Players of Hollow Knight: Silksong are expressing dissatisfaction due to the long distances they need to cover to return to a boss after a failed attempt. Some are claiming that the developers, Team Cherry, have unnecessarily extended the game’s duration with frustrating runbacks, calling for the placement of save points nearer to boss encounters.

The excitement surrounding Hollow Knight: Silksong has resulted in it being one of the most celebrated sequel releases of this year, leading other game releases to shift their schedules to avoid competition. Following the acclaimed Hollow Knight (2017), this sequel introduces a new character, Hornet, in the Pharloom realm. Unfortunately, the anticipation led to outages on major digital platforms, including Steam and Nintendo eShop, during its launch on September 4.

Community Feedback on Runbacks

Despite the game receiving a favorable 93% approval rating on Steam, feedback regarding its difficulty has emerged. Many players are struggling with the heightening challenges, with criticism particularly directed towards certain bosses delivering double damage. The extensive walking distances between save benches and boss areas have been a frequent topic of discussion in gaming forums, as this seems to discourage enjoyment and deter players wanting to learn boss patterns.

Examples of long walk-backs can be particularly notable during the battle against the Last Judge upon completing the first act; while the confrontation may be straightforward, players find the way to reach the boss more taxing than the battle itself. While some gamers appreciate the added challenge, many others are using modifications aimed at reducing frustrations, such as repositioning save benches to lessen travel time.