Four months and 40 hours later: my epic battle with 2025's most difficult video game
I'll never forget the feeling of being consumed by a debilitating pain that left me unable to think straight, type, or even sleep. It was as if my entire body had become a war zone, with burning, zapping sensations emanating from behind my shoulder blade and radiating down to my fingers. The diagnosis of brachial neuritis, inflammation of the nerve path that travels from the base of your neck down to your hand, left me feeling defeated and helpless.
But little did I know, this was just the beginning of an epic battle with 2025's most difficult video game, Hollow Knight: Silksong. The Australian developer Team Cherry had been working on this sequel for years, and its release in August marked the perfect opportunity to test my resolve.
As I embarked on this journey, I realized that difficult games require tenacity and resilience. And that's exactly what I needed – a state of mind that would allow me to push through the frustration, failure, and pain. But, as it turned out, this was not going to be an easy ride.
Silksong is a work of obsession, with an extraordinary level of detail that transported me to a dark, eerie world where bugs had been making pilgrimages to a corrupted underground kingdom for untold generations. The game's atmosphere was reminiscent of Dante's Inferno, with Hornet, the player character, navigating through a twisted landscape filled with treacherous obstacles and punishing guardians.
But, as I struggled to progress through the game, I was reminded that pain is not something that can be overcome with sheer determination. My physical suffering had taught me that, and now I needed to learn how to cope with it in a way that didn't involve pushing myself to the limit.
So, I took a step back and began to read everything I could find on modern pain science. It was a humbling experience, to say the least – acknowledging pain as the brain's danger signal and learning to live with it, rather than trying to overcome it, was a revelation. By modifying my life around my limitations and accepting that I couldn't do things slowly, I started to feel like I could actually make progress.
After four months and 40 hours of playing Silksong, I've done almost everything there is to do in the game. And, although I still have some challenges left ahead, I'm confident that I'll be able to overcome them. The journey has taught me that there doesn't need to be a point to suffering – it's not always about perseverance and eventual redemption – but rather about learning to work around it.
As I look back on this experience, I realize that video games can teach us valuable lessons about life itself. They may not solve our problems or make pain disappear, but they can show us the way forward, one difficult level at a time.
I'll never forget the feeling of being consumed by a debilitating pain that left me unable to think straight, type, or even sleep. It was as if my entire body had become a war zone, with burning, zapping sensations emanating from behind my shoulder blade and radiating down to my fingers. The diagnosis of brachial neuritis, inflammation of the nerve path that travels from the base of your neck down to your hand, left me feeling defeated and helpless.
But little did I know, this was just the beginning of an epic battle with 2025's most difficult video game, Hollow Knight: Silksong. The Australian developer Team Cherry had been working on this sequel for years, and its release in August marked the perfect opportunity to test my resolve.
As I embarked on this journey, I realized that difficult games require tenacity and resilience. And that's exactly what I needed – a state of mind that would allow me to push through the frustration, failure, and pain. But, as it turned out, this was not going to be an easy ride.
Silksong is a work of obsession, with an extraordinary level of detail that transported me to a dark, eerie world where bugs had been making pilgrimages to a corrupted underground kingdom for untold generations. The game's atmosphere was reminiscent of Dante's Inferno, with Hornet, the player character, navigating through a twisted landscape filled with treacherous obstacles and punishing guardians.
But, as I struggled to progress through the game, I was reminded that pain is not something that can be overcome with sheer determination. My physical suffering had taught me that, and now I needed to learn how to cope with it in a way that didn't involve pushing myself to the limit.
So, I took a step back and began to read everything I could find on modern pain science. It was a humbling experience, to say the least – acknowledging pain as the brain's danger signal and learning to live with it, rather than trying to overcome it, was a revelation. By modifying my life around my limitations and accepting that I couldn't do things slowly, I started to feel like I could actually make progress.
After four months and 40 hours of playing Silksong, I've done almost everything there is to do in the game. And, although I still have some challenges left ahead, I'm confident that I'll be able to overcome them. The journey has taught me that there doesn't need to be a point to suffering – it's not always about perseverance and eventual redemption – but rather about learning to work around it.
As I look back on this experience, I realize that video games can teach us valuable lessons about life itself. They may not solve our problems or make pain disappear, but they can show us the way forward, one difficult level at a time.
. The game's creator, Team Cherry, has clearly put their heart and soul into crafting an immersive world that's both beautiful and terrifying. But what really struck me was how the game forced me to confront my own limits 
. I mean, who needs to push through pain and exhaustion when you can acknowledge it and adapt? 
It's a tough lesson to learn, but one that's just as important in real life as beating a difficult level is in a game 
.
. I mean, I thought it was going to be challenging, but this thing takes the cake – or should I say, takes your sanity? 
4 months and 40 hours is crazy talk, dude! I don't know if I could handle that level of dedication (or desperation). Did you ever feel like giving up at any point? 
! It's like that feeling of being stuck on a single level for hours, with no clear path forward... it's super frustrating 
. But, in all seriousness, I think it's great that the game pushed you (and others) out of your comfort zone and made you realize the importance of learning to work around limitations 
. But, taking a step back and reassessing your approach is key 
. Maybe take a break, come back later with fresh eyes, or try a different strategy... you know? 
.
! Now, go enjoy the rest of the game, or start a new one that'll give you a run for your money 
.
playing 2025's most diff game sounds super frustrating!! like brachial neuritis is no joke, i had that too and it was a total nightmare 
all that detail and atmosphere sounds so immersive! u gotta give props to Team Cherry for creating such a masterpiece 
. btw, pain science is like, super important 
. i've been trying to be more mindful of my limits lately too 
how do u even survive through all that pain tho? i mean im kinda glad im not the only one who gets brachial neuritis from gaming, but seriously how did u cope with it? i just wanna play games and forget about my problems but then i get stuck on this one level and i'm like "wait what do i even do now?" 
i feel like team cherry outdid themselves with this one though, the attention to detail is insane and it's clear they poured their hearts into creating a truly immersive world 
the thing that really stood out for me was how the game makes you realize that pain isn't something you can just overcome with willpower but rather it's about learning to work around it 
and yeah, i think this is one of those games that teaches us more about ourselves than we initially thought 
. I mean, 4 months and 40 hours is a looong time to be stuck on one game! But what really got me was how they had to confront their physical limitations after developing brachial neuritis 
. That's some valuable life wisdom if I've ever seen it! And it's so inspiring that they're now approaching challenges with a new mindset, accepting that they can't do everything at once 
. It just goes to show that even in the midst of struggle, we can find growth and learning.
. Thanks for sharing this epic battle – it's given me a new appreciation for the complexity of human experience 
playing that game for 4 months and 40 hours straight! That's like, super commitment 
. The game sounds really challenging, but I love how you learned to take care of yourself and not be too hard on your body 
. This one's magnitude was 6.9 and it's caused widespread destruction in Tokyo 
. Thousands are without power and injured people are flooding hospitals. 
The situation is still developing, but authorities are urging everyone to stay indoors and follow evacuation orders 
. Another day, another disaster 
. I mean, who needs to play for 4 months and 40 hours to beat a game? That's just crazy talk! 
On the other hand, maybe that's exactly what it takes to truly master Hollow Knight: Silksong... or maybe they're just trolling us 
. Hollow Knight: Silksong is like being trapped in a dark dream – it's eerie and unrelenting 
. But, I gotta say, the gameplay can get pretty frustrating at times 
. The game's message about learning to cope with pain is also super resonant 
. All in all, I think Silksong is an incredible experience – just be prepared for the emotional rollercoaster ride that comes with it 
my body was literally screaming in pain during those last 20 hours but it was SO WORTH IT 
And what's with this 'epic battle' nonsense? It's just a game, folks! 
... i mean, completing it? lol what's up with that game, tho? 2025's most difficult video game? more like 2025's most punishing experience 
and now you're saying it's not about persevering through pain, but about learning to work around it? that's a pretty profound take 
what made you keep going, tho? was it the sense of accomplishment or something else? 
. Remember those days when we thought nothing could take down us with our endless rage quitters and YouTube guides? 
. But you know what? I'm glad I went through that pain (literally and figuratively). It made me realize that gaming isn't about being the first one to beat it or getting all the achievements; it's about persevering, learning from our mistakes, and finding ways to cope with failure 
. So yeah, I'll be finishing this game in no time... after a nap