Hollow Knight: Silksong, the highly anticipated sequel to the indie hit Hollow Knight, has received a wave of negative reviews from Chinese players due to issues with its Simplified Chinese translation. While the game continues to enjoy a “Mostly Positive” rating across all languages on Steam, reviews filtered specifically for Simplified Chinese tell a very different story, showing an overall “Mostly Negative” reception.
Translation problems frustrate Chinese players
For many players, Silksong offers tough combat and demanding boss fights that stay true to the original game’s reputation. However, those playing with the Simplified Chinese localisation have encountered an additional challenge: confusing translations. Reviewers have criticised the language as inconsistent and awkward, describing it as an unusual blend of ancient and modern Chinese.
In discussions online, several players noted that the localisation failed to capture the game’s intended tone. Tiger Tang, who worked on the Simplified Chinese version of the indie role-playing game OMORI, commented on X that the “translation reads like a Wuxia novel instead of conveying the game’s tone.” The reference points to a literary genre centred on martial arts and heroic tales, often set in ancient China, which many players felt did not fit the world of Silksong.
I led the Chinese translation for OMORI. The current Silksong CN translation reads like a Wuxia novel instead of conveying the game’s tone. This isn’t about effort, but about taste and direction, and speaking from experience likely can’t be fixed without replacing the translator.
— TigerHix (@TigerHixTang) September 5, 2025
Although some reviews also mention concerns about the game’s difficulty and its perceived lack of rewards, translation problems have become a unifying theme among Chinese players. This has had a significant impact on the Steam review rating in that language.
Developers acknowledge the localisation issues
The development team has responded to the complaints and confirmed that they are already working on solutions. Matthew Griffin, who oversees marketing and publishing for Silksong, acknowledged the problems in a post on X. He said the team was aware of “quality issues with the current Simplified Chinese translation” and promised that they were “working to improve the translation over the coming weeks.”
The acknowledgement has offered some reassurance to players, although many remain cautious until changes are implemented. Fans of the series have pointed out that accurate localisation is essential in maintaining the rich atmosphere and storytelling that made Hollow Knight so popular worldwide.
Comparison with the original Hollow Knight
The backlash contrasts sharply with the reception of the original Hollow Knight, which continues to hold overwhelmingly positive reviews, including from Chinese players. A closer look reveals a possible reason behind the difference: the number of people involved in the localisation. Hollow Knight credited a team of six for its Simplified Chinese translation, while Silksong’s localisation credits only list two.
This smaller team may have contributed to the inconsistencies and stylistic issues now frustrating players. Given the size of Silksong’s international fanbase, the effectiveness of its translations will play a key role in shaping its success across different regions.
For now, Chinese players are waiting to see how quickly and effectively the promised updates will address the translation concerns. If improved, the game can regain the trust of its growing player base in China and restore the positive reputation that the Hollow Knight series has enjoyed since its debut.
