Bloody Hell, Did We Really Doubt Hollow Knight? Silksong's Launch Has Fans Digging Up The Receipts
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Amidst the massive launch of *Hollow Knight: Silksong*, fans are unearthing a decade-old Reddit thread where many gamers doubted the original *Hollow Knight*, highlighting how an indie gem defied a saturated market and skepticism to become a beloved legend.
Right, so we're all still reeling from *Hollow Knight: Silksong*'s surprise drop, aren't we? It's been absolutely wild, a proper digital earthquake that's sent shockwaves through the gaming world. Storefronts went wobbly, hundreds of thousands piled in on day one, and the hype... oh, the hype was a beast we hadn't seen since, well, probably the first *Hollow Knight* announcement felt like a whisper compared to this roar. Whether *Silksong* ends up being the greatest Metroidvania ever made or just a very good one, it's already a monumental success. Fair dinkum, it is.
But here's where it gets really interesting, mate. Amidst all this celebration, *Silksong* fans have been doing a bit of digital archaeology, dusting off an ancient Reddit post from nearly a decade ago. And let me tell you, it's a wild ride. It's a journey back to a time when some folks just... didn't get it. They looked at what would become one of the most beloved indie games of all time and went, 'Meh, another one of those, then.'
This isn't just about pointing fingers, though. It's a fascinating look at how perception shifts, how an industry struggles to see the next big thing, and how sometimes, you just gotta trust your gut (or the wizard who accidentally blew a hole through reality). This whole delightful trip down memory lane, by the way, was first expertly chronicled by Patricia Hernandez over at Polygon – credit where credit's due for digging up these digital relics.
Cast your mind back to 2015. A Reddit user posted a thread titled: "Last year my best friend quit his full time job to chase his dream and make a fully fledged video game. Today he just released a trailer and it looks beyond amazing." It was an early peek at *Hollow Knight*, still two years out from its eventual 2017 release. The trailer showcased its melancholic vibe, the unique bug-infested world, a few early enemies. It was humble, heartfelt, and as these things go, it hit the big time. For a while, it was the number two story on r/all, reaching potentially 120 million eyeballs. Bloody hell, that's some reach for a game being made by a duo from Australia!
Initially, the response was warm, positive, full of encouragement. But then, as often happens when something breaks out of its niche and hits the mainstream, the digital temperature dropped. Suddenly, the comment section became a breeding ground for gentle (and not so gentle) skepticism.
"I watched the trailer and still felt like it was yet another side scroller puzzle platformer combat game with rpg elements that I've seen numerous times now," one highly upvoted comment declared, continuing, "What am I supposed to be excited about?" Ouch. Others chimed in: "I'm sure its a fine game, but the market is currently saturated with side-scrolling platformers so I feel his game may not do as good as he hopes." And another, simply: "It looks like any other platform game."
Now, before we grab our pitchforks and march on these ancient digital ghosts, let's step back and consider the context. This wasn't just random negativity; there was a genuine undercurrent of anxiety in the indie scene. 2015, on the surface, was a cracking year for gaming: *Arkham Knight*, *The Witcher 3*, the return of *Fallout*. Big hitters, pushing boundaries. But beneath that AAA sheen, indie developers were genuinely terrified. The "indiepocalypse" was a very real fear, a term whispered in hushed tones on forums like r/gamedev. After the pioneering days of Xbox Live Arcade gave us gems like *Braid* and *Super Meat Boy*, the market had changed. Free-to-play was staking its claim, and Steam was becoming a firehose of new releases – nearly 2,800 in 2015 alone, almost eight games *a day*. Standing out was like trying to find a specific grain of sand on a digital beach.
So, while it's easy to laugh now, many of these commenters weren't being malicious; they were being *observant*. They saw a crowded market and genuinely struggled to see how this charming, bug-filled little game would cut through the noise. There's a perfectly plausible alternate timeline where *Hollow Knight*, despite its undeniable quality and heart, simply got lost in the shuffle. It wouldn't have been a reflection of its brilliance, just the brutal reality of the industry.
But we know how that story actually played out, don't we? *Hollow Knight* didn't just stand out; it redefined what an indie Metroidvania could be. It became the "*Grand Theft Auto 6* of indie games" (unironically, mind you!), eclipsing the very titans of its genre. It spawned countless imitators and inspired a whole new generation of developers.
And that brings us back to *Silksong*'s launch. The environment today is radically different. *Silksong* isn't vying for attention; it *commands* it. It's other indie games that now have to contend with being released near *Hollow Knight*'s shadow. The skepticism is gone, replaced by an almost reverent anticipation.
Which is why those fans are having such a good time digging up those old comments. It's a collective, good-natured "I told you so" to the past. The original Redditor even recreated their old post for *Silksong*'s launch, with a delightful wink. And this time, the top comment? A perfectly self-aware, ironic echo: "Honestly, with all the side scrolling platformers out there, I'm not sure if your friend's game is going to take off. But I wish him luck."
It’s a beautiful full circle moment, isn't it? It reminds us that sometimes, the greatest innovations come from the most unexpected places, proving that even in a saturated market, true magic finds a way to shine. And it's a hell of a lot of fun to remember when everyone got it just a little bit wrong.
**Source:** Polygon – "Silksong fans are clowning on Hollow Knight doubters from a decade ago" by Patricia Hernandez.
Tags: indie gaming, Hollow Knight, Silksong, gaming history, community reaction
Original article: Polygon