Hollow Knight: Silksong doesn’t hand-hold, and honestly, that’s kind of the point. But if you’re wondering whether you can tweak the difficulty to make things a little easier — or even crank up the challenge — you’re not alone. Let’s dive into how difficulty works in Silksong and what your options are if you’re looking to spice things up … or dial it down.
No, you can’t change difficulty from the menu
First things first: Hollow Knight: Silksong does not include a standard difficulty setting in its options menu. There’s no “easy,” “normal,” or “hard” toggle here. Much like its predecessor, the game is designed with a singular vision: challenging but rewarding gameplay.
But don’t worry! While there’s no slider to tweak, there are still ways to shape your experience depending on how you want to play. Whether you’re struggling to survive or rolling through bosses like a pro, there are options.
Looking for more of a challenge? Try Silk Soul Mode
If you find yourself blasting through enemies without breaking a sweat, Silk Soul Mode is your next destination. This mode is unlocked after completing the game once. It ramps up the challenge significantly by increasing punishment for death and reducing room for error.
In Silk Soul Mode, the stakes are higher, and every misstep matters more. While the exact specifics of the mode are still under wraps prior to full release, based on previous Hollow Knight challenges like Steel Soul, expect hardcore permadeath mechanics or significantly limited healing options.
Think of it as a badge of honour for players who mastered the standard game and want to prove their mettle.
Need to Make Things Easier? Build for Survivability
If you’re getting stuck — maybe struggling with a boss or just trying to explore without constantly respawning — you’re not out of options. While you can’t flip a switch to tone things down, you can equip upgrades that prioritise staying alive longer.
Focus on tools and items that:
- Increase your maximum HP
- Improve healing efficiency
- Boost defense or evasion capabilities
Unlocking key Tools and learning their combat utility is also essential. Some tools let you control crowds better, escape danger faster, or even interrupt enemy attacks. Learning how and when to use them can make a massive difference in your run.
So instead of asking “How do I lower the difficulty?”, the real power lies in how you play. Adjust your build, learn enemy patterns, and you’ll find things start getting smoother.
Too easy? Spice it up with Custom Challenge Runs
For players who laugh in the face of Silk Soul Mode: or just want to try something wild after their fifth run — challenge runs are where the community really shines.
Here are some run ideas to seriously test your skills:
- Barebones Run: Play without any tools, upgrades, or assistive skills. Just raw talent and grit.
- No Hit Run: Complete the game without taking a single hit. Yeah, it’s as brutal as it sounds.
Other creative modifiers include speedruns, pacifist runs where you avoid killing basic enemies, or “Tool Only” runs where basic attacks are disallowed. These self-imposed limitations push your understanding of the game and make every moment more intense.
So … can you change the difficulty in Silksong?
Not in the traditional sense, no. But Hollow Knight: Silksong offers a flexible and player-driven difficulty system that doesn’t rely on a preset toggle. Whether you’re looking to reduce the challenge with smart upgrades or amp it up with Silk Soul Mode and insane challenge runs, you’ve got plenty of control over how intense your experience is.
And that’s what makes games like Silksong special: You craft your journey, from nail-biting combat encounters to tension-filled boss fights, all without the game holding your hand. Strap in, customize your build, and play your own way.