Silksong takes a Steam review beating, falling to 'Mostly Positive' after a sterling launch thanks to a Chinese localization so bad Team Cherry has already promised to "improve it"

Hollow Knight: Silksong
(Image credit: Team Cherry)

Hollow Knight Silksong seems to have been worth the long and arduous wait ifs its blockbuster player numbers are anything to go by, but gamers playing in Simplified Chinese aren't having the greatest time with its baffling translation.

There's a pretty big gap between Silksong's 35,000 English reviews, 92% of which currently give the sequel a thumbs up, and 88,000 or so total reviews, where only 78% are positive - mostly blemished by around 14,000 negative reviews left in Simplified Chinese.

Loek van Kooten even translates one of the Chinese version's passages back into English to emphasize the issue: "With nary a spirit nor thought shalt thou persist, bereft of mortal will, unbent, unswayed. With no lament nor tearful cry, only sorrow’s dirge to herald thine eternal woe. Born of gods and of the fathomless abyss, grasping heaven’s firmament in thine unworthy palm. Shackled to endless dream, tormented by pestilence and shadow, thy heart besieged by phantasmal demons. Thou art the chalice of destiny. Verily, thou art the Primordial Knight of Hollowness."

Freelance contributor

Kaan freelances for various websites including Rock Paper Shotgun, Eurogamer, and this one, Gamesradar. He particularly enjoys writing about spooky indies, throwback RPGs, and anything that's vaguely silly. Also has an English Literature and Film Studies degree that he'll soon forget.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.