Why Hollow Knight: Silksong Can’t Have Colosseum (March 2026)
Why can’t Hollow Knight: Silksong have its own Colosseum of Fools? The answer lies deep within Hallownest’s lore – the Colosseum exists as the world’s singular warrior destination, carved from an ancient bug’s shell in Kingdom’s Edge, making it impossible to replicate in Pharloom’s entirely different kingdom.
After spending over 200 hours exploring every corner of Hollow Knight and defeating every boss including the brutal Pantheon of Hallownest, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for how Team Cherry weaves lore into gameplay. The Colosseum of Fools isn’t just an arena – it’s a lore-critical location that defines Hallownest’s warrior culture. Let me explain why Silksong, despite all its potential, can never recreate this iconic area from a pure worldbuilding perspective.
| Lore Element | Hallownest (Original) | Pharloom (Silksong) |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom Status | Fallen, infected kingdom | Active, silk-dominated realm |
| Protagonist Role | Vessel of void, outsider | Princess-protector, established warrior |
| Arena Possibility | Unique world destination | Would contradict established lore |
The Colosseum of Fools: More Than Just an Arena
When I first discovered the Colosseum of Fools during my initial playthrough, I thought it was simply Hollow Knight’s take on a combat arena. I couldn’t have been more wrong. This location represents something far more significant in Hallownest’s history and the broader world of Hollow Knight.
The Colosseum isn’t just built anywhere – it’s carved from the fossilized shell of a massive ancient bug in Kingdom’s Edge. This detail alone makes it irreplaceable. You can’t simply build another arena and call it equivalent. The very foundation of the Colosseum ties it to Hallownest’s ancient past, to creatures that existed before the Pale King’s reign, before civilization as the bugs know it.
What truly sets the Colosseum apart is its reputation. NPCs throughout Hallownest reference it as the ultimate proving ground for warriors across the entire world. Tiso, one of the few named warriors you encounter, traveled specifically to Hallownest just to test himself in the trials. This isn’t a local fighting pit – it’s a world-renowned destination that draws the greatest warriors from every corner of the map.
The Void Connection: A Unique Hallownest Element
During my countless attempts at completing the Trial of the Fool (which took me embarrassingly long to master), I noticed something crucial: the shade trap rooms. These chambers, where you fight waves of enemies while dodging spikes on the floor, aren’t just gameplay challenges – they’re lore goldmines.
The Colosseum actively incorporates void beings and shade mechanics into its trials. This connection to the void is uniquely Hallownest’s domain. The void sea beneath the kingdom, the shade creatures, the vessels – these elements don’t exist in Pharloom. When playing through the trials, you’re not just fighting bugs; you’re engaging with Hallownest’s fundamental supernatural forces.
I’ve spent hours analyzing the environmental storytelling in the Colosseum, and there’s compelling evidence suggesting the Hollow Knight itself may have trained here. The presence of void-based challenges, the ritualistic nature of the trials, and the location’s proximity to the Ancient Basin all support this theory. If true, this makes the Colosseum even more integral to Hallownest’s tragic history.
Pharloom: A Kingdom of Silk, Not Steel
From what we’ve seen in Silksong previews and demos, Pharloom operates on entirely different principles than Hallownest. Where Hallownest was a kingdom built on the Pale King’s light and eventually consumed by infection and void, Pharloom is dominated by silk, song, and bells.
During the E3 2019 demo coverage, I noticed how Pharloom’s architecture and culture revolve around verticality and weaving. The Moss Grotto and Deep Docks areas shown demonstrate a kingdom that values craftsmanship and commerce over martial prowess. This isn’t a criticism – it’s brilliant worldbuilding that distinguishes Pharloom as its own unique setting rather than “Hallownest 2.0.”
Hornet herself embodies this difference. Unlike the Knight, who arrives as an outsider seeking purpose, Hornet has an established role and reputation. She’s already a proven warrior, a princess-protector of Hallownest. Her journey in Pharloom isn’t about proving herself in combat trials – it’s about escaping captivity and uncovering the kingdom’s mysteries.
The Bells and Silk: Pharloom’s Cultural Identity
Where Hallownest had its Colosseum as a martial centerpiece, Pharloom appears to center around the Citadel and its bell-based civilization. The gameplay previews show Hornet collecting tools and engaging with NPCs in two-way conversations – a far cry from the Knight’s mostly silent journey through a dying kingdom.
I find this shift fascinating from a design perspective. Team Cherry isn’t trying to recreate Hollow Knight with a different protagonist; they’re building an entirely new experience that respects the established lore while exploring new territory. Creating another world-famous arena in Pharloom would not only contradict the Colosseum’s unique status but also undermine Pharloom’s distinct identity.
Why This Lore Restriction Actually Benefits Silksong?
Initially, I was disappointed when I realized Silksong couldn’t have its own Colosseum equivalent. The trials were some of my favorite content in Hollow Knight, providing that perfect blend of challenge and reward. But the more I’ve thought about it, the more I appreciate Team Cherry’s commitment to lore consistency.
By respecting the Colosseum’s unique position in the world, Team Cherry forces themselves to innovate. Instead of rehashing successful features, they must create new challenges that fit Pharloom’s silk-and-song theme. Based on the 324,040 Steam followers eagerly awaiting Silksong (making it the most wishlisted game on the platform), this approach is clearly resonating with fans.
Consider Hornet’s combat abilities compared to the Knight’s. She’s faster, more agile, and uses silk-based attacks. Any combat arena designed for her would need to accommodate these differences. Vertical challenges, silk-swinging gauntlets, or musical combat trials could all provide that arena-style experience without betraying the lore.
Alternative Challenge Modes That Fit Pharloom
During my analysis of Silksong’s preview content, I’ve identified several ways Team Cherry could implement challenging combat content without creating another Colosseum:
The Silk Trials: Vertical climbing challenges where Hornet must defeat enemies while maintaining altitude using her silk abilities. This would play to her unique moveset while fitting Pharloom’s vertical architecture.
Bell Tower Gauntlets: Time-based challenges synchronized to Pharloom’s bell system, where combat encounters match musical patterns. This would integrate the kingdom’s cultural elements into gameplay.
Citadel Hunts: Contract-based boss rushes where Hornet takes on increasingly difficult assassination targets for the mysterious forces controlling Pharloom. This maintains the challenge while fitting her character as an established warrior.
The Broader Implications for Gaming Sequels
Hollow Knight: Silksong’s approach to respecting established lore while creating new experiences offers valuable lessons for the gaming industry. Too often, sequels simply replicate successful features without considering narrative consistency. I’ve played countless sequels that shoehorn in popular mechanics regardless of whether they make sense in the new context.
Team Cherry’s six-year development cycle for Silksong (and counting) demonstrates their commitment to getting this balance right. They’re not just making “more Hollow Knight” – they’re expanding the world in ways that respect what came before while offering genuinely new experiences.
This reminds me of how the best legendary retro games handled sequels. Games like Super Metroid and Symphony of the Night didn’t just copy their predecessors; they evolved the formula while maintaining narrative coherence.
The approach also reflects broader trends in co-op metroidvania games where developers focus on unique mechanics rather than copying successful formulas. This creates more diverse gaming experiences for players.
What Silksong Can Teach Us About Worldbuilding?
As someone who’s studied game narratives extensively, I believe Silksong’s lore restrictions actually strengthen its worldbuilding. By establishing that certain elements are unique to specific locations, Team Cherry creates a more believable and immersive world.
The Colosseum of Fools works because it’s singular. If every kingdom had its own equivalent arena, the Colosseum would lose its special status. Tiso’s journey would be meaningless. The trials would just be another gameplay segment rather than a pilgrimage to a legendary location.
This attention to detail extends throughout Hollow Knight’s design. Each area feels distinct not just visually but culturally and historically. The City of Tears isn’t just “the water level” – it’s the heart of Hallownest’s fallen civilization. The Deepnest isn’t just “the spider area” – it’s an ancient territory that predates and resists the Pale King’s influence.
Community Perspectives and Expectations
Browsing through Reddit discussions and Discord servers, I’ve noticed the Hollow Knight community largely understands and appreciates this lore consistency. While many players express nostalgia for the Colosseum’s challenges, most recognize that Silksong needs to forge its own identity.
The community’s patience through Silksong’s extended development (despite some fatigue after six years) shows trust in Team Cherry’s vision. We’re not just waiting for more content; we’re waiting for content that respects and expands the world we’ve come to love.
For those seeking similar experiences while waiting for Silksong, there are excellent indie 3D platformer games that offer challenging gameplay, though none quite capture Hollow Knight’s unique blend of lore and combat.
Some players have also found solace in exploring monster-taming games that combine elements of metroidvania-style exploration with strategic combat systems.
Looking Forward: What Silksong’s Unique Areas Might Offer
While Silksong can’t have another Colosseum of Fools, it will undoubtedly introduce areas that become just as iconic. The Citadel, with its mysterious bells and vertical design, already looks like it could become the defining location of Hornet’s adventure.
Based on preview footage, areas like the Moss Grotto and Deep Docks suggest environmental variety matching or exceeding Hollow Knight’s. Each location appears to have its own mechanical gimmicks and lore significance, creating that same sense of discovery that made exploring Hallownest so memorable.
The absence of a traditional arena might push Team Cherry to innovate in ways we haven’t anticipated. Perhaps Silksong will introduce entirely new challenge types that become the new gold standard for metroidvania games. After all, the Colosseum of Fools itself was an innovation when Hollow Knight released.
Understanding gaming evolution helps contextualize this approach – just as top-selling video games often succeed through innovation rather than imitation, Silksong’s unique features may define future metroidvania experiences.
Learning from Gaming History
The gaming industry has taught us valuable lessons about sequel development through both successes and failures. Looking at popular video game characters across franchises, we see that the most enduring ones evolve while maintaining core identity elements.
Silksong’s approach mirrors successful franchise management in other genres. Rather than simply recycling popular elements, the best sequels introduce new mechanics that feel natural within the established world. This philosophy has guided many of gaming’s greatest fighting game sequels, which innovate combat systems while respecting core character identities.
Conclusion: Respecting the Past, Embracing the Future
The fact that Hollow Knight: Silksong can never have its own Colosseum of Fools isn’t a limitation – it’s a testament to Team Cherry’s commitment to meaningful worldbuilding. By respecting the lore they’ve established, they’re creating a richer, more coherent universe where locations and events have genuine significance.
As I eagerly await Silksong’s release alongside hundreds of thousands of other fans, I’m excited not for a Colosseum replacement but for whatever unique challenges Pharloom will offer. The kingdom of silk and song deserves its own iconic locations, its own legendary trials, and its own place in gaming history.
For those diving deep into comprehensive gaming guides like this one, remember that the best sequels don’t just replicate success – they respect their origins while daring to be different. Silksong’s inability to have another Colosseum isn’t a loss; it’s proof that Team Cherry understands what makes their world special.
The Colosseum of Fools will remain Hallownest’s crown jewel, a unique testament to a fallen kingdom’s martial glory. And whatever Pharloom offers instead will be equally special, equally memorable, and equally true to its own identity. That’s not just good game design – it’s exceptional storytelling that elevates gaming as an art form.