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Team Cherry's Silksong carries on the unique narrative style from the first game, scattering historical fragments and character development in various corners. When you piece it all together, the evolution from a apparently straightforward start to a profoundly important ending is astounding. Similar to the overall experience, the plot is grander in scope and more refined than its predecessor, centered around a strong central idea and a significant revelation.

However, the word "Almost" is key. There is a central flaw: the creators seem unable to decide about whether the main character is Hornet or the player.

Heads Up: This analysis contains major plot reveals for both the standard and true endings of Silksong.

Hornet's Journey

The quest starts with Hornet imprisoned in a cage. A group known as the Weavers captured her on the bidding of Grand Mother Silk, from whom Hornet is partially born. After escaping, she encounters a group of pilgrims and begins her ascent. Her route takes her from the hellish depths filled with remains of the fallen up towards the fortress, home to Pharloom's decadent priesthood. Along the journey, she witnesses the hardship and pain inflicted upon the exploited masses in the name of religion—workers who toil unto death, dissenters jailed for daring to question, and more.

Lace and the Central Conflict

Lace, also born from the deity's own silk, is likewise ascending to the stronghold. Her plan is to awaken her mother, exact revenge on the ministers who imprisoned her, and seize control. The protagonist's interference complicates matters. In the regular conclusion, she takes over from the deity. In the true ending, she imprisons the deity, confronts the dark entity, rescues her rival, and sees Mother Silk give herself up so both can escape.

A Deeper Allegory

Silksong is, at its core, a pilgrimage story. It is inspired by medieval pilgrimages and morality plays, with a Reformation-style critique at institutional faith. The protagonist's path—through hell, through a middle realm of struggle, and ascending to enlightenment—strongly echoes Dante's The Divine Comedy. That literary work follows a fictional Dante through the afterlife on a quest for spiritual transformation, which perfectly encapsulates Silksong.

One can even draw connections to the Christian ritual, albeit rearranged. The heroine is arrested and stripped, faces judgment, endures a tortuous ascent, and is temporarily entombed in the void. In essence, the game invites contemplation on faith, the soul, and change, all of which are essential for grasping the ending.

The Weaver Lore

Delving into the mythology of the Weavers reveals that the belief system and culture once championed by the deity has become corrupt. Her followers abandoned her teachings, and a caste of self-serving ministers seized control the temple, twisting its doctrines for their own gain.

The protagonist, as a blood relative of Grand Mother Silk, was pre-ordained to follow her will, whether she wanted to or not. Thanks to her upbringing by Herrah, Hornet was kept away from the internal conflicts and encouraged to be independent, which is why the deity captures her at the beginning—to compel her to accept her inherited duties.

Endings and Meanings

If Hornet overcomes the deity in the standard ending, she absorbs her spirit and ascends to divinity. The fact that this is not the true ending indicates that the kingdom's problems would continue—Hornet would have simply swapped one corrupt deity for another. By resolving all conflicts, players unlock Act 3 and the ideal conclusion.

Like any meaningful pilgrimage, this one ends with revelation. The protagonist's realization is that she can now exist independently of the Weaver taint in her lineage and decide her own fate. Lace, reminded of love's power, freed from selfishness, will presumably rebuild Pharloom in a better image. In the finale, religion is dead, and all can live autonomously.

As a conclusion to the pilgrimage, it is an brilliant narrative device that fits seamlessly into the inspirations it draws upon. It tells players that the sole path to a better society is to care for others. Rarely do titles use interactivity to deliver such a message so powerfully, and the developers deserve credit for this thoughtful use of the medium.

A Central Dilemma

Despite the strength of its final message, the development team struggled to support this theme throughout the game and, crucially, to connect it to the adventure's heart: Hornet.

The message might be for the audience, but the story is about her. When a story features a main character who speaks and thinks independently, she must be the central focus, and her decisions and development should communicate the ideas. Even in symbolic stories, the protagonist's identity and role are usually clearly defined to ensure understanding.

Yet, Hornet does not grow or evolve on her journey. Her only goal is to get back. The conflict between free will and fate only surfaces in the climactic battle and some obscure backstory. If players complete all requirements to unlock Act 3, an NPC character comments on her kindness, but he is talking to you, not her.

Missing Growth

This approach would have been fine in the first Hollow Knight, where the protagonist is a blank slate. Hornet, however, is her own person, a driven hunter with a clear purpose. If she is forced to perform actions against her nature—such as aiding the helpless—there should be some resistance. One would expect her to complain, act unpleasant, or at least respond. A brief complaint when initially assisting, later expressing concern that her aid might help, would suffice.

When initially requested to help the weak bugs of Pharloom, she responds with indifference, treating it as a minor task. Even if the user decides to assist, Hornet develops no attachment with any of them. There is no transformation, no shift in perspective. It is remarkable that the user would show such care, but not the heroine. The game provides little justification to think she would.

Underutilized Supporting Cast

Hornet's interactions with characters like the Caretaker were the perfect opportunity to flesh out her character and strengthen the message without heavy-handed exposition. Most of these end up being purely decorative, just padding the runtime. This issue stems from both the writing of Hornet and the random placement of the supporting cast.

One character is essentially a lovable, doddering old fool—there for atmosphere but having no real impact. Others, like the certain NPCs, represent different ideologies contrary to the establishment, a idea that aligns with the message but goes unexplored.

Aside from Lace and Sherma, one of the only characters with a thread through the entire game is The Green Prince, thanks to a tragic romance. While compelling, it leans heavily on a troubling trope and feels disconnected from the central plot. Removing it would have no effect on Hornet's story or the primary theme.

A Passive Protagonist

The apparently arbitrary distribution of focus makes subplots feel unfinished and added hastily. The largest error, however, is that the heroine is portrayed as a passive participant in almost every situation. The few times she speaks up, her remarks are uninspiring, such as stating the obvious to another character. Even more direct remarks on oppression and free will would have linked her more closely to the game's ideas. Instead, she is just along for the ride—in the passenger seat of her own story.

Respect Amid Critique

Despite these issues with thematic execution, there is still great admiration for what the team accomplished. Few games synthesize so many influences into a set of themes so powerful and complex that they are built directly into the in-game world. If the future game from the studio is even bigger and better, one can only wish that those improvements include the basics of narrative as well.