk worth taking? Even for a game that broke all of the online storefronts upon release.
Don't worry though, we're here to look at whether you can play Silksong without playing Hollow Knight first, including whether there are any downsides to being a newcomer to this series.
Looking for more help in your adventure across Pharloom? Check out our Silksong walkthrough.
Can you play Silksong without playing Hollow Knight first?
Yes, you can play Silksong without playing Hollow Knight first. While Silksong was originally planned to be DLC for the original Hollow Knight, it eventually outgrew this restriction and Team Cherry decided to turn it into a standalone sequel. This means anyone can play it - whether you're a newcomer or a Hollow Knight expert!
The only setbacks newcomers might experience are certain aspects of the mechanics and the lore. I say 'certain aspects of the mechanics' because, while there are overlaps with Hollow Knight (such as how the map works), the majority are completely unique to Silksong. Hornet has a very different combat style to the Knight and there's a whole host of new mechanics to learn as well. Hollow Knight players - you may have a small advantage, but don't expect it to be exactly the same!
The lore, however, is a different beast. Hollow Knight has a lot of very interesting and very detailed lore. I won't go into the details, but Hornet and her origins are quite connected to the inner workings of Hollow Knight's plot. Though Silksong does take place in a whole new location, the Kingdom of Pharloom (which is sure to be a lore-detailed as Hallownest), there's a chance that certain details from the past game may still be important. If they do, I doubt they won't have a major impact on Hornet's adventure. Best to avoid poor storytelling after all. Still, just keep in mind there's a chance you'll encounter a detail or name that isn't explained fully in Silksong. (Like the Pale King, for example.)
Hope this eases your mind and you can get on with playing Silksong!