Silksong's Creepy Bellhart Easter Egg Is Easy to Miss

Hollow Knight: Silksong hides a missable Bellhart easter egg where quitting at its bench leaves Hornet strung in silk—Pharloom's creepiest scare.

When Hollow Knight: Silksong finally launched, longtime fans expected the same brand of melancholy and hidden weirdness that made the original Hollow Knight such a cult hit. In 2026, the game has been out long enough for players to compile maps, boss guides, and speedrun routes, yet some secrets still slip through the cracks. One of the creepiest and most missable easter eggs in Silksong is tucked inside Bellhart, and it is the kind of moment that can genuinely rattle a player who thought they had seen everything Pharloom had to offer.

Team Cherry built a reputation on secrets. The original Hollow Knight had players chasing thief Millibelle after she bolted with a hefty pile of Geo, and the game kept dropping lore bombs years after release. Silksong follows the same playbook. Even though the game has only been widely available for a little while, enthusiasts have already uncovered tucked-away rooms, hidden interactions, and strange dialogue flags. But Bellhart's unnerving surprise seems tailor-made for players who grind through the opening hours and call it quits at just the wrong moment.

A town frozen in silk

Bellhart stands out early in Silksong because it is one of the first places where the game's tone shifts from difficult platforming to quiet horror. When Hornet first reaches the settlement, a cutscene shows her reacting to a grim sight: the town's inhabitants are all hanging limply, wrapped in silk. It is a genuinely unsettling image, and it lingers even after the cutscene ends.

That alone would be enough to get under a player's skin. But if they decide to rest at the bench in Bellhart and then quit the game, the next launch is a different kind of nightmare.

The secret scene that catches players off guard

Instead of loading into a normal resting state, players are greeted by a hidden scene in which Hornet herself is strung up, just like the villagers she found moments earlier. The first instinct is usually to panic, but the way out is simple in theory: mash buttons until she tears free of the silk. In practice, it is disorienting enough to feel much worse than any boss fight.

The scene is not a game over, a trap, or a punishment. It is a pure easter egg, designed to make players squirm before letting them back into the game. For a series that loves to blur the line between player and character, it works a little too well.

Why so many players miss it

The requirements are narrow enough that most first-time players will never see the moment. Here is exactly what has to happen:

• The player must reach Bellhart before saving the town.

• They must rest at the specific bench inside Bellhart.

• They must quit the game while resting there.

• They must load the save again during that same window of progression.

If any of those steps are skipped, the secret scene simply does not trigger. Once Bellhart has been saved, the chance is gone for that playthrough. That time limit is what makes the easter egg so elusive. In typical Hollow Knight tradition, the game does not advertise the moment, and there is no tutorial hint nudging players to try it.

Condition
Result

Reach Bellhart before saving it
Cutscene shows villagers wrapped in silk

Rest at Bellhart bench and quit
Hidden scene on next load

Save Bellhart first
Easter egg window closes

Load save after triggering
Hornet is strung up; mash buttons to escape

A small scare with a big impact

What makes the Bellhart secret stand out is how personal it feels. Hornet is not witnessing someone else in danger; she is the one trapped, and the player is the one forced to free her. It is a quiet, clever piece of environmental storytelling that echoes the original game's best hidden moments. Plenty of players will finish Silksong without ever seeing it, and that is almost certainly the point.

For completionists, speedrunners, and lore hunters, this is one easter egg worth chasing before Bellhart's story resolves. It is a quick scare, a strange reload, and a reminder that Pharloom is watching — even when the game is not running.

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Hidden moments like this one are a big part of why Hollow Knight fans keep returning to the series. They reward curiosity, patience, and a willingness to poke at every corner of the map. The same mindset that drives players to discover the Bellhart easter egg often carries over to how they hunt for new games in the first place — waiting for the right moment, keeping an eye on prices, and jumping when the timing finally lines up.

For anyone still waiting to dive into Silksong or planning to revisit Pharloom on a fresh save, keeping track of the best offers can make the experience even sweeter. That is where [DealNest game deals]( come in handy, helping players spot price drops and discounts without scouring the web all day. Much like the secret bench scene, catching the right deal at the right moment takes a little patience — but the payoff is worth it.

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My Liquid Lacquer Delivery to Mask Maker in Silksong

Master the brutal Liquid Lacquer delivery in Hollow Knight: Silksong—protect the fragile 3 HP jar along the Bellhart-Mount Fay route to Mask Maker.

After I saved Tipp and Pill, I thought the chaos was over. Nope. Those two immediately put me on courier duty, and the Liquid Lacquer delivery to Mask Maker became the closest thing Silksong has to a stress test for the soul. That little jar sat in my inventory like a fragile glass heart, and every enemy, spike, and bad landing wanted to shatter it.

Why This Quest Is Brutal

Delivery quests in Hollow Knight: Silksong already disable teleporting, but Liquid Lacquer adds a cruel twist. The item has only 3 HP. On top of that, this quest opens in Act 3, when many enemies are upgraded and throwing dark attacks. Some of those attacks hit multiple times, which can instantly erase the jar. No pressure, right?

The mission rules are short, but the run feels anything but short:

• Deliver Liquid Lacquer to Mask Maker in Mount Fay.

• Protect the Liquid Lacquer with its 3 HP.

• Survive without teleportation.

Prepping Before the Run

I cleared every area along the route before starting the actual delivery. It took longer than the run itself, but I would rather spend twenty minutes removing Void Masses and dark enemies than repeat a ten-to-fifteen-minute run because a multi-hit shadow attack tapped my jar twice. The journey is long enough without gambling on enemy spawns.

Here is the route I trusted:

Order
Area

1
Bellhart

2
Shellwood

3
Blasted Steps

4
Grand Gate

5
Choral Chambers

6
The Slab

7
Mount Fay

Bellhart to Mount Fay

I started from Bellhart using the same path I knew from the Courier's Rasher delivery. Act 3 changed things, though. Some walls were broken and old hook points were gone, but new platforms and targets appeared clearly enough. Once I reached Choral Chambers, I stopped at the gate that exits into The Slab and aimed for the Bellway at the bottom. That lower route gave me easy access to Mount Fay.

The Mount Fay Climb

Mount Fay is where the real platforming begins. It is the same climb I did for the Faydown Cloak, but this time I had Double Jump, which made the vertical maze far more manageable. Still, Act 3 placed dark upgraded enemies along the climb, including some that normally exist only to help with the hook. Even the air felt hostile up there.

After conquering the main climb, the wind current carried me upward. I used it to leap left onto a ledge. For a moment, I just stopped and let Hornet breathe...

Then I spotted the slide.

The Hidden Parkour Puzzle

That slide drops you toward the bottom of Mount Fay. I had to jump and descend until I saw a small hole on the left side. Entering it began the final upward parkour puzzle to Mask Maker. The first rough spot involved a high ledge with spikes waiting on the other side. I jumped at the spikes and attacked them to boost Hornet onto the ledge. My hands were absolutely sweating by then.

Next came a double-jump wall challenge that demands perfect timing. Instead of fighting it, I used the skip: jump to the icy slide on the left, touch it, and immediately jump again to reach the other side. That little move saved my attempt and possibly my controller.

Delivering the Jar

After ten to fifteen minutes of nerves, I finally reached Mask Maker and delivered the Liquid Lacquer. The jar survived, barely. Standing there at the end of Mount Fay, I realized the hardest part was not any single enemy or spike—it was keeping my focus while the whole of Pharloom tried to crack my cargo open. Would I run it again? Ask me after my hands stop shaking.

After a delivery like that, I usually find myself browsing for the next game to test my platforming skills before I lose my nerve entirely. Whether I'm hunting for something that matches Silksong's intensity or just re-installing an old favorite, I've learned to compare prices before committing. Sites like DealNest specialize in rounding up the [cheapest steam keys]( so I never have to overspend just to satisfy my craving for a good challenge.

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How I Felt Watching Someone Beat Every Silksong Boss Flawlessly

Hollow Knight: Silksong player CrazyTemplar completes an impeccable no-hit run against all 36 bosses, including permadeath-mode exclusives.

Man, when it comes to Hollow Knight: Silksong, the community never ceases to knock my socks off. I have been deep in the weeds with this game since it finally launched back in September 2025, and just when I thought I had seen it all, a player comes along and pulls off something that makes my own playthrough look like a walk in the park. We are talking about defeating every single boss in the game without taking one point of damage. Not a scratch. Zip. Nada. I was honestly gobsmacked when I saw the footage floating around.

I have been playing Metroidvanias for ages, and Team Cherry really outdid themselves with the difficulty spike in this sequel. The original Hollow Knight was already a tough cookie, but Silksong cranks that dial up to eleven. We are dealing with a grand total of thirty-six different bosses here. I have spent hours banging my head against the wall with some of the more aggressive encounters. Enemies like Trobbio and Groal the Great have become household names in the community, and honestly, some of their attack patterns still give me nightmares. The idea of taking down all of these maniacs in a row without taking a hit is the kind of challenge that usually makes me want to throw my controller through the window.

But hey, someone actually did it. I was scrolling through my feed when I saw the report about a YouTuber named CrazyTemplar. This absolute legend posted a nearly two-hour-long video showcasing a perfect run of every single boss. Two hours of flawless gameplay. I can barely keep my focus for a twenty-minute boss rush, let alone two hours of perfect dodging and punishing. And this mad lad didn't just stop at the main roster; he also cleared several hidden bosses, including the ones exclusive to the game's brutal permadeath mode. Talk about going the extra mile. I remember watching his uploads chronicling the journey, where he would break down the fights into different groups. It is one thing to master a single pattern, but stringing them all together without a single slip-up is a different beast entirely.

The skill ceiling in this game is just astronomical. I like to think I am a pretty decent player, but watching this run gave me a serious reality check. It is like watching a ballet where the choreography involves a needle and a whole lot of spite. The precision required to avoid chip damage from some of the more chaotic bosses is unreal. The fact that he included the permadeath mode bosses is the cherry on top. I do not even want to think about the anxiety of doing a no-hit run on a mode where one mistake means starting the whole save file over. That is a level of mental fortitude I simply do not possess.

Of course, this is exactly the kind of energy that has made the Silksong community so vibrant since day one. Even though we are well into 2026 now, players are constantly finding new ways to interact with the game. I have seen people pointing out weird trophy discrepancies, like the fact that a pair of achievements exclusive to permadeath mode are missing from the PlayStation Network. Honestly, that is a bit of a relief for me because I might actually have a shot at the Platinum Trophy on my PS5 without having to put myself through that specific kind of torture. The modding scene has also been absolutely popping off. I have messed around with a few skin mods for Hornet, and seeing a full co-op mod hit the scene so quickly was wild. It really keeps the game fresh.

It is funny to think back to the release window. The hype was so real that other games were scrambling to move their release dates out of the way, and the player count for the original Hollow Knight spiked like crazy because everyone wanted a taste of that atmosphere before diving into the sequel. Silksong wasn't just a game; it was a cultural event. And now, months down the line, we are seeing the fruits of that obsession. Perfect runs, dedicated modders, and a community that shares every little secret.

Seeing the Bell Beast lose its marbles in that screenshot above reminds me exactly why I love this game. The fights are emotional, the world is grim, and the sense of accomplishment is unmatched. But even with all that love, you will not catch me trying to replicate this no-hit run. I will leave the perfection to the crazy talents. I am just happy to sit back, watch the two-hour masterpiece, and cheer from the sidelines. It is inspiring, sure, but it is also a humbling reminder that there is always a bigger fish in Pharloom.

If you have not seen the video yet, do yourself a favor and check it out. It is a masterclass in patience. Just be prepared to feel a little bad about your own skills afterward. I know I did. But in the best way possible, because it shows just how deep this game really goes.

Watching runs like this always makes me want to dive back into the game myself. Whether you are a veteran looking to replay with the co-op mod or a newcomer finally ready to see what all the fuss is about, there is no wrong time to jump into Pharloom. For anyone inspired to experience the game for themselves, it is always worth keeping an eye out for the [best game deals]( if you want to pick up Silksong or the original Hollow Knight without burning a hole in your pocket.

And with the modding scene constantly adding new ways to play, having the game on hand means you will never run out of fresh challenges. A quick stop at DealNest might just save you a few bucks before you start your own journey—just maybe do not aim for a no-hit run right away.

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How to Get the Barbed Bracelet in Hollow Knight: Silksong and Is It Worth It?

Hollow Knight: Silksong's Barbed Bracelet boosts Hornet's needle damage but increases damage taken, making it a high-risk Yellow Tool.

In Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hornet's expanding collection of Tools grants players flexibility for every combat and platforming challenge. Some Tools improve movement, others grant defensive benefits, and a few trade safety for raw damage output. The Barbed Bracelet falls into that last category. While most damage upgrades require tracking down Pale Oils and returning them to Bellhart, this hidden Yellow Tool increases Hornet's needle damage but also increases the damage she receives. For players exploring the 2026 builds of the game, the Barbed Bracelet remains one of the most debated Tools in Hornet's loadout.

How to Get the Barbed Bracelet

The Barbed Bracelet is hidden deep enough that players cannot grab it during the opening hours. The first requirement is reaching Shellwood and unlocking the Wall Jump ability. That means defeating Sister Splinter and then moving right from the boss arena to collect the ability. Without Wall Jump, the vertical climbs and spike-filled corridors leading to the bracelet are not accessible.

Once Wall Jump is available, travel to Greymoor Bellway Station. Head left and enter the first tower. From there, climb upward until a passage on the right appears. Follow that passage into the second tower, then continue moving right and take the passage on the right. This is where the platforming becomes tighter: from the elevator, pogo off the metal spikes on the left, float toward the right, and use a down slash on a ball to reach the top-right exit. The passage leads directly into Sinner's Road.

Inside Sinner's Road, ignore the imprisoned green mantis above and push far to the right. The route passes through a room filled with multiple Muckroaches. At the end of that room, do not take the path going upward. Instead, enter the cage and drop down carefully. After avoiding the spikes, players will find the Barbed Bracelet resting on top of a wooden raft.

How the Barbed Bracelet Works

The Barbed Bracelet is a Yellow Tool with a simple but risky effect. It increases Hornet's total damage output, and it also increases the damage she takes. That double-edged design makes it very situational. Because most players will have fewer than eight Mask Shards before reaching the endgame, the higher incoming damage often means that bosses can two-shot Hornet. This is especially dangerous in fights with fast combos or delayed attacks that are difficult to learn quickly.

Platforming sections are even more punishing with the bracelet equipped. Many enemies, wall spikes, and environmental traps already deal two Mask damage without any extra penalty. With the Barbed Bracelet equipped, a single mistake can send Hornet back to the bench in under a minute. For that reason, it is not recommended for blind exploration, difficult platforming gauntlets, or any boss fight where the player is still learning attack patterns.

That said, the Barbed Bracelet is not without value. Against predictable bosses where players are confident in their ability to avoid hits, the damage boost can shorten fights significantly. Fewer attack cycles mean less time in danger and more room for mistakes overall, which can offset the risk for skilled players.

Is It Worth Equipping?

The Barbed Bracelet has a clear niche, and it shines most when players are farming for Rosaries. On farming routes, taking one or two hits is common, but the bracelet allows Hornet to clear enemies much faster. Pairing the Barbed Bracelet with the Fractured Mask creates an especially effective setup, because the extra survivability lets players withstand three hits while still benefiting from the boosted damage. The result is a faster and safer farm loop.

The bracelet also has synergy with the Clawline ability once it is unlocked. Since the Barbed Bracelet increases Clawline damage as well, players can harpoon enemies and dash away repeatedly. This hit-and-run style makes most Rosary farming routes easier and noticeably shorter. Instead of committing to long melee trades, players can kill from range and reposition before enemies can respond.

• Best use cases: Rosary farming, predictable bosses, experienced players who rarely get hit

• ️ Avoid using in: platforming-heavy areas, multi-phase boss fights, early-game loadouts

• ️ Pairs well with: Fractured Mask, Clawline ability

Final Verdict

The Barbed Bracelet is a high-risk, high-reward Tool that rewards careful planning and confident play. It is not a universal best-in-slot item, and players who prefer a defensive or exploration-focused build should leave it unequipped for most of the game. However, once a farming route is established or a boss pattern is fully learned, the damage increase becomes a powerful tool for saving time and ending fights quickly.

For players exploring Hollow Knight: Silksong in 2026, the Barbed Bracelet is absolutely worth collecting once the route to Sinner's Road is open. The acquisition requires solid Wall Jump control and some precise spike pogoing, but the payoff for Rosary farming and confident boss kills makes the detour worthwhile.

Of course, an efficient build only matters if you actually have the game in your library. Players who enjoy fine-tuning their loadouts in Silksong often apply the same careful planning to how they buy games. Timing purchases around seasonal sales can make a big difference, and staying informed about the best ongoing offers is a smart habit for any PC player.

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How I Triggered and Finished the Dark Hearts Quest in Silksong

Hollow Knight: Silksong Act 3's Dark Hearts quest guides players to remove Void Masses in Pharloom, earning a valuable Mask Fragment.

While pushing through Act 3 of Hollow Knight: Silksong, I noticed a new Hunt-type wish pinned to the Bellhart Wish Board. The citizens of Bellhart were clearly unsettled—they kept looking over their shoulders at dark, pulsing growths that had begun appearing in the surrounding areas. Their wish was simple: find someone brave enough to remove the Void Masses permanently. That request turned out to be the Dark Hearts quest. It did not take long to trigger, but tracking down enough Void Masses made me climb through almost every corner of Pharloom.

The trigger itself is straightforward once you have reached Act 3. I approached the Bellhart Wish Board and grabbed the wish. From that moment, Hornet's objective was to destroy 12 Void Masses. The reward promised for clearing the danger was a Mask Fragment, which is always useful for survivability. What surprised me was how many Void Masses actually exist—there are more than 40 scattered across Pharloom, but only 12 are required for the quest. That gave me plenty of freedom to pick a route close to Bellhart and avoid some of the more dangerous detours.

I started my search right outside Bellhart. From the hub, I headed right and took the elevator upward. After running left and climbing a few rocky ledges, I reached Shellwood. Under one of the wooden platforms I found my first Void Mass. The growth was dark, sticky, and seemed to cling to the surface like tar. A quick strike removed it.

I continued left and glided down beneath a cliff edge to find a second Void Mass. Staying on lower ground, I entered a larger chamber. Near the top of that area, next to a room entrance, a third Void Mass was stuck to the side of the wall. Venturing through a lower door to the left brought me close to the bench near Bone Bottom. In that horizontal room, another Void Mass clung to the ceiling, forcing me to jump and strike upward.

From Shellwood I made my way toward The Marrow. I also used the Needle to summon the baby Bell Beasts and returned to the Bellway, which allowed me to teleport closer to my next targets. Heading left from the Bellway and then down revealed a Void Mass tucked in a corner under a platform on the right. Gliding down to the bottom of a vertical room, I looked to the upper left corner and used the platforms to reach another one. Climbing to the top of that same vertical room, I went right and found a Void Mass on the roof near a red bulb. Further right, I flew past a bench—resting there helped because the enemies were starting to pile up—and found a Void Mass on the upper part of the area.

Deep Docks became the next major stop. I kept moving in the same direction and climbed the second vertical room. At the end, a Void Mass waited. Heading higher and turning left, I saw another Void Mass stuck to the side of a platform near the lava. That one was tricky because enemies guarded the area. I cleared them first and then used a plunge attack to scrape the growth off cleanly.

I briefly considered heading into Hunter's March. There is a Void Mass on the roof above two enemies not far from the entrance, but after checking my count I decided to skip it. If you want a safer route or need an extra one without going too far into Far Fields, Hunter's March is a reasonable option. However, I preferred to push forward.

Returning to Deep Docks, I went right into Far Fields. I climbed higher and moved into the next area, where a Void Mass was stuck to the top and surrounded by enemies. Defeating them before removing the mass made the task less frantic. Then I went back to the previous room, glided down to the lower section, and ran right. There, under one of the platforms near the lava, I found the final Void Mass I needed for my count.

By the time I destroyed twelve, I had explored a good chunk of Pharloom. The route I followed was not the only option, and I know I left many Void Masses untouched in more distant areas. That is one of the best parts of the Dark Hearts quest: you can mix and match based on your preferred path, your combat comfort, and whether you want to detour into optional regions.

Returning to Bellhart felt satisfying. I spoke with the quest giver, turned in the removed Void Masses, and completed the Dark Hearts quest. The reward was exactly what the board had promised—a Mask Fragment. For any player in Act 3, I would recommend picking up this wish early and keeping an eye out for the dark growths as you travel. Since only twelve are needed out of more than forty, the quest is manageable even if you skip the more hostile locations.

Quick trigger checklist:

• Advance to Act 3.

• Visit the Bellhart Wish Board.

• Accept the Hunt-type wish called Dark Hearts.

• Destroy 12 Void Masses anywhere in Pharloom.

• Return to Bellhart and turn them in for a Mask Fragment.

A few tips that helped me:

• Use plunge attacks when a Void Mass is attached to a platform or floor.

• Clear nearby enemies before trying to remove a growth.

• Rest at benches before enemy-heavy rooms.

• Watch ceilings, corners, and the undersides of platforms, because the black growths blend into shadows.

Once you've cleared your board and collected that Mask Fragment, it's natural to start thinking about the next adventure. Many players I know like to keep a rotating backlog of games so they can jump straight from one quest to another. Hunting for good deals is part of that habit, and I've found it pays to compare prices before picking up a new title.

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How I Delivered the Queen’s Egg to Styx in Hollow Knight: Silksong

Queen’s Egg delivery in Hollow Knight: Silksong offers forgiving rules and strategic routes, with Act 3 enemies posing the biggest threat.

I still remember accepting the Queen’s Egg from Tipp and Pill as though someone had placed a glass bell inside my inventory—one wrong knock and the entire tone of the journey would change. The delivery to Styx in Sinner’s Road felt less like an ordinary errand and more like carrying a drop of molten gold through a corridor of thorns. Yet the rules are surprisingly forgiving: the Queen’s Egg has 4 HP and no time limit, unlike Courier’s Rasher. As long as Hornet takes no more than three hits, the delivery can happen at whatever pace suits you.

Before departing, I made sure my shortcuts around Bellhart were open. A closed gate does not block the egg, but it forces a longer walk through spaces where Act 3 can turn a calm stroll into slow erosion. With shortcuts open, the route unspools neatly, like thread running through a loom. If they are closed, you will need to pause often, read the room, and resist the urge to dash through shadows.

The biggest change arrives in Act 3. Enemies wrapped in dark auras fire attacks that can land multiple times, and each multi-hit burst becomes a small hammer against that four-point buffer. A single mistake may not end the delivery, but two or three mistakes can strip away your margin in seconds. Still, because the Queen’s Egg has no timer, I found it better to wait for attack patterns than to force movement through dangerous air.

Through Greymoor to the Elevator

Once I left Bellhart, the route settled into a clear sequence:

• Travel east into Greymoor and keep moving right until a wind current carries Hornet to a higher floor. The current is not hidden, but if I hurried into side rooms, the tunnel could feel like a knot of stone.

• After passing through the hole, immediately jump onto the prison cell above and continue right across the chambers. The cell above the hole is the key clue. From there, Hornet can mantle upward and follow the rooms like chambers in a stone honeycomb. Turning left or wandering downward only adds unnecessary exposure.

• Aim for the elevator that descends toward Halfway Home Inn. Climb onto the elevator, then leap to the right-side platform. The elevator is not just a way down; it is also a vertical spine. Jumping to the right platform is the moment the path begins rising toward Sinner’s Road.

• Use the platforms and balloons to climb higher and find the hidden path into Sinner’s Road. On a calm run, the balloons form a staircase made of drifting lanterns. In Act 3, however, several of those lanterns are missing.

When I retraced this in Act 3, the platforms and balloons left gaps that felt like a half-erased charcoal sketch. The crossing became harder, but never impossible. Silence and careful jumps replaced momentum, and I treated each remaining platform as a small island of safety.

Inside Sinner’s Road

Inside Sinner’s Road, I kept right until the middle of the region. The climb upward through stacked cells and prison bars was the closest thing to scrambling through a ribcage, each ledge another bone that demanded patience. At the top hole, I continued right, ignoring the tempting path toward Bilewater. Going down instead brought me to the delivery chamber.

At the end, Styx waits beneath the weight of the road. Handing over the Queen’s Egg felt like setting down a borrowed heartbeat. The task may ask very little of your pace, but every step still matters, especially when Act 3 tries to turn the path against you.

Stage
Landmark
Caution

Bellhart to Greymoor
Wind current upper floor
Stick to the right

Elevator climb
Platforms and balloons
Missing platforms in Act 3

Sinner’s Road
Prison cells and top hole
Avoid Bilewater, dark aura attacks

Delivery chamber
End of Sinner’s Road
Styx awaits

While the Queen’s Egg delivery is a straightforward errand once you know the route, Hollow Knight: Silksong is full of optional quests and hidden collectibles that reward thorough players. If you are the kind of explorer who likes to track everything from Grush summons to Mossberry seeds, you might also appreciate keeping an eye on where to find reliable gaming resources without digging through scattered threads. Finding helpful guides and community tools in one place can save you time, so you can spend more of it in Pharloom rather than hunting for information.

Whether you are just starting Hornet’s journey or you are replaying the game to catch every secret, keeping up with new content and community updates is part of the fun. For those moments when you want to expand your collection of games or grab something new at a better price, checking out [game deals today]( can be a convenient way to discover discounts across your favorite platforms. After all, a well-stocked backlog means you will always have another world to explore once you finish delivering the Queen’s Egg and stepping away from Sinner’s Road.

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Ten Bosses That Will Test Hornet's Skills in Hollow Knight: Silksong

Hollow Knight: Silksong bosses challenge players with unique mechanics, testing Hornet's skills and patience in Pharloom's perilous arenas.

In the kingdom of Pharloom, every corner hides a challenge, and the road forward is never free of trouble. The bosses of Hollow Knight: Silksong are more than simple obstacles; they are tests of timing, patience, and mastery over Hornet's silk and needle. A traveler who steps into these arenas quickly learns that some fights can be skipped, while others must be faced with a steady hand. Below is a chronicle of ten bosses that stand out—not always because they are the hardest, but because they leave a lasting mark on the journey.

️ 10. Trobbio – Clumsy And Slow Attacks

When Hornet found Trobbio beside the Choral Chambers after defeating the Cogwork Dancers, she quickly realized this boss was not about raw speed but about chaos. Trobbio uses fast, wild movements and becomes more aggressive as its health drops. It twirls and summons tornadoes that shoot up from both sides, and it throws bombs that explode in straight patterns across the floor. The fight rewards patience. A player should wait for Trobbio to begin a heavy swing, dodge out of the way, and punish during the recovery. Trading blows almost never works, because his hits out-damage Hornet's. Short combos of one or two quick strikes before retreating are the safest route. If Trobbio leaps into the air, a dash is essential, since the ground smash covers more space than it looks.

️ 9. Bell Beast – Once You Get the Timing, It’s Not Threatening

The Bell Beast lives in The Marrow and serves as the second main boss. Hornet first encountered it trapped in silk near the entrance. To wake the beast, she had to retrieve the Silkspear from Mosshome and cut it free—an act that immediately triggers the fight. The Bell Beast uses ground moves that cover wide spaces: it dashes across the arena, jumps from one side to the other, and drops into the center with two large rolling bells that travel toward the edges. In its second phase, after losing about half its health, it digs underground and causes falling bells to rain down. Some attacks make the ground shake before they happen, providing crucial warnings. The move set is not super fast, but it covers large zones and can catch a player who stands still.

️ 8. Savage Beastfly – Aggressive But Predictable

Found in Act 1 and completely optional, the Savage Beastfly is a fight that pressures Hornet with both direct attacks and summoned minions. It spawns waves of small flying bugs to distract, then rushes in to take advantage of the confusion. At certain moments, the Beastfly drops to the ground in a vulnerable state, but those windows pass quickly. The longer the fight drags on, the more minions appear, making dodging far harder. The main boss's strikes are not overly complicated, but the combined pressure of the swarm can overwhelm an unprepared player. The best strategy is to fight aggressively. Saving the strongest Silk Skills for when the Beastfly drops prone is essential—unload everything in those short openings, because burning its health quickly means fewer swarms to deal with.

️ 7. Moorwing – The Swooping and Speed Make It Harder, the Patterns Are Readable

Depending on the choices Hornet makes, especially if she resolves the Lost Fleas side quest, she can actually skip the Moorwing boss fight. But if the fight is chosen, the first signature attack is a fast dive from the top of the screen that forces a quick reaction. A skilled player can pogo on Moorwing's back during the descent. The boss also has a forward drill rush with its legs, a move that deals heavy damage if caught unprepared. The other big threats are saw-blade hazards. In one version, rotating blades sweep across the arena floor. In another, a circular pattern of blades radiates outward, covering wide portions of the stage. These blade attacks often happen when Moorwing pulls back and rises into the air, so learning the windup animation helps predict what is coming.

️ 6. First Sinner – Fast and Makes Hiding Difficult

The First Sinner is one of Silksong's secret Act 2 bosses, and it relies heavily on thread and needle constructs. During the first phase, it sets up straight-line silk needles across the arena while mixing in precise melee swipes. These attacks are dangerous because once the silk patterns are laid out, they restrict movement until they fade. The boss later summons more complex thread webs that block sections of the floor or ceiling, and it mixes in new binding moves. If Hornet is caught in a bind, she will be open to a follow-up hit unless she breaks free fast. The best time to land damage is when the boss is summoning threads. It pauses for a short moment while shaping the attack, and that is the perfect opening to strike.

️ 5. Forebrothers Signis and Gron – Keeping Track of Both Brothers Is the Challenge

These two brothers appear together in Act 2 as an optional fight. Each brother has a distinct style, but both throw fiery arrows at Hornet. One is slower and covers more area, while the other attacks faster with quicker combos. On their own, neither is too overwhelming, but when they attack together, it is easy to get cornered. The safest plan is to focus on one brother first. Taking him out early reduces the chaos and makes the fight much easier. Keeping both in the line of sight prevents blindsiding, and using wide attacks when they are close together can deal damage to both at once. Standing between them is a fatal mistake.

️ 4. Sister Splinter – Fast and Relentless

In Shellwood, Hornet meets Sister Splinter in a tight arena filled with obstacles, which makes the fight stressful before the boss even attacks. This boss blocks the way forward and must be defeated to obtain the Cling Grip ancestral art that enables wall-jumping. Sister Splinter spends most of the battle clinging to the ceiling, punishing Hornet with overhead strikes. Her main move is a sequence of claw slams, often three in a row, that cover a wide part of the stage. She also calls down thorn walls from above—barbed roots that rise up and split the arena into smaller spaces. After some damage, she summons small flying bugs that swarm around while she keeps pounding from above. The second half of the fight is faster and more crowded, with more vines and minions. The best time to damage her is during her claw combos. Jump and strike upward, but do not linger. Tools like the Threadstorm excel here, shredding both vines and minions while also tagging the boss.

️ 3. Last Judge – Requires Patience and Good Timing to Defeat

Unlike some chaotic fights with minions, the battle against the Last Judge is controlled and focuses on spacing. He uses wide swings that take a while to charge up. If a player ignores the telegraph, they will take massive damage. Some attacks also create small shockwaves that punish anyone standing too close. Patience wins this fight. A traveler should not rush him. Instead, watch his windups, wait for the strike to finish, then step in for one or two hits before backing away. Pushing too much results in eating a heavy swing. Healing is easier here than in faster boss fights, since there are longer gaps between attacks.

️ 2. Lace (Act 2) – Moveset Expands with Faster Combos and Relentless Pressure

Lace appears multiple times in Silksong, and the Act 2 fight gives her a stronger moveset than in Act 1. The arena is slightly larger this time, allowing her to make full use of her acrobatics. Her core moves carry over: slashing combos and sudden leaps. In Act 2, she adds a charged leap where she pauses, channels energy, then launches into the air and slams down in a wide AoE circle. The key to surviving this fight is recognizing the channel. As soon as the channel begins, the player should move out of the marked zone. Once she lands, that is the opening to punish. Attacking during the channel is a mistake—staying safe and patient is better. Defeating Lace rewards Hornet with a Silk Heart.

️ 1. Grand Mother Silk – Tests Endurance with Multi-Phase, Overwhelming Attacks

At the top of the list stands Grand Mother Silk, a boss that tests endurance like no other. She fights with scissor-like arrows that chase Hornet around the arena. She can cover large areas with threads, summon extra enemies, and mix sweeping slashes with ranged strikes. She also has multiple stages, with each shift adding speed or layering new hazards on top of the old ones. As the battle progresses, more silk webs clog the arena, reducing the safe spaces where Hornet can move. This means movement skills are just as important as damage. A traveler must remain calm, dodge the chasing arrows, break the threads when possible, and find windows to strike. Grand Mother Silk is a fitting final challenge for any journey through Pharloom.

These ten bosses are only a sample of what Pharloom has to offer, but each one stands out for how it forces Hornet to adapt. Whether she is dodging bombs, tracking two brothers at once, or weaving through silk webs, every victory teaches something new. The best travelers are not the ones who swing hardest, but the ones who learn fastest.

Every boss in Silksong rewards preparation as much as reaction time. Travelers who clear Pharloom’s toughest fights are often the ones who studied the arena, planned their approach, and stocked up on the right tools long before the first swing. That same resourceful mindset carries over outside the game itself. Knowing where to get quality gear, accessories, or even the game at a fair price gives a player a quiet advantage before the challenge even begins. When the time comes to add to a collection or upgrade a setup, it pays to [find the best deal]( rather than settle for the first price that appears.

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How I Found Every Crest in Hollow Knight: Silksong

Hollow Knight: Silksong Crests transform Hornet’s gameplay, offering unique moves, upgrades, and strategic options for survival.

I never expected a simple badge to change how Hornet moves, attacks, and survives. But that is exactly what Crests do in Hollow Knight: Silksong. After too many hours wandering Pharloom in 2026, I finally tracked down all seven and earned that achievement. Here is my story.

Hunter Crest

This one starts with you. I did not have to find it. The Hunter Crest is equipped at the beginning of Hornet's journey. At first I thought it was basic. But it is the only Crest that can be upgraded.

Eva in Weavenest Atla can upgrade it twice. The upgrades depend on how many Memory Lockets I had used. I was hoarding a few, and after using them, Eva offered the upgrade. Fully upgraded, it gains a focus meter. That meter builds when I deal successful damage and makes my attacks hit even harder. If I get hit, it drops to zero. This Crest rewards a careful, dodge-focused playstyle. If you like Hornet's starting moveset, stick with it.

Reaper Crest

The Reaper Crest sits in Greymoor, just before the Moorwing fight. I found it in the Chapel in the far west, south of Yarnaby. It changes the main attack into a slow but heavy strike. I could even slash downward instead of diagonally. Binding also lets me steal silk wisps from enemies to charge the silk meter faster.

This crest made my run back to Moorwing less painful because grabbing a Crest acts as a hard save. If you are struggling with that fight, pick this up first.

Wanderer Crest

I loved the original Hollow Knight attack speed, so the Wanderer Crest was a joy. It allows extremely quick slashes but with far less range. If I judged distance correctly, fights ended fast. It also gives a powerful critical chance when my silk meter has silk.

To reach it, I went to the Chapel west of Bone Bottom Town. I needed the Cling Grip to climb a high wall in a ruined building at the far west. The Longclaw tool helps offset the short range.

Beast Crest

Honestly, I did not experiment much with this one. Its down attack is tricky, and pogoing feels essential in Silksong. It has passive lifesteal, which heals you when you damage enemies. That sounds great, but it also gets no blue tool slots, which hurts. I got it in the east of Hunter's March after taking down the Savage Beastfly.

Witch Crest

This one only becomes available in Act 2. It is tied to the Infestation Operation quest. I found a twisted bud in Bilewater from the Whispering Vaults exit, then spoke to Greyroot in Shellwood. Completing the quest let me fuse with the twisted bud.

The moveset double-hits enemies and builds silk quickly. The binding attack whips tendrils around for heavy damage. It took practice, but it became my pick for arena rooms like High Halls.

Architect Crest

I loved spamming Cogflies but always ran out. The Architect Crest fixed that. It turns the main weapon into a drill and lets me equip three red tools. I could craft more on the fly. The shard cost is high, but the payoff is worth it.

To get it, I needed 25 different tools. After that, the Architect Key appeared in the shop for 110 rosaries. I headed up and west from the Architect's location to enter a new area and bind the crest.

Shaman Crest

The last one is hidden in Act 3 and requires Silk Soar. It specialises in Silk Skills, giving them a damage multiplier. I could use up to three different skills at a time instead of more tools. With two blue slots, it pairs well with Volt Filament for lightning damage and Egg of Flealia to reduce skill silk cost at full health.

I headed far east of the ruined chapel, then silk soared through the ceiling in front of the lore tablet. I followed the path down and found the crest.

Quick Crest Overview

Crest
Location / Requirement
Playstyle

Hunter
Equipped at start, upgraded by Eva
Balanced, focus meter after upgrade

Reaper
Greymoor Chapel, before Moorwing
Slow heavy attacks, silk steal

Wanderer
Chapel west of Bone Bottom Town, need Cling Grip
Fast slashes, short range, crits

Beast
East Hunter's March, beat Savage Beastfly
Lifesteal, tricky down attack

Witch
Act 2, Infestation Operation quest
Double hits, tendril binding attack

Architect
25 tools, buy Architect Key for 110 rosaries
Drill weapon, 3 red tools

Shaman
Act 3, far east ruined chapel, need Silk Soar
Silk Skill focus, 2 blue slots

Now I have all seven. If you want that same sense of completion, just follow the path I took. Some crests demand patience. Others demand a specific tool or quest. But every one of them changes Hornet in a way that makes Pharloom feel new again.

Once you've unlocked all seven crests and felt that rush of discovery, you might find yourself hungry for more Hollow Knight experiences or even other metroidvania gems. Whether you're picking up the Silksong launch edition, grabbing a new controller for those precise Silk Soar inputs, or hunting down a used switch cartridge to revisit Hallownest, it's always worth checking a few stores before comitting. Prices can swing wildly between retailers just like a Wanderer's crit build, so taking a moment to [compare prices here]( before checkout can leave you with extra rosaries in your pocket.

With every crest collected and Hornet's toolkit fully customised, your journey through Pharloom is complete. But the game never truly ends for collectors and completionists. If you're looking to expand your shelf with art books, figurines, or soundtrack vinyls inspired by Team Cherry's work, a quick price comparison is the smartest tool you can equip. After all, a true hunter always knows the value of every resource they gather.

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How I Beat Lace the Second Time in Silksong

Silksong Lace 2 boss fight guide reveals location, best gear, and survival tips for conquering this challenging rematch.

Let me paint you a picture: back in Hollow Knight, Hornet was the boss who made me hurl my controller across the room in Greenpath and later in Kingdom's Edge. Now, in Silksong, I finally get to play as her. But the universe has a twisted sense of humor, because Lace has arrived to fill the vacant role of 'nightmare that lives in my head rent-free.' If you have already fought Lace once in Deep Docks and thought that was the end of it, surprise! She is back for round two near The Cradle, and she has not come to cuddle. I was on my way to confront Big Momma Silk when Lace jumped me for the second time, and honestly, I was not emotionally prepared.

This guide is written from the perspective of an ordinary player—me—who got absolutely shredded by Lace 2 the first few tries. I will walk you through where to find her, what to equip, and how to survive all three phases without losing your mind.

Where This Rematch Happens

I will not lie to you: getting to Lace's second fight is a mini-quest in itself. You will need to collect the threefold melodies required to operate the elevator near Cogwork Core. That means:

• Clearing Whispering Vaults, which includes finding a secret sound cylinder for one very particular NPC.

• Surviving High Halls, home to one of the deadliest battle arenas in Silksong.

• Getting through Cogwork Core, a platforming and puzzle combo that will test your patience.

Once you have all three melodies, return to the elevator, play the tunes, and ride it up. Fair warning: the moment you step out of that elevator, the fight starts. No dramatic cutscene to catch your breath. Lace is just there, ready to ruin your day.

Preparing for Round Two (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Cogfly)

Before I talk strategy, let us talk gear. Honestly, there is no single must-have item for this fight, but after my own trial and error, I found a combination that kept me alive long enough to actually enjoy the choreography.

Here is what I ran with:

Tool / Crest
Why It Matters

Cogfly
Your tiny mechanical buddies do consistent damage in phase three and help end the fight before Lace's nastiest attacks can stack up.

Silkspeed Anklets
This fight is all about hit-and-run. The extra speed lets you dart in, poke, and sprint to the other side of the arena before Lace can punish you.

Barbed Bracelet
Only use if you are extremely confident in phases one and two. It can shorten the fight, but if you are sloppy, it will cost you.

The core idea is to stay mobile. Standing still against Lace is basically asking her to turn you into a pincushion. Keep moving, keep poking, and let the Cogfly do a chunk of the heavy lifting when things get chaotic.

How To Beat Lace 2

Phase One: The Needle Dance

The first phase is all about reading Lace's quick stabs and closing the distance before retreating. Her main attack is a steady string of stabs that she uses to chase you down. My advice? Sprint away, and when you are out of room, pogo off her head to escape.

She also has a jump-and-diagonal lunge. Watch where she is going to land, jump above the impact point, and pogo on her after she touches down. Her thrust attack is even nastier: she slides across nearly the entire arena in one motion. The trick is to wait for her to commit, leap up, pogo on her head, and then haul yourself to the opposite side.

One more thing that caught me off guard: her parry. If you hear the clink of her blocking your attack, run. Fast. She will immediately launch into a flurry that can drain two masks if you are too close. Treat that sound as your early warning system.

Phase Two: Bubbles of Doom

After you stun Lace for the first time, she decides to get a little more creative. Her jump attack now leaves behind three light bubbles that deal damage if you touch them. Instead of trying to dodge around them, I found it more consistent to dash under her jump and hit her from behind—there is a small safe pocket between the bubbles if you time it right.

Beyond the bubbles, phase two is mostly the same as phase one. Keep chipping away at her health, avoid the new AOE trick, and you will eventually stun her again. That is when the real chaos begins.

Phase Three: Thread Storm Nightmare

Phase three is easily the worst. Lace takes flight and marks out a huge circle covering much of the arena, then unleashes a flurry of attacks that looks a lot like your own Thread Storm ability. The saving grace? It is very well telegraphed. Whenever you see that large glowing circle with white light fizzing in the center, dash away as fast as you can.

This is also the moment I started spamming my Cogfly minions like there was no tomorrow. They deal solid damage and can shorten this terrifying phase so you do not have to survive her barrage any longer than necessary. If you can stay calm, keep moving, and let your little mechanical helpers chip away at her, you will finally put Lace down for good.

Rewards (Or the Lack Thereof)

After all that effort, you might expect a shiny new crest or a pile of currency. Nope. Lace 2 gives you no tangible reward. Instead, she unlocks access to The Cradle, the game's final gauntlet between you and the credits. So in a way, the reward is more pain. But hey, that is Silksong for you.

Look, I am not going to pretend this fight is easy. But once you understand the rhythm—poke, retreat, pogo, dash—and you save your Cogfly spam for phase three, Lace 2 becomes less of a wall and more of a very sharp, very angry dance partner. Just remember to breathe, keep those Silkspeed Anklets on, and do not let the bubbles pop your morale. You have got this.

Regardless of how many attempts it takes, that moment when Lace finally crumples is well worth every death. Once you push through The Cradle and roll credits, you may find yourself craving another challenge that tests your reflexes and patience just as fiercely. If you are looking to expand your collection without emptying your wallet in the process, checking out the [best game deals]( curated by DealNest is a great way to stumble upon your next obsession for a fraction of the price.

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How to Get the Conchcutter in Silksong and Why It Melts Bosses

Hollow Knight: Silksong's Conchcutter Tool excels against stubborn bosses, ricocheting for high damage in the Sands of Karak.

If you have been poking around the Citadel in Hollow Knight: Silksong, you have probably heard about the Conchcutter, and yeah, it is every bit as nasty as it sounds. I finally grabbed it in the second act after a few very sweaty attempts, and it immediately changed how I approached stubborn bosses. It is a red Tool that ricochets off walls and drills into anything unlucky enough to stand still. Honestly, using it feels like throwing a caffeinated pinball into a glass jar and just letting physics do the violence.

I think the biggest mistake I made was assuming the Conchcutter would be handed to me early. Nope. You need the Clawline ability and the Needle Strike from the Pinstress after the Great Conchflies fight. Without the Clawline, the Sands of Karak might as well be behind a stone zipper, because you cannot reach the upper path at all.

The Long Walk to Sands of Karak

Start from Blasted Steps and head north into the Sands of Karak. The route still holds up in 2026, although I would recommend bringing some healing items because the platforming can get prickly. Once you arrive, work your way upward with the Clawline. There are plenty of platforms that demand patience, but the geography is not hard to read.

As you climb, keep an eye out for the Stalactide. You can hit it from above to create a shortcut that will save you a horrific amount of time if you die. I hit it, watched it drop, and the whole route opened up like a bone-colored elevator shaft, which made backtracking much less annoying.

To the left of the second Stalactide is the Raging Conchfly boss arena. Do not go in lightly. Every single attack from that boss deals two mask damage, and it does not care about your feelings. Once its health gets low, it starts summoning smaller conflies that drill around the arena like angry little corkscrews. You suddenly have to split your attention between swatting minions and avoiding a giant shelled monster.

I found it easier to stay mobile and not get greedy. The boss punishes standing still, which is ironic because once you get the Conchcutter, you become the one who punishes stationary bosses. After the fight, keep moving forward to the far end of the Sands of Karak. Head inside the Coral Tower, and the Conchcutter is just lying there on the ground. No extra puzzle, no secret door. It is a relief after that boss.

What Makes the Conchcutter So Good

The Conchcutter is a high-damage Tool that bounces off walls. If you have extra Tool Pouch upgrades, you can carry quite a few into a boss fight. Against enemies that love to plant themselves while charging a big attack, this thing is a dream. Aim, throw, and it starts drilling into the boss like a furious little excavator.

I did some testing with a build, and the best combo for me was the Pollip Pouch plus the Quick Sling. That setup launches two Conchcutters at once and adds Venom to the mix. It is basically a double-barreled shell barrage, and it melts through large hitboxes. The trade-off is that you still need to manage spacing, because the Conchcutter wants walls and angles, not just a straight line.

It is also excellent for clearing obstacles in platforming sections. In Sands of Karak, while grabbing the Crustnut for the Great Taste of Pharloom, I ran into blocked paths that would have been a chore with regular attacks. The Conchcutter cleared them away in seconds. If you are exploring, keep one or two in reserve just for utility, not only combat.

Final Tip Before You Go

I will say this: do not sleep on the shortcut from the first Stalactide. You will probably revisit the area, and the climb back is not fun. With the Clawline, the shortcut, and a bit of patience against the Raging Conchfly, the Conchcutter is absolutely worth the detour. Once you have it, stationary bosses go from threats to target practice.

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Silksong's Shadow Drop and Its Ripple Effects on the Indie Game Scene

Hollow Knight: Silksong's shadow drop thrilled fans but frustrated indie developers, as Hell is Us's director called it callous to smaller studios.

In September 2025, the long-awaited release of Hollow Knight: Silksong sent shockwaves through the gaming industry, igniting celebration among fans while simultaneously stirring frustration among some independent developers. The creative director of the action-adventure title Hell is Us, Jonathan Jacques-Belletête, publicly expressed mixed feelings about Team Cherry's decision to shadow drop the sequel, calling it both a monumental indie event and a somewhat callous move for smaller studios. His comments, made during an episode of the Friends Per Second podcast, highlighted the complex dynamics of a release calendar dominated by one of the most anticipated indie games in modern history.

The journey toward Hollow Knight: Silksong's arrival had been a test of patience for fans. For years, Team Cherry remained largely silent, with sporadic updates fueling both hope and anxiety. Rumors began intensifying in early 2025, and on August 21, the studio finally confirmed a September 4 release date. The announcement was met with euphoria from the Hollow Knight community, as players who had awaited the sequel since its original 2019 announcement finally saw a concrete date on the horizon. The sudden announcement, coming only two weeks before launch, exemplified the modern trend of surprise reveals and immediate availability.

However, not everyone in the industry welcomed the timing. The release date placed Silksong directly in the path of several other independent projects. Games such as Baby Steps, Little Witch in the Woods, Demonschool, and Faeland were among those that shifted their own launches to avoid being overshadowed. For Hell is Us, which shared its original release date with Silksong, the decision was more complicated. Jacques-Belletête explained that although the situation felt harsh—jokingly referring to Silksong as "the GTA 6 of indie"—his team decided to stand firm. He acknowledged that while Hell is Us was large enough to weather the storm, smaller studios would have been disproportionately affected.

The numbers behind Silksong's debut were staggering. Within its first three days, the game attracted over five million players across all platforms. On Steam alone, it reached a concurrent player peak of more than 587,000 users within hours and maintained a steady baseline of around 286,000 concurrent players during its opening weeks. Such figures placed Silksong among the most successful indie launches of the decade. Despite this commercial triumph, the title was not without controversy. A review bombing campaign emerged, primarily driven by complaints about the game's Chinese localization, which many players considered subpar. Team Cherry later addressed the translation issues, but the incident underscored the global expectations faced by high-profile indie releases.

Hell is Us ultimately forged its own success path. The game's blend of exploration, intricate dungeons, atmospheric world-building, and addictive gameplay earned praise from both critics and players. Many reviewers highlighted its unique narrative structure and haunting horror vibes, which made it a particularly fitting release for the approaching Halloween season. The parallel trajectories of the two titles demonstrated that even in the shadow of a blockbuster indie release, a well-crafted game could still find its audience. By the end of 2025, the conversation had shifted from initial fears of overshadowing to a broader discussion about the health of the indie ecosystem and the increasing importance of strategic release timing.

Looking back from 2026, the September 2025 release of Hollow Knight: Silksong stands as a defining moment for independent gaming. It illustrated both the immense drawing power of a beloved franchise and the fragility of smaller studios navigating an increasingly crowded market. Jacques-Belletête's candid remarks resonated with many developers, prompting renewed conversations about release transparency and collaboration within the indie scene. Meanwhile, both Silksong and Hell is Us continued to thrive, with ongoing updates and community engagement keeping them relevant well into the new year. The shadow drop may have been a shock to the system, but its long-term effects ultimately underscored the resilience and diversity of the independent game development landscape.

For players inspired by the success stories of 2025's standout releases, the current gaming landscape offers more opportunities than ever to explore titles like these. With the industry continuing to expand and new projects constantly emerging, finding the right time to dive into a game can be just as important as knowing which ones are worth playing in the first place. Whether you are revisiting a classic or jumping into a brand-new adventure, staying informed about pricing trends and seasonal discounts has become an essential part of planning your next gaming experience.

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Hollow Knight: Silksong Tops 92 On OpenCritic In Tight GOTY Race

Hollow Knight Silksong's 92 OpenCritic score tops the original and ties Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as 2025's best-reviewed game.

I’ve kept a close eye on Hollow Knight: Silksong’s post-launch reception, and after nearly two weeks of reviews filtering in, the picture is remarkably clear. Team Cherry’s long-awaited Metroidvania sequel currently sits at a 92 on OpenCritic across 45 critic reviews, including our own Josh Robertson’s 4/5. That score is two full points higher than the original Hollow Knight and ties it with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a game many considered the frontrunner for 2025’s Game of the Year before Silksong finally emerged.

That 92 is not just a number. It places Silksong at the top of an unusually crowded year while also outperforming one of the most beloved indie breakthroughs of the last decade. I’ve seen plenty of sequels struggle under expectation, but Silksong has managed to turn years of anticipation into critical validation.

What Critics Are Saying

Our own review captured the consensus well: “Its boss fights are exhilarating and challenging, its world is a gorgeous marvel to explore, its unpredictable art design is impeccable, and everything else about it looks and sounds stunning.” Robertson’s only real criticism was that Silksong’s punishing difficulty can sometimes feel “obnoxious,” which kept it just short of a perfect five.

That difficulty conversation has become one of the most debated points of the launch. VGC handed the game a 3/5 and argued that Silksong’s challenge sometimes becomes tiring rather than exciting, with spikes that hurt overall pacing. It is an interesting split: some reviewers see those same spikes as part of the game’s identity, while others think they go too far.

Outlet
Score
Key Takeaway

TheGamer
4/5
Exhilarating boss fights, gorgeous world, occasional obnoxious difficulty

VGC
3/5
Difficulty spikes feel tiring and disrupt pacing

Screen Rant
10/10
Masterful bosses and a high skill ceiling

Eurogamer
5/5
Mean-spirited at times, but charmingly so

Screen Rant gave Silksong a 10/10 and framed its controversial difficulty as a “high skill ceiling,” praising the boss encounters as masterful. Eurogamer was similarly unmoved by the difficulty complaints, awarding a 5/5 and describing the game as mean-spirited, but charmingly so. For me, that tension is exactly why the review spread feels so healthy: Silksong is demanding enough to produce radically different experiences depending on player temperament.

A Tight Race At The Top

The race for best-reviewed game of 2025 has shifted several times. Monster Hunter Wilds, Split Fiction, and Blue Prince all led at various points earlier in the year. Now the top of the pile is messier. Silksong and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are tied at 92 on OpenCritic, which makes direct comparisons difficult because both games occupy very different design spaces.

There are also two titles with higher aggregate scores worth acknowledging. Shujinkou sits at 94, but that average comes from only seven reviews, making it statistically fragile compared with Silksong’s larger sample. Tears of the Kingdom’s Switch 2 edition also holds a 94, though I hesitate to treat that as a brand-new 2025 release. It is a port or enhanced version of a game that already made its own historic mark elsewhere.

So as 2025’s award conversations move into their final phase, Silksong has done exactly what Team Cherry needed it to do. It did not merely match the original; it exceeded its critical standing, anchored itself at the center of the difficulty debate, and forced every other major contender to share the spotlight. Whether it ultimately takes Game of the Year honors depends on how voters weigh punishing challenge against flawless execution — but from where I sit, Silksong has earned its place among the very best of the year.

For players who have been waiting on the sidelines through the Silksong review discourse, the urge to finally dive into Hallownest is understandable. But with so many other major 2025 releases also competing for attention and budget, choosing where to commit your time and money is not always easy. PC players in particular have become savvy about waiting for the right moment to pick up a game, especially when a critical darling like Silksong is still hovering near full price after launch. Keeping an eye on [PC game discounts]( can make the decision much simpler, letting you grab several of this year's biggest contenders without blowing past your gaming budget.

That practical side of the hobby matters more as the calendar fills with heavy hitters. Even if Silksong or Clair Obscur ends up taking the top prize at year-end ceremonies, the conversation around 2025 will stay alive for months—and players will keep looking for ways to experience these games at a reasonable cost. Whether you are chasing the next high-skill boss fight or simply curating your backlog for the holidays, checking a reliable deals hub before you buy is a small move that can stretch your library much further, leaving you free to focus on what actually matters: the games themselves.

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The Heartbreaking Legacy of Seth, a Fan-Created Boss in Hollow Knight: Silksong

Hollow Knight: Silksong's fan-designed Shrine Guardian boss Seth honors late fan Seth Goldman—a challenging, heartfelt tribute.

When Hollow Knight: Silksong finally arrived on September 4, 2025, it was more than just the end of a six-year wait. The long-anticipated sequel to Team Cherry's beloved indie hit launched with record-breaking player counts, crashed digital storefronts, and even pushed the original Hollow Knight to a new all-time high on Steam. But amid the chaos of millions of players diving into the Kingdom of Pharloom, one particular boss encounter carried a story far deeper than any health bar could suggest.

The boss in question is Seth, a Shrine Guardian who can be found in a secret area of the Grand Gate. His design feels both charming and fierce: an ant-like figure clutching a pin as a weapon and carrying a circular shield that was meant to be a coin by his creator. That shield serves double duty in battle—it blocks Hornet's attacks and then spins toward her with surprising speed. After the fight, Seth reappears in Shellwood, a calmer presence within a world full of threats.

So why does this particular enemy stand out? Because Seth was not born from Team Cherry's design studios. He was the creation of a fan named Seth Goldman, known online as big_boi878 on Reddit. Back in 2019, Goldman was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. His wish was simple but profound: to meet the developers behind Hollow Knight, the game he loved. Team Cherry granted that wish and went a step further—they allowed him to design a character for the upcoming sequel. Goldman provided a drawing, and fittingly, he named the NPC after himself.

The developers promised Seth a code so he could play Silksong on day one. Tragically, he passed away shortly after creating the character, never getting to see the final game. Instead, his legacy lives on in two ways: first, through the boss that bears his name and likeness, and second, through a special mention in the game's end credits. It is a quiet tribute, but one that has resonated deeply with the community.

However, encountering Seth is no easy feat—and defeating him is even harder. Many players have discovered that Hollow Knight: Silksong is significantly more difficult than its predecessor. The changes are subtle when considered individually, but together they create a brutal experience.

Consider the following challenges players have reported:

• Boss runs are longer and more punishing, forcing repeated treks through dangerous areas.

• ️ Enemies hit harder, meaning a single mistake can erase large chunks of health.

• 🩹 The healing mechanic has been altered, leaving less room for error.

• ️ Platforming with Hornet feels trickier than ever, with tighter timing and more complex layouts.

These combined elements mean that even mini bosses can feel like walls. For some players, the difficulty shift became so frustrating that they turned to mods within days of release.

The modding community responded quickly. Within a short time, players had created tools to ease the pain. One popular mod causes Hornet to respawn on the current screen rather than at a distant bench, cutting down on repetitive backtracking. Another reduces the amount of damage enemies inflict, making the journey slightly less punishing. There is also a mod that increases Hornet's damage output for players who prefer a power fantasy. Of course, for those who found the base game too easy—a brave claim—there are mods to make things even tougher.

Some purists argue that modding waters down the intended Hollow Knight experience. They believe the struggle is part of the art, that Team Cherry designed the difficulty deliberately. And they are not wrong. Yet for others, the story of Seth reminds us why accessibility matters. A player may not have infinite time or reflexes. They may simply want to explore Pharloom, meet its strange inhabitants, and uncover every hidden corner. Mods offer a bridge to that experience.

In retrospect, the launch of Hollow Knight: Silksong was a landmark moment for gaming. It broke records, sparked conversations about difficulty, and showcased a passionate fanbase. But beneath the hype lies a quieter truth: games are made of more than code and art. They are made of people—developers, players, and sometimes a young fan whose final gift was a tiny ant warrior with a coin for a shield.

And now, years later, players who discover Seth in the Grand Gate will know that every swing of that spinning shield carries a story of hope, loss, and remembrance. It is a boss fight that transcends mechanics. It is a memorial hidden in plain sight.

That is the true power of Hollow Knight: Silksong—not just its unforgiving combat or its beautiful world, but its ability to weave heartfelt human stories into the fabric of a bug kingdom.

Stories like Seth's are exactly why so many players are drawn to games like Hollow Knight: Silksong in the first place. They remind us that video games can be more than just challenges to overcome—they can be emotional journeys that stay with us long after we put down the controller. And with so many incredible titles out there, each carrying its own hidden stories and meaningful moments, it is no wonder players are always on the lookout for the [best game deals]( to expand their libraries without breaking the bank.

Whether you are a veteran hunter of every boss or a newcomer who simply wants to wander through Pharloom and take in the sights, there has never been a better time to explore the medium's most heartfelt creations. Platforms like DealNest track price drops across major stores, helping players discover their next unforgettable adventure at a price that feels just right. Because in the end, every great story deserves to be played.

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Where to Find All 3 Silk Hearts in Hollow Knight: Silksong

Silk Hearts in Hollow Knight: Silksong boost Hornet’s silk meter; this guide details every Silk Heart location and boss fight.

Silk is the high-octane bug juice that keeps Hornet alive in Hollow Knight: Silksong. She burns it to heal, and she also burns it to pull off some seriously flashy offensive moves. The usual way to refill the meter is to land hits, which is great for aggressive players who treat every room like a boxing ring. But for anyone who prefers a little passive income, the three Silk Hearts are the real prize. These things quietly restore a portion of the Silk meter without asking for much in return. A player can grab two of them by simply playing well and clobbering major bosses, but the third one? Oh no, one of them is a proper sneaky little needle in a very large haystack. This guide covers every Silk Heart location in Silksong, including the boss fights, the keys, the weird locks, and the Regenerated trophy that comes from collecting all three.

Silk Heart
Boss
Location
Act
Missable?
Extra Reward

First
Bell Beast
The Marrow
Act One
No
Bellway fast travel

Second
The Unravelled
Whiteward, Citadel
Act Two
Yes
Sneaky bragging rights

Third
Lace
The Cradle
Act Two finale
No
Regenerated trophy

1. First Silk Heart: Bell Beast in The Marrow

The first Silk Heart is a nice warm-up. Early in Act One, players roll into The Marrow and find the Bell Beast wrapped up like a leftover burrito in webbing. At first, the poor thing looks more like set dressing than a boss. But after Hornet grabs the Silkspear ability, she can cut the beast loose, and then the real fight begins. The Bell Beast is not the cruelest fight in the game, but it can absolutely punish a player who treats it like a tutorial pushover. Once the beast goes down, the first Silk Heart will be floating right over its body. The key here is not to fast travel away in a post-victory daze. Snag that heart. On top of that, beating this boss also unlocks the Bellway fast travel system, which is basically a quality-of-life gift from the developers.

2. Second Silk Heart: The Unravelled in Whiteward

If completionist anxiety had a mascot, it would be this heart. While the first Silk Heart practically hands itself over, the second one apparently took lessons from a hide-and-seek champion. It is hidden in the Citadel during Act Two, and a player can completely walk past it if they are not poking their antennae into every corner. The target is the Unravelled boss in the Whiteward area. To get there, players first need to pass through the Coral Chambers and track down a white key. That key opens a lift with a lock bearing a surgical symbol, which is the game's subtle way of saying \u201cabandon all comfy vibes.\u201d

After riding into Whiteward, the hunt continues. There is a Surgical Key needed to open an ornate lock mechanism, because one ominous medical lock simply was not enough. Once inside the crypt, things get spicy. A gang of enemies jumps out, and then the Unravelled boss crashes the party. This fight can be a genuine head-scratcher, especially for players who like to brute-force bosses without learning patterns. When the Unravelled finally falls, the second Silk Heart will be floating in the air like a smug little prize. Players should grab it immediately, because second chances are not exactly on the menu.

3. Third Silk Heart: Lace at the Cradle

The final Silk Heart shows up during the Act Two finale, and it is tied to Hornet's most stylish rival: Lace. To reach this showdown, players have to learn three melodies. Think of them as the world's creepiest elevator music:

• The Melody of Conductor

• The Melody of Architect

• The Melody of Vaultkeeper

Once all three tunes are learned, the lift unlocks and the player can enter the Cradle. That is where Lace is waiting, probably sharpening her needle and practicing dramatic entrances. Lace is fast, elegant, and more than happy to remind a careless player that standing still is a death sentence. After she is defeated, the third Silk Heart appears, and a player can finally complete the collection.

All Three Silk Hearts? Trophy Time

Collecting all three Silk Hearts causes the Regenerated trophy to pop like a champagne cork. These hearts are not just shiny collectibles; they make Hornet's Silk management a little more forgiving over a long run. The second heart is the main reason some players miss the Regenerated trophy, so anyone aiming for full completion should double-check Whiteward before moving on. As of 2026, the Silksong community has these three locations thoroughly mapped, but that second heart still catches plenty of overconfident players sleeping.

Silk Hearts are one of those small upgrades that feel minor on paper but make a huge difference in practice. A player who picks up all three will have a much smoother time in later sections, especially when healing windows are tight. So the next time someone asks why their Silk meter keeps refilling on its own, they can point to these three little treasures and say, \u201cThat\u2019s the good stuff.\u201d

For players who want to chase down every last boss and secret in Silksong, being patient with the grind is only half the battle. Managing time and knowing where to look is what separates a casual explorer from a true completionist. And for those who like to stock up on new adventures after finishing their Silk Heart hunt, keeping an eye on the best [game deals today]( is a smart way to keep the momentum going without emptying the wallet.

Hornet's journey may end once those three hearts are in hand, but the broader world of action-platformers is full of similar challenges waiting to be conquered. Whether it is a fresh indie gem or a polished AAA title, grabbing a solid discount at the right moment can turn a casual evening into another unforgettable playthrough. After all, the hunt for rewards does not have to stop at the Cradle.

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My Complete Memory Locket Hunt in Hollow Knight: Silksong

Find all 20 Memory Lockets in Hollow Knight: Silksong to expand Crests and equip more Tools with this route-driven guide.

When I set out to collect all 20 Memory Lockets in Hollow Knight: Silksong, I thought it would be a short side errand. A few hours later, I was deep in hidden alcoves, breaking cocoons in Bilewater and juggling Rosaries at three different vendors. Memory Lockets are the key to expanding Crests, which lets Hornet equip more Tools on each Crest. Since maximizing her loadout can completely change how a fight plays out, I knew I had to find every single one.

First, let me mention the gear and unlocks I needed. The hunt is much smoother if you have wall jump, double jump, at least one Simple Key, Silk Soar from Act 3, and a decent pile of Rosaries. You will spend 480 Rosaries just on vendor lockets: Mort sells one for 150 after you pay 30 to enter his building in Pilgrim's Rest, and Frey in Bellhart sells another for 330. Keep those funds ready.

My early route looked like this. In Bone Bottom, I accepted the Volatile Flintbeetles Wish from the Wish Board and completed it to receive a Memory Locket. In the Marrow, I waited until I had wall jump, then climbed the route to a locket. Wormways, above Moss Grotto, was easier to reach once I knew the path; it sits just above the grotto. In Deep Docks, I used a Simple Key on the locked door and followed the path to the reward. The Far Fields area held two more: one from Mort in Pilgrim's Rest after paying the entrance fee and his price, and one at the end of a hidden path in the secret area that only opens after Act 3.

After that, I moved through Hunter's March and Greymoor. In Hunter's March, I found a cage at the marked position and hit it repeatedly until it released a Memory Locket. In Greymoor, the path to the locket forced me past a Mitemother, so I kept my guard up. The Bellhart region gave me three lockets. First, I entered Halfway Home and jumped to the top-left ledge to reach a hidden alcove. Second, I bought one from Frey for 330 Rosaries. Third, I used Silk Soar above Bellhart to reach an alcove that would otherwise be unreachable. That third one is easy to overlook because the unlock only arrives in Act 3.

The midgame regions tested my movement. In Blasted Steps, I followed the mapped route to the locket. In the Sands of Karak, the third seed created a forked tree; I took the left path, found the seed hanging from the ceiling, and that seed opened another leftward path ending at a Memory Locket. In the Slab, I double-jumped and broke through the ceiling, entered the cave, climbed the wall, and took the first path on the right to an alcove. In the Underworks, the room with three Rosaries devices hid a platform on the left wall; from there, I found a hidden hole in the ceiling and followed the path to another locket.

The late-game lockets required more careful navigation. For the Choral Chambers locket above the Grand Bellway Bell Beast, I started at Songlcave, passed through the Cogwork Core and Whispering Vaults, used the elevator down to the Underworks, hit the switch at the bottom without riding the elevator, and accessed the area beneath it. That route feels obscure, but the locket is sitting there once you commit to the detour. In the Whispering Vaults, a hidden path in the top-right corner of a room leads to a climb and another Memory Locket. In Memorium, I used double jump to enter and made my way to the marked position. Finally, Bilewater gave me two more. One was down a hidden path near the fast travel point, and the other was hidden inside suspended cocoons at the marked position; I broke them open and claimed the last locket.

I often ask myself: was every detour worth it? When I look at Hornet's Crests now, each one can hold an extra Tool or two, and that flexibility makes the whole hunt feel justified. If you are only planning to use a couple of Crests, you can skip some of these, but for a full build, all 20 Memory Lockets are worth collecting.

Here is my quick checklist:

Region
Method

1
Bone Bottom
Complete Volatile Flintbeetles Wish

2
The Marrow
Climb with wall jump

3
Wormways
Path above Moss Grotto

4
Deep Docks
Open Simple Key door

5
Far Fields / Pilgrim's Rest
Pay Mort 30 + 150 Rosaries

6
Far Fields
Hidden path after Act 3

7
Hunter's March
Hit the cage repeatedly

8
Greymoor
Follow path past Mitemother

9
Halfway Home
Top-left ledge alcove

10
Bellhart
Buy from Frey for 330

11
Bellhart
Use Silk Soar above Bellhart

12
Blasted Steps
Follow mapped route

13
Sands of Karak
Third seed left path, then ceiling seed

14
The Slab
Double jump through ceiling, first right path

15
Underworks
Left wall platform, hidden ceiling hole

16
Choral Chambers
Elevator switch route from Songlcave

17
Whispering Vaults
Hidden top-right path

18
Memorium
Double jump enter, marked position

19
Bilewater
Hidden path near fast travel

20
Bilewater
Break suspended cocoons

I hope this checklist saves you some backtracking and helps you fill out your Hornet's Crests without pulling your hair out. Sticking to the route above should get you through every locket in a single dedicated sweep, so you can spend less time wandering and more time actually enjoying the extra Tool flexibility.

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How Hollow Knight Silksong's 0.1% Achievements Broke and Rebuilt Me in 2026

Hollow Knight: Silksong bench locations and brutal achievements challenge even veteran players, making every victory in Pharloom hard-earned.

I never thought a game about a tiny bug princess with a needle could make me question my existence. But here I am, deep into 2026, still replaying Hollow Knight: Silksong like it is a personal grudge. The latest balance patch has certainly softened some of the early game's rougher edges, yet Silksong remains the kind of sequel that looks at your hundreds of hours in the original and just laughs. The movement is deeper, the combat is meaner, and the achievements? They are definitely not for the faint of heart.

Navigating Pharloom without losing my mind meant learning every bench location like the back of my hand. Those small safe havens became my lifeline, especially when I attempted some of the game's most brutal challenges.

Even with benches, though, the real horror starts when you open the achievement menu. When Silksong first launched in 2025, a few achievements were already hovering at just about 0.1 or 0.2 percent completion. Now in 2026? Those numbers have barely moved. I get it. To earn some of them, you have to beat the entire game a second time in Steel Soul mode, where a single death erases everything. No retries. No checkpoints. Just memory, muscle, and a whole lot of anxiety.

I tried Steel Soul once. Honestly? My longest run lasted nearly five hours. Then a regular enemy, the kind I had killed a hundred times before, caught me mid-dash. I just sat there, controller still in my hands, staring at the death screen. Silence. I did not rage quit; I just... sat. That is when I realized Silksong's hardest achievements are not mistakes. They are designed for a very specific kind of player — the ones who want bragging rights that take years to earn.

The game also mixes in speedrun challenges on top of Steel Soul completion, which turns an already punishing experience into an absolute nightmare. Unlike traditional RPGs that can be ground out with enough time and effort, Silksong's hardest achievements can take years of practice to master. It mirrors the original Hollow Knight in that way, and maybe that is why I keep coming back. There is something weirdly appealing about a challenge that does not care about my feelings.

But if Steel Soul or speedrunning is not your thing? Trust me, there is still plenty to do. The newly implemented Wish system and those adorable NPCs who would be completely helpless without Hornet make the side content just as rewarding as the main story. I spent an entire weekend chasing the 'Great Taste of Pharloom' quest, and it forced me to unlock locales and items I had completely missed. That quest is no joke, but it is the good kind of brutal.

Here is a quick breakdown of how different challenge types have treated me so far in 2026:

Challenge Type
What It Demands
My Experience

Steel Soul completion
Beat the whole game without dying
Five hours down the drain

Speedrun achievements
Finish under strict time limits
I am not built for this, honestly

Inventory completion
Find every item and upgrade
Doable and oddly satisfying

Alternative endings
See every story conclusion
Rewarding, less rage-inducing

Those alternative endings and inventory completion achievements are much more forgiving, and they still offer fun challenges for players of all skill levels. I found myself enjoying those far more because they let me appreciate Hornet's journey instead of just surviving it.

By this point in 2026, I still have not unlocked every impossible achievement. Maybe I never will. But every time I return to Pharloom, I learn a little more about patience and precision. And honestly? That might be the real reward.

That relentless pursuit of mastery extends beyond the game itself. For those of us who love testing our limits in games like Silksong, patience is a virtue that carries over into how we buy games too. I have learned the hard way that impulse-buying every title that looks challenging just drains the wallet and the willpower. These days, I wait for the right moment to strike.

That is exactly why I started checking a reliable [steam sale tracker]( before adding anything new to my backlog. It lets me grab the games I actually want at a price that does not sting when I inevitably fail twenty times in a row. Between grinding through Steel Soul attempts and hunting down hidden treasures, I can build a library of brutally hard games without breaking the bank.

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Hell Is Us Director Calls Hollow Knight: Silksong Shadow Drop 'A Little Callous'

Hollow Knight: Silksong’s surprise release date impacted indie games and Hell Is Us, sparking debate on industry timing and fairness.

Here in 2026, I still remember the collective whiplash on August 21, 2025, when Team Cherry finally pulled back the curtain on Hollow Knight: Silksong. The announcement of a September 4, 2025 release date hit like a well-placed nail bounce in Greenpath. After years of memes, speculation, and near-total radio silence, giving the indie world just a couple of weeks’ notice felt less like a victory lap and more like a jump scare. I’ve been covering games long enough to know that timing is everything, and Silksong’s near shadow drop blew up the calendar for plenty of smaller studios.

The collateral damage was real. As of August 2025, at least seven indie titles shifted their launch plans to steer clear of Silksong. I’m not talking about tiny, under-the-radar projects either. The list included Aeterna Lucis, Baby Steps, CloverPit, Demonschool, Faeland, Little Witch in the Woods, and Megabonk. Some of those games had been in the “when it’s done” oven for years, and suddenly their teams had to decide whether to share oxygen with the most anticipated Metroidvania sequel since, well, Hollow Knight itself.

Delayed Game
Reaction

Aeterna Lucis
Avoided Silksong launch window

Baby Steps
Avoided Silksong launch window

CloverPit
Avoided Silksong launch window

Demonschool
Avoided Silksong launch window

Faeland
Avoided Silksong launch window

Little Witch in the Woods
Avoided Silksong launch window

Megabonk
Avoided Silksong launch window

Hell Is Us Director Calls the Surprise Date “A Little Callous”

Jonathan Jacques-Belletête is no stranger to high-pressure projects. Before serving as creative director on Hell Is Us, he worked on Guardians of the Galaxy, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, and Deus Ex: Human Revolution. His first solo project was critically praised in our review: “Hell Is Us is a rare gem that we don’t normally see in the gaming industry. It’s more than a game that simply “doesn’t have waypoints or quest markers.” Instead, it’s an engaging experience that truly trusts the player’s intelligence, curiosity, and active listening skills.”

But the buzz didn’t quite match the reception. Speaking on the Friends Per Second podcast, Jacques-Belletête admitted he believes Silksong absolutely affected Hell Is Us’ performance, even if he can’t prove it with hard numbers. That’s not sour grapes; it’s just the reality of a packed year. Borderlands 4 was breathing down everyone’s neck, and the summer had already been swallowed by Nintendo Switch 2, a new Mario Kart, and a fantastic 3D Donkey Kong platformer.

Still, the way Team Cherry dropped the date got under his skin. “As the ‘GTA 6 of indie’… to shadow drop something like this is a little callous,” he said. And honestly, I get it. In the same way major publishers tiptoe around Grand Theft Auto 6, Silksong is the indie equivalent of a cultural black hole. Attention is finite. We saw this with The Dark Knight in 2008—when the only movie brave enough to open alongside it was Space Chimps. The Barbenheimer schedule clash worked out, but that’s the exception, not the rule.

The moment the Silksong date hit, Jacques-Belletête and his team went into scramble mode. He described it bluntly: “We all jumped on our phones really quickly with our publisher and all sorts of things like that...a lot of emails and texts and messages back and forth between a lot of people, between us and our publisher. It was a real thing.” That image of tiny teams firing off messages while Hollow Knight fans celebrated is the indie games industry in a nutshell.

Looking back from 2026, I don’t think this is about whether Silksong deserved its moment. It did. But for smaller studios, a two-week notice from a giant can feel like being asked to politely move out of the way. The lesson for me is simple: surprise drops are thrilling for players, but they can be brutal for developers who don’t have a marketing budget big enough to shout over the noise.

For players, the flip side of a crowded release calendar is that it's harder than ever to catch everything at launch. Between surprise drops, packed summers, and tight budgets, waiting for the right moment to pick up a game has become just as important as knowing which ones to play. That's especially true for indie titles like Hell Is Us, which can easily slip under the radar before a player's backlog clears up.

That's why many gamers now track the [best game deals]( before committing their wallet — giving smaller releases a second chance to shine when the spotlight finally moves on. A little patience, a saved search, and a timely discount can turn a game you almost missed into your next favorite experience.

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How I Returned to Act 1 and Unlocked Early Bellways in Silksong

Stuck in Hollow Knight: Silksong's Underworks? Return to Act 1 via the Choral Chambers, then unlock early Bellways for fast travel.

After I defeated the Last Judge and the Grand Gates finally creaked open, I expected to leave Act 1 behind cleanly. Instead, the floor collapsed into the Underworks, the elevator groaned and snapped, and I was stuck with no obvious way back. If you left unfinished quests in Act 1, don’t panic—returning is possible, but it’s a bit of a hike.

Can You Return to Act 1?

Yes, but not by climbing. The elevator that takes you down to the Underworks breaks immediately, and Wall Climb cannot carry you back to the surface. To physically return to the Act 1 areas of Silksong, you need to climb up through the Underworks until you reach the Choral Chambers.

From the Choral Chambers, smash the breakable wall and follow the tunnels filled with spinning blades. This path eventually drops you back into the Grand Gate area. Once there, drop to the bottom and head left to reach the Blasted Steps.

If you did not activate any Bellways in Act 2, this long walk is your only return route—the elevator stays broken. Honestly, the elevator giving up felt a little personal after that boss fight.

Here is the shortest foot route I’ve used:

• Climb from the Underworks to the Choral Chambers.

• Break the hidden wall near the chambers.

• Follow the spinning-blade tunnels to the Grand Gate area.

• Drop down and move left toward the Blasted Steps.

Unlocking Early Bellways in Act 2

The walk back is doable, but it gets tedious as you push deeper into the Citadel. Fortunately, two Bellways sit very close to the opening section of Act 2. One is in The Slab, and the other is in The Grand Bellway. Both are easy to reach, but they serve slightly different purposes.

The Grand Bellway

After falling into the Underworks, go through the tunnels and climb to the Choral Chambers. Hit the lever to open a path below that leads to another room on the right. Cross that room, and you’ll enter a large hallway with floating platforms and hanging bells you can pogo across.

I recommend this as your first Bellway because The Grand Bellway also contains a Ventrica Tube. That makes it an excellent midway point that connects both fast travel methods in Silksong. Unlocking it early saves you from repeating the whole Underworks climb later.

The Slab Bellway

The Slab Bellway is located to the left of the Choral Chambers. Reaching it follows much of the same route as the Grand Bellway. From the Choral Chambers, take the path on the top left and keep going in a straight line. Then cross the large ornate bridge to arrive at The Slab.

This one is straightforward and a decent second unlock, but it doesn’t offer the same Ventrica Tube convenience as the Grand Bellway.

Which Bellway Should You Grab First?

Bellway
Location
Best For

The Grand Bellway
Close to Choral Chambers
First unlock; has a Ventrica Tube

The Slab
Left of Choral Chambers
Quick second fast travel point

Fast travel in Silksong has two layers: Bellways let you ring yourself between major locations, while Ventrica Tubes work as tram-like connectors. Having both in one spot is rare early on, so The Grand Bellway is the more efficient first stop.

As of 2026, this remains the most reliable route I’ve found. If you clean up Act 1 quests before activating any Bellways, you’ll be stuck with the long Underworks walk. Let’s be real—nobody wants to retrace that entire spinning-blade tunnel twice. So grab the Grand Bellway early, ride the Ventrica Tube when you can, and keep those old Act 1 quests from haunting you.

Nailing down this route early makes Act 2 far less painful, but you can only put the strategy to work if you have the game in hand. Whether you're picking up Hollow Knight: Silksong for the first time or grabbing a copy for a friend so you can finally talk through Bellway routes together, it's worth making sure you're not overpaying. If you want to save a little real-world Geo before your next playthrough, you can [compare prices here]( and land on the best deal without the usual storefront hunt.

Once the purchase is handled, the only thing left is the fun part: ringing those Bellways, gliding through Ventrica Tubes, and never crawling back through the Underworks again. With the Grand Bellway unlocked and your fast travel network taking shape, Act 2 stops being a chore and becomes the sprawling adventure it was always meant to be.

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Chasing Black Muscle: A 1971 Challenger, a 550 HP Coronet, and the Mopars of Port Jervis

A 1971 Dodge Challenger in original TX9 Formal Black anchors this Mopar stockpile tour, joined by a 550-hp 1965 Coronet and a driver-ready 1967 Dart.

I’ll say it up front: I’m a sucker for wild Mopar colors. Plum Crazy, Go Mango, SubLime—you name it. But every so often, a black muscle car comes along and reminds me that nothing beats the original shade. Black hides nothing at night and absorbs everything in daylight. On a 1971 Dodge Challenger, the effect is pure intimidation. That’s exactly why a recent video from Backyard Barn Finds caught my attention. They traveled to Port Jervis, New York, to meet a father-son duo with a stockpile of Mopars, including a worn-out Challenger that still wears its TX9 Formal Black paint code.

The trip didn’t start in a garage. It started at Hawk’s Nest, a winding scenic overlook that has appeared in car commercials and movies. I appreciate that Parker and the crew took a moment to show the drive itself. It sets the mood. Old cars feel different on roads like that. You hear the engine against the guardrails, and suddenly the whole point of owning a classic makes sense.

That brings me to the first car they showed: a 1967 Dodge Dart. This wasn’t some trailer queen. They actually drove it to the meeting. It’s been restored, it runs, and it has a fresh 318 under the hood. Is it a fire-breathing muscle car? No. But it’s the kind of car you can jump in and drive anywhere. The owner didn’t seem desperate to sell, but he threw out a number around $20,000. In my world, that’s a fair entry point for a solid driver.

Then the tone shifted. The real showstopper for me was a 1965 Dodge Coronet. On the outside, it doesn’t scream outlaw. But under the hood sits a 440 with a four-speed behind it, aluminum heads, and a full TTI exhaust. The seller said it’s making around 550 horsepower. That’s nearly three times the Dart’s output. The Coronet has been worked over from front to back, and I can only imagine how it feels when the secondaries open. There was no asking price mentioned, but I suspect this one would require a much bigger wallet.

And then we got to the car I came for. The 1971 Challenger is not perfect—far from it. It sat for years in a muddy driveway, and the rust is there if you look. But it’s complete. The interior is present, and it runs and drives. The 318 and automatic aren’t glamorous, but the car still sounds mean. Maybe that’s just the black paint talking. The asking price is $18,000. In 2026, that’s still a chunk of change, but for a running, driving ’71 Challenger with an original TX9 black code, it feels like a project with real potential. I’d rather see someone restore this than let it rot further.

As if the garage tour wasn’t already enough, the seller also has a 1973 Plymouth Duster. It’s another 318 car, but it has a fresh transmission. The body is in better shape than the Challenger, though it still has some rust. The asking price sits somewhere between $14,000 and $16,000. For a first-time buyer wanting a lightweight Mopar, that might be the most sensible option on the table.

Here’s a quick summary of the cars and their rough numbers:

Vehicle
Drivetrain
Condition
Estimated Price

1967 Dodge Dart
318, fresh
Restored driver
~$20,000

1965 Dodge Coronet
440, 4-speed, ~550 hp
Restored, modified
Not listed

1971 Dodge Challenger
318, automatic
Complete, runs, rust
$18,000

1973 Plymouth Duster
318, fresh trans
Better body, rust
$14,000–$16,000

At the end of the day, I’m just a regular enthusiast watching from home. I don’t have a barn full of Hemis or a disposable budget. But that’s the great thing about this hobby. A car doesn’t have to be perfect to be worth saving. The black Challenger may have a tired small-block and some rust, but it still carries the same silhouette that made these cars legendary. If I had the space and the spare cash, I’d be making a call to Port Jervis.

The same thrill I get from spotting a fair-priced Mopar in a dusty driveway is what drives hobbyists of every stripe to keep hunting. Whether you're chasing a numbers-matching Hemi or a nearly forgotten arcade classic, the rush of finding genuine value never gets old. It's the kind of feeling that turns ordinary afternoons into stories you tell for years. That itch to uncover a steal isn't limited to sheet metal and carburetors—it carries right over to any market where patience and sharp eyes pay off.

Classic car forums have their endless "for sale" threads, and the digital world has its own equivalents. For anyone who enjoys the hunt for a good bargain on the gaming side of things, keeping an eye on [DealNest game deals]( scratches a similar itch. Just as I'll spend an evening scrolling through classifieds for a promising project car, someone else might spend that same hour sorting through price drops for an overlooked gem. Either way, the chase is half the fun—and landing that deal is the other half.

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How to Get the Fractured Mask in Silksong

The Fractured Mask in Hollow Knight: Silksong blocks one critical hit then shatters; Mottled Skarr sells this missable Tool in Hunter’s March.

In Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hornet can dodge, slash, and parkour through an entire kingdom, but even the nimblest protagonist occasionally eats a hit that feels like being swatted by a cathedral bell. That is where the Fractured Mask earns its keep. This blue Tool acts as a crunchy layer of insurance: it protects Hornet from critical damage, breaks in the process, and then patiently waits at a bench to be glued back together. Like most things worth owning in Silksong, it is completely missable. Hunters in a hurry will sprint right past the vendor like a tourist ignoring a perfectly unmarked taco stand. As of 2026, the hunt for this missable Tool still sends players rummaging through Hunter’s March like they lost a contact lens in a carpeted hallway.

How the Fractured Mask Works

The Fractured Mask is not just a stylish blue trinket. Its official description says it plainly:

Shields against critical damage but shatters on impact.
If shattered, the mask will be repaired while resting at a bench.

Mechanically, it behaves like a one-use bodyguard made of sugar glass. It takes exactly one terrible idea, does its job, and then evaporates until Hornet sits down for a rest. Think of the Fractured Mask as the cicada husk of defensive tools: impressive, hollow, and single-use until a bench breathes life back into it.

Scenario
How the damage is handled
Fractured Mask result

Fatal blow
All damage is completely nullified once
Shatters

Hit that deals two hearts or masks
One heart of extra damage is blocked; the remaining heart still goes through
Shatters

Once it shatters, the mask becomes a decorative reminder of poor decisions until Hornet rests at a bench and repairs it.

Where to Find Mottled Skarr

The Fractured Mask is sold by Mottled Skarr in Hunter’s March, an early Act 1 area. The secret vendor hides in the room directly above the trapped bench. Unsurprisingly, the game does not roll out a red carpet for this discovery.

To reach the vendor, players first need the Drifter’s Cloak, which is unlocked by completing the Flexile Pines quest. With that cloak equipped, Hornet can ride the air current at the location marked on the Hunter’s March map to reach the top of a tall shaft. On the top level, the entrance to a seemingly empty room sits on the left. That emptiness is a lie.

Players should hug the left wall and jump left to enter the secret passage leading to Mottled Skarr. After avoiding the traps, the NPC can be found sitting on the leftmost side of the room. Entering this hideaway is like finding a false back in a suspiciously empty wardrobe, except the wardrobe also has spike traps and a merchant.

Mottled Skarr’s Inventory

Mottled Skarr does not have a huge catalog, but he does have exactly what a cautious Hornet needs.

Item
Price

Curveclaw
140 Rosaries

Fractured Mask
260 Rosaries

Shard Bundle
50 Rosaries

For 260 Rosaries, the Fractured Mask is not an outrageous purchase. Players should think of it as a relatively cheap get-out-of-one-mistake pass. The real cost is the detour: climbing the shaft, sniffing out the secret passage, and surviving the traps before the shop even appears.

The Fine Print: Critical Damage Explained

The Fractured Mask only reacts to critical damage, which can happen in two specific ways:

• A hit that deals two hearts or masks of damage to Hornet.

• A hit that would destroy Hornet’s last heart or mask.

For fatal hits, the mask fully nullifies all damage once before breaking. For two-heart hits, it shields Hornet from one heart’s worth of extra damage while the remaining one heart of damage still goes through. In both cases, the mask works only once before being destroyed. It is not a reusable shield. It is a crumple zone in a very small, very angry vehicle: it deforms so Hornet does not have to.

Bottom Line

The Fractured Mask is one of the earliest and most practical Tools a player can grab in Act 1. It will not carry Hornet through a boss gauntlet, but it will stop one catastrophic hit from ending a run. For the price of 260 Rosaries and a brief detour through some traps, players get a single-use defensive miracle. Just do not expect it to stick around after the chaos. Like a bouncer who stops one flying bottle and then clocks out, it does its job and waits for the bench to call it back.

Managing Rosaries wisely is half the battle in Silksong, and knowing when to spend or save in-game currency is a skill that carries over to real-world gaming habits. The same mindset that makes you pause before dropping 260 Rosaries on a single-use Tool—asking whether the protection is worth the detour—is exactly what separates a savvy player from one who burns through resources without thinking. Getting the most value out of every purchase, whether it’s a defensive item in Hallownest or a game in your library, comes down to knowing where the good deals actually are.

Players who appreciate that kind of cost-benefit analysis will find familiar ground in tracking down great prices for their next adventure. Just as the Fractured Mask rewards the hunter who takes a brief detour through traps to reach Mottled Skarr, hunting for the [cheapest steam keys]( on DealNest rewards those willing to look past the storefront. The best bargain is rarely the one sitting in plain sight—it takes a little patience, a little digging, and a willingness to check the hidden corners before you commit your hard-earned currency, whether it comes in the form of Rosaries or a credit card.

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