Hollow Knight: Silksong has become the most wishlisted game in Steam’s history, reaching over 5.2 million wishlists. The milestone puts the hand-drawn, 2D metroidvania sequel ahead of massive AAA releases and cements its place as one of the most anticipated games of the decade.
Team Cherry’s sequel was first announced in 2019 as downloadable content, but it later evolved into a standalone title. After years of speculation and delays, the game was officially dated to release on September 4. The announcement pushed wishlist numbers to new heights, surpassing even the biggest blockbuster franchises. According to data from SteamDB, Silksong has seen nearly 400,000 recent additions, outpacing other popular upcoming titles, such as Subnautica 2, by a wide margin.
The anticipation has spilled over into renewed interest in the original Hollow Knight, which launched in 2017. Steam concurrent players for the first game have nearly doubled since Silksong’s release date was announced, with new peak player counts set more than eight years after its debut. This resurgence demonstrates the community’s strength and the eagerness of players to return to the franchise before the sequel’s release.
The reach of Silksong’s popularity is being felt across the indie industry. Several smaller studios have chosen to delay their releases to avoid launching near Silksong, fearing their projects would be overshadowed. Developers behind titles like CloverPit, Faeland, and Aeterna Lucis acknowledged that Team Cherry’s game has created a wave of attention unlike anything they could compete with.
Silksong’s success on Steam is more than just curiosity. Since its reveal, the game has cultivated a devoted fan base often jokingly described as having “Silksanity.” Even during long periods of silence from Team Cherry, players kept interest alive through memes, speculation, and online discussion. The original Hollow Knight, which has sold more than 15 million copies, set a high standard for tight gameplay and atmospheric design. That reputation has carried over into expectations for the sequel, convincing both longtime fans and new players to keep it on their radar.
With its official release just days away, Silksong is positioned to become one of the biggest indie launches of all time. The record-breaking wishlist count means that even a modest conversion rate could deliver enormous sales numbers. For Team Cherry, a small studio from Australia, the achievement is already a historic moment. For the gaming industry, it shows how a carefully crafted indie project can stand alongside the biggest franchises on the market.
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