Between long runbacks to bosses with an absurd number of phases, enemies that deal double damage, and few rewards, it seems like Hollow Knight: Silksong is officially kicking many people’s butts. Look no further than social media, where many players are debating whether Silksong truly is that difficult. Another data point to add to the mix: Silksong‘s bustling mod scene on Windows PC is full of downloads that ease many of the Metroidvania’s hard edges, essentially providing players with a bespoke easy mode.
As of this writing, the most downloaded mod gives enemies health bars that make it easier to gauge how much damage you’re dealing, which is especially useful when you’re losing hope in the middle of a grueling boss battle. The health bar mod has already been updated six times, and Silksong hasn’t even been out for a week!
The second most popular mod right now gets rid of the double damage most enemies and sometimes even environmental hazards deal from the onset, hacking off two health blips in one go. “I still think the game is a 9/10, even with all this bullshit anyway,” reads one comment on the damage mod. “But this mod just makes it way more enjoyable. Like the OG Hollow Knight was.”
Really, all the most successful mods right now share a common theme, and that’s making the game easier. There’s “Always Have Compass Effect,” which mitigates the fact that an essential ability takes up an entire slot on your crest. That’s in spite of the fact that Silksong provides a built-in way to expand your crest slots. Early game exploration without the compass or maps can be grueling, though, as it is sometimes hard to tell where you are, even with the map fully zoomed in.
Then you’ve got “Always Have Magnet Effect,” which helps pull rosaries toward Hornet. If you’ve ever killed a tricky enemy only to watch their rosaries fall into lava or off-screen, then that one is for you. With that said, there does come a point in the game where the currency becomes bountiful without you needing to grind rosaries or get a mod. Meaning, many of the aspects that seem frustrating in Silksong appear to be the intended experience, such that when you do get the upgrade or ability, its addition feels more significant.
Neither of these mods alters the base experience as much as the next most popular mod, which gives Hornet the ability to teleport anywhere. Though Silksong does provide transportation options, they’re few and far between. You also have to beat a boss to unlock the function at all. Often, you’ll only be able to fast travel once you’ve explored most of an area, which arguably reduces its usefulness. Then again, Silksong does not seem particularly preoccupied with convenience, eh?
“Was waiting for this particular mod so bad, running to bosses from distant benches gets annoying quickly,” reads one comment on the mod. The mod creator responds, “Yes, I hope this allows you to better enjoy the game’s excellent aspects rather than feeling frustrated because of the long journey.”
The list from there includes modes that provide infinite rosaries, increased player damage, double silk, and of course, invincibility. Incidentally, many of the aforementioned mods also happen to be the most-endorsed mods by users, which gives the sense that people really appreciate being able to experience Silksong without nearly as much hassle. We can sit here and have discourse about the “intended” experience and whether these adjustments somehow violate something innate about Silksong. Personally, I played the original Hollow Knight in bursts that were often separated by months; the gothic platformer was otherwise too infuriating. I also know that suffering in both Hollow Knight and Silksong is exactly what makes progress feel meaningful.
But ultimately, thousands of people are already making their games easier. Whatever Team Cherry wanted people to experience is kind of irrelevant if the player doesn’t play it at all, eh?
If you’re having trouble with Hollow Knight Silksong, though, make sure to check out our interactive map that can help you find everything from bench locations to merchants.
