Chinese Players Review-Bomb Hollow Knight: Silksong Over Poor Translation
Hollow Knight: Silksong swept digital stores with record-breaking player counts and near universal praise from critics. However Chinese-language players on Steam reacted differently, leaving mostly “Mixed” reviews that stand in sharp contrast to the overwhelmingly positive reception elsewhere. The backlash centers on the Simplified Chinese translation, which many critics describe as awkward, overly archaic, and comically dramatic—some saying it reads more like a wuxia novel or Shakespearean monologue than a Metroidvania adventure.
Localization experts weighed in, pointing out that Silksong’s elegant and concise English dialogue was transformed into verbose prose that misses the original tone. One expert compared the text to a high-school improv version of classical poetry. Among the translators credited, one individual had been publicly posting development details even before launch, which only fueled fan criticism.
Team Cherry responded swiftly through a statement from their marketing lead, expressing gratitude for the feedback and pledging to improve the translation in the coming weeks. Fortunately, Steam’s recent change to segregate reviews by language helps contain the impact of this review bombing on the game’s overall rating.
In essence, the situation underscores how even high-quality gameplay can be overshadowed by localization missteps particularly for audiences that rely on translations to connect with the narrative. Silksong’s core mechanics remain beloved, but this controversy shows that translation matters more than ever in preserving the integrity of game worlds and stories.
origin: gamerant
