Elden Ring Nightreign Patch Paves the Way for The Forsaken Hollows

Elden Ring Nightreign's December 2025 patch added support for The Forsaken Hollows DLC plus quality-of-life fixes and balance changes.

In December 2025, FromSoftware rolled out a new patch for Elden Ring Nightreign, and it landed like a courier carrying both gifts and repairs. The timing was no accident: The Forsaken Hollows, Nightreign's first proper, named DLC, was set to arrive on December 4, bringing new bosses, new shifting earth, and new playable Nightfarers. The patch added support for that expansion, but it also quietly reshaped the entire experience for every player on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. Now, in 2026, that update remains a foundational moment for the game, a turning point that showed FromSoftware was still listening.

A Patch That Did More Than Open a Door

FromSoftware did not just flip a switch and call it a day. The studio treated the patch as a chance to smooth out rough edges, and the result was a long list of quality-of-life improvements that players had been requesting for months. The most visible changes included:

• Relic management overhaul: Equipped relics now appear in the Character Selection menu, and players can set names for Relic presets in the Relic Rites menu. Those names can be changed in the All Presets section, and preset order can be rearranged per character.

• New shop item: The Collector Signboard shop gained the Deep Large Scenic Flatstone.

• Map and results improvements: The map's layer display can now be toggled in the Results menu, and the relics equipped by each player are displayed there too.

• Matchmaking flexibility: Players with a Personal Objective requiring a specific target kill while Reliving a Remembrance can now embark with players whose Personal Objective does not require that.

• Flask count highlighting: The flask count now glows when at maximum capacity or when an enemy-induced effect influences it.

• Compass rune icon: The vertical position of the compass rune icon appears if dropped runes are significantly above or below the player.

• Map event highlighting: Specific events on a different map layer can now be highlighted in the map menu.

• Dormant Power UI: The HP gauge and other UI elements remain visible during Dormant Power selection.

• Shop adjustments: Weapon lineup in Limveld's shops was adjusted, and Fire Pots were added to the Spirit Shetler shop inventory.

• Raider fix: Target-lock on enemies behind the tombstone summoned by Raider's Ultimate Art no longer gets released.

Balance Changes: The Scales Were Rebalanced

The patch also broadened trigger conditions for relic effects, equipment passive effects, and special effects that activate at low HP. In plain terms, more of those effects now actually do something when you need them. And yeah, that mattered.

Category
Change

New Passive Effects
Improved Melee Attack Power, Improved Dash Attacks, Improved Rolling Attacks

Buffed Passives
Improved Attack Power when Two-Handing, Attack Up when Wielding Two Armaments, Improved Chain Attack Finishers, Improved Charge Attacks, Improved Jump Attacks, Improved Guard Counters, Improved Skill Attack Power, Physical Attack Up

Adjusted Low HP Effects
Improved Damage Negation at Low HP and Blue-Feathered Branchsword had trigger conditions broadened but effectiveness decreased

Relic Effects
Physical Attack Up, Improved Initial Standard Attack, Improved Critical Hits, Improved Guard Counters, Improved XXX Damage (excluding bows), and Improved Attack Power with 3+ XX Equipped (excluding bows) all increased

Other Changes
Wrath of Gold Incantation reduced FP consumption and increased power

Bug Fixes and Quality-of-Life

The bug fix list was hefty enough to make a Tarnished weep with relief. FromSoftware fixed an Augur invasion teleport bug, mitigated an issue where Sites of Grace or Churches would not activate, and repaired a Night's Tide range discrepancy when rejoining a session. Hammer weapons with Prayerful Strike now appear. Healing or enhancing effects now apply to allies who are dodging or performing their Ultimate Art. Ironeye's Marking weak points now show consistently. Raider's Retaliate no longer cancels and flinches from certain no-damage attacks. Recluse's Elemental Defense affinity residues now spawn correctly. Executor parries now apply Stagger damage. Darkness-imbued attack dodge roll ranges were corrected. Depths Relics now show Greenspill Crystal Tear at expedition start. The Deep of Night rating gauge now reflects Reduce Depth properly. Relic Rites placement icons, Dormant Power rarity UI, Sparring Grounds sorting, Results menu attribute reflection, and Victor's Record special effects were all fixed. Session disband messages no longer haunt the title screen, and graphical, audio, text, and performance issues were addressed.

Let's be honest, that was a lot of housekeeping. But it was the kind of housekeeping that turns a good co-op game into a great one.

The Road to The Forsaken Hollows

Nightreign's ultra-hard Deep of Night mode had launched in September, after dataminers discovered it in August. Along with duos mode, that was all players had for a while, and the community had grown agitated at the lack of news. The Forsaken Hollows DLC and this patch arrived like a fresh campfire in the mist. In IGN's 7/10 review, the game was praised as one of the finest three-player co-op experiences around when played as designed, though the lack of crossplay, duo matchmaking, and built-in communication tools made it hard to create those conditions unless you brought two real-life friends on every run.

By 2026, Nightreign has continued to evolve, but this patch stands as a clear statement. FromSoftware did not abandon its strange, brutal, cooperative experiment. It patched, polished, and pushed forward. If you know, you know: sometimes the smallest fixes make the biggest difference.

If this patch has you eyeing The Forsaken Hollows — or finally convincing a third friend to pick up the base game — the cost of entry stacks up fast, and storefront prices rarely sit still. Hunting down legitimate discounts across platforms, regions, and retailers is its own kind of grind, the sort of thing that eats an evening you'd rather spend in the Depths.

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Mister Mushroom Returns: All 7 Locations In Hollow Knight: Silksong

Find all seven Mister Mushroom locations in Hollow Knight: Silksong and unlock the Passing Of The Age achievement—without decoding his cryptic poem.

Somewhere out there, in the damp and the dark, a fungus is waiting to deliver cryptic nonsense to anyone curious enough to listen. Yes, the Mushroom Man is back in Hollow Knight: Silksong, and veteran players who once tore their hair out chasing the Passing Of The Age achievement in the original game know exactly what that means. Was it fun the first time? Absolutely not. Is it fun now? Well… define fun. In 2026, with the game's community still trading tips, this particular hunt remains one of the strangest side quests Team Cherry ever cooked up.

The good news is that the hunt itself is a little gentler than before. The bad news? The final stop will absolutely test a player's platforming skills to their breaking point. Not quite Path Of Pain territory, perhaps, but close enough to make grown adults whisper apologies to their controllers. So, for anyone who would rather not decode the rambling poem themselves, here is the full rundown of all seven locations where the mysterious mushroom shows up.

The Poem Unravelled

Before the hunt can begin, there is one small problem: the quest has to be started. Head to the Putrified Ducts, past Fleatopia and across the lake. Just before entering the little cave at the back — the one containing Craftmetal — jump up the wall to a small platform where light streams down. Soar to the top of the cave, and there sits a hidden chamber stuffed with mushrooms that will look awfully familiar to anyone who played the first game. Read the tablet, and the quest begins. Simple, right?

Moss Grotto

From the Bone Bottom Bellway Station, run to the far left where the Ruined Chapel sits, then drop down and head a little to the right. Mushrooms from the Fungal Wastes are sprouting on the ground. Play the Needolin, and Mister Mushroom bursts dramatically from the earth. He does not speak plainly, of course. He never does. Exhaust his dialogue, and he burrows away.

Bone Bottom

Fortunately, he does not travel far this time. He appears on the little platform above Bone Bottom itself, the exact spot where Shakra once peddled her maps. Chat, listen, and wave goodbye.

Far Fields

The poem mentions a "Scorched Field", which can only mean one place. From the Far Fields Bellway Station, head down and east to the area where the spine quest was completed. Mister Mushroom is perched on a platform just right of that horrendous volcano climb. Memories of that particular ascent are best left buried.

Greymoor

"Towers spinning" points squarely at Greymoor's windmills. From the Greymoor Bellway Station, ascend the tower directly above, then head west at the top. A small tunnel winds upward through the caves. Speak with the mushroom, receive more divine wisdom, and then — since the player is already there — soar up into the Wisp Thicket, a small optional area with a boss that will make people question their life choices.

The Slab

Cages mean The Slab. Specifically, the poem refers to the First Sinner. Head to the Slab Bellway Station and into the lower area unlocked with the third Slab Key — obtainable in the Putrified Ducts near the Broodfeast quest giver's house if it has somehow been missed. Beating the First Sinner rewards the Rune Rage silk skill. Mister Mushroom waits just left of the cage, delivers his usual cryptic farewell, and vanishes.

Mount Fay

"Fell heart of frost" means the enormous bird atop Mount Fay. At this point, climbing this blasted mountain for the hundredth time feels routine. With the Faydown Cloak, the journey is far easier than the first visit. For the impatient, there is a cheeky shortcut: climb the wall on the far right bordering The Slab to skip the first half of the ascent entirely. At the summit, Mister Mushroom is deep in conversation with the bug-bird.

The Cradle & The Ultimate Ascent

Here comes the harsh part. From Songclave, run along the long western corridor until spotting a pile of rubble fallen from the ceiling. Soar up and begin the climb toward the Cradle — the same route taken at the start of Act 3. Head up through Lace's arena and keep rising until reaching Grand Mother Silk's boss arena, where the Pale Nails silk skill awaits. One step to the right, head upward again into a small entrance, then keep climbing past light platforming and wall spiders until a bench appears. Savour that bench. The real challenge starts after it.

The final ascent is mostly airborne. Grip walls, Clawline the little nut objects, bounce off flying enemies, and use every trick learned so far. Burrowing worms target anyone standing still on the ground, so lingering is not an option. Falling? Pogo off an enemy below or grab a wall with the Ascendant's Grip and hang there indefinitely to catch a breath. It is tough, but the flow arrives quickly enough — the second attempt is always easier.

At the very top, play the Needolin and speak to Mister Mushroom one last time. The achievement itself requires reaching the game's true ending first, and no spoilers will be found here. So sharpen that needle, pack some patience, and good luck — the fungus is counting on failure.

Location
Hint From The Poem
Difficulty

Putrified Ducts
Hidden tablet
Easy

Moss Grotto
Fungal ground
Easy

Bone Bottom
Above town
Easy

Far Fields
Scorched Field
Medium

Greymoor
Towers spinning
Medium

The Slab
Cages
Hard

Mount Fay
Fell heart of frost
Medium

The Cradle
The final climb
Brutal

After all seven encounters, the wandering mushroom finally settles down, and players are left with an achievement, a story, and a lingering suspicion that none of his wisdom ever meant anything at all. Would anyone really expect otherwise from a talking fungus?

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Hornet vs The Knight: Why Silksong's Hero Outshines the Silent Vessel

Hornet's abilities in Hollow Knight: Silksong outshine The Knight: she talks, cocoons, sprints, and glides.

In the sprawling, insectoid world of Hollow Knight, a small, silent knight once captured the hearts of millions. But now, in 2026, the spotlight has shifted to a different hero: Hornet, the princess-protector of Hallownest, who takes center stage in Hollow Knight: Silksong. With her taller frame, sharper cloak, and deadly needle, Hornet is undeniably a different beast. But does that make her a better protagonist than The Knight? Not necessarily—yet she possesses a suite of abilities that The Knight could only dream of. From chatting with NPCs to gliding through the air, Hornet proves that being a short king isn't the only way to rule.

The Gift of Gab ️

One of the most striking differences between the two protagonists is Hornet's ability to speak. The Knight was a silent vessel, reacting to the world with nothing more than a blank stare and the occasional grunt. Hornet, however, engages in full conversations with the bugs of Pharloom. This narrative shift makes the story more engaging, as players can finally hear their hero's thoughts and respond to the quirky cast of characters. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to actually talk back to a cryptic NPC? Hornet does it with grace and wit, turning every interaction into a memorable exchange. This change echoes other sequels like Dead Space 2 and Jak 2, where a talking protagonist added depth to the narrative.

Death Becomes Her

When The Knight died in Hollow Knight, they left behind a Shade—a ghostly remnant that players had to defeat to reclaim their Geo. It was a classic corpse run, but a punishing one. Hornet, in contrast, handles death with far more finesse. Instead of leaving a Shade, she seals her valuables in a silk cocoon and retreats to fight another day. This ability, born from her mastery of Silk, demonstrates her grace and cunning. It's a headcanon-friendly explanation for how she survives countless battles: she doesn't die, she simply withdraws. The Knight could never boast such elegance.

Run, Hornet, Run! ‍️

Traversal is a staple of the Metroidvania genre, and both games excel at it. The Knight can dash, but he never learns to run. Hornet, however, unlocks the Swift Step skill, and if players hold down the dash button, she breaks into a full sprint. There are even Trinkets to boost her running speed. In a foot race between the two, Hornet would leave The Knight in the dust. It's a small but significant upgrade that makes exploring Pharloom a breeze.

Gliding on Air ️

Remember Princess Peach's float in Super Mario Bros. 2? Hornet has a similar trick. In the Far Fields, she can obtain the Drifter's Cloak, which lets her float indefinitely and catch air streams to rocket upward. The Knight's closest equivalent is the Crystal Heart, a jet-like dash that propels him forward. While both are cool, Hornet's gliding feels more graceful and opens up new exploration possibilities. Wouldn't it have been amazing if The Knight could glide through Hallownest? Alas, that was not to be.

The Needolin: Music to Your Ears

The Knight's Nail is a tool for combat, pure and simple. Hornet's Needle, on the other hand, becomes a musical instrument. With the Needolin upgrade, she can play her Needle like a harp to open song-sealed doors. But that's not all—certain NPCs will sing along, and even corpses can reveal ghosts through melody. The Knight could communicate with dreams, but he could never turn his weapon into a guitar. This creative twist adds a layer of charm and mystery to Silksong's world.

Taunt Like You Mean It

Here's a secret that many players miss: Hornet can taunt enemies by clicking the right thumbstick (on Switch 2, for example). This uses a bit of Silk, but in return, enemies are drawn toward her. This aggro-drawing ability is perfect for luring foes into traps, a tactic The Knight could never employ. Taunting adds a strategic layer to combat, and it's a technique more games should adopt.

Clawline: Grappling with Greatness 🪝

Finally, the Clawline is one of Hornet's most versatile upgrades. It propels her forward like an extra dash and lets her cling to ring-shaped ornaments in the environment. The Knight has no grappling hook of any kind. This ability alone gives Hornet a significant edge in mobility, allowing her to reach areas and escape dangers that would leave The Knight stumped.

The Verdict: Who Wins?

Even though The Knight emerged victorious in their original encounter (he was the protagonist, after all), the tables might turn if they fought without player input. Hornet's new talents—talking, cocooning, running, gliding, music-making, taunting, and grappling—could finally give her the strength to best The Knight in all his silent glory. But does that mean she's a better character? That's for players to decide. One thing is certain: Hornet has proven that she's more than just a side character. She's a force of nature, and Hollow Knight: Silksong is her time to shine.

Here's a quick comparison of their abilities:

Ability
The Knight
Hornet

Speech
Silent
Conversational

Death Mechanic
Leaves Shade
Seals cocoon

Running
No
Yes (Swift Step)

Gliding
No (Crystal Heart dash)
Yes (Drifter's Cloak)

Musical Weapon
No
Yes (Needolin)

Taunt
No
Yes (Silk taunt)

Grappling Hook
No
Yes (Clawline)

So, who do you think is the ultimate protagonist? The silent knight who started it all, or the graceful huntress who took up the mantle? In 2026, as players continue to explore Pharloom, Hornet's legend only grows. And perhaps, just perhaps, she has finally earned the title of "short king" in her own right—though she's not so short anymore.

Debates like this one have a way of spilling out of the game and into group chats, forums, and late-night Discord threads—which is part of the fun. If you're the type of player who likes to back up your hot takes with first-hand experience, it helps to actually own the games being argued about. The original Hollow Knight and Silksong both go on sale fairly often, and other metroidvanias like Ori, Blasphemous, and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown regularly see deep discounts too, making it easy to build a library without paying full price.

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My Epic Quest for Silk Soar: Unlocking the Super Jump in Silksong

Unlock Silk Soar in Hollow Knight: Silksong with this Super Jump guide: Act 3, Abyss route, controls, and tips.

I still remember the first time I stared up at a seemingly unreachable ledge in Hollow Knight: Silksong. The Abyss loomed above me, its dark tendrils mocking my feeble jumps. I had no idea that the key to breaking free lay in an Ancestral Art called Silk Soar—the Super Jump that would change everything. After hours of exploration, countless deaths, and a few choice words at my screen, I finally claimed it. Let me walk you through exactly how I unlocked Silk Soar in Silksong, so you don't have to suffer as much as I did.

The Long Road to Act 3

Before you even think about getting Silk Soar, you need to unlock Act 3 and reach the Abyss. And let me tell you, that's no small feat. The game doesn't just hand you the keys. You have to earn it.

Here's what I had to do:

• Complete quests in Bone Bottom, Bellhart, and the Songclave Wishwall. These aren't just busywork; they weave into the story and open the path forward.

• Collect at least 25 Fleas. Yes, 25! Those little critters are scattered everywhere, and you'll need to bring them to the Flea Caravan.

• Get the Flea Caravan to move three times until it reaches the Putrified Ducts. That's right—three times. Each move unlocks new areas and eventually the Abyss.

I spent a good chunk of my playthrough hunting fleas. It felt like a game of hide-and-seek with a bunch of hyperactive insects. But trust me, it's worth it.

Descending into the Abyss

Once Act 3 is active, head to the Abyss. This place is no joke—it's dark, filled with void monsters, and the platforming is brutal. But the Silk Soar is impossible to miss because you literally need it to escape. If you find yourself stuck down there (like I did for an embarrassing amount of time), here's the route:

From the southern bench, head right into the void monster-infested area. Jump, glide, hook, and sprint your way to the right. Keep going until you hit a wall that you can climb up. Hook onto that wall, then go left a little to find some ground and gain height. Keep pushing upward until the right wall blocks you. Then cross to the left and hang onto the left wall. Now, hook onto the black bubbles—they'll boost you up. Aim right, and soon you'll see a door that requires the Needolin song. Use the Needolin to open the gate, then continue descending until you finally reach the Silk Soar skill.

I can't tell you how many times I fell into the void. The Abyss is like that one friend who keeps pranking you—relentless but ultimately teaching you something.

How to Use Silk Soar (Super Jump)

Once you grab Silk Soar, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it. Here's the control scheme:

Platform
Input

PC
Hold Down Arrow + S

Xbox
Hold LT

PlayStation
Hold L2

The skill needs a short charge time, so you can't just spam it while enemies are chasing you. You have to find a safe moment, hold the buttons, and then release. Hornet will soar far up, reaching heights and distances that were previously impossible. It's an absolute game-changer for exploration.

The first time I used it, I felt like I'd been given wings. The charge-up adds a bit of tension, but when you release and Hornet launches skyward, it's pure satisfaction.

Escaping the Cave and Beyond

After you obtain Silk Soar, the game immediately forces you to use it to escape the cave. It's a brilliant design choice—you get to experience your new power in a high-stakes situation. I barely made it out, but the rush was incredible.

Since unlocking Silk Soar, I've been able to access hidden areas, reach new benches, and even find some secret bosses. It's not just a mobility upgrade; it's a key that unlocks the rest of the map. As of 2026, this skill remains one of the most essential abilities in Silksong. If you're struggling to get it, take a deep breath, follow the steps, and don't give up. The Abyss may be dark, but Silk Soar is your light.

Happy soaring! ️

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Sinner's Road Survival Guide: I Got Bullied by Bugs and Found Styx

Hollow Knight: Silksong Sinner's Road guide details essential tools and strategies for surviving this perilous Greymoor route.

Ah, Sinner's Road. In 2026, I still wake up in a cold sweat thinking about its water. This optional slice of upper Greymoor is Hollow Knight: Silksong's way of asking, 'Do you enjoy being miserable, or do you just tolerate it?' It is also an alternate route to Act Two, which means you can absolutely skip it. But where is the fun in that? Come with me, and let us get you from Greymoor to Bilewater without feeding every leech in the neighborhood.

What You Need Before You Suffer

Sinner's Road does not want you to be happy. It wants you to fall into leech water, lose your silk, and rethink your life choices. So pack like you mean it.

Tool
Why I Bring It

Cling Grip
Wall jumps and clinging are non-negotiable. Sinner's Road laughs at heroes who cannot hold on.

Faydown Cloak
The crucial tool for full exploration. Without it, you are just a tourist with a needle.

Clawline
Helpful for traversal, especially when the floor is lava, except the lava is leeches.

Drifter's Cloak
Shows up later for one very specific glide into a spike pit. Bring it if you have it.

Between you and me, if you are missing the Faydown Cloak, turn around. This area will still be here when you are stronger, and your controller does not deserve that kind of abuse.

Reaching Sinner's Road

First, hitch a ride to Greymoor on the Bellway. Once you arrive, exit the station and head into Greymoor. Scale the wall to your right, then exit at the top floor. Keep heading right until you reach a switch for an elevator. Jump on it, then ride it to the top.

Exit the elevator, then jump on top and head to the platforms on the right. Pogo off the floating balloon or use the Faydown Cloak, making your way to a series of platforms that go up. Follow the path up to the right, wall jumping until you find an entrance. Step inside, and welcome to the worst spa day of your life. ️

Exploring The Depths

Inside the first room of Sinner's Road, you will meet the area's most fearsome enemies: Muckroaches. They are aggressive, fast, and have a nasty grab attack. My best advice is to jump over them when they do their grapple, telegraphed by a roar, then slice them up. The Muckroaches have the emotional intelligence of a slammed door, so do not try to reason with them.

Before you leave, take note of the Green Prince locked in the cage. More on him later.

Make your way to the next room on the right, where you have a few options. I advise heading up first, so make your way up using wall jumps. Mind the floating enemy who chucks throwing stars at you. It is possible to swipe these right back at him, but otherwise dodging and jumping up to attack from below works great.

Make your way to the left, then jump up into the alcove. Inside, you will find a gap with a swinging spike ball. Double jump or pogo over, where you will find a bench and Shakra. Buy the map from her, then follow a good bench-fixing guide. Take a rest, then return outside. Shakra is the only reasonable adult in this nightmare, so appreciate her.

Return to where you fought the throwing star enemy, then head to the open door on the right. Try not to fall into the water here, as it is full of leeches that will consume your silk, making it impossible to use skills or heal. The leeches are tiny pickpockets with a grudge.

Make your way across, which is easier if you have come equipped with the proper traversal tools. Note the locked door at the far end, then proceed up, using the cages and spiked balls to pogo up.

Once you reach the top left platform, take a running leap to the right, then double jump and glide over. Enter the tent, where you can accept a quest to obtain ten Muckroach guts. The reward is a new offensive tool known as Tacks, which are quite handy. Return outside, then head back to the farthest left platform. Drop into the pathway, then unlock the door by hitting the switch underneath. This leads you back out to the main shaft.

Find Styx

Head all the way up, using the pogo and your double jump, then head into the top area. Open the path on the right, then head up. Make your way across the platforms, avoiding the big chain-wielding enemies and Muckroaches below.

Enter into the next area on the far right, which is a large vertical room that has rooms at the top and bottom. Let us go up first.

Kill the buzzing swordsman, then maneuver your way through a cramped corridor of spikes. Wall-jump along the safe locations, then duck into the path on your left. Follow that up, then engage with the mini-boss. He is strong but slow, so simply jumping over him and slicing him from behind works wonders. He will drop a small key, which you should hang on to for a moment.

Make your way back down, then all the way to the door on the bottom right. Leap across the gaps, finding your way to one that descends into a spike pit. Glide down with the Drifter's Cloak, taking note of two Muckroaches guarding an intriguing area. Take them out, then speak to the entity that appears. This is Styx, and he will grant you rewards over the course of the game as you come back. Finally, someone in this place who does not want to eat me.

Escape Into Bilewater

Now, it is time to make your way back to the area where the Green Prince was locked in a cage. Open the cage, then head directly to the right on the bottom path.

This is a perilous room, so be careful of both Muckroaches and flying swordsmen. Once you reach the end of the room, take the path down, then drop into the chamber below. At the bottom, you will find the Barbed Bracelet. This item will increase your damage output, but also increase damage taken. Once you have gotten that, you are ready to escape.

Return to the large vertical room, then find the middle exit. You will have to drop through a broken cage, but once you reach this, you will be able to exit into Bilewater and escape Sinner's Road. Congratulations, you survived. I am not saying I cried, but the bench and I had a moment.

Final Sinner's Road Tips

• Do not panic in leech water. Panic costs silk. Silk costs healing. Healing costs dignity.

• Pogo everything. Cages, spike balls, floating balloons, your own bad decisions. If it exists, bounce off it.

• Buy the map from Shakra. Getting lost here is like being lost in a haunted filing cabinet.

• Save the Green Prince for later. He is not going anywhere, and neither are the Muckroaches.

• Grab Tacks and Barbed Bracelet. One makes you throw sharp things. The other makes everything sharper, including your own incoming damage.

And that is Sinner's Road in 2026: still rude, still damp, still full of bugs that want to wear your shell as a hat. Pack your Cling Grip, bring your Faydown Cloak, and remember: if you can survive this, you can survive anything Silksong throws at you next. Probably. Maybe. ...Okay, definitely not, but at least you will have Styx.

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Hollow Knight: Silksong Map Guide - All 28 Maps and How to Get Them

Hollow Knight: Silksong map locations and Shakra guide—find all 28 maps, their costs, and how to obtain them for easier exploration.

Hey there, fellow wanderer! Have you ever found yourself lost in the twisting corridors of Pharloom, wishing you had a map? I know I have. In Hollow Knight: Silksong, there are 28 maps to collect, and let me tell you, they make all the difference. Whether you're buying from Shakra or hunting down hidden devices, this guide will help you become a master cartographer. So, grab your needle, and let's dive in!

First things first: Shakra. She's that fierce warrior you'll hear singing or see leaving a trail of Throwing Rings. You can buy half the maps from her. But from Act 2 onward, you'll also find maps by interacting with strange devices or picking them up in map rooms. If you're short on Rosaries when you first meet her, don't worry—you can always buy the map later when you run into her again. Just be prepared to navigate without one for a while, which can be tricky!

Now, let's break down all 28 maps. I've organized them into a handy table so you can quickly find what you need. Remember, the prices are in Rosaries, and the locations are relative to landmarks like benches or Bellways.

Map
How to Obtain
Cost (Rosaries)
Location

Bone Bottom
Buy from Shakra
40
NW part of The Marrow

The Marrow
Buy from Shakra
50
Near bench in NW part

Deep Docks
Buy from Shakra
50
East of Deep Docks Bellway

Far Fields
Buy from Shakra
50
Cave SW of Far Fields Bellway

Wormways
Buy from Shakra
70
East side, upper path from Moss Grotto

Hunter's March
Buy from Shakra
70
East side, east of path down to Deep Docks

Greymoor
Buy from Shakra
70
Eastern part, west of Craw Lake

Verdania
Find on bug corpse

Small camp in SE part

Bellhart
Buy from Shakra
40
Lower Shellwood, beneath Greyroot's hut

Shellwood
Buy from Shakra
70
Lower part, beneath Greyroot's hut

Blasted Steps
Buy from Shakra
70
Eastern part

Sinner's Road
Buy from Shakra
90
Near bench on NW side of central shaft

The Slab
Find on bug corpse

Cell east of bench in center

Mount Fay
Buy from Shakra
40
Near bench in lowest part, near path to The Slab

Sands of Karak
Buy from Shakra
90
Chamber on western side of central shaft

Bilewater
Buy from Shakra
90
Center, NE of Bilewater Bellway

Weavenest Atla
Inspect device

NE part; head right from Needolin door, break two glowing orbs, inspect device in left chamber

Grand Gate
Inspect machine
40
Central part

Underworks
Interact with map

Small chamber on western side of central shaft, above first bench

Whiteward
Inspect machine
70
Area south of only bench

Choral Chambers
Inspect machine
70
Area east of Grand Bellway

High Halls
Inspect machine
70
Area east of path up from Choral Chambers

Whispering Vaults
Inspect machine
70
Hidden chamber at top of central shaft

Cogwork Core
Step on button

Hidden area above foldable bench, beneath NW passageway into Choral Chambers

Memorium
Inspect machine
70
Map room in SE part

Putrified Ducts
Inspect table

Room on west side of central shaft, SW of Putrified Ducts Bellway

The Cradle
Inspect machine
70
Alcove on west side

The Abyss
Inspect device

Secret area above bench in lowest part

As you can see, Shakra is your go-to for many maps, but you'll also need to keep an eye out for other opportunities. I remember the first time I found a map on a bug corpse—I was so surprised! It just goes to show that exploration always pays off.

A few tips from my own journey: Always buy maps when you can, because backtracking without one is a nightmare. Also, keep an eye out for glowing devices and bug corpses—they often hold maps. And don't forget the Cartographer achievement! Collecting all 28 maps will reward you with that shiny trophy.

Now, let's talk about the Act 2 shift. In the first act, you rely heavily on Shakra. But once you hit Act 2, you'll start finding maps in map rooms or from strange devices. It's a nice change of pace, and it encourages you to explore every nook and cranny. Have you ever stumbled upon a map machine by accident? I know I have, and it felt like winning the lottery!

One thing to keep in mind: some maps, like the Weavenest Atla map, require a bit of puzzle-solving. You'll need to break glowing orbs and inspect devices. Others, like the Cogwork Core map, just need you to step on a hidden button. It's always a good idea to poke around every corner.

So, there you have it. With this guide, you'll never be lost in Pharloom again. Happy mapping, and may your journey be filled with discovery! And remember, if you ever feel overwhelmed, just take a deep breath and ask yourself: what would Shakra do? Probably sing and throw rings, but you get the idea.

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Silksong: How I Opened That Ornate Clamp (And Why You Can Chill)

Silksong's ornate clamp in Deep Docks unlocks only with the Diving Bell Key from Act 3, serving as a transit stop, not a puzzle.

Hello, fellow bug with a needle and a questionable sense of direction. I am here to tell you about the time I found an old diving bell in Deep Docks, read the words 'Its door is shut tight by an ornate clamp,' and proceeded to lose my mind for a solid hour. If you are searching for how to open the ornate clamp in Silksong, congratulations: you are not alone, and the answer is way less dramatic than the creepy bell suggests. In 2026, with the game fully out and Act 3 no longer a rumor whispered in taverns, I can confirm the truth. The ornate clamp does not open because you hit it harder, shoot it, or stare at it with Hornet's intimidating mask. It opens only when you have the Diving Bell Key, and that key is tied to the secret Act 3. So if you are still poking around Deep Docks in the early acts, put the clamp on your 'later' list and go explore something else. The bell is not a boss room. It is a transit stop.

Wait, What Is This Weird Clamp?

You find the old diving bell in the deeper part of the Deep Docks. When Hornet inspects it, the game tells you: 'An old diving bell. Its door is shut tight by an ornate clamp.' That is it. No prompt, no lever, no nearby switch, no cryptic mural. Just a sealed bell and a clamp that looks important enough to make you think you missed a whole dungeon.

I know the feeling. I circled the room. I checked the ceiling. I hit the clamp with my needle like it owed me geo. Nothing. The reason is simple: the ornate clamp in Silksong is not a local puzzle. It is a progression lock. The only thing that opens it is the Diving Bell Key, and the only place to get that key is the secret Act 3. If you are not in Act 3 yet, the bell is a fancy metal door with trust issues.

The Diving Bell Key Is an Act 3 Thing

Here is the short version: the Diving Bell Key is obtainable only in the secret Act 3. Opening the bell is part of the natural progression of that secret chapter, so you will eventually reach this moment if you choose to experience Act 3. You do not need to solve a riddle. You do not need to find a hidden wall in Deep Docks. You do not need to sacrifice a Grub to a lamp. You just need to get to the right chapter.

And what is inside? Brace yourself. It is a bench and a speaker. That is it. No boss. No item. No secret boss holding a secret item. The old diving bell is used as a method to travel to the Act 3 area. It is basically public transportation with extra steps and a creepy door. So if you are in Act 1 or Act 2 and the clamp is mocking you, you can safely ignore it. Hornet will not miss out on much, and you will go there anyway if you obtain the quest to do so.

Ballow: The Deep Docks Employee of the Year

So how do you actually get the key? The Diving Bell Key is given by Ballow, the non-hostile Deep Docks worker who is working right next to the Forge Daughter. The Forge Daughter is a vendor in Deep Docks, and she is the one who points you toward him. After you speak to the Forge Daughter about how to descend below the Deep Docks, she will inform Hornet that she is not the one to ask. Instead, you should be asking Ballow. Go right to the worker and speak to him. He will say that he will wait for Hornet by the bell.

I love Ballow. He has the energy of a guy who has been on break for three years but still clocks in. He does not fight you. He does not judge your build. He just waits by an ancient diving bell and presumably drinks terrible coffee. Once you have done your part, venture to the old diving bell. If you have been there before, you can use the shortcut. If you have never been there, prepare for a long detour. Then climb up the small room on the right to find Ballow. He will operate the descent of the old diving bell. Once ready, Hornet can open the ornate clamp to enter the bell. Inside, sit on the bench, and speak to Ballow to begin the dive.

Should You Bother? A Very Serious Table

Question
Answer

What opens the ornate clamp?
The Diving Bell Key

Where is the key?
Secret Act 3

Can I get it early?
No, unless you enjoy disappointment

Who gives it?
Ballow, next to the Forge Daughter

What is inside the bell?
A bench and a speaker

Is there a boss?
No

Is there an item?
No

Is it missable?
Not if you play Act 3

Can I ignore it?
Yes, safely

Did I ignore it?
No, and I regret the hour I spent

My Step-by-Step Clamp Opening Routine

• Reach the deeper part of Deep Docks.

• Find the Forge Daughter, the vendor.

• Ask her about descending below the Deep Docks.

• Learn that she is not the one to ask. Rude, but fair.

• Go right and speak to Ballow, the non-hostile worker.

• Hear him say he will wait by the bell.

• Travel to the old diving bell. Use the shortcut if you have it. Take the long detour if you do not.

• Climb up the small room on the right to find Ballow.

• Let Ballow operate the descent of the old diving bell.

• Once ready, open the ornate clamp as Hornet.

• Enter the bell.

• Sit on the bench. Speak to Ballow. Begin the dive.

That is the whole secret. No boss fight. No complex platforming gauntlet. No lore dump that requires a PhD in bug theology. Just a key, a worker, a clamp, and a bench.

The Final Bell

If you are reading this in 2026 and wondering whether some patch changed the old diving bell, the answer is no. The ornate clamp still wants the Diving Bell Key. The key still belongs to secret Act 3. Ballow still waits by the bell. The inside still gives you a bench and a speaker instead of a treasure chest. And I still feel silly for treating a transit stop like a locked vault.

So do not be like me. If you find the old diving bell before Act 3, give the ornate clamp a little wave and walk away. It is not a puzzle. It is a future appointment. When Act 3 comes, Ballow will be there, the clamp will open, and you will ride the bell like the stylish, slightly confused Hornet you are.

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Conquering High Halls: A Pilgrim's Guide to Silksong's Deadliest Gauntlet

High Halls and Clawline challenge even the bravest in Pharloom, with perilous rings, spike shafts, and relentless enemies.

The pilgrim had heard the stories long before she ever laid eyes on the golden rings of High Halls. Every hall in Pharloom carries a song, the old travelers said, and the High Halls carry the cruelest one of all — a melody stitched together from spinning rings, spike-filled shafts, and an eleven-wave slaughter that has broken more wanderers than any crowned boss ever managed. In a kingdom of twenty-eight biomes, this one, hidden above the Choral Chambers, remains the place where ambition goes to die.

But she was stubborn, and stubbornness, in Pharloom, is a kind of currency.

The Long Road to the Golden Rings

Before the pilgrim could even think about stepping inside, she needed the Clawline — a tool she could only claim in the Underworks, the grim industrial sprawl that opens up after Trobbio falls. That alone took her longer than she cared to admit. Once the hook was finally hers, the path revealed itself at the top left of the Choral Chambers. Those who have not yet unlocked the route can find it by passing through the Cogwork Dancers' arena and pressing left until a lonely bench appears at the very edge of the map.

To the right of that bench hangs a ring. She leapt, hooked, and rose. More rings followed, some of them willing to carry her upward like patient elevators. The entrance to High Halls waited on the right — and it was only the beginning.

Dancing With Rotating Rings

Her first steps inside were deceptively simple: jump, Clawline to the platform on the right, repeat, and cut down whatever stood in the way. Then came the rotating mechanisms, their rings orbiting like the teeth of some colossal clock. The trick, she learned after two painful falls, was patience — waiting for a ring to swing to the bottom before jumping and hooking it, riding it to the apex, then leaping to the rings on either side and using Cling Grip to haul herself higher.

A Minister died at her needle there. She climbed the left wall to the top-right exit and pressed on into a room that mirrored the first, except that two more Ministers spawned the instant her feet touched the next platform. She learned to dread that sound — the soft chime that means something new has noticed you.

The Spike Shaft and the Bench Below

Past the Ministers, the architecture opened into a great hall where the floor had been replaced by spikes. She dropped toward them, glided into the left corner, then Clawlined to a ring on the right and simply waited. A second passed. A lever groaned somewhere in the dark, and the spikes beneath her sank. From there it became a rhythm: hook across the gap, cut down a Minister mid-flight, and finally drop through the exit below.

Relief arrived in the shape of a bench, a map, and a Ventrica humming to her right. She sat, breathed, and understood that the worst was still ahead. To the left waited a massive fight, and beyond it, the Conductor's Melody.

Eleven Waves, No Boss, No Mercy

What awaited her was not a boss. That was the joke, the one every veteran tells with a tired smile. Instead, the room demanded eleven consecutive waves of enemies, and losing at any point meant starting over from the bench on the right.

Wave
Enemies

1
One Chorister, one Reed, and one Envoy

2
Two Choristers

3
One Reed, one Choir Bellbearer, and one Clawmaiden

4
Two Ministers and one Clawmaiden

5
Two Maestros

6
One Choir Clapper (miniboss)

7
Two Reeds and one Choir Bellbearer

8
Two Choir Bellbearers, one Chorister, and one Clawmaiden

9
Two Ministers and one Choir Bellbearer

10
One Maestro and one Reed

11
Two Choir Clappers

Ten waves she could manage, bleeding and cursing but managing. The eleventh was something else entirely — two Choir Clappers, enormous, attacking without pause, leaping without warning. Fighting them fairly is close to impossible.

So she cheated, a little. First she bought the Ascendant's Grip, a yellow tool sold by the merchant in Songclave once that merchant has been unlocked. With it, the top-left and top-right corners of the arena become a genuine blind spot, a place where no Clapper's swing can reach. Then, the moment wave ten ended and debris began raining from the ceiling, she scattered every Tack across the floor on one side and released her Cogflies. From the safety of the corner, she watched the traps gnaw one miniboss down to nothing — and the survivor was, at last, a fair fight.

Secrets Hidden in the Shadows

The pilgrim did not leave empty-handed, either. High Halls rewards those willing to look sideways instead of forward, and its hidden corners hold some of the finest loot in the region.

Reward
How To Get It

1
Psalm Cylinder
While descending the spike area near the end, break the wall on your left, travel through the water, jump up and right, then defeat a large creature

2
Hidden Rosaries
Before dropping into the spike area, use the rings above you to climb and claim them at the top

3
Frayed Rosary String
After the spike area, take the left exit instead of descending; later, push a cart into the falling water, double jump up through a hidden door, push another cart, and climb to a silk wall

4
Simple Key Room
Just before the gauntlet fight, after a few platforms, find Rosaries, a Pale Rosary Necklace, and the Rosary Cannon tool

5
Cogfly Tool
In the spike room, take the left exit beside a Minister, jump across, and craft it at a table using Craftmetal

6
Spool Fragment
Requires the double jump; before the second room's exit, leap to the top left and climb far upward

By the time she finally walked away, the Conductor's Melody resting in her inventory and her nerves thoroughly shredded, the pilgrim understood something the rumors had never quite captured. High Halls is not difficult because it is unfair. It is difficult because it demands everything at once — movement, patience, preparation, and the humility to use a dirty trick when the honest one will not work.

Come prepared. Come stubborn. And do not forget the Tacks.

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Hollow Knight Silksong: Balm for the Wounded Quest Guide for 2026

Hollow Knight Silksong's Balm for the Wounded quest sends you from Songclave to Whiteward to find Sherma. Complete it for rewards and 100%.

In 2026, Hollow Knight Silksong remains a maze of secrets, and the Balm for the Wounded quest is one of its most easily missed errands. This Act 2 side quest sends Hornet into Whiteward to find Sherma, a resident who has vanished from Songclave. For completionists chasing 100%, it is not optional. For everyone else, the rewards make it more than worth the detour. The quest also opens the door to another missing-person hunt, so players who skip it may find their Wish Board looking a little emptier than it should.

How to Start the Balm for the Wounded Quest

The quest does not simply appear. Players must first discover Songclave in the north-eastern part of Choral Chambers in the Citadel. After activating the First Shrine bench in Songclave, they need to leave and then return. That small act of backtracking convinces the settlement to build a Wish Board. Songclave, in other words, waits for travelers to prove they are coming back.

Even then, the Wish Board will not offer Balm for the Wounded right away. It only appears after players complete the Building Up Songclave side quest. That task asks for a donation of 300 Rosaries to the Wish Board. It also requires visiting Whiteward one time. The entrance to Whiteward needs a key, but the key is easy to find to the right of the First Shrine bench in Songclave. Players should grab it before leaving. Blink and it is gone, and then they will be making a second trip.

Once Building Up Songclave is complete and Whiteward has been visited at least once by unlocking its door, players should return to Songclave. The Balm for the Wounded quest will be waiting at the Wish Board. Accept it, and the search for Sherma officially begins.

How to Find Sherma in Whiteward

Sherma can be found on the eastern side of Whiteward, northwest of the path that leads to the Underworks. A specific door leads directly to her location, but reaching it is the tricky part. Whiteward is a place that hoards its secrets like a miser, and the correct route is not always obvious.

Fortunately, the game offers a trail. While exploring Whiteward in search of Sherma, players will encounter an item of hers that can be interacted with. Doing so tracks her scent. This creates a visible path to her location, making the hunt much less of a headache. The scent trail practically takes players by the hand and leads them to the door mentioned earlier.

After entering the door, players arrive in a tiny subsection of Whiteward. From there, they should proceed all the way to the right. Sherma is at the end. Once she is found, speak to her and exhaust her dialogue. This triggers a battle against a wave of enemies. There are five enemies in total, and they must all be defeated. After the fight, speak to Sherma again. Finishing that conversation concludes the Balm for the Wounded quest.

Balm for the Wounded Quest Rewards

The first reward arrives immediately. Sherma hands over a Spool Fragment after being saved from Whiteward. A Spool Fragment is one of two parts that increase Hornet's Silk Meter. For combat-focused players, that upgrade is not just a nice extra. It is a direct boost to Hornet's toolkit, and it can make later fights feel noticeably smoother.

The second reward is a new quest at the Wish Board in Songclave. Completing Balm for the Wounded unlocks the Lost Merchant quest, which involves finding another missing character on the large map of Silksong. In other words, one rescue leads to another mystery. Players who enjoy the interconnected side stories of Silksong should pay attention, because this chain is easy to lose track of in a year crowded with new releases.

Reward
Details

🧵 Spool Fragment
Handed over by Sherma immediately after the rescue. One of two parts that increase Hornet's Silk Meter.

Lost Merchant quest
Unlocked at the Wish Board in Songclave. Sends players after another missing character.

Completion progress
Required for a 100% completion run in Hollow Knight Silksong.

Why the Quest Still Matters in 2026

By 2026, Hollow Knight Silksong has been picked apart by guide writers, speedrunners, and lore hunters. Yet Balm for the Wounded remains a common blind spot. The quest hides behind a donation, a key, a first visit to Whiteward, and a scent trail that only appears if players inspect the right object. That is a lot of invisible checkboxes. No shame in missing one.

For anyone returning to an old save or starting a fresh completion run, the order is simple. Build up Songclave. Visit Whiteward. Accept the Wish. Track Sherma. Clear the enemy wave. Claim the Spool Fragment. Then check the Wish Board again for the Lost Merchant. It is a short chain, but it reaches into multiple systems and rewards patient exploration.

In a game built on hidden paths and quiet tragedies, Balm for the Wounded fits right in. It asks players to slow down, follow a scent, and bring someone home. The Spool Fragment is the practical prize. The new quest is the hook. The real reward, as cheesy as it sounds, is one less empty chair in Songclave.

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Hollow Knight's Review Shift After Silksong: A Storm in a Teacup?

Hollow Knight and Silksong spark record Steam reviews in 2025-2026, shifting ratings but confirming the game's enduring indie legacy.

In the quiet aftermath of 2025, as 2026 rolls on, Hollow Knight remains one of indie gaming's crown jewels. Eight years after its release, the game has earned nearly 440,000 positive Steam reviews and fewer than 14,000 negative ones. That ratio is the stuff of legend. But when Hollow Knight: Silksong finally arrived, it brought a flood of new players into Hallownest, and with them came a small but noticeable shift in how the original game is being reviewed. For the first time in its history, Hollow Knight's recent Steam reviews slipped from Overwhelmingly Positive to Very Positive. It is not a crisis, but it is a fascinating wrinkle in the story of a modern classic.

The Numbers Behind the Shift

According to SteamDB, in the first ten days of September 2025, Hollow Knight received 660 negative reviews. That may not sound like much for a game with hundreds of thousands of reviews, but it was the highest monthly negative total in the game's history, and September was only one-third over. The previous record was set in August 2025 with 378 negative reviews. Before that, January 2025 held the record with 340 negative reviews. To put it plainly, the game was not suddenly review-bombed into oblivion. It was simply being played by more people than ever before.

Period
Negative reviews
Notes

First 10 days of September 2025
660
Highest monthly total ever, with two-thirds of the month remaining

August 2025
378
Previous monthly record

January 2025
340
Record before August 2025

Lifetime before September 2025
Fewer than 14,000
Against almost 440,000 positive reviews

Why More Players Meant More Mixed Feedback

The surge in reviews was not just negative. Hollow Knight actually received more positive reviews than in any other month. But the ratio changed. More players than ever before were trying the game, partly because Silksong had finally launched, and partly because the sequel sent curious newcomers back to the original. Between August 23 and September 2, the game broke its own concurrent player count record almost every day. On September 7, it hit a peak of 95,655 concurrent players. That is a lot of nails being swung. ️

When a game reaches a new audience, some of that audience will bounce off. Hollow Knight is brilliant, but it is also challenging, cryptic, and occasionally unforgiving. Not everyone wants to wander through Deepnest without a map. Some negative reviews likely came from players who expected a more conventional sequel-style experience, or who found the original's pace slower than Silksong's more aggressive combat. It is a classic case of a rising tide lifting all boats, including the ones carrying complaints. ️

Silksong's Own Review Storm

It is worth putting Hollow Knight's review shift into perspective. Silksong, despite still holding a Very Positive rating on Steam, has received more than double the negative reviews that Hollow Knight has received in its entire lifetime. That is a wild statistic. Part of that is due to a poor Chinese translation, which Team Cherry has said it will rectify. Part of it is due to the game's perceived higher difficulty, something the developers plan to address in an upcoming patch. In other words, Hollow Knight's 660 negative reviews in ten days look like a gentle breeze next to the hurricane that greeted its sequel. The original game is still an all-timer, and its overall score remains Overwhelmingly Positive. The recent review change is a footnote, not a fall from grace. ️

What This Means for Hollow Knight in 2026

As 2026 unfolds, the dust has settled. Hollow Knight is still beloved. Silksong is still being patched and debated. The review ratio shift says less about Hollow Knight's quality and more about the strange alchemy of a sequel's release. A new game can send players running back to the old one, and not all of them will leave a five-star review. Some will complain about the map. Some will complain about the difficulty. Some will complain about the lack of a sequel for eight years, even though the sequel now exists. That is the internet for you.

But there is no need to sound the alarms. Hollow Knight has survived worse: the wait for Silksong. If anything, the renewed attention proves that Team Cherry created lightning in a bottle twice. The first game's review score is still the envy of the indie world. The second game is still finding its footing. And players are still talking about both. In the grand scheme, a few hundred extra negative reviews are a storm in a teacup. The Knight's journey through Hallownest remains one of gaming's great modern epics, and no temporary dip in recent review sentiment is going to change that.

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Lifting the Silken Curse: My Journey Through Bellhart in Silksong

Hollow Knight: Silksong Bellhart Silken Curse guide: use Cling Grab to free citizens and defeat the boss.

As a seasoned Hollow Knight veteran, I dove into Hollow Knight: Silksong expecting a challenge. But nothing prepared me for the eerie sight of Bellhart, where every resident and pilgrim bug was strung up by silken threads. ️ My attacks did nothing to free them, and my quest log updated with a clear directive: free the citizens from the Silken Curse. This is the story of how I found the culprit, defeated a terrifying boss, and restored the town to its former glory.

Prerequisites for the Curse Quest

Before you can even think about breaking the curse, you need to meet a few requirements. Trust me, I learned this the hard way after wandering around aimlessly.

• Travel to Greymoor: You can get there via the traveling Flea Caravan after completing their lost fleas quest, or by traversing from the bottom pathway.

• Speak to the Bell Hermit: In the bell beast pathway, break the right wall and head downward to find the hermit, who gives you crucial information.

• Have the Shellwood Map: At least partially filled out. This helps with navigation.

• Unlock Cling Grab: You'll find this ability in Shellwood. It's essential for scaling walls later.

Oh, and here's a fun easter egg: if you rest on the bench in Bellhart and exit the game, when you return, Hornet will be strung up too! But don't worry, you can attack to break free.

How to Traverse Above Bellhart

Once you're ready, you need to find a path from Shellwood back into Bellhart and then destroy your way into the ceiling tunnels above the town. This is where the Cling Grab ability shines. You'll be scaling walls, avoiding bell bugs, and breaking through bell barriers.

I started at the map location nearest the bench on the upper left pathway. From there, I parkoured from left to right onto the next path where the lake begins. Make sure you take the top path – the second path won't get you into Bellhart from above. After passing the lake, I maneuvered upwards using Cling Grab onto a platform with bells at its entrance. Enter and start breaking down the bell barriers to clear a long tunnel until you reach a new map piece in the upper levels of Bellhart.

As I moved through the tunnels, I killed any bell bug enemies along the way. The path down contains large flying bell bugs. You can hit them from the platform, or do what I did: wait for them to fly up, then lay traps to catch them on the way down. This made descending much easier.

Then I traversed downward through another shaft. This time there were two. Instead of traps, I waited until the two enemies met each other before jumping down and swiftly running into the nearest left path. Continuing left, I came to an opening in the ground and jumped in. I healed up, then dropped into a new room covered in clumps of threads. That's when I triggered a dialogue cutscene with the Weaver behind the Silkspun curse: Widow. After she finished talking, I was plunged into a boss fight.

Boss Fight: Widow

Preparations

Before the fight, I made sure to equip the right tools. Here's what I recommend:

• Ability: Silkspear – This slices through Widow's silk traps easier. Use it sparingly to save silk for healing.

• Crest: Reaper Crest – Restores silk quickly, allowing more Silkspear uses. Combined with Druid's Eye, you get a minor stack of silk replenishment.

• Tools:

• Fractured Mask: Shields against critical damage but shatters on impact.

• Druid's Eye: Replenishes silk upon getting attacked.

• Sting Shard: Lethal trap of tightly bound blades that pierces enemies.

• Flea Brew: Temporarily increases movement and attack speed.

• Pollip Pouch: Applies poison to equipped tools.

Phase 1

Widow shrieked to begin the fight, and immediately her hand glowed as she lunged at Hornet. This is a grab attack – I jumped over her and glided or swift-stepped out of reach. I followed the boss and whacked her with a downward pogo strike before she disappeared temporarily to the side of the wall. She reappeared crouch-walking and dispensing threads across the screen. I moved to the wall and avoided the threads as they yanked up bells from below.

Bells erupted from the ground, pushing Hornet up and dealing two masks of damage if hit. I simply jumped when I saw the ground moving and glided in the air until it returned to normal. Widow pulled on threads to fire bells from the ceiling at Hornet. This was my chance to attack, as she wouldn't move from her spot for a few minutes before repeating her earlier attacks. Once she was staggered, I unleashed as many heavy attacks with my needle as possible until Phase 2 began.

Phase 2

In Phase 2, Widow sent a barrage of bells and debris down on Hornet. I kept to the left, or if I was confident, went straight to Widow and attacked, preparing to jump over her. During this phase, Widow dispensed thick threads across the arena. I used Silkspear to slash through multiple at once, saving time and damaging Widow in the process. Most of her attack patterns remained the same, but patience was key when waiting for an opening – the bells caused more health loss than intended if I wasn't careful.

I needed to stagger Widow twice more before Hornet grabbed onto her from above. Once the prompt to bind appeared, I quickly pressed down to end the fight. I obtained a piece of silk weaver lore and the new silk ability, the Needolin.

Silken Curse Lifted

With the curse lifted, I continued back downwards and re-entered Bellhart to meet the bugs I rescued, along with some returning characters. The town felt alive again!

• Shakra's Return: Shakra asked if Hornet was responsible for lifting the curse, then commented on my accomplishments. Her shop inventory is now ready for map-making essentials.

• Pavo: The official welcomer of Bellhart has a wish on the board for donations to restore the area. They praised Hornet and now accept new pilgrims while watching the town's revival.

• Frey: A shopkeeper who hid in their shop and devoured most of their stock. They won't open until you find their lost courier. Complete the request to access the shop.

• Plinney: A pinmaster who protected himself in his shop. He sharpens Hornet's needle for free and offers a location for pin oil within The Citadel in a new wish request.

• Scrounge: A relic seeker who requests any relic with Pharloom history. Return anytime to grow their collection and learn about each item.

• Sherma's Return: Sherma made it to Bellhart, unaffected by the curse and cheerful as ever. You can perform with your Needolin alongside him and Pavo nearby.

With the residents free, I unlocked a new achievement called Fanatic and gained a new main town area to frequent. Now I can progress to the rest of the game. If you're stuck on the Silken Curse, I hope this guide helps you free Bellhart and enjoy the vibrant community that emerges. Happy hunting!

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Hollow Knight's Review Shift After Silksong: A Storm in a Teacup?

Hollow Knight and Silksong spark record Steam reviews in 2025-2026, shifting ratings but confirming the game's enduring indie legacy.

In the quiet aftermath of 2025, as 2026 rolls on, Hollow Knight remains one of indie gaming's crown jewels. Eight years after its release, the game has earned nearly 440,000 positive Steam reviews and fewer than 14,000 negative ones. That ratio is the stuff of legend. But when Hollow Knight: Silksong finally arrived, it brought a flood of new players into Hallownest, and with them came a small but noticeable shift in how the original game is being reviewed. For the first time in its history, Hollow Knight's recent Steam reviews slipped from Overwhelmingly Positive to Very Positive. It is not a crisis, but it is a fascinating wrinkle in the story of a modern classic.

The Numbers Behind the Shift

According to SteamDB, in the first ten days of September 2025, Hollow Knight received 660 negative reviews. That may not sound like much for a game with hundreds of thousands of reviews, but it was the highest monthly negative total in the game's history, and September was only one-third over. The previous record was set in August 2025 with 378 negative reviews. Before that, January 2025 held the record with 340 negative reviews. To put it plainly, the game was not suddenly review-bombed into oblivion. It was simply being played by more people than ever before.

Period
Negative reviews
Notes

First 10 days of September 2025
660
Highest monthly total ever, with two-thirds of the month remaining

August 2025
378
Previous monthly record

January 2025
340
Record before August 2025

Lifetime before September 2025
Fewer than 14,000
Against almost 440,000 positive reviews

Why More Players Meant More Mixed Feedback

The surge in reviews was not just negative. Hollow Knight actually received more positive reviews than in any other month. But the ratio changed. More players than ever before were trying the game, partly because Silksong had finally launched, and partly because the sequel sent curious newcomers back to the original. Between August 23 and September 2, the game broke its own concurrent player count record almost every day. On September 7, it hit a peak of 95,655 concurrent players. That is a lot of nails being swung. ️

When a game reaches a new audience, some of that audience will bounce off. Hollow Knight is brilliant, but it is also challenging, cryptic, and occasionally unforgiving. Not everyone wants to wander through Deepnest without a map. Some negative reviews likely came from players who expected a more conventional sequel-style experience, or who found the original's pace slower than Silksong's more aggressive combat. It is a classic case of a rising tide lifting all boats, including the ones carrying complaints. ️

Silksong's Own Review Storm

It is worth putting Hollow Knight's review shift into perspective. Silksong, despite still holding a Very Positive rating on Steam, has received more than double the negative reviews that Hollow Knight has received in its entire lifetime. That is a wild statistic. Part of that is due to a poor Chinese translation, which Team Cherry has said it will rectify. Part of it is due to the game's perceived higher difficulty, something the developers plan to address in an upcoming patch. In other words, Hollow Knight's 660 negative reviews in ten days look like a gentle breeze next to the hurricane that greeted its sequel. The original game is still an all-timer, and its overall score remains Overwhelmingly Positive. The recent review change is a footnote, not a fall from grace. ️

What This Means for Hollow Knight in 2026

As 2026 unfolds, the dust has settled. Hollow Knight is still beloved. Silksong is still being patched and debated. The review ratio shift says less about Hollow Knight's quality and more about the strange alchemy of a sequel's release. A new game can send players running back to the old one, and not all of them will leave a five-star review. Some will complain about the map. Some will complain about the difficulty. Some will complain about the lack of a sequel for eight years, even though the sequel now exists. That is the internet for you.

But there is no need to sound the alarms. Hollow Knight has survived worse: the wait for Silksong. If anything, the renewed attention proves that Team Cherry created lightning in a bottle twice. The first game's review score is still the envy of the indie world. The second game is still finding its footing. And players are still talking about both. In the grand scheme, a few hundred extra negative reviews are a storm in a teacup. The Knight's journey through Hallownest remains one of gaming's great modern epics, and no temporary dip in recent review sentiment is going to change that.

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Silksong's Multibinder: Is This 880-Rosary Tool Worth It in 2026?

Is Multibinder worth 880 Rosaries in Hollow Knight: Silksong? It trades speed for a 4-mask heal, with a 2-mask safety net in boss fights.

I've been grinding through Pharloom since Hollow Knight: Silksong launched, and I still see folks in chat asking the same question: is the Multibinder worth 880 Rosaries? After testing it in multiple boss fights and defensive builds, I can say it's not a no-brainer. It's a blue Tool sold by the vendor in Bellhart, and its description is vague enough to make you scratch your head. So let me break down exactly what it does, when it shines, and whether you should bite the bullet in 2026.

What the Multibinder Actually Does ️

When equipped, Multibinder replaces Hornet's default 3-mask heal with a 4-mask heal for the same amount of Silk. That sounds like a straight upgrade, right? Not so fast. It nearly doubles the time it takes for the healing animation to finish. Worse, it locks Hornet in place for the entire duration, and you cannot cancel the animation midway. If you're used to quick panic heals, this thing will feel like trying to park a bus in a tight alley.

The heal isn't delivered all at once. Multibinder heals 2 masks twice in quick succession, one after the other. So you get a first chunk, then a second chunk. That two-part structure is the key to understanding its value.

Feature
Default Bind
Multibinder

Masks healed
3
4

Silk cost
Same
Same

Animation length
Baseline
Nearly double

Can cancel?
No
No

Heal split
Single 3-mask heal
Two 2-mask heals

Interruption result
0 or 3 masks
0, 2, or 4 masks

The Hidden Advantage: 0, 2, or 4

Here's where Multibinder earns its keep. Because the heals are separated into two parts, if you get interrupted during the second 2-mask heal, the first 2-mask heal still counts. That means you end up with either 0 heals, 2 heals, or 4 heals. Compare that to Hornet's default healing: if you're interrupted during the Bind animation, the whole thing is nullified. You get either 0 or 3 heals. No in-between.

In a tough boss fight, that in-between can be the difference between life and death. I've had moments against aggressive bosses where I knew I couldn't finish a full default heal, but Multibinder's first 2-mask chunk landed before a hit connected. It's not pretty, but it's a safety net. For defensive players, this is the whole ballgame. I also noticed that the first 2-mask heal comes out faster than the default 3-mask heal, which means you can sometimes sneak in a partial heal when the boss gives you just a sliver of breathing room. Your mileage may vary, but that alone has saved my bacon more than once.

Best Pairing: Warding Bell ️

Multibinder is situational, and it shows its value best when you pair it with the right Tools. The Warding Bell is an early-game Tool that is very easy to get, and it pairs extremely well with Multibinder.

Warding Bell protects Hornet from taking damage while healing, but it does not stop the healing from being interrupted. That sounds like a mismatch, but it's actually a match made in heaven. As mentioned, Multibinder heals in two parts. If you're interrupted during the second part, Warding Bell protects you from damage while still letting the first 2-mask heal register. And because Multibinder's initial 2-mask heal is faster than the default 3-mask heal, you get a real chance to restore health in situations where you otherwise would've been interrupted.

In plain English: Warding Bell buys you the time to get the first chunk, and Multibinder makes that first chunk count. It's a solid one-two punch for players who like to play defensively. If you're the kind of player who blocks first and asks questions later, this combo is right up your alley.

The 880-Rosary Question

Now for the elephant in the room: the price. Multibinder costs 880 Rosaries from the Bellhart vendor.

Farming 800+ Rosaries in the early game is possible, but it requires a significant time investment. If you're not immediately planning to use Multibinder in your build, it's hard to justify spending that much. I've seen players blow their entire savings on it and then realize they prefer a more aggressive playstyle. That's a kick in the teeth. You don't want to drop nearly a thousand Rosaries on a Tool that sits in your inventory collecting dust.

Since better farming locations open up as you progress through Silksong, it makes sense to wait until at least Act 2 to purchase the Multibinder. The Bellhart vendor will keep all of their stock up for sale throughout a playthrough, so there's no rush. You won't miss out by waiting. In 2026, with more guides and community testing available, the consensus is still that this is a situational pickup, not a must-buy. Take that with a grain of salt if you're a diehard defensive player, but for most folks, patience pays off.

Should You Buy the Multibinder?

If you're a defensive player who loves outlasting bosses and you already have Warding Bell, then yes, Multibinder can be worth the 880 Rosaries. It gives you a 4-mask heal, a safer interruption outcome, and a strong synergy with Warding Bell. For certain boss encounters, that extra cushion is no joke. It can turn a chaotic fight into a war of attrition that you actually win.

But if you're a rushdown player who rarely blocks and prefers dodging to healing, skip it. The longer animation will get you killed more often than it saves you. And if you're early in the game and strapped for Rosaries, wait until Act 2. There's no shame in putting it on the back burner.

Final verdict: Multibinder is a niche Tool with a high price tag. It's not a trap, but it's not a golden ticket either. For the right build, it's a lifesaver. For everyone else, it's a shiny blue Tool that can sit in the vendor's inventory until you're ready. And in Silksong, being patient is often the best upgrade of all.

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Hand-Drawn Indie Games That Make 3D Look Like It Needs a Nap

Hand-drawn 2D games like Hollow Knight: Silksong and Cuphead prove animation can be art in motion.

The video game industry has spent decades chasing photorealism, but indie developers keep casually proving that a hand-drawn line can be more expressive than a million polygons. In 2026, the conversation is still dominated by Hollow Knight: Silksong, which arrived after years of Team Cherry cooking and immediately became one of 2025's best-reviewed games. Cuphead, meanwhile, remains the gold standard for cartoon chaos. These titles are not alone. A whole gallery of hand-drawn 2D games exists for players who want animation that moves like art and art that moves like animation.

The 2D Renaissance Is Not a Nostalgia Trip

There was a time when 2D animation was treated like a phase that gaming had to grow out of, like a child finally putting away crayons. Then indie studios started showing up with crayons and drawing circles around big-budget developers. Hollow Knight: Silksong and Cuphead are the loudest success stories, but they are not the only ones. The best hand-drawn 2D games combine old-school animation techniques with modern design, creating worlds that feel alive in a way that 3D sometimes cannot match.

Game
Style
Why It Belongs in the Gallery

Hollow Knight: Silksong
Hand-drawn Metroidvania
Colors pop, outlines leap from backgrounds

Cuphead
1930s cartoon run-and-gun
Boss-focused brutality with silky animation

Ori and the Blind Forest
Emotional Metroidvania
Gorgeous, haunting, tears optional but likely

Indivisible
Metroidvania + turn-based RPG
Combos, allies, face-button fighting

Disney Illusion Island
Co-op Metroidvania
Friendly platforming with Disney pals

Sundered
Roguevania
Fluid ink-like combat and exploration

Greak: Memories of Azur
Sibling puzzle adventure
Three heroes, one satisfying journey

The Cruel King and the Great Hero
Crayon-style RPG
Rough, polished, and delightfully odd

Hollow Knight: Silksong

Team Cherry took its sweet time, and fans were treated to perfection in terms of graphical quality and gameplay. The animation was great in the first game, but the sequel's colors really pop. Character outlines jump out of the environments like they exist on old-school artist animation cels. Hollow Knight: Silksong is a challenging Metroidvania experience that is as fun to play as it is to stop and look at. In 2026, it remains a benchmark for what a small team can achieve when it refuses to rush.

Cuphead

When Cuphead was unveiled in 2013 with a teaser trailer, it did not look real. The more Studio MDHR showed, the more unreal it got. How could that be a video game? After years of waiting, fans finally got their answer. It played like a dream, or more like a nightmare, because this boss-focused game was brutal. The animations were as smooth as possible, which was essential because the game demanded precise timing or else players were dead. There is still nothing quite like Cuphead out there, although many upcoming challengers want the throne.

Ori and the Blind Forest

Ori and the Blind Forest is one of the saddest and most haunting games players can embark on alone. That said, it is also beautiful emotionally and aesthetically, thanks to the art, which looks great in motion. While things start in a dark and dreary setting, eventually the little creature, Ori, explores miraculous locations like ponds so clean that players want to drink from them. It is another challenging Metroidvania, so players must stay vigilant to avoid hazards and enemies.

Indivisible

Indivisible is a wild combination of Metroidvania-style exploration and turn-based RPGs. As the protagonist, Ajna, players explore lush 2D environments and gain allies through mind manipulation. In battle, Ajna can summon ethereal heroes to fight alongside her, and each character corresponds to a face button. Players can create combos akin to a fighting game, which makes sense given that the developer, Lab Zero Games, also made a hand-drawn fighting game called Skullgirls, which is worth a look too.

Disney Illusion Island

Disney Illusion Island is a great Metroidvania to start with for anyone not accustomed to the genre, plus it has co-op. While there are enemies, players cannot engage them and instead have to focus on platforming around, except for boss fights. Even though there are hazards, it is still not that tough of an adventure, which makes sense since it is a Disney game. Mickey, Donald, Minnie, and Goofy all play the same, but they get different-looking abilities. For example, Mickey's wall-climbing ability is a pencil, while Donald gets a plunger.

Sundered

Sundered's animations are some of the most fluid of the games on this list, between combat and exploring. It is almost like the heroine, Eshe, and her enemies are evolving ink-based entities that change with the player's input. It is considered a Roguevania, a style of game that combines elements of roguelikes, as the world changes between runs, and Metroidvanias, as there is a giant interconnected world to explore. Play it alone or with friends to see how jaw-dropping this game is in action.

Greak: Memories of Azur

Greak: Memories of Azur may not be a game many are familiar with, but hopefully that changes soon. This wonderfully rendered world stars three siblings who each have their own unique powers and abilities. After a short opening wherein all three have to be unlocked, players can then freely switch between them to fight enemies or solve puzzles. Players will cut skeletons with swords, swing on ropes to jump across gaps, turn wheels to open doors for their fellow siblings, and more in this short but satisfying adventure.

The Cruel King and the Great Hero

The Cruel King and the Great Hero is a bit of an underrated gem from NIS, a studio that most gamers probably know from the Disgaea series. This little RPG stars a young girl, Yuu, who goes on an adventure to help her dragon friend. It is a turn-based RPG wherein Yuu will fight monsters and gain allies to aid her in battle. The art aesthetic has a rough crayon-like design to it, which makes it look unfinished in the most polished way possible. It is hard to explain until players pick it up and start playing for themselves. It is not quite as quirky as EarthBound, but it is around that same oddball style of RPG.

Why It Still Matters in 2026

In 2026, 3D games still hog the spotlight, but hand-drawn 2D games keep stealing the show. They are not just pretty. They are precise, expressive, and often brutally difficult. For fans of animation who want to feast their eyes on something extraordinary, these games harken back to the good old days of 2D animation while pushing the craft forward. The only downside? Once someone sees Silksong's colors or Cuphead's rubbery bosses, ordinary polygons may start looking like they need a nap.

If reading about these hand-drawn adventures has you ready to add a few to your library, the tricky part is often timing the purchase. Between limited-run physical editions, indie bundles, and sales that vanish as quickly as a well-timed dash, keeping tabs on every price drop can feel like its own side quest. That’s where [DealNest]( can help, making it easier to spot worthwhile offers without scrolling through endless store pages.

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Hollow Knight: Silksong Wormways Guide: Maps, NPCs, Collectibles, and Wishes

Hollow Knight: Silksong Wormways map offers secret-rich exploration, upgrades, collectibles, and NPCs for early game advantage.

In 2026, Hollow Knight: Silksong continues to reward meticulous exploration, and the Wormways remains one of the earliest optional regions that can dramatically shape a playthrough. These dark, worm-infested tunnels sit between the Moss Grotto and the upper reaches of the Mosslands, offering a compact but secret-rich intermission before Shellwood. Although the area is short, it is packed with valuable upgrades, a map vendor, two collectibles, and two Wishes that tie into Plasmium and flea hunting. Players who want to reach Cling Grip early should consider unlocking the Wormways, but they must prepare for a Simple Key expense or a long detour, plus falling Gorms that punish slow movement.

️ Full Map Overview Of The Wormways

The Wormways is a very short and simple area that acts like an intermission before Shellwood. There is not much to do on a first visit, and even later visits are normally for a single, short purpose. However, entering does require a Simple Key if the player is coming from Moss Grove. Swift Step is highly recommended for this area due to the prevalence of quickly falling worms, or Gorms, from the ceilings. While it is possible to venture across this space theoretically without Swift Step, it will make life far easier.

As expected for an area of this size and activity, there are only four foe types in the region:

Foe
Threat Profile

Gromling
The most frustrating part of the area because they often respawn, even without the player leaving the room, and emerge from several points on the map.

Grom
Falling worms that drop from ceilings and punish careless movement.

Winged Pilgrim Bellbearer
A flying foe that adds pressure in tighter tunnels.

Akrid
A smaller threat that still demands attention during platforming.

Gromlings are the standout nuisance. Their ability to respawn quickly means players should not linger under open ceilings, and Swift Step turns many of their ambushes into minor inconveniences rather than run-ending mistakes.

🧭 All NPCs Locations

Shakra is the first and most important NPC in the Wormways. She sells the area map for 70 Rosary and any others that might have been missed up to this point. Players can locate Shakra by progressing naturally from the bottom of the Wormways-Moss Grotto connection until they reach the northeast room near the north exit. Halfway up, they should keep their eyes peeled on the left for a small path to an alcove, marked by Shakra's golden chakrams.

Alchemist Zylotol is not accessible until the player reaches Cling Grip. With the wall-jump ability in hand, Zylotol can be found at the topmost section of the map. He is accessible via the northmost room left of the vertical central chamber. A thin tunnel must be jumped up to find Zylotol and a bench at the path's end. Once Zylotol is found, his quest can begin and the ability to purchase Plasmium to refill the Plasmium Vial unlocks. Refilling costs 50 Rosaries each time, regardless of how many charges remain.

All Collectible Item Locations

There are only two collectible items in all of the Wormways: the Memory Locket and the Dead Bug's Purse. Both can technically be found without any upgrades except Swift Step, though a case can be made that not even Swift Step is truly needed.

The Memory Locket is located in the southwest room's bottom right corner. To reach it, players must enter the dark passages beneath the main Wormways area. After descending into this abyssal nightmare of tunnels, they should take a left to take the top-left exit into the southwest room. Then they should navigate downward, keeping to the right where possible, to find the Memory Locket down a shaft, right of a pit of spikes and at a dead end on a pilgrim's body.

The Dead Bug's Purse is located in the room directly above Shakra. Players should continue progressing northeast in the Wormways toward the north exit and find a long ascent with several worms falling down the shaft. Eventually, they will find a ledge with a long path leading left. The charm will be on the grave, guarded by two enemies.

All Wish Locations

It must be no coincidence that both Wishes tied to this area give consumable red tool items that must be refilled by their quest-giver periodically. However, only the first Wish on this list is given in the area; the second is only tied by association, as the target task can be found here.

Wish
Task
Reward

Alchemist's Assistant
Find and collect three Plasmium.
Plasmium Vial charm

Lost Fleas
Find five fleas.
Flea Brew charm; Flea Finder and Flea Friend achievements/trophies

Ideal Progression Of The Wormways

The Wormways can be entered through one of two ways:

• Dropping in from above via the Blasted Steps.

• Using a Simple Key on the Moss Grotto-Wormways door.

For most first playthroughs, using the Simple Key will be the more common and natural progression. This route assumes the player is taking that path, but if they took the other one, they can work backwards from before the Alchemist's quest and then return to it.

When entering the Wormways for the first time, the main goal is to head left. Doing so requires jumping over several pits of spikes while dodging falling worms. This is why Swift Step is highly recommended. Once the third room is entered, a long room like the first, players should keep continuing left until they can take an exit at the top of the room. There are no mask-shattering secrets to be found here, so they should not tarry too long.

The main goal while coming up into the upper levels is to reach Shakra and claim the map. To do this:

• Continue northeast.

• When reaching a vertical room, navigate the platforms down to an exit on the right, a little more than halfway to the bottom.

• Continue northeast until reaching the last platform before jumping to a major cliff ledge.

• Look left to see some golden circles, or chakrams, embedded in the ground.

• Jump over to find Shakra in the alcove.

Once the map is acquired, players can continue up and stop by to grab the Dead Bug's Purse on the way out. This will take them to the upper levels of the Mosslands and allow them to reach Shellwood's west bench across the chasm.

Once Cling Grip is obtained, players can come back and grab the Alchemist's Assistant Wish from Zylotol first and then also claim the Memory Locket from the underpassages that were left alone on purpose earlier in the process. To summarise the above:

• Use Cling Grip to find Zylotol at the top of the Wormways.

• Locate the first Plasmium in the room under Zylotol in the center.

• Pick up the second Plasmium in the underpassages in the east room's bottom-right corner.

• Find the Memory Locket in the west room's bottom-right corner.

• Finalize the Plasmium hunt in the west room's bottom-left corner.

For bonus points, players can locate the real assistant of the Alchemist, deceased and in a secret room to the left of the final Plasmium. Finding him and using Needolin nearby will trigger special dialogue from both the corpse and Zylotol.

Finally, once the Faydown Cloak is obtained and the ability to double-jump is gained, players can unlock Weavenest Karn. This area is located on the west side of the Wormways and requires Needolin to open. Inside, the path is extremely straightforward. Players should continue scrolling left and jumping over several pits, mindful of the groms and gromlings, until they find Herrah's statue at the very end. This will grant Sharpdart and allow them to dash through enemies, cutting them and gaining brief immunity during the action, similar to Hollow Knight's Sharp Shadow charm.

With its compact layout, the Wormways may seem like a minor stop, but in 2026 it remains a meaningful early investment. A Simple Key, Swift Step, and a willingness to return with Cling Grip and Faydown Cloak turn these gloomy tunnels into a reliable source of maps, charms, Wishes, and one of Silksong's most satisfying dash upgrades.

Chasing down every hidden upgrade in Silksong can make you appreciate a well-planned detour, and the same mindset helps when you're building a library of games to play next. If you'd rather spend your time exploring than refreshing store pages, DealNest collects the [best game deals]( across major platforms and storefronts, making it easier to spot discounts on Metroidvanias, indie gems, and big releases alike.

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Borderlands 4 in 2026: Was It Really the Best Looter Shooter?

Borderlands 4 reviews land strong: Metacritic 84, OpenCritic 87, and a looter shooter that wins back trust.

I still remember my first trip to Pandora. The guns, the jokes, the endless loot. Now it's 2026, and Borderlands 4 has been out for a while. When the reviews first dropped in September 2025, they were overwhelmingly positive. Metacritic: 84. Open Critic: 87. That's a clear step up from Borderlands 3, which sat at 81 and split the fanbase. It's not quite enough to dethrone Borderlands 2 at 89, but it's close. And after putting in dozens of hours myself, I think the real story is more interesting than a number.

The Scores Don't Tell the Whole Story

Let's get the numbers out of the way. Here's how the mainline games stack up on Metacritic:

Game
Metacritic Score

Borderlands 2
89

Borderlands 4
84

Borderlands 3
81

On Open Critic, Borderlands 4 sits at 87. That's a strong debut. It means Gearbox didn't just avoid another Borderlands 3 situation—it actually won back a lot of trust. But scores are snapshots. The real question in 2026 is whether the game still feels great after the honeymoon phase. For me, it does. Mostly.

What Reviewers Loved

When the embargo lifted, some outlets went wild. XboxEra gave Borderlands 4 a perfect score. Reviewer Jesse Norris called it the best looter shooter he's ever played. He said he had no major faults, only a few minor gripes—like how long bodies take to disappear when you want to grab the loot underneath them. Outside of that, he called it a masterpiece and said he could easily see himself putting in another thousand hours over the years.

Screen Rant's Brandon Key gave it a 9/10. He wrote that it was the most fun he's ever had with the series. Charming writing, great characters, smooth gameplay, and a consistent loot rush pushed him to do 'just one more' mission into the wee hours of the morning over and over. That's the Borderlands promise, right? One more mission. One more legendary. One more level.

VGC's Jordan Middle gave it a 4/5. He called it a great RPG shooter with rewarding, engrossing gameplay. He did have some criticisms: bland new characters and a pointless grappling hook took some shine off. But he also said the sheer amount of fun couldn't be overlooked. For him, Borderlands 4 reminded him why he was such a big fan of the original two games, and it learned from the mistakes of 3.

Randy Pitchford Called It

Gearbox co-founder Randy Pitchford was never shy about his confidence. At Gamescom 2025, he said, 'I'm not just confident, but absolutely convinced that Borderlands 4 is the best Borderlands game we've ever made.' He talked about how past games pushed boundaries too far in one direction or another, and how Borderlands 4, knowing those boundaries, could commit to 'this perfect centre space.'

In 2026, that quote looks less like hype and more like a mission statement. The game didn't just review well—it seems to have brought back the magic that made the first two games so beloved. It's not a flawless victory, but it's a meaningful one.

Launch Details and Platform Notes

Borderlands 4 launched on PC on September 11, 2025. It came to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on September 12. The Nintendo Switch 2 version arrived on October 3. Now that we're in 2026, every one of those versions is out in the wild. If you were waiting for the Switch 2 release, you've had plenty of time to dive in. The staggered launch meant PC players got a tiny head start, but the wait wasn't brutal.

My Personal Take as a Longtime Vault Hunter

I've been playing Borderlands since the original. I loved Borderlands 2. I liked Borderlands 3, but I understood why it divided people. The writing was hit-or-miss. The villains didn't land. The endgame felt off. Borderlands 4 feels like a course correction. The gunplay is smooth. The loot loop is addictive. The world is packed with things to shoot, loot, and build around. I've had multiple nights where I told myself I'd stop after one more mission—and then the sun came up.

Do I agree with every review? No. The new characters aren't all winners. The grappling hook isn't essential. But those are small dents in a very sturdy vault door. The core loop is the best it's been in years. If you bounced off Borderlands 3, I think this is the one that brings you back.

Pros
Cons

Rewarding, engrossing gameplay
Some bland new characters

Charming writing and great characters
Pointless grappling hook, according to some

Smooth gunplay and a consistent loot rush
Minor loot-grab annoyances

Best fun in the series for many reviewers
Doesn't quite beat Borderlands 2's 89

The Verdict in 2026

So where does Borderlands 4 land? It's not the highest-scoring game in the series. Borderlands 2 still wears that crown with an 89. But Borderlands 4 is a huge step up from 3, and it's one of the most fun looter shooters you can play right now. The reviews were strong. The word of mouth has been strong. And with all platforms available in 2026, there's no reason to wait.

If you're a solo Vault Hunter, you'll find a satisfying campaign and a loot treadmill that respects your time. If you're a co-op fiend, you'll find chaos, explosions, and that classic 'just one more' energy. For me, Borderlands 4 is a reminder of why I fell in love with this series. And that's worth more than a few Metacritic points.

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After Silksong, Hollow Knight Fans Need New Hopes

Nintendo Direct heartbreak persists as Hollow Knight and Metroid Prime 4 fans chase elusive announcements and new impossible dreams.

The Nintendo Direct was once a stage for a very specific kind of heartbreak. For seven years, Hollow Knight fans tuned in with the same desperate hope: maybe this time, Silksong. Maybe this time, Hornet would appear. Maybe this time, Team Cherry would end the silence. In 2025, that hope was finally answered. Hollow Knight: Silksong arrived, real and playable, and the long wait collapsed into a strange new problem. When Nintendo announced another Direct for 2026, the Hollow Knight community discovered they had nothing left to beg for.

Instead of relief, there was an odd emptiness. The Direct had been their annual ritual of disappointment, and now the ritual was broken. For years, the phrase 'Silksong at the Direct' had been a meme, a prayer, and a punchline all at once. Now it was just a memory. The fans had become so accustomed to hoping that they started hunting for a new impossible dream before the old one had even cooled.

The Hopium Machine Needs New Fuel

The search did not take long. Hollow Knight fans, like many Nintendo fans, have a mental list of announcements that feel permanently just out of reach. A new Kid Icarus. A new F-Zero. Nintendo acknowledging that Star Fox still exists. These are not realistic expectations so much as emotional insurance. They are the games that let fans feel the sweet ache of wanting something that will probably never come.

Mother 3 finally getting a release outside Japan is the big one. It was the original hopium game before Hollow Knight even existed. Japanese Nintendo fans have been able to play Mother 3 for almost twenty years, yet despite Earthbound's popularity elsewhere, it has never been localized and made available in other regions. For many, that absence is a wound that never healed. Every Direct is a chance for Nintendo to finally do the right thing, and every Direct without Mother 3 is another small betrayal.

Then there is Metroid Prime 4. The real hopium game heading into the latest Direct is Metroid Prime 4, and even though yet another rating makes it seem very likely that the game will finally get a release date, Metroid fans are starting to get nervous again. It has been nearly a decade since Nintendo revealed it was working on Metroid Prime 4. People have played it. The finish line has seemed visible for months. But if it does not get a release date soon, worry will spread like a virus. Metroid fans have been burned before, and they know that a rating is not a release date.

A Wider Web of Worry

The Hollow Knight community is not alone in this cycle. Across the industry, fans build shrines to games that have been teased, rumored, or simply imagined. Hopes are high for a Wolverine re-reveal at a State of Play that has not even been announced yet. Those waiting for news about Kingdom Hearts 4 are really starting to worry. At least they have something to worry about, unlike Final Fantasy 9 fans, who have been left in a quiet purgatory of remaster rumors and anniversary whispers.

It is a strange ecosystem. A Nintendo Direct no longer needs to include Silksong, because Silksong is here. But the Direct still needs to include something. The fans still need a reason to gather, to speculate, to argue, to create elaborate charts, and to feel that familiar sting when the credits roll and their most wanted game is nowhere to be seen.

The New Hopium Leaderboard

Game
Why Fans Still Hope
Realistic Chance

Mother 3
The legendary untranslated sequel
Low, but never zero

Metroid Prime 4
Rated, played, and still dateless
High, if Nintendo is ready

New Kid Icarus
Nostalgia and Sakurai dreams
Very low

New F-Zero
Captain Falcon deserves better
Low

Star Fox
Nintendo remembering the franchise
Medium-low

Wolverine
A re-reveal at an unannounced State of Play
Medium

Kingdom Hearts 4
Square Enix silence is getting loud
Medium

Final Fantasy 9
Remake rumors and anniversary energy
Unknown

The table is only half a joke. For many fans, the hope itself is the entertainment. The Direct is not just a marketing event. It is a shared story, a season finale, and a group therapy session. When one dream is fulfilled, another must take its place. That is how fandom survives.

By 2026, Hollow Knight: Silksong is no longer a rumor. It is a game people have played, criticized, loved, and maybe even finished. Hornet has taken her place in the pantheon. But the Hollow Knight fandom has not learned how to be satisfied. It has only learned how to transfer its longing. The next Direct will arrive, and the fans will watch. They will hope for Mother 3. They will hope for Metroid Prime 4. They will hope for something impossible. And when the presentation ends, they will do what they have always done: pick a new dream, and wait for the next chance to be disappointed.

While the waiting continues, the practical side of being a fan does not pause. Backlogs grow, wishlists stretch on for pages, and the games already released quietly compete for attention with the ones still years away. That is where a tool like [game price tracker]( from DealNest earns its place, letting players watch for drops on the titles they actually intend to play instead of paying full price out of impatience.

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My Quest for Rune Rage in Silksong: Beating the First Sinner

Get Silksong's Rune Rage by defeating the First Sinner in The Slab. Master this Silk Skill to unleash chaotic, exploding runes.

I’ll be honest with you: when I first set foot in Pharloom, I thought I had seen it all. But Silksong has a way of throwing curveballs. The Rune Rage skill? It’s a real game-changer, but getting it is no walk in the park. So grab your needle, because I’m about to walk you through exactly how I got my hands on this bad boy.

First things first: Silk Skills are Hornet’s bread and butter. They cost Silk, and the very first one you get is the Silkspear—required to free the Bell Beast. After that, it’s every bug for themselves. Rune Rage is one of those optional skills that can easily slip through the cracks if you’re not paying attention. It’s not tied to the main quest, so you could finish the game without ever knowing it exists. But where’s the fun in that?

So, how do you get Rune Rage? Simple: beat the First Sinner in The Slab. Yeah, I know, “simple” is doing a lot of heavy lifting there. The First Sinner is a tough cookie, but the payoff is worth it. Rune Rage summons multiple runes that pop up randomly on screen, then explode after a short delay. It’s fantastic when you’re swarmed by enemies bouncing around like popcorn. That said, because the runes appear randomly, it’s not exactly a precision tool. Sometimes it’s a hit, sometimes it’s a miss—such is life.

To use Rune Rage, just press the right button for your platform:

Platform
Button

PC
F

PlayStation
R1

Xbox
RB

And here’s a pro tip: you can pair it with other Silk Skills if you equip the Shaman Crest. Mixing and matching? That’s my kind of chaos.

Now, the journey to the First Sinner is a bit of a maze. You’ll need the Key of Apostate first. I found mine after some serious snooping, but once you have it, head to The Slab’s Bellway. Go up to the room above it, and you’ll spot a lock that’s begging for that key. Open it, and you’re in.

From there, it’s exploration time. But if you want to skip the scenic route, here’s the path I took:

• Climb down until you see an opening to the right.

• Go right, climb up, then go right again until you find a spot to descend.

• Head down, and you’ll spot a bell cage with chains locking it shut.

When you inspect that bell, you get a chilling prompt: “Penitent, First of the First. Guilty of the sin of apostasy. Penance by constriction. Absolution denied.” Talk about a warm welcome. Curiosity got the better of me—as it always does—so I broke the locks and set the prisoner free.

Big mistake? Maybe. Because out comes the First Sinner, and they are not happy. The boss fight is intense. There are plenty of rooms to dodge into, but the First Sinner is quick and hits like a truck. I can’t tell you how many times I got clipped by those fast attacks. But after a few tries—okay, more than a few—I finally took them down.

Once defeated, you get a prompt to “Accept.” Don’t be scared. Accepting rewards you with the Rune Rage Silk Skill—the exact same ability the First Sinner used against you. Poetic justice, if you ask me.

So there you have it. Rune Rage is a beast of a skill, perfect for crowd control, even if it’s a bit unpredictable. Just remember: patience, practice, and a whole lot of Silk. Now go out there and show Pharloom what you’re made of.

Happy hunting! ️

Speaking of hunting, chasing down hidden skills like Rune Rage is exactly the kind of thing that keeps me coming back to games like this—there's always one more secret tucked away behind a locked door. If your backlog is anything like mine, though, the real challenge is finding the time (and the budget) to play everything worth playing, especially when new releases keep landing week after week.

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Borderlands 4 Reviews: A Redemption Arc or a Safe Bet?

Borderlands 4 review: Gearbox's looter-shooter fixes Borderlands 3's flaws with open-world gameplay, though its safe villain and story may feel dull.

I've been a Borderlands fan since the original, and like many of you, I was left feeling a bit... underwhelmed by Borderlands 3. The humor felt forced, the villains were annoying, and the story just didn't land. So when Borderlands 4 was announced, I was cautiously optimistic. Now that we're in 2026 and the dust has settled, the reviews are in, and it looks like Gearbox might have actually pulled it off. But is it the massive improvement everyone hoped for, or did they play it too safe? Let's dive in.

The Consensus: A Big Step Up from Borderlands 3

If you've been living under a rock, here's the scoop: Borderlands 4 is being praised as a course correction for the series. Our own review at Screen Rant boldly called it "the best game in the series so far." IGN said it's "the massive kick in the pants [the series] needed" after "fizzling somewhat with Borderlands 3." That's high praise, right? Even other outlets agree it's a step in the right direction, even if it's not perfect.

But here's where it gets interesting. GameSpot noted that Borderlands 4 fixing its predecessor's issues also works "to its detriment." They said, "Borderlands 4 is cranked so far in the other direction that the resulting game feels like a strange imitation of the series." Ouch. So, is it possible to overcorrect? Maybe. But from what I've seen, the core looter-shooter gameplay is still intact and satisfying, so I'm willing to forgive a little identity crisis.

The Villain Problem: Timekeeper vs. Handsome Jack

Let's talk about the elephant in the room: the antagonist. Borderlands 3 gave us the Twins, who were widely considered annoying and cringey. Borderlands 4 introduces The Timekeeper. According to GamesRadar, "The Timekeeper is a very safe antagonist – which is an improvement upon Borderlands 3's actively abrasive Twins, but still rather dull." So, not a home run, but at least he's not actively hated.

GameSpot added that "Borderlands 4 seems to do everything in its power to make sure that its characters cannot be hated." Is that a good thing? Well, after the Twins, maybe a safe, inoffensive villain is exactly what the series needed. It's like they said, "Let's not make everyone mad this time." And honestly, I'll take dull over grating any day.

Open World and Gameplay: The Real Star

The big advancement here is the open-world design. Reviews are celebrating it as a high point. I've always loved the semi-open areas of previous games, but a full open world? That sounds like a dream. The gameplay is making significant strides, and many reviewers note that the series' typically irreverent humor comes out in the side content, while the main story is a bit more dramatic. That balance might be the key to pleasing both old-school fans and newcomers.

Is It the Best in the Series?

Screen Rant's assertion that it's the best game in the series is particularly interesting, since Borderlands 2 has reigned supreme since 2012. Handsome Jack is a tough act to follow. The Timekeeper doesn't appear to be Handsome Jack-level compelling, but the gameplay iteration seems to have picked up the slack. So, can a game with a "safe" story and a "dull" villain still be the best? If the gameplay is that good, absolutely.

Let's break down the pros and cons as I see them based on the reviews:

Pros
Cons

Open-world design is a delight
Story is safe and unremarkable

Gameplay improvements are significant
Villain is dull compared to Handsome Jack

Humor is back in side content
Main story takes itself more seriously (could be good or bad)

Fixes many of Borderlands 3's issues
Overcorrection makes it feel like an imitation at times

My Take: Cautiously Optimistic

As a longtime fan, I'm excited. It sounds like Borderlands 4 is a hit, taking significant strides and making a concerted effort to fix its predecessor's issues. Will it dethrone Borderlands 2 in my heart? Only time will tell. But for now, I'm just happy that Gearbox seems to be listening to the fans. What do you think? Are you ready to dive back into Pandora (or wherever this one takes place)? Let me know in the comments!

So there you have it. Borderlands 4 might not be perfect, but it's a massive step in the right direction. And after the misstep of Borderlands 3, that's exactly what the series needed. Whether you're a veteran Vault Hunter or a newcomer, it sounds like there's plenty to love here. I know I'll be jumping back in.

Of course, all this excitement comes with the usual question: when and where to actually pick it up. With multiple editions, pre-order bonuses, and platform-specific offers flying around, prices can vary a lot between storefronts, and the difference is often more than a few bucks. If you'd rather not overpay out of sheer hype, it's worth taking five minutes to [compare prices here]( before committing to a copy.

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Silksong: A Brutal, Beautiful Homecoming After Seven Years

Silksong is a brutal, beautiful Hollow Knight sequel: richer Pharloom, deeper combat, scarce resources, and secrets that punish and reward.

Almost seven years. That's how long I waited for Silksong. When it finally dropped in 2026, I felt a mix of excitement and dread. After all, Hollow Knight built a legacy that's hard to follow. But Silksong isn't just more Hollow Knight. It's a different beast entirely—one that throws you into the deep end and laughs as you drown.

The Early Game Doesn't Hold Your Hand

Hollow Knight eased me in. The Gruz Mother was a joke, and most early bosses only did one mask of damage. Silksong? It throws you right into the deep end. No easy bosses, no gentle learning curve. I died more times in the first hour than I care to admit. The enemies hit like a truck—two masks of damage from regular bugs? That's just rude. And there's no tutorial. Team Cherry basically said, 'You played Hollow Knight, right? Good luck.' The game itself seems to mock me with every two-mask hit.

Money, Money, Money

In Hollow Knight, I was swimming in geo. In Silksong, rosary beads are like gold dust. Want a map? That'll be a few hundred. A bench? More beads. A simple key? You get the idea. I've found myself farming the same poor enemies over and over, and I swear they recognize me now. 'Oh no, it's that broke bug again.' 🥲 I've never felt so poor in a video game.

Where Are the Mask Shards?

I found two mask shards in my first few hours. Two! And one of them I had to buy. In Hollow Knight, they were practically falling from the sky. Here, they're hidden in the most obscure corners. It makes every two-mask hit feel like a death sentence. I've started to dread exploring new areas because I know I'll just lose my health and my beads. Seriously, where are they? I've resorted to hitting every wall and ceiling in hopes of a secret.

Pharloom Feels Alive

Hallownest was haunting—beautiful, but dead. Pharloom is bustling. There are NPCs everywhere, and they actually talk to you. Hornet speaks, so I feel a connection. I can do Wishes for them, learn their stories. It's a nice change of pace. Pharloom breathes with life, its NPCs chattering away about their hopes and fears. But don't let the liveliness fool you—the enemies are still out for blood.

A Wider Toolkit

Hornet plays differently. The crest system is a game-changer. I can choose a crest that suits my style, then customize it with tools. It feels like a proper RPG build. I've been experimenting with a beast crest that lets me go full aggro, but I might switch to something more defensive. The possibilities are exciting. It's much more strategic than Hollow Knight's charm system.

Secrets Within Secrets

Silksong is huge. And I mean huge. I've already found a secret room inside another secret room. Team Cherry is laughing at us, I'm sure. You have to hit every wall, look behind every waterfall. If you think you've found the secret, keep digging. There's probably another one. I'll let you discover the rest for yourself—just don't blame me when you get lost for hours.

Final Thoughts

Silksong is not Hollow Knight 2.0. It's a tougher, more complex, and more alive experience. It respects your skills but also punishes your mistakes. I'm only a few hours in, and I'm already hooked. If you're struggling, just remember: git gud. Or, you know, cry a little. Both work. You know the feeling.

Here's a quick comparison table:

Aspect
Hollow Knight
Silksong

Early game difficulty
Moderate
Brutal

Tutorial
Yes
No

Regular enemy damage
Mostly 1 mask
Often 2 masks

Currency
Plentiful geo
Scarce rosaries

Mask shards
Common
Rare and hidden

Atmosphere
Haunting, dead
Lively, bustling

Combat toolkit
Nail arts, spells
Crests, tools, customization

Secrets
Hidden walls
Hidden rooms within hidden rooms

So, yeah. It was worth the wait. But my thumbs hurt. And my pride.

If you're thinking about diving into Silksong yourself—or finally checking out Hollow Knight after all this talk—it helps to know you're not overpaying before you commit. DealNest is built for exactly that, offering a straightforward [game price comparison]( so you can see current offers across different storefronts in one place.

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