Hollow Knight: Silksong, the 2D Metroidvania sequel developed by Team Cherry, has quickly established itself as one of the more notable game releases in 2025. The game has already reached approximately six million players worldwide since launch. Steam sales account for over 3.2 million copies, while PlayStation and Nintendo Switch platforms each contribute more than 500,000 copies. The game has been downloaded around 1.5 million times through Xbox Game Pass. Despite initial localization issues in China, Team Cherry has been actively addressing these concerns to ensure a smooth experience for all players.
Hollow Knight: Silksong Hits 6 Million Players
Dominance Among Metroidvania Games
Compared with other Metroidvania games released in 2025, Silksong has demonstrated a clear lead in both sales and player engagement. Many titles that share the 'Metroidvania' tag, such as BLADECHIMERA, have sold only a fraction of Silksong's copies, and other highly tagged games like Supraworld and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance do not adhere to the core 2D Metroidvania style. Even genres with multiple high-grossing releases, such as Open World Survival Craft, show a more distributed revenue pattern, with only a few titles exceeding $5 million. Silksong's figures highlight the strong position it has achieved within its specific genre.
Hollow Knight: Silksong Hits 6 Million Players
International Player Base
Silksong has attracted a diverse global audience, reflecting patterns similar to the original Hollow Knight. On Steam, the largest share of players is from China, followed by the United States, Russia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Spain, Germany, and Argentina. Console platforms show slightly different distributions. On PlayStation, the majority of players are based in the United States, followed by China/Hong Kong, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia. Xbox Game Pass engagement is strongest in the United States, Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina. These trends suggest that the franchise has retained a consistent international appeal while also gaining traction in specific regional markets.
Hollow Knight: Silksong Hits 6 Million Players
Franchise Loyalty and Positive Reviews
Approximately 79 percent of Silksong players on Steam also played the original Hollow Knight. Given that the original title sold over 11 million copies on Steam with an average price of $8, this represents significant franchise loyalty. Other series show similar patterns: Kingdom Come II: Deliverance has 53 percent overlap with the original, Elden Ring Nightreign has 81 percent, and Borderlands 4 has 78 percent. Silksong players also engage with similar 2D games such as Celeste, Ori & The Blind Forest, Ender Lilies, Salt & Sanctuary, and Nine Sols, indicating consistent genre preferences.
Review sentiment for Silksong demonstrates that players had been anticipating the sequel for an extended period. Common words in positive Steam reviews include "finally," "wait," "years," and "happy," reflecting long-term excitement. Negative review terms primarily relate to difficulty, with mentions of challenging bosses and enemies. Team Cherry has been responding to this feedback through targeted gameplay adjustments and balance updates.
Hollow Knight: Silksong Hits 6 Million Players
Playtime Trends and Regional Preferences
Median playtime for Silksong currently measures around nine hours and fifteen minutes, compared to eleven hours and fifty-one minutes for the original Hollow Knight. This is expected to change over time. Early release data typically reflects playtime from more dedicated fans, while casual players tend to increase average engagement after discounts or promotional events.
Console sales data reinforce Silksong's global appeal, with PlayStation seeing the largest proportion of players in the United States, followed by notable engagement in Brazil and China/Hong Kong. Xbox Game Pass shows particular interest from players in North and South America. These differences highlight the influence of platform and regional preferences on game distribution and play patterns.
Hollow Knight: Silksong Hits 6 Million Players
Final Thoughts
Silksong's success appears to be driven primarily by long-term fan engagement rather than broader market trends. The high level of player overlap with the original Hollow Knight, combined with positive reception and a consistent international player base, underscores the strength of the franchise. In the broader context of digital ecosystems and emerging web3-related initiatives, the game's sustained fan investment provides a model for how small-team projects can achieve substantial global reach without large-scale marketing campaigns. Here's a complete list of all the games mentioned:
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Supraworld
- Shinobi: Art Of Vengeance
- BLADECHIMERA
- RuneScape: Dragonwilds
- Dune: Awakening
- Hollow Knight (original 2017 release)
- Kingdom Come II: Deliverance
- Elden Ring Nightreign
- Borderlands 4
- Borderlands 2
- Celeste
- Ori & The Blind Forest
- Ender Lilies
- Salt & Sanctuary
- Nine Sols
- Ultrakill
- Lies Of P
