Hollow Knight: Silksong — A Dark Horse for Game of the Year
Discover how Team Cherry’s indie masterpiece - Hollow Knight: Silksong could capture the 2025 Game of the Year crown and outshine AAA rivals.
After years of anticipation, Hollow Knight: Silksong has finally emerged from the shadows — and it’s already shaking up the 2025 gaming scene. Developed by indie studio Team Cherry, this long-awaited sequel takes everything players loved about the original Hollow Knight and elevates it with faster combat, breathtaking hand-drawn visuals, and a haunting new world called Pharloom. Let’s explore its gameplay, features, and how it stacks up against other GOTY contenders of 2025.
Why Hollow Knight: Silksong Deserves to Beat Other GOTY Contenders
Let’s be real — Hollow Knight: Silksong didn’t need flashy cinematics, celebrity cameos, or a $100 million marketing budget to dominate the conversation. While other so-called “Game of the Year” contenders are busy chasing realism and bloated open worlds, Silksong proves that pure gameplay still reigns supreme. It’s a reminder that artistry and precision can outshine even the biggest AAA spectacles.
Sure, titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Blue Prince are beautiful in their own right — but do they evoke the same pulse-pounding thrill and emotional tension every time you narrowly survive a boss fight? Silksong’s combat isn’t just challenging; it’s poetry in motion. Every hit feels earned, every death teaches you something, and every victory is an adrenaline rush.
And unlike the typical “press X to win” formula dominating modern gaming, Silksong respects the player’s intelligence. It doesn’t hold your hand. It trusts you to explore, to fail, and to master. That’s what true game design looks like — no microtransactions, no gimmicks, just raw, handcrafted excellence.
Some might say Silksong is “too niche” or “too hard” to win GOTY. But that’s exactly why it should. When a small indie studio from Australia can outshine the industry’s biggest publishers with a $20 title, it’s not just a win for Team Cherry — it’s a win for creativity, authenticity, and the soul of gaming itself.
Buy Hollow Knight: Silksong on Amazon (Nintendo Switch)
Why Hollow Knight: Silksong Deserves to Beat Other GOTY Contenders
1. It’s Built on Pure Skill — Not Artificial Hype
Most modern games lean heavily on pre-launch marketing, CGI trailers, or influencer buzz. Silksong didn’t need any of that. Team Cherry let the gameplay speak for itself — and that honesty is refreshing in an era dominated by paid hype and delayed promises. Players are drawn in not by cinematic spectacle, but by the thrill of mastering its mechanics. When a game earns its reputation organically, it tends to last longer in memory — a major advantage for GOTY consideration.
2. True Artistic Identity
Every inch of Silksong feels handcrafted — from the gothic environments of Pharloom to the fluid, hand-drawn animations that make every movement feel alive. In a world of photorealistic sameness, Silksong’s 2D art style stands out as timeless. It proves that great visuals don’t have to be realistic — they just have to be memorable. The game’s painterly design and haunting aesthetic already make it one of the most instantly recognizable titles of 2025.
3. A Soundtrack That Defines the Experience
Christopher Larkin’s musical direction is once again masterful. The soundtrack doesn’t just fill silence; it tells stories through sound, shifting from melancholic to tense to triumphant in perfect sync with gameplay. Many GOTY contenders have orchestral soundtracks, but few make the music feel integral to how the world breathes. For many players, the emotional connection to Silksong’s music alone might seal its legacy.
Buy Hollow Knight Soundtracks on Amazon:
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4. Gameplay Depth Without Bloat
In contrast to sprawling open-world games that often feel padded, Silksong delivers depth without excess. Every zone, every upgrade, every fight has purpose. There’s no filler content, no meaningless collectibles — just meticulously designed challenges that reward exploration and skill. This kind of focus is increasingly rare, and reviewers have praised Team Cherry’s ability to create a world that feels vast without being overwhelming.
5. The Indie Advantage — Freedom from Corporate Pressure
While big studios answer to investors and deadlines, Team Cherry had the creative freedom to polish and delay the game until it met their vision. That independence shows. Silksong feels like a passion project, not a product. Its success would be a powerful statement that artistry and patience can outclass corporate formulas — the same narrative that helped Baldur’s Gate 3 dominate GOTY discussions last year.
6. A Rewarding Challenge That Gamers Crave
Yes, Silksong is tough — but that’s part of its DNA. It taps into the same energy that made Elden Ring a global phenomenon: the thrill of conquering something difficult. Players don’t just finish Silksong — they earn it. In an age where many games prioritize accessibility at the expense of challenge, Silksong proudly holds its ground. And that’s exactly what resonates with the core gaming audience that drives GOTY votes.
7. Cultural Momentum and Legacy
The original Hollow Knight didn’t just become a hit — it became a movement. It inspired countless indie devs, streamers, speedrunners, and modders. Silksong builds upon that massive legacy with years of community anticipation. This isn’t just a sequel; it’s a cultural event that bridges nostalgia and innovation — and that emotional weight could easily tip the scales during GOTY voting season.
8. Accessible Price, Premium Experience
At just $19.99, Silksong offers more gameplay, artistry, and replay value than most $70 AAA releases. That alone will win it massive goodwill from players and critics alike. GOTY isn’t just about graphics or budget — it’s about value and impact. Few games in 2025 deliver such high-quality craftsmanship at such an affordable price.
Check out our other posts covering highly anticipated Game of the Year (GOTY) 2025 contenders here:
Final Thought
Hollow Knight: Silksong isn’t a game you just play—it’s a journey you feel. Every battle, every melody, every shadowed corner tells a story of resilience and craftsmanship. Years from now, when players look back on 2025, they won’t remember which game had the best graphics or biggest map—they’ll remember which one moved them. And that game is Silksong.
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