Should I Play Hollow Knight First Before Silksong?

When It Makes Sense

• Good fit: You enjoy deep, challenging Metroidvania experiences and want to understand the world, characters, and combat systems that Silksong builds upon. Starting with Hollow Knight gives you context for recurring enemies, abilities, and narrative threads.
• Good fit: You have a limited budget and prefer to get the most gameplay value per dollar. Purchasing the original game first often costs less than waiting for a bundled release, and you can replay it later for nostalgia.

When You Should Avoid It

• Warning sign: Your primary goal is to experience the newest content as quickly as possible and you have no interest in learning the backstory. Skipping the first game may save time without sacrificing enjoyment.
• Warning sign: You have limited storage space or a platform that struggles with older titles, making a second install problematic. In that case, waiting for a potential remaster or cloud version could be wiser.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Provides a solid grounding in core mechanics—grappling, spell usage, and enemy patterns—that Silksong expands upon, reducing early frustration.
• Offers a rewarding narrative payoff; many story threads from Hollow Knight get subtle references or continuations in Silksong, enhancing immersion.

Cons

• Additional time investment; Hollow Knight is roughly 20‑30 hours, which may delay your enjoyment of the newer title.
• Potential redundancy; some players find the learning curve similar enough that replaying fundamentals feels unnecessary.

Decision Checklist

• Do I enjoy exploring intricate lore and want the payoff of story continuity?
• Do I have the time and storage to accommodate an extra 20‑30 hour game?
• Am I comfortable learning core mechanics through a separate, earlier title, or would I prefer to discover them fresh in Silksong?

Alternatives to Consider

If you’re unsure, you could watch a concise walkthrough or story recap of Hollow Knight to capture essential plot points without playing the full game. Another option is to start Silksong and pause early to consult community guides that explain legacy mechanics, letting you decide later whether a full playthrough of the first game is worthwhile.

Final Recommendation

For players who value narrative depth, enjoy mastering challenging platformers, and have the time and resources, playing Hollow Knight first is a sensible path. If your priority is immediate access to Silksong’s new content or you’re constrained by hardware or schedule, you can safely jump straight into Silksong and fill in gaps later via summaries or optional play. In either case, consider your personal gaming habits and seek community input if you need further clarification.