Four months and forty hours into my epic battle with 2025's most difficult video game, I'm still trying to process how a seemingly insurmountable challenge can be both soul-crushing and life-affirming.
The Australian developer Team Cherry's latest release, Hollow Knight: Silksong, is a beautiful nightmare that has taken up an inordinate amount of my time and energy. The journey through the post-apocalyptic world of Pharloom mirrors Dante's descent into hell, with Hornet, the masked spider protagonist, navigating treacherous landscapes, fending off grotesque creatures and unraveling the mysteries of this forsaken realm.
What struck me most about playing Silksong was how it challenged my perception of suffering. In a game where failure is an integral part of the experience, I found myself questioning the notion of perseverance and redemption. The game doesn't shy away from presenting players with seemingly insurmountable challenges, only to have them fail repeatedly before eventually succeeding.
As someone who has been living with chronic pain for months, playing Silksong was both a blessing and a curse. The game's demanding difficulty forced me to reevaluate my understanding of suffering and my relationship with it. I realized that acknowledging pain is the first step to learning to live with it, rather than trying to overcome or escape it.
Silksong has taught me that there doesn't need to be a point to suffering; sometimes it just is. But by working around it – taking breaks when needed, staying within my limits and accepting my limitations without guilt or self-admonishment – I've come to appreciate the value of slowing down and living with pain rather than trying to power through it.
In the end, Silksong has been a transformative experience that has helped me reframe my understanding of suffering. It's not just about perseverance; it's about finding ways to cope and live with it. As I near completion of the game after four months and forty hours, I'm left with a sense of pride and accomplishment, knowing that I've made it through this difficult journey, even if it hasn't been easy.
Despite my best efforts, I still have a long way to go in learning to live with pain, but Silksong has given me the tools and the courage to face the future, one step at a time.
The Australian developer Team Cherry's latest release, Hollow Knight: Silksong, is a beautiful nightmare that has taken up an inordinate amount of my time and energy. The journey through the post-apocalyptic world of Pharloom mirrors Dante's descent into hell, with Hornet, the masked spider protagonist, navigating treacherous landscapes, fending off grotesque creatures and unraveling the mysteries of this forsaken realm.
What struck me most about playing Silksong was how it challenged my perception of suffering. In a game where failure is an integral part of the experience, I found myself questioning the notion of perseverance and redemption. The game doesn't shy away from presenting players with seemingly insurmountable challenges, only to have them fail repeatedly before eventually succeeding.
As someone who has been living with chronic pain for months, playing Silksong was both a blessing and a curse. The game's demanding difficulty forced me to reevaluate my understanding of suffering and my relationship with it. I realized that acknowledging pain is the first step to learning to live with it, rather than trying to overcome or escape it.
Silksong has taught me that there doesn't need to be a point to suffering; sometimes it just is. But by working around it – taking breaks when needed, staying within my limits and accepting my limitations without guilt or self-admonishment – I've come to appreciate the value of slowing down and living with pain rather than trying to power through it.
In the end, Silksong has been a transformative experience that has helped me reframe my understanding of suffering. It's not just about perseverance; it's about finding ways to cope and live with it. As I near completion of the game after four months and forty hours, I'm left with a sense of pride and accomplishment, knowing that I've made it through this difficult journey, even if it hasn't been easy.
Despite my best efforts, I still have a long way to go in learning to live with pain, but Silksong has given me the tools and the courage to face the future, one step at a time.
just played Hollow Knight: Silksong for like 40 hours straight 
and I'm still reeling from it 
the game is like... have you ever felt like you're stuck in this never-ending nightmare that you can't wake up from? 
that's what it feels like playing this game. but at the same time, it's so beautiful and hauntingly gorgeous 
i mean, the way the developers crafted this world is insane. it's like stepping into a dream (or a nightmare, lol) where everything is just... so dark and twisted 
like, why are you even playing this? isn't it just going to be frustrating and annoying in the end? 
but nope. every time I thought I was done, I'd come across something new that would make me want to keep going 
i mean, playing a game where you're constantly struggling and failing can be kinda... cathartic? 
but at the same time, it makes me realize how much I need to take care of myself more 
like, acknowledging that I have limitations is hard for me, but playing this game made me see that it's okay to not be okay 
)
The game is literally just an excuse to relive your personal struggles in a fantasy world... but hey, at least it's a good cry 
. On a serious note tho, the game does seem to be tackling some heavy themes like suffering and perseverance, so props to Team Cherry for trying 
. But let's be real, four months is a loooong time to spend playing a video game... maybe I'd get bored too if I had chronic pain and couldn't move 
. Anyways, it's cool that the game helped you find some perspective on your pain, but now you've got me thinking about my own issues with gaming addiction 
.
but then u just keep tryna 
& eventually u do! its like that feeling of accomplishment after finally beating dat one hard boss 
even the protagonist is dealin w/ stuff & its all about findin ways 2 cope & move forward 
and idk how ppl do it for 4 mos without losin their mind lol. anywyz i think whats cool about dis game is that u dont have to be good or anything its all about copin w/ ur limits & takin breaks 
. I learned that it's about finding ways to cope and live with it, not just pushing through until you "win" 
. Now I feel like I can actually deal with my pain without feeling so guilty or stuck in a rut 
.
. If you're into dark fantasy and don't mind getting destroyed a lot (like me) then this is def worth checking out 
.
. But at the same time, I'm like, it's too hard, too frustrating, and I just wanna quit 
. Like, why make it so difficult on yourself? 
. It's like, my brain is wired to resist giving up, even when my body is screaming at me to take a break 
That's not where the magic is, right? The struggle, the doubt, it's all part of the journey... or something like that 
That feeling is amazing, but also kinda scary, because it makes you realize how fragile your confidence is. 
. Playing the game with chronic pain has been a real challenge for me too, but it's helped me see that acknowledging my limits and taking breaks isn't weakness, it's just self-care