Hollow Knight Silksong is shaping up to be a tough soulslike platformer, but players have discovered a hidden mode accessible through a secret code that raises the challenge even further.
The Steel Soul mode in Hollow Knight Silksong allows you to ditch those useful save benches and go hardcore, with one death erasing your run. If you want to take on the ultimate challenge and make your way to the top of the Citadel, we’ve got you covered.
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How to open the Steel Soul permadeath mode in Hollow Knight Silksong
To open and choose the Steel Soul permadeath mode in Hollow Knight Silksong, you have to use the famous Konami code. Go to the Extras menu and put the D-pad on your controller or the arrow keys on your keyboard to enter this code: Up, Down, Up, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right. This should make your screen flash once and the next save file that you start should have the option to select the Steel Soul permadeath mode.
Most enemies in Hollow Knight Silksong deal two pips of damage with a single hit, and it only gets worse when taking on the bosses. So the only way to complete this mode is by learning the enemy moves and actively chasing the masks to increase your health. Making a mistake and dying by accident deletes your save file, forcing you to restart the game from scratch.
Hollow Knight Silksong Steel Soul permadeath mode reward
Finishing the game in the Steel Soul permadeath mode doesn’t give you any special rewards, but it definitely gives you bragging rights, as it’s very easy to die in Hollow Knight Silksong.
Neverthtless, you can unlock the Steel Soul achievement by finishing the game’s main story. You can also get the Steel Heart achievement by finishing the game 100 percent in the Steel Soul mode.
Next up, you can read our guides to know more about defeating Moorwing and Bell Beast bosses in Hollow Knight Silksong.
Published: Sep 10, 2025 01:43 am