Hollow Knight: Silksong Smashes 5 Million Players and Dominates Indie Charts

Hollow Knight: Silksong has stormed into the gaming scene with numbers that most indie developers can only dream of, proving once again that Team Cherry has a golden touch when it comes to crafting beloved titles. The long-awaited sequel to the critically acclaimed 2017 hit Hollow Knight may have suffered years of delays and endless speculation from its dedicated community, but its eventual release has silenced any doubts. Within days of launch, Silksong has already surpassed the five million player milestone across PC and consoles, cementing its place as one of 2025’s defining gaming events.

According to Rhys Elliott of Alinea Analytics, Silksong didn’t just debut with strong numbers – it shattered expectations.

In only three days, the game drew more than five million players, a staggering achievement for a project from a small Australian studio. Over one million of those players accessed the game through console Game Pass, while Steam accounted for the lion’s share, with more than three million paying customers. Revenue estimates suggest around $50 million generated from Steam alone, a figure that underscores just how eagerly fans were waiting for this sequel. The anticipation was clear even before launch: Silksong had already been wishlisted by 5.2 million users, more than any other upcoming title on the platform this year.

The geographic breakdown of the audience also paints an interesting picture. On Steam, the top markets were the United States, China, Russia, Japan, and Brazil, showcasing the game’s global reach. Meanwhile, PlayStation users showed different trends, with 30% of the audience coming from North America, 14% from Western Europe, and another 14% from Eastern Asia. This wide distribution highlights not only the strength of the brand but also how its appeal transcends regions and platforms.

Perhaps the most surprising revelation from Alinea’s data is the overlap between Silksong players and fans of Soulslike games. While Hollow Knight is rooted in the Metroidvania tradition, with exploration, platforming, and precision combat, the shared audience suggests that players who crave challenge and mastery are flocking to both genres. This connection helps explain why Silksong, despite being mechanically distinct from titles like Dark Souls or Elden Ring, resonates so strongly with those communities.

In terms of competition, 2025 has already been a vibrant year for indie games, but Silksong is in a league of its own. On Steam, the early leaderboard shows just how dominant it is: while other indie titles such as R.E.P.O. (253K units), PEAK (332K units), and Schedule (858K units) have all found their audiences, none come close to Silksong’s explosive 3 million units sold in only three days. Of course, those other games benefited from word-of-mouth growth over time, while Silksong launched with enormous hype built over years of anticipation. Still, the scale of its success speaks volumes about the strength of the Hollow Knight brand and Team Cherry’s ability to deliver on towering expectations.

What lies ahead for Silksong will be fascinating to watch. With millions already immersed in its labyrinthine world and challenging combat, the next test will be whether it can sustain this momentum, inspire a long tail of community content, and perhaps even eclipse the legendary status of its predecessor. For now, one thing is undeniable: Hollow Knight: Silksong has redefined what an indie game can achieve on launch.