Back in 2025, when Hollow Knight: Silksong finally dropped after what felt like an eternity of waiting, players everywhere rejoiced. Then they died. A lot. The game was tough as nails—or should we say, tough as a nail to the face—and while that's par for the course for Team Cherry, some folks found themselves wishing for a little help. Enter the modding community, stage left, with a solution that's equal parts brilliant and hilarious: a multiplayer mod that lets you bring a buddy along for the ride.

The mod, created by a clever soul named XvX, popped up on Nexus Mods less than a week after launch. The only catch? It's Steam-only. Sorry, console peasants—you'll have to wait for the official nerfs, which we'll get to in a moment. But for those on PC, the mod lets a second player control an identical Hornet. You can fight together, or you can fight each other if you're feeling particularly masochistic. Because nothing says "friendship" like a duel to the death in a bug-infested kingdom. And yes, the mod would have arrived even sooner if XvX hadn't been distracted by Delta Force—a handy reminder that other games do exist, even if Silksong has a tendency to swallow your entire life.

Now, here's the kicker: the mod doesn't mess with balance. Enemies are just as beefy, bosses just as brutal. But with two Hornets, the dynamic changes. Bosses with targeted attacks can only focus on one player at a time, leaving the other free to poke them in the back. It's like the old saying goes: two Hornets are better than one, especially when one of them is a distraction. This has made some of the game's most notorious bosses—looking at you, Moorwing—significantly more manageable. Not easy, mind you. Just... less likely to make you cry.

Of course, if you don't have a friend (or you're just a lone wolf), Team Cherry heard your pleas. In a patch that rolled out shortly after launch, they toned down the difficulty, particularly in the early game. Moorwing and Sister Splinter got hit with the nerf bat, and other enemies were made a bit less aggressive. It was a welcome change for many, though some purists grumbled about "casualization." You can't please everyone, right?

So where does that leave us in 2026? The multiplayer mod is still going strong, and the nerfs have made the game more accessible. But the mod remains the ultimate co-op experience for those who want to share the pain—and the glory. Plus, there's something undeniably satisfying about having a partner to blame when you inevitably die to a surprise spike trap. "Dude, you were supposed to watch my back!" "I was watching it—from a distance!"

Here's a quick breakdown of your options:

So if you're on PC and you've got a buddy who's also a glutton for punishment, give the mod a try. It's a game-changer—literally. And if you're on console, well, at least the nerfs have your back. Either way, Silksong remains a masterpiece, even if it makes you want to scream into a pillow. Just remember: git gud, or bring a friend. Preferably both. And if all else fails, there's always the option to just watch someone else play it on YouTube while you eat chips. No judgment here. 🕷️⚔️😅

That said, playing Silksong with a friend means buying two copies—and if your buddy is the type who still hasn't picked it up, or if the mod's existence has you eyeing other Team Cherry titles (or even the games that keep pulling you away from the grind), those costs add up fast. Between yearly releases, indie darlings, and the endless backlog of soulslike distractions, the hobby has a way of quietly draining your wallet in increments of twenty dollars.

Before you double-tap "add to cart," it pays to check whether the price you're paying is actually the price you should be paying. Sites that aggregate DealNest game deals can help you catch discounts, price drops, and bundle offers you'd otherwise miss while you're busy dying to the same boss for the fourteenth time. It won't make Moorwing any easier, but at least your bank account will suffer fewer critical hits.