Hollow Knight: Silksong vs Mina the Hollower
Both demand boss-repeat patience, but one rewards aerial combos and the other rewards underground burrowing.
Updated 23d ago
Hornet's pogo-and-dash silk kit moves better than the original's, and 40 hours at $20 is absurd value — unless you bounce off punishing boss timing.
Mina's burrow-and-whip combat dethrones its Game Boy inspirations — essential for retro action fans.
By the numbers
Prices checked Aug 7; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Aug 7.
| Measure | Hollow Knight: Silksong | Mina the Hollower |
|---|---|---|
| Value Hollow Knight: Silksong wins on value | ||
| Price now | $19.99 Microsoft Store | $19.99 Steam |
| All-time low | $14.99 | $19.99 |
| Cost / hour | $0.71/hr $19.99 · 28 h main story | $1.09/hr $19.99 · 18 h main story |
| Off its low | +33% low was May 2026 | At its low vs $19.99 low |
| Main story | 28 h | 18 h |
| Health | ||
| Steam reviews | 89% 418k reviews | 89% 8k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 89% 4k votes · vs 89% lifetime | 88% 577 votes · vs 89% lifetime |
| Peak players | 13,722 Jul 2026 · ↑ 5% MoM | 1,564 Jul 2026 · ↓ 82% MoM |
| Launch peak | 3% of Sep 2025 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 | — |
| All-time peak | 462,134 Sep 2025 | — |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 5 months ago | 4 weeks ago |
| Patch cadence | 0 in last 90 days | 18 in last 90 days |
| Steam Deck | Platinum | Platinum |
Shared scale — same months across the bottom, same player-count axis up the side, so the two lines are directly comparable. A shorter line means a younger game.
What players say
Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Hornet's silk-tool kit—pogo, wall-cling, and the needling dash—keeps veterans experimenting well past hour 100, with the movement system called smoother than the original.
from our August 2026 verdict
Mina the Hollower
The burrow-and-whip combat loop is the hook that genre veterans keep returning to.
The initial difficulty spike is the biggest friction point for new players.
from our July 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick Hollow Knight: Silksong if
- You mastered Hollow Knight and crave faster, more aggressive combat.
- You love 2D Metroidvania exploration with complex movement upgrades.
- You can endure a steep early learning curve for a bigger experience.
Pick Mina the Hollower if
- You prefer top-down action with nostalgic Game Boy Color aesthetics.
- You enjoy rhythmic whip combat and burrow mechanics for evasion.
- You want a tighter, retro-inspired adventure from the Shovel Knight team.
Bottom line
Choose Silksong for a massive, polished 2D Metroidvania; pick Mina for a focused, top-down retro action game with unique burrow gameplay.