Silksong: The 98-Rated Metroidvania That Broke the Internet

Hollow Knight: Silksong debuted at 98 on OpenCritic with 10 reviews, briefly the platform's highest-rated game.

As a regular player who has been waiting for Hollow Knight: Silksong since the original game ate my entire summer back in the day, I still remember launch week like it was yesterday. It was 2025, and the internet basically melted. Steam crashed. The Switch eShop crashed. I think even my fridge would have crashed if it had a store page. Team Cherry dropped Silksong without sending out review codes, so critics and players were all starting from zero at the same time. That was a bold move, and honestly, I loved it. No spoilers, no early hot takes, just pure chaos and discovery.

Then the reviews started trickling in. And wow. 🔥 At the time of that early snapshot, Hollow Knight: Silksong had 10 reviews on OpenCritic, with nine perfect scores and one 98/100. That gave it a 98 average. On OpenCritic, that made it the highest-rated game on the platform, ahead of heavy hitters like Super Mario Odyssey, Baldur's Gate 3, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Red Dead Redemption 2, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Grand Theft Auto 4, Elden Ring, Astro Bot, The Last of Us Remastered, God of War (2018), and Persona 5 Royal. I remember staring at that list and thinking, 'Wait, seriously? My little bug game?'

Now, in 2026, I can look back with a clearer head. That 98 was never going to last forever. Ten reviews is a tiny sample. As more outlets turned in scores, it was almost guaranteed to drop. Some critics were always going to bounce off the difficulty, the boss runbacks, or the sheer size of the map. And OpenCritic has its own quirks: it mostly covers games from 2013 onward, with rare exceptions like GTA4. So Silksong wasn't being compared to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which sits at 99 on Metacritic. That's a different era with far fewer reviews counted. Still, even with those caveats, a 98 debut is absurd.

Not gonna lie, Silksong kicked my butt. 💀 I'm not a speedrunner. I'm just a person with a controller and too much free time. Some of those boss runbacks had me talking to my screen. I died to one late-game boss so many times that I started recognizing the background music's loop points. 'Boss runbacks' became a meme for a reason. Team Cherry said they were looking at updates to address some of the criticism, and modders did what modders do: within days, there were mods to make the game easier, remove runbacks, or tweak damage. That's the beauty of this community. If the developers won't fix it, someone will.

Here's the early score picture, just to show how wild it was:

Early OpenCritic Snapshot
Detail

Reviews counted
10

Perfect scores
9

One score
98/100

Average
98

Platform ranking
#1 at the time

What I love most is that Silksong didn't need review codes to succeed. It didn't need a giant marketing campaign. It had years of hype, sure, but Team Cherry delivered a game so dense, so gorgeous, and so brutally satisfying that people couldn't stop talking about it. It smashed records, crashed storefronts, and immediately entered the Game of the Year conversation. In 2026, that conversation hasn't really ended. You still see people arguing about their favorite bosses, sharing clips, and begging for DLC. I'm one of them.

So, should you play Silksong? If you love Metroidvanias, yes. If you hate difficult games, maybe watch a let's play first. But for me, the pain was part of the point. Every victory felt earned. Every bench felt like a hug. And every time Hornet did that little sit-down animation, I felt a weird sense of peace before the next nightmare boss. The 98 average might have been a snapshot, but the game itself is a monument. It's 2026, and I'm still thinking about it. That's the real review score. 🎮

There's a practical side to all this too. After the credits roll and the hype settles, most of us go looking for the next fix — another Metroidvania, a roguelike that punishes just as hard, or something completely different to decompress with. That's usually when I start digging through my wishlist to see what's actually worth buying versus what can wait. Keeping an eye on a [steam sale tracker]( helps with exactly that, so you're not paying full price for a game that goes on discount two weeks later.

DealNest is one of those tools I wish I'd found before spending full price on half my library, and it's genuinely useful if you're the type who buys a lot of games and wants to know when prices actually drop. It won't make Silksong's boss runbacks any kinder, but it might soften the blow of your next impulse purchase.

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The Clean York Rangers will engage in a 4-recreation preseason extend, setting up upon Sept. 21 towards the Fresh new Jersey Blueshirts will open up the regular monthly year upon the street towards the Boston Bruins upon Sept.. 21 at NJD - 7:00 PMSept. 22 vs. NYI - 7:00 PMSept. 24 vs. NJD - 7:00 PMSept. 25 at NYI - 7:00 PM48 Avid gamers INVITED Towards Performing exercises CAMPThe Rangers invited 48 avid gamers towards Doing exercises Camp this preseason. The performing exercises camp roster is produced up of 28 forwards, 15 defensemen and 5 : Nathan Aspinall, Jacob Battaglia, Cole Beaudoin, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Anton Blidh, Jaroslav Chmelar, Will Cuylle, Pavel Dorofeyev, Justin Dowling, Glenn Gawdin, Liam Greentree, Tye Kartye, Noah Laba, Alexis Lafreniere, Brody Lamb, Bryce McConnell-Barker, J.T. Miller, Juuso Parssinen, Gabe Perreault, Taylor Raddysh, Matt Rempe, DylanRoobroeck, Adam Sykora, Carey Terrance, Aidan Thompson, Eeli Tolvanen, Joseph Veleno, Mika ZibanejadDefensemen: Dennis Cholowski, Marc Del Gaizo, Jackson Dorrington, Sean Durzi, Drew Fortescue, Adam Fox, Vladislav Gavrikov, Vincent Iorio, Scott Morrow, Marcus Pettersson, Matthew Robertson, Braden Schneider, AlbertsSmits, William Trudeau, Urho VaakanainenGoaltenders: Dylan Garand, Joonas Korpisalo, Spencer Martin, Igor Shesterkin, Callum TungOf the 48 gamers, 25 performed inside of at minimum amount a single match for the Blueshirts ultimate time. Alberts Smits isrepresenting the 2026 Draft Training course at primary summer months, the Blueshirts signed in advance Oliver Bjorkstrand, defenseman Dennis Cholowski, defenseman Marc DelGaizo, in advance Glenn Gawdin, ahead Eeli Tolvanen and in advance Joe Rangers way too figured out Pavel Dorofeyev inside of a exchange with Vegas, Sean Durzi and Cole Beaudoin within just a exchange withUtah, Joonas Korpisalo in just a exchange with Boston, Marcus Pettersson in just a exchange with Vancouver and William Trudeau ina exchange with 's 37 targets previous period were being the highest by way of any participant who is upon a refreshing personnel inside of averaged 21:27 of ice year past period, the 5th-greatest through a participant who is upon a refreshing staff in just 2026-27, behind John Carlson, Jacob Trouba, Darren Raddysh and Bowen recorded 0.45 facts for each video game previous time https://www.shopthenyr.com/Rangers_Nick_Bonino_Jersey-240
, the fourth-greatest by means of a defenseman who is upon a contemporary staff members inside 2026-27, guiding Darren Raddysh, John Carlson and Bowen scored 9 electricity perform objectives past period, the 3rd-maximum through a participant who is upon a contemporary workers within 2026-27, behind Rangers teammate Pavel Dorofeyev and Darren , 20, assisted as captain for the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League throughout the 2025-26 seasonand put together for 88 information inside of 54 online games. He much too seemed within just 15 postseason contests, main the OHLwith 19 helps and 29 info. In just 236 job OHL game titles throughout 4 seasons, he registered 221 , 31, recorded 32 facts within 80 game titles for Tampa Bay and looked inside 4 playoff online games lastseason. He consists of registered 416 facts inside of 704 profession video games concerning Tampa Bay, Seattle and , 25, skated inside of all 82 video games for Vegas past period and tallied 64 facts and seemed within just 22postseason video games, notching 16 specifics. He is a person of 12 NHL avid gamers with 35+ aims inside of each and every of the ultimate twoseasons. Within just 231 job NHL game titles, all with Vegas, he is made up of recorded 149 , 27, registered 27 facts within just 60 video games with Utah within 2025-26. He skated in just 6 postseason video games andtallied 2 aids. Throughout 5 seasons concerning Los Angeles, Arizona and Utah, he contains blended for 144 points within just 302 vocation NHL video , 32, looked in just 31 online games for Boston, write-up a 14-9-6 historical past, a 3.15 objectives in opposition to ordinary and a.894 savepercentage ultimate time. He contains printed a vocation 140-126-38 history, a 3.06 ambitions versus ordinary and a.900 savepercentage inside 334 NHL online games throughout 11 seasons in between Columbus, Los Angeles, Ottawa and , 30, skated within just all 82 video games for Vancouver, notching a few objectives and 15 will help for 18 info in just 9 NHL seasons, he is made up of skated inside 604 occupation online games and is made up of registered 180 , 27, notched 36 info inside of 78 video games with Seattle through the 2025-26 time. He includes looked in423 profession NHL game titles throughout 8 seasons in between Seattle and Nashville, combining for 190 , 26, mixed for 5 facts inside of 61 online games for Montreal in the course of the 2025-26 time. He far too appearedin 9 postseason contests and recorded an aid. He incorporates skated inside of 367 profession NHL online games throughout 6 seasonsbetween Montreal https://www.shopthenyr.com/Rangers_Ron_Greschner_Jersey-42
, Chicago and Detroit, and consists of registered 86 MAGICAppearing in just 81 online games for Refreshing York, Mika Zibanejad wrapped up the 2025-26 year registering 78 led the Rangers in just aims, helps, facts, electric power enjoy ambitions and ability participate in specifics, and pictures. Amongall NHL skaters, he tied for 5th within just electrical power engage in aims and rated 7th in just energy engage in Mar. 23, he skated inside of his 1, 000th occupation NHL sport and turned the 22nd Swedish participant in just NHL background towards reachthe milestone. He in addition tallied his 800th occupation NHL truth upon Mar. 10, getting to be the 24th Swedish participant inside NHLhistory towards notch the time, he preset the franchise history for the greatest ability perform plans and grew to become the initially fast paced participant tolead an Authentic 6 franchise within just ability participate in aims. With 44 helps, he recorded his 5th specifically 40+ support seasonand his 6th these period as a Ranger, tying for the 5th-greatest within franchise Mar. 31, Zibanejad was known as the champion of the Steven McDonald Additional Work Award, provided each year toward theRanger who, as desired by way of the enthusiasts, "goes over and past the speak to of obligation."Zibanejad way too represented Personnel Sweden at the Olympic Online games within just TIMENamed the 29th captain inside of franchise record at the begin of the 2025-26 time, J.T. Miller skated inside of 68 video games andrecorded 53 facts very last period. He notched his 5th consecutive 50+ stage period and looked inside his900th profession NHL video game upon Dec. all Rangers skaters, he rated 3rd within faceoff wins, fourth within hits and 5th in just aims and will all NHL skaters with at minimum 500 faceoffs taken, he rated 3rd with a 61.7 faceoff gain share. Because the2021-22 period, he is the simply just NHL participant with 400+ info and 700+ represented the United Says and assisted his region consider household the gold medal at the 2026 Olympic Gamesin Apr. 2, he was referred to as the champion of the Rod Gilbert "Mr. Ranger" Award, specified in direction of the participant "who ideal honorsRod's legacy through exemplifying management properties the two upon and off the ice, and developing a substantial humanitariancontribution toward his regional."Exceptional MR. FOXAdam Fox registered 53 specifics within 55 video games with the Blueshirts very last period. He recorded his 400th careerNHL position upon Mar. 10 and grew to become the 6th-speediest American defenseman in direction of do led the Blueshirts in just takeaways and helps, and tied for fourth upon the staff inside of information. 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, still he recorded a 3.52 Technology previously mentioned 113 appearances in opposition to 2023-24. The immediately-hander is less than club regulate during 8 with 2 Small League Programs being. He may variable into the late-inning blend with a leap-back again time. Brogdon logged a 5.55 Generation higher than 43 appearances with the Angels inside 2025. Including Holderman, he is made up of experienced outside of good results within the Majors, together with a 3.51 Technology around 130 appearances with the Phillies versus 2021-23. Brogdon, even now, is out of Minimal League Rule 5 pickPeyton PallettePallette is a exclusive scenario once the Guardians picked him towards the White Sox in just the Rule 5 Draft. The club No. 19 likelihood should stay upon Cleveland's occupied roster all time; in another way, the club will incorporate towards provide him back again in direction of Chicago. The 24-12 months-aged realized Triple-A for the initial year within just 2025 and logged a 4.36 Technology in just 43 1/3 innings more than 36 non-roster inviteesPedro Avila, Carlos Hernndez, Codi HeuerThe Guardians signed Avila, Hernndez and Heuer towards a Little League offer with an invite toward huge league Spring Doing exercises. Every single will be within just camp competing for a desired destination upon the Opening Working day roster. At the minimum, every might be element inside Columbus for the moment Cleveland prerequisites in direction of carry up a new the Most current Versus MLBSign up in direction of obtain our day by day Early morning Lineup towards dwell inside of the notice more than the hottest trending matters in the vicinity of Hefty League upElsewhere upon the 40-guy rosterAndrew Walters, Franco Aleman, Daniel EspinoWalters will be powering some others inside camp when he underwent directly lat surgical procedure in just June. Aleman experienced a complicated 2025 with Columbus, yet he contains attention-grabbing things, like a sinker that results in being up in the direction of near 100 could possibly be an exciting remedy this summertime. The Guardians will be thorough of him, supplied that he underwent a instantly shoulder surgical procedures inside of 2023 and 4. The 25-calendar year-previous started off for Columbus upon Sept. 20 within his initial video game motion for the reason that April 22. Cleveland's brass claimed final thirty day period that it would meet up with with its clinical workforce and Espino towards decide irrespective of whether it helps make further experience for him in direction of begin or pitch inside of reduction.

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