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Silksong Reveal Sends Hollow Knight Back to the Top of Steam Charts

Originally posted on Total Apex Gaming | By Mollie Dominy | Last updated Aug 23, 2025 10:32 PM ET

It finally happened. After years of radio silence, cryptic trailers, and enough fan theories to fill a library, Team Cherry dropped the release date for Hollow Knight: Silksong. And in true gamer fashion, the internet collectively lost its mind. But here’s the twist: it wasn’t just Silksong trending—OG Hollow Knight surged to an all-time peak on Steam, proving that the bug-infested labyrinth still has us in its grip.

Hollow Knight Hits a New Steam Peak—Because Nostalgia Is a Hell of a Drug

On August 22, Hollow Knight hit 23,819 concurrent players on Steam. That’s the highest it’s ever been. Not during launch. Not during a sale. Right now. Why? Because Silksong finally got a release date—September 4—and fans are crawling back into the depths of Hallownest like moths to a flame.

The previous record? Around 20,000 players back in May 2022. So yeah, this is a big deal. And while concurrent player counts aren’t the perfect metric for a single-player game (we’re not exactly storming dungeons together), it’s still a solid indicator of hype levels. Hollow Knight didn’t just trend—it exploded.

Silksong’s Shadow Is Making the Original Shine

Let’s be honest: Hollow Knight was never just a game. It was a rite of passage. A beautifully brutal, hand-drawn gauntlet that taught us how to suffer gracefully. And now, with Silksong looming on the horizon, players are diving back in to prepare, reminisce, or just cry over platforming sections they swore they’d never revisit.

SteamDB shows Hollow Knight climbing into the top 50 best-selling games on the platform. That’s not just impressive—it’s a resurrection. And while we don’t have console data, it’s safe to assume Switch and Xbox players are also dusting off their nails and heading back underground.

Silksong’s Hype Is So Real, It’s Delaying Other Games

Here’s a fun twist: at least three games have already been delayed because of Silksong’s release window. That’s right—developers are actively dodging this launch like it’s a meteor strike. And honestly? Smart move. Silksong isn’t just a sequel; it’s an event. Competing with it is like trying to release your indie rom-com the same weekend as Avengers: Endgame.

What We Know About Silksong (So Far)

Screenshot of Silksong, Courtesy of Team Cherry

According to GameSpot’s hands-on preview, Silksong is shaping up to be exactly what fans hoped for: gorgeous, challenging, and dripping with atmosphere. It’s not reinventing the wheel—it’s refining it. Think Hollow Knight, but faster, sharper, and with more verticality. Hornet’s movement is fluid, the combat is tight, and the world of Pharloom is just as mysterious and haunting as Hallownest ever was.

And yes, it’s coming to Game Pass on day one. So if you’re already subscribed, congratulations—you’re about to get emotionally wrecked for free.

Why Hollow Knight Still Hits So Hard

There’s something timeless about Hollow Knight. It’s not just the art or the music or the lore—it’s the way it makes you feel. Lost. Determined. Occasionally betrayed by your own thumbs. It’s a game that rewards patience, punishes arrogance, and somehow makes you love it for both.

The fact that it’s surging again eight years after launch is a testament to its staying power. Hollow Knight isn’t just a game—it’s been a mood for how long they made us wait for Silksong. And right now, that mood is “I need to suffer beautifully before Silksong drops.”

Final Thoughts: The Hollow Hype Is Real

If you’ve been waiting for a reason to revisit Hollow Knight, this is it. The community’s buzzing, the player count’s climbing, and Silksong is finally within reach. Whether you’re a veteran prepping for Hornet’s debut or a newcomer wondering what all the fuss is about, now’s the time to dive in.

Just remember: it’s okay to cry. It’s okay to get lost. And it’s definitely okay to scream when you die to the same boss for the fifth time. Hollow Knight doesn’t judge. It just waits—quietly, patiently—until you’re ready to try again.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Gaming and was syndicated with permission.

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