Silksong's First Patch Nerfed Two Bosses, But Pharloom Still Wants Me Dead

Hollow Knight: Silksong patch 1.0.28497 eases two early bosses, but traps and environmental damage remain the true difficulty.

I still remember the first time I stepped into Pharloom. It was 2025, the year Hollow Knight: Silksong finally launched, and I thought I was ready. I had beaten Hollow Knight. I had beaten its Pantheons. I had convinced myself that I understood Team Cherry's language of pain. Then a moss-covered brute knocked me into a pit of spikes, and I realized I understood nothing.

Now, in 2026, the first-ever Silksong patch, version 1.0.28497, is part of the conversation. It arrived on PC through the public beta branch before reaching consoles, and it does something I have mixed feelings about: it slightly reduces the difficulty of two early-game bosses, Moorwing and Sister Splinter. I get why. Silksong is harder than Hollow Knight on the whole, and that reputation has scared some players away. But as someone who has died to Sister Splinter more times than I can count, I do not think the bosses were ever the real problem.

Bosses Are Hard, But They Are Not Unfair

Let me be honest: Moorwing and Sister Splinter have killed me more times than I want to admit. I have blamed my controller. I have blamed the screen. I have blamed the phase transitions. But when I finally sat down and studied the fights, I realized that every boss in Silksong has a recognizable attack pattern. The game rarely, if ever, builds combos that feel impossible to escape. It punishes greed, panic, and impatience. It rewards observation, spacing, and the willingness to change your strategy.

That is the core loop. You make mistakes. You analyze your failures. You learn the tells. You try again. A nerf to two early-game bosses might help new players get past the first wall, and I can accept that. What I did not want was for Team Cherry to sand down the entire game. Fortunately, the patch leaves the most difficult parts of Silksong untouched.

The Traps Are the True Terror

The real difficulty of Silksong is not a boss arena. It is the environment. Traps and environmental damage are everywhere, and they do not care about your pride. I have won a thirty-fifth-attempt grudge match against a boss, only to walk into a forgotten pressure plate on the way back and die instantly. It is humiliating in the best possible way.

Traps come in every shape and size. A delayed pressure plate swings a massive bony scythe down at you. An enemy kidnaps you, steals your gear, and drops you into a late-game area before your time. Bilewater poisons your lungs. Hunter's March turns every spike and pogo jump into a test of nerve. The Slab, a giant prison complex, forces you to navigate without weapons while pressure plates close gates and spawn enemies. The first time I entered that room, I thought the game had broken. Then I learned that the room itself was the weapon. I lured enemies into traps, timed my movements, and turned the prison's cruelty against its guards.

That is unfair, annoying, and deadly on the first encounter. It is also exactly the kind of innovative design that makes Silksong special. I am glad the first patch did not touch it. Even environmental damage, which some players complain is too high, remains unchanged.

Pharloom's Economy Is Out of Control

The other great source of difficulty is the economy. Rosaries are the lifeblood of Pharloom, and the game is very good at taking them away. A single incomplete runback can erase every Rosary you have not yet strung into a necklace. Farming spots exist, but prices are high enough that you actively need to farm, or you will be left behind. Silksong charges you to unlock checkpoints, fast travel stations, and in one case, even the door to a merchant's shop. You spend your last few Rosaries on a crucial unlock, then find yourself too broke to buy anything useful.

The first patch does tweak this slightly. Courier deliveries, relics, and psalm cylinders now give more Rosaries, and some bench and Bellway prices have been reduced. That helps, but I suspect shop prices will stay high. The economy is part of Silksong's calculated difficulty, and it is not going anywhere.

Patch 1.0.28497 change
What I think

Moorwing and Sister Splinter difficulty reduced
Helpful for newcomers, but not the real hurdle

More Rosaries from deliveries, relics, and psalm cylinders
Welcome, yet still not enough to fix the grind

Some bench and Bellway prices reduced
A small mercy in a hostile land

Traps, environmental damage, and shop prices untouched
Exactly how I want it

I Hope Future Patches Keep Pharloom Dangerous

I do not want Silksong to become easy. Its difficulty can be crushing, but it is also the realization of an uncompromised vision. The game takes you on a journey of its own choosing. It forces you to adapt to combat, traps, and an economy that seems designed to keep you humble. If future patches keep reducing boss difficulty while ignoring the real challenges, I will be disappointed. I am glad the first patch does not address Silksong's biggest difficulty hurdles. I only hope the next patches follow suit.

For now, I will keep exploring Pharloom. I will keep dying to spikes I forgot about. I will keep farming Rosaries and cursing merchant prices. And I will keep coming back, because Silksong's cruelty is not a flaw. It is the point.

If anything, Pharloom has made me more conscious of how much real money goes into this hobby. Between base games, DLC, and the occasional indie gem that deserves support, a library can start to feel like its own Rosary grind. I have gotten pickier about what I pay full price for, and I have gotten much better at waiting.

That is partly why I keep an eye on [where to buy cheap games]( at DealNest whenever something on my wishlist goes quiet for a few months. There is no coupon code for surviving the Hunter's March, but there is usually a discount somewhere for the games you actually want to play next.

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Silksong's Difficulty Debate: Why Mods And Assist Modes Make Hard Games Better

Hollow Knight: Silksong mods in 2026 tame unfair difficulty while preserving brutal boss fights and atmospheric exploration.

When Hollow Knight: Silksong finally arrived in 2025, it did not simply meet expectations. It crushed them under a hail of spikes, winged beasts, and bosses that refused to forgive. By 2026, the game remains a beautiful, brutal landmark. One particular player, a wanderer who had adored the original Hollow Knight from a distance but never mastered it, stepped into Silksong with hope. They left the first hour bruised. The art was adorable. The music enchanted. The stories whispered from every mossy corner. Yet the combat and platforming demanded more than admiration. They demanded proof. ️

The player quickly learned that Silksong was not interested in gentle onboarding. Standard enemies in the opening hour could deal double damage with ordinary attacks. Bosses layered deadly combos together, leaving no obvious escape. Trial and error was part of the experience, but after enough failures, the player understood why some people put the controller down and never returned. The game wanted mastery, and it wanted it immediately. ️

Yet the player did not want to abandon the world. They loved the character designs, the haunting soundtrack, and the mythic stories unfolding around every corner. To enjoy those things, however, they needed to become a warrior who let nothing stand in their way. They believed they were capable. They also knew their patience had limits, especially with so many other responsibilities pulling at their time. That was the real conflict: not a lack of skill, but a lack of hours.

Mods Became a Personal Lantern

Thankfully, the player was not alone. By 2026, the modding community had already created thoughtful adjustments for Silksong. Some mods removed the excessive double damage that had made early enemies feel unfair. Others ensured that tools like the compass remained active at all times, turning exploration from a memory test into a gentler journey. None of these mods transformed the game into something unrecognizable. They simply filled in the cracks that many players had complained about. 🧭

With those changes, the player found a new rhythm. They could still be punished for careless mistakes. Bosses still demanded pattern recognition and precise movement. But they no longer felt buried by cheap damage. They had a chance to see more of Silksong, to breathe in its atmosphere, and to appreciate the craftsmanship without being constantly walled off from it. The challenge remained. It was simply curated to their preferences while keeping the heart and soul of the experience intact.

If a mod makes a game more enjoyable for more people, it is difficult to see how that could be a bad thing. The player was not asking for a victory button. They were asking for a version of the game that respected their time. And in 2026, that request feels less controversial than ever. Official difficulty options are common in many genres. Even FromSoftware games, which built their reputation on uncompromising design, could benefit from a selection of difficulty settings. The original vision would remain for those who want it. Others would simply get a door instead of a wall.

Celeste Already Showed the Way

The debate around Silksong reminded the player of Celeste. That masterful indie platformer was also very difficult. Its story involved climbing a literal mountain while facing inner demons, so the challenge made thematic sense. Playing Celeste without adjustments would kick most people around. Reaching the end of each level was possible for determined players, but seeing everything, including collectibles and bonus levels, was a Herculean task. ️

Celeste offered an Assist Mode. Players could personally adjust game speed, stamina, air dashes, and invincibility. Turn everything up, and the game could be completed without taking a single hit. That was not the intended experience, but Celeste still offered it because player choice mattered. Maddy Makes Games had a narrative it wanted as many people as possible to experience. Even if that meant turning the gameplay into a delightful pixel-art walk in the park, the studio understood that accessibility did not erase the game's soul.

The player had used Assist Mode in Celeste and still considered it a masterpiece. They did not feel robbed of satisfaction. They felt included. That memory made the Silksong discourse feel painfully familiar. A difficult game can remain difficult while also offering ways for more people to reach its ending. The two ideas are not enemies. They are neighbors. ️

The Strange Entitlement Around Difficulty

Unfortunately, video game difficulty settings still carry a bizarre aura of entitlement. Some players act as if their preferred way of playing is the only legitimate way. They forget that games are entertainment, art, and personal experiences. If someone uses mods to soften double damage or keeps a compass active, that choice does not diminish anyone else's victory. It does not remove the challenge from the original version. It simply allows another person to enjoy the same world.

The player eventually returned to Silksong with a mixture of mods and stubborn determination. They still died. They still cursed. They still felt their heart race during boss fights. But they also saw more of the Mossgreen Grotto. They heard more of the music. They uncovered more of the story. The game remained hard, and they remained proud of every small victory. The difference was that they were no longer locked out of the experience they had waited years to enjoy.

Approach
What It Changes
Why It Helps

Mods
Removes double damage, keeps compass active
Makes exploration and early combat less punishing

Celeste Assist Mode
Adjusts speed, stamina, dashes, invincibility
Allows more players to experience the narrative

Official difficulty options
Curates challenge through developer-approved settings
Respects player choice without altering the default vision

Hollow Knight: Silksong is a hard game, and hard games are not for everybody. But if mods or official means of tuning its challenge allow more people to reach the end or see everything it has to offer, the wider community should not complain. The player did not want Silksong to become easy. They wanted it to become theirs. By 2026, that seems like a reasonable wish.

In the end, the player climbed their own version of the mountain. They did not touch every spike with perfect grace. They did not defeat every boss on the first try. But they kept going, and they found joy in a world that had almost pushed them away. If that is not a victory worth celebrating, then perhaps the community needs to step outside, find some grass, and remember why people play games in the first place.

That same patience the player learned to apply inside Silksong has a strange way of showing up outside of it. Waiting for the right moment to strike an enemy, holding a dash until the last second, deciding when a risk is actually worth taking — these habits follow a person into other parts of life, including the way they spend money. Games like this one rarely go on sale at launch, and a sequel with years of anticipation behind it will hold its price for a long while. Watching a listing instead of buying on impulse, checking back after a seasonal event, noticing when a bundle quietly drops below its usual floor — that is its own kind of patient play.

For anyone who wants to keep an eye on prices without refreshing store pages every week, [this price tracking tool]( at DealNest makes that waiting game a lot less tedious. It is a small thing, but so were the mods that let the player finish the mountain — a way to make an experience that felt closed off feel reachable again.

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Borderlands 4 Reviews: A Redemption Arc or a Safe Bet?

Borderlands 4 review: Gearbox's looter-shooter fixes Borderlands 3's flaws with open-world gameplay, though its safe villain and story may feel dull.

I've been a Borderlands fan since the original, and like many of you, I was left feeling a bit... underwhelmed by Borderlands 3. The humor felt forced, the villains were annoying, and the story just didn't land. So when Borderlands 4 was announced, I was cautiously optimistic. Now that we're in 2026 and the dust has settled, the reviews are in, and it looks like Gearbox might have actually pulled it off. But is it the massive improvement everyone hoped for, or did they play it too safe? Let's dive in.

The Consensus: A Big Step Up from Borderlands 3

If you've been living under a rock, here's the scoop: Borderlands 4 is being praised as a course correction for the series. Our own review at Screen Rant boldly called it "the best game in the series so far." IGN said it's "the massive kick in the pants [the series] needed" after "fizzling somewhat with Borderlands 3." That's high praise, right? Even other outlets agree it's a step in the right direction, even if it's not perfect.

But here's where it gets interesting. GameSpot noted that Borderlands 4 fixing its predecessor's issues also works "to its detriment." They said, "Borderlands 4 is cranked so far in the other direction that the resulting game feels like a strange imitation of the series." Ouch. So, is it possible to overcorrect? Maybe. But from what I've seen, the core looter-shooter gameplay is still intact and satisfying, so I'm willing to forgive a little identity crisis.

The Villain Problem: Timekeeper vs. Handsome Jack

Let's talk about the elephant in the room: the antagonist. Borderlands 3 gave us the Twins, who were widely considered annoying and cringey. Borderlands 4 introduces The Timekeeper. According to GamesRadar, "The Timekeeper is a very safe antagonist – which is an improvement upon Borderlands 3's actively abrasive Twins, but still rather dull." So, not a home run, but at least he's not actively hated.

GameSpot added that "Borderlands 4 seems to do everything in its power to make sure that its characters cannot be hated." Is that a good thing? Well, after the Twins, maybe a safe, inoffensive villain is exactly what the series needed. It's like they said, "Let's not make everyone mad this time." And honestly, I'll take dull over grating any day.

Open World and Gameplay: The Real Star

The big advancement here is the open-world design. Reviews are celebrating it as a high point. I've always loved the semi-open areas of previous games, but a full open world? That sounds like a dream. The gameplay is making significant strides, and many reviewers note that the series' typically irreverent humor comes out in the side content, while the main story is a bit more dramatic. That balance might be the key to pleasing both old-school fans and newcomers.

Is It the Best in the Series?

Screen Rant's assertion that it's the best game in the series is particularly interesting, since Borderlands 2 has reigned supreme since 2012. Handsome Jack is a tough act to follow. The Timekeeper doesn't appear to be Handsome Jack-level compelling, but the gameplay iteration seems to have picked up the slack. So, can a game with a "safe" story and a "dull" villain still be the best? If the gameplay is that good, absolutely.

Let's break down the pros and cons as I see them based on the reviews:

Pros
Cons

Open-world design is a delight
Story is safe and unremarkable

Gameplay improvements are significant
Villain is dull compared to Handsome Jack

Humor is back in side content
Main story takes itself more seriously (could be good or bad)

Fixes many of Borderlands 3's issues
Overcorrection makes it feel like an imitation at times

My Take: Cautiously Optimistic

As a longtime fan, I'm excited. It sounds like Borderlands 4 is a hit, taking significant strides and making a concerted effort to fix its predecessor's issues. Will it dethrone Borderlands 2 in my heart? Only time will tell. But for now, I'm just happy that Gearbox seems to be listening to the fans. What do you think? Are you ready to dive back into Pandora (or wherever this one takes place)? Let me know in the comments!

So there you have it. Borderlands 4 might not be perfect, but it's a massive step in the right direction. And after the misstep of Borderlands 3, that's exactly what the series needed. Whether you're a veteran Vault Hunter or a newcomer, it sounds like there's plenty to love here. I know I'll be jumping back in.

Of course, all this excitement comes with the usual question: when and where to actually pick it up. With multiple editions, pre-order bonuses, and platform-specific offers flying around, prices can vary a lot between storefronts, and the difference is often more than a few bucks. If you'd rather not overpay out of sheer hype, it's worth taking five minutes to [compare prices here]( before committing to a copy.

DealNest gathers listings in one place so you can see how the Standard, Deluxe, and Vault Hunter editions stack up across retailers without opening a dozen tabs. Whether you're grabbing it on day one or waiting for that first inevitable discount, a quick look beforehand means more leftover cash for the Season Pass — and honestly, that's a deal any Vault Hunter can get behind.

https://dealnesthq.com

Borderlands 4 Reviews: A Redemption Arc or a Safe Bet?

Borderlands 4 review: Gearbox's looter-shooter fixes Borderlands 3's flaws with open-world gameplay, though its safe villain and story may feel dull.

I've been a Borderlands fan since the original, and like many of you, I was left feeling a bit... underwhelmed by Borderlands 3. The humor felt forced, the villains were annoying, and the story just didn't land. So when Borderlands 4 was announced, I was cautiously optimistic. Now that we're in 2026 and the dust has settled, the reviews are in, and it looks like Gearbox might have actually pulled it off. But is it the massive improvement everyone hoped for, or did they play it too safe? Let's dive in.

The Consensus: A Big Step Up from Borderlands 3

If you've been living under a rock, here's the scoop: Borderlands 4 is being praised as a course correction for the series. Our own review at Screen Rant boldly called it "the best game in the series so far." IGN said it's "the massive kick in the pants [the series] needed" after "fizzling somewhat with Borderlands 3." That's high praise, right? Even other outlets agree it's a step in the right direction, even if it's not perfect.

But here's where it gets interesting. GameSpot noted that Borderlands 4 fixing its predecessor's issues also works "to its detriment." They said, "Borderlands 4 is cranked so far in the other direction that the resulting game feels like a strange imitation of the series." Ouch. So, is it possible to overcorrect? Maybe. But from what I've seen, the core looter-shooter gameplay is still intact and satisfying, so I'm willing to forgive a little identity crisis.

The Villain Problem: Timekeeper vs. Handsome Jack

Let's talk about the elephant in the room: the antagonist. Borderlands 3 gave us the Twins, who were widely considered annoying and cringey. Borderlands 4 introduces The Timekeeper. According to GamesRadar, "The Timekeeper is a very safe antagonist – which is an improvement upon Borderlands 3's actively abrasive Twins, but still rather dull." So, not a home run, but at least he's not actively hated.

GameSpot added that "Borderlands 4 seems to do everything in its power to make sure that its characters cannot be hated." Is that a good thing? Well, after the Twins, maybe a safe, inoffensive villain is exactly what the series needed. It's like they said, "Let's not make everyone mad this time." And honestly, I'll take dull over grating any day.

Open World and Gameplay: The Real Star

The big advancement here is the open-world design. Reviews are celebrating it as a high point. I've always loved the semi-open areas of previous games, but a full open world? That sounds like a dream. The gameplay is making significant strides, and many reviewers note that the series' typically irreverent humor comes out in the side content, while the main story is a bit more dramatic. That balance might be the key to pleasing both old-school fans and newcomers.

Is It the Best in the Series?

Screen Rant's assertion that it's the best game in the series is particularly interesting, since Borderlands 2 has reigned supreme since 2012. Handsome Jack is a tough act to follow. The Timekeeper doesn't appear to be Handsome Jack-level compelling, but the gameplay iteration seems to have picked up the slack. So, can a game with a "safe" story and a "dull" villain still be the best? If the gameplay is that good, absolutely.

Let's break down the pros and cons as I see them based on the reviews:

Pros
Cons

Open-world design is a delight
Story is safe and unremarkable

Gameplay improvements are significant
Villain is dull compared to Handsome Jack

Humor is back in side content
Main story takes itself more seriously (could be good or bad)

Fixes many of Borderlands 3's issues
Overcorrection makes it feel like an imitation at times

My Take: Cautiously Optimistic

As a longtime fan, I'm excited. It sounds like Borderlands 4 is a hit, taking significant strides and making a concerted effort to fix its predecessor's issues. Will it dethrone Borderlands 2 in my heart? Only time will tell. But for now, I'm just happy that Gearbox seems to be listening to the fans. What do you think? Are you ready to dive back into Pandora (or wherever this one takes place)? Let me know in the comments!

So there you have it. Borderlands 4 might not be perfect, but it's a massive step in the right direction. And after the misstep of Borderlands 3, that's exactly what the series needed. Whether you're a veteran Vault Hunter or a newcomer, it sounds like there's plenty to love here. I know I'll be jumping back in.

Of course, all this excitement comes with the usual question: when and where to actually pick it up. With multiple editions, pre-order bonuses, and platform-specific offers flying around, prices can vary a lot between storefronts, and the difference is often more than a few bucks. If you'd rather not overpay out of sheer hype, it's worth taking five minutes to [compare prices here]( before committing to a copy.

DealNest gathers listings in one place so you can see how the Standard, Deluxe, and Vault Hunter editions stack up across retailers without opening a dozen tabs. Whether you're grabbing it on day one or waiting for that first inevitable discount, a quick look beforehand means more leftover cash for the Season Pass — and honestly, that's a deal any Vault Hunter can get behind.

https://dealnesthq.com

A Hornet's Guide to Every Simple Key in Silksong

Find every Simple Key location and Simple Lock use in Hollow Knight: Silksong with this concise Pharloom guide.

I still remember the first time I saw a Simple Lock in Hollow Knight: Silksong. It was a smug little door in the Deep Docks, and I had no key. I had Rosaries, a needle, and a bad attitude, but none of that mattered. What good is a key if you forget where the lock is? And what good is a lock if you never find the key? As of 2026, Pharloom has not gotten any kinder, so I am writing down every Simple Key location and every Simple Lock use I have found, so you do not have to backtrack through a thousand crawling tunnels like I did.

Simple Keys are single-use, which is why I treat each one like a precious secret. There are only four in the game, and each one opens a specific door. If you waste one, you will feel it. So let us walk through the keys first, then the locks.

The Four Simple Keys of Pharloom

Key #
Location
Cost or Requirement
What to Remember

1
Bone Bottom
500 Rosaries
Buy from Pebb the merchant

2
Sinner's Road
Double jump or clawline
Top northeastern corner, survive the ambush

3
Sands of Karak
Quick traversal before the path vanishes
Far east bench, body of a dead bug

4
The Wandering Merchant quest
650 Rosaries
Find Jubilana, then unlock her at First Shrine

1. Bone Bottom: Pebb's Price

The first key is the easiest to understand and the hardest to afford early on. I walked up to Pebb the merchant in Bone Bottom, and he wanted 500 Rosaries. That felt like a fortune when I was still learning how to survive. I farmed, completed wishes, and scraped together the cost. If you are short, do not rush into every locked door you see. Trust me, the key is not going anywhere.

2. Sinner's Road: The Top-Floor Ambush

Sinner's Road taught me that vertical exploration is its own kind of horror. The second Simple Key sits in the top northeastern corner. You need the double jump or the clawline to cling to walls and climb to the top. Hit the lever to access the top floor, and then get ready. Hornet is ambushed by a big enemy. I died twice before I learned its rhythm, but defeating it rewards the key. Who would have thought a simple climb could turn into a boss fight?

3. Sands of Karak: A Dead Bug's Gift

The third key is a test of speed and nerve. In the Sands of Karak, I had to hit a branch and move quickly before the path disappeared. Once I was far east, I kept going in the same direction until I reached a bench with a body on it. I grabbed the Simple Key from the dead bug. It is grim, but in Pharloom, grim is just another word for Tuesday.

4. The Wandering Merchant: Jubilana's Final Key

The last key comes from The Wandering Merchant quest. I found Jubilana, then returned to the First Shrine to unlock her as a merchant. After collecting 650 Rosaries, I bought the Simple Key. It is expensive, but by this point you should have a decent Rosary route. If you do not, hunt down wishes and sell what you can spare.

Where to Use Every Simple Lock

Now for the part that actually matters. A key without a lock is just a shiny regret. Here is where I used each one.

Deep Docks: The Bellway Door

From the Deep Docks Bellway, head right to the lower door. Attack the lever to go down deeper and enter the path below the Forge Daughter. At the end, there is a locked door that reveals a huge part of the Deep Docks. You can access this area later from Far Fields after acquiring certain abilities, but using the Simple Key here gives you a head start with exploration. I chose the early route, and it paid off.

Sinner's Road: The Green Prince's Cage

In the vertical room right next to the bench where Shakra is singing in Sinner's Road, I found the Green Prince imprisoned in a cage. Climb a few cages, then glide down the left to access the Simple Lock. The NPC asks Hornet not to free him, but you have to do it to trigger his quest. Sometimes being a hero means ignoring good advice.

Wormways: The Alchemist's Assistant and Sharpdart

Upon accessing Wormways, keep going left while avoiding the falling worms until a door eventually appears. This opens more parts of the area, lets you complete the Alchemist’s Assistant quest, and unlocks the Sharpdart skill. That skill is hidden behind a Needolin door that can only be reached by using the clawline and double jump abilities.

Sharpdart is worth the trouble. It changes how you move and fight, and it makes some later platforming sections far less cruel.

High Halls: Rosary Cannon and Pale Rosary Necklace

The door in High Halls is easily accessed from the station location. Unlock the door and head inside to find an obstacle blocking the path leading up. Destroy and navigate the tunnels while avoiding the deadly wheels until you reach the end. There are two paths available. Head down first to get the Rosary Cannon, then go up to collect a lot of Rosaries and open a chest containing the Pale Rosary Necklace. I went up first once, and I regretted it. Learn from my mistake.

Final Thoughts

Simple Keys are not just items. They are choices. Each one forces you to decide which part of Pharloom you want to open early, and which part can wait. In 2026, with more players than ever crawling through Silksong, I still see the same question: where do I use this key? My answer is simple. Use it where it hurts least to wait, and where it helps most to explore now. For me, that meant Deep Docks first, then the Green Prince, then Wormways, and finally High Halls. Your path may differ, but at least now you know where every key hides. Good luck out there, and do not waste your Rosaries on regret.

If hunting down four Simple Keys taught you anything, it's that patience and a bit of planning stretch your resources further than impulse ever will. The same logic applies to building your library. Most of us have a wishlist full of games we'd happily play right now but not at full price, and waiting for the right moment to buy is its own kind of sequence break — you skip the sting and still get where you wanted to go. That's exactly the problem [cheapest steam keys]( was built to solve, gathering discounted keys from reputable sellers into one place so you're not tab-hopping between storefronts comparing numbers.

DealNest keeps that comparison quick: browse current listings, check the price against what you'd pay on Steam directly, and buy only when the discount actually justifies it. It won't tell you which metroidvania to play next, but it can make the backlog cheaper to build while you wait for the next patch, DLC, or sale. Think of it as one more lock worth opening early — the only difference is that this one saves you money instead of Rosaries.

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A Hornet's Guide to Every Simple Key in Silksong

Find every Simple Key location and Simple Lock use in Hollow Knight: Silksong with this concise Pharloom guide.

I still remember the first time I saw a Simple Lock in Hollow Knight: Silksong. It was a smug little door in the Deep Docks, and I had no key. I had Rosaries, a needle, and a bad attitude, but none of that mattered. What good is a key if you forget where the lock is? And what good is a lock if you never find the key? As of 2026, Pharloom has not gotten any kinder, so I am writing down every Simple Key location and every Simple Lock use I have found, so you do not have to backtrack through a thousand crawling tunnels like I did.

Simple Keys are single-use, which is why I treat each one like a precious secret. There are only four in the game, and each one opens a specific door. If you waste one, you will feel it. So let us walk through the keys first, then the locks.

The Four Simple Keys of Pharloom

Key #
Location
Cost or Requirement
What to Remember

1
Bone Bottom
500 Rosaries
Buy from Pebb the merchant

2
Sinner's Road
Double jump or clawline
Top northeastern corner, survive the ambush

3
Sands of Karak
Quick traversal before the path vanishes
Far east bench, body of a dead bug

4
The Wandering Merchant quest
650 Rosaries
Find Jubilana, then unlock her at First Shrine

1. Bone Bottom: Pebb's Price

The first key is the easiest to understand and the hardest to afford early on. I walked up to Pebb the merchant in Bone Bottom, and he wanted 500 Rosaries. That felt like a fortune when I was still learning how to survive. I farmed, completed wishes, and scraped together the cost. If you are short, do not rush into every locked door you see. Trust me, the key is not going anywhere.

2. Sinner's Road: The Top-Floor Ambush

Sinner's Road taught me that vertical exploration is its own kind of horror. The second Simple Key sits in the top northeastern corner. You need the double jump or the clawline to cling to walls and climb to the top. Hit the lever to access the top floor, and then get ready. Hornet is ambushed by a big enemy. I died twice before I learned its rhythm, but defeating it rewards the key. Who would have thought a simple climb could turn into a boss fight?

3. Sands of Karak: A Dead Bug's Gift

The third key is a test of speed and nerve. In the Sands of Karak, I had to hit a branch and move quickly before the path disappeared. Once I was far east, I kept going in the same direction until I reached a bench with a body on it. I grabbed the Simple Key from the dead bug. It is grim, but in Pharloom, grim is just another word for Tuesday.

4. The Wandering Merchant: Jubilana's Final Key

The last key comes from The Wandering Merchant quest. I found Jubilana, then returned to the First Shrine to unlock her as a merchant. After collecting 650 Rosaries, I bought the Simple Key. It is expensive, but by this point you should have a decent Rosary route. If you do not, hunt down wishes and sell what you can spare.

Where to Use Every Simple Lock

Now for the part that actually matters. A key without a lock is just a shiny regret. Here is where I used each one.

Deep Docks: The Bellway Door

From the Deep Docks Bellway, head right to the lower door. Attack the lever to go down deeper and enter the path below the Forge Daughter. At the end, there is a locked door that reveals a huge part of the Deep Docks. You can access this area later from Far Fields after acquiring certain abilities, but using the Simple Key here gives you a head start with exploration. I chose the early route, and it paid off.

Sinner's Road: The Green Prince's Cage

In the vertical room right next to the bench where Shakra is singing in Sinner's Road, I found the Green Prince imprisoned in a cage. Climb a few cages, then glide down the left to access the Simple Lock. The NPC asks Hornet not to free him, but you have to do it to trigger his quest. Sometimes being a hero means ignoring good advice.

Wormways: The Alchemist's Assistant and Sharpdart

Upon accessing Wormways, keep going left while avoiding the falling worms until a door eventually appears. This opens more parts of the area, lets you complete the Alchemist’s Assistant quest, and unlocks the Sharpdart skill. That skill is hidden behind a Needolin door that can only be reached by using the clawline and double jump abilities.

Sharpdart is worth the trouble. It changes how you move and fight, and it makes some later platforming sections far less cruel.

High Halls: Rosary Cannon and Pale Rosary Necklace

The door in High Halls is easily accessed from the station location. Unlock the door and head inside to find an obstacle blocking the path leading up. Destroy and navigate the tunnels while avoiding the deadly wheels until you reach the end. There are two paths available. Head down first to get the Rosary Cannon, then go up to collect a lot of Rosaries and open a chest containing the Pale Rosary Necklace. I went up first once, and I regretted it. Learn from my mistake.

Final Thoughts

Simple Keys are not just items. They are choices. Each one forces you to decide which part of Pharloom you want to open early, and which part can wait. In 2026, with more players than ever crawling through Silksong, I still see the same question: where do I use this key? My answer is simple. Use it where it hurts least to wait, and where it helps most to explore now. For me, that meant Deep Docks first, then the Green Prince, then Wormways, and finally High Halls. Your path may differ, but at least now you know where every key hides. Good luck out there, and do not waste your Rosaries on regret.

If hunting down four Simple Keys taught you anything, it's that patience and a bit of planning stretch your resources further than impulse ever will. The same logic applies to building your library. Most of us have a wishlist full of games we'd happily play right now but not at full price, and waiting for the right moment to buy is its own kind of sequence break — you skip the sting and still get where you wanted to go. That's exactly the problem [cheapest steam keys]( was built to solve, gathering discounted keys from reputable sellers into one place so you're not tab-hopping between storefronts comparing numbers.

DealNest keeps that comparison quick: browse current listings, check the price against what you'd pay on Steam directly, and buy only when the discount actually justifies it. It won't tell you which metroidvania to play next, but it can make the backlog cheaper to build while you wait for the next patch, DLC, or sale. Think of it as one more lock worth opening early — the only difference is that this one saves you money instead of Rosaries.

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How I Triggered the Trail's End Quest in Silksong: A Player's Guide

Trigger Hollow Knight Silksong's Trail's End quest with Shakra in Bilewater and earn the Throwing Ring.

I still remember the frustration of wandering through Bellhart's Wish Board, staring at empty slots, wondering why Shakra's plea for help never showed up. But after hours of trial and error, I finally triggered the Trail's End quest in Hollow Knight: Silksong — and let me tell you, the reward is absolutely worth it. If you're stuck like I was, here's exactly how I did it, step by step.

What Is the Trail's End Quest?

Trail's End is a Wayfarer-type quest, much like the My Missing Brother quest. Shakra, the wandering warrior, is searching for her master, and she asks Hornet — that's you — to meet her in the sewers near the Citadel, also known as Bilewater. Completing it rewards you with Shakra's gratitude and a powerful tool: the Throwing Ring. Sounds simple, right? But triggering it? That's where things get tricky.

How to Trigger the Quest

First things first: you need to grab the quest from the Wish Board in Bellhart. Of course, the Bellhart curse must be removed for the board to display any available quests, and you can only pick it up in Act 2. But what if the Trail's End quest just won't appear? I ran into that exact problem. Here's what solved it for me:

• Locate Shakra and purchase all the map pieces if you haven't already. This is crucial — she won't offer the quest if you haven't bought her maps.

• Complete the first and second batches of wishes already on the board. The game seems to gate new quests behind your progress.

• Try acquiring some Melodies, like the Architect's and Vaultkeeper's, after defeating the Cogwork Dancers boss. I grabbed both, and the quest popped up shortly after.

Meeting Shakra in Bilewater

Once the quest is active, Shakra asks you to meet her in Bilewater to finally find her master. She can be found under a waterfall in the northeast part of Bilewater, along a path that only unlocks during the Trail's End quest. If you've already obtained the Key of Apostate by climbing Bilewater to reach Putrified Ducts, you're in luck — it's the exact same route. For those who haven't, start from the area's Bellway and go up, then turn right. You'll spot one of Shakra's rings, which Hornet can use to track the warrior's trail.

Step-by-Step Path (From My Own Playthrough)

• Head right across the swamp into a long vertical room. Another ring appears here.

• Use the double jump to go up, and use the vertical platforms to shield Hornet from enemy attacks. Climb higher to the room on the right.

• Keep going in the same direction until another vertical room appears. Take advantage of the green bulbs and enemies to push yourself up with the clawline skill, landing on the higher left platform.

• Use the same technique to go up towards the path that unlocks through the Trail's End quest, and cling to the wall.

• Proceed forward along the path until you reach the waterfall where Shakra is with her master.

Here's a quick summary table I made for myself:

Step
Action
Tip

1
Grab quest from Bellhart Wish Board
Remove curse first, Act 2 only

2
Buy all map pieces from Shakra
Don't skip this!

3
Complete first two wish batches
Progress gates

4
Defeat Cogwork Dancers, get Melodies
Architect's & Vaultkeeper's

5
Follow rings in Bilewater
Use clawline & double jump

6
Reach waterfall, meet Shakra
Quest complete!

Why Bother? The Reward

After all that climbing, jumping, and dodging, you finally reach the waterfall. Shakra is there with her master, and the quest completes. Your reward? The Throwing Ring — a powerful tool that I've been using ever since. It's a game-changer for ranged combat, especially against flying enemies. Was it worth the headache of triggering the quest? Absolutely.

Final Thoughts

Silksong doesn't always make its quest triggers obvious. The Trail's End quest is a perfect example: you need the right map pieces, the right wish progress, and even specific Melodies. But once you know the steps, it's a breeze. So, have you triggered Trail's End yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Grab that quest, head to Bilewater, and give Shakra a hand. Trust me — you'll be glad you did.

If there's one lesson this quest teaches, it's that a little patience and the right route pay off far better than brute force. That same mindset carries over into how I shop for games now — instead of grabbing the first full-price listing I see, I take a few extra minutes to compare prices and see what's actually discounted before committing. Lately, that habit has led me to [game deals today]( where DealNest rounds up current discounts across a range of platforms so you don't have to sift through a dozen storefronts yourself.

Whether you're filling the gap between Silksong sessions or finally clearing out your wishlist, it's worth checking what's on offer before you buy. A quick look at DealNest can save you enough to justify picking up that next adventure — no backtracking required.

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How I Triggered the Trail's End Quest in Silksong: A Player's Guide

Trigger Hollow Knight Silksong's Trail's End quest with Shakra in Bilewater and earn the Throwing Ring.

I still remember the frustration of wandering through Bellhart's Wish Board, staring at empty slots, wondering why Shakra's plea for help never showed up. But after hours of trial and error, I finally triggered the Trail's End quest in Hollow Knight: Silksong — and let me tell you, the reward is absolutely worth it. If you're stuck like I was, here's exactly how I did it, step by step.

What Is the Trail's End Quest?

Trail's End is a Wayfarer-type quest, much like the My Missing Brother quest. Shakra, the wandering warrior, is searching for her master, and she asks Hornet — that's you — to meet her in the sewers near the Citadel, also known as Bilewater. Completing it rewards you with Shakra's gratitude and a powerful tool: the Throwing Ring. Sounds simple, right? But triggering it? That's where things get tricky.

How to Trigger the Quest

First things first: you need to grab the quest from the Wish Board in Bellhart. Of course, the Bellhart curse must be removed for the board to display any available quests, and you can only pick it up in Act 2. But what if the Trail's End quest just won't appear? I ran into that exact problem. Here's what solved it for me:

• Locate Shakra and purchase all the map pieces if you haven't already. This is crucial — she won't offer the quest if you haven't bought her maps.

• Complete the first and second batches of wishes already on the board. The game seems to gate new quests behind your progress.

• Try acquiring some Melodies, like the Architect's and Vaultkeeper's, after defeating the Cogwork Dancers boss. I grabbed both, and the quest popped up shortly after.

Meeting Shakra in Bilewater

Once the quest is active, Shakra asks you to meet her in Bilewater to finally find her master. She can be found under a waterfall in the northeast part of Bilewater, along a path that only unlocks during the Trail's End quest. If you've already obtained the Key of Apostate by climbing Bilewater to reach Putrified Ducts, you're in luck — it's the exact same route. For those who haven't, start from the area's Bellway and go up, then turn right. You'll spot one of Shakra's rings, which Hornet can use to track the warrior's trail.

Step-by-Step Path (From My Own Playthrough)

• Head right across the swamp into a long vertical room. Another ring appears here.

• Use the double jump to go up, and use the vertical platforms to shield Hornet from enemy attacks. Climb higher to the room on the right.

• Keep going in the same direction until another vertical room appears. Take advantage of the green bulbs and enemies to push yourself up with the clawline skill, landing on the higher left platform.

• Use the same technique to go up towards the path that unlocks through the Trail's End quest, and cling to the wall.

• Proceed forward along the path until you reach the waterfall where Shakra is with her master.

Here's a quick summary table I made for myself:

Step
Action
Tip

1
Grab quest from Bellhart Wish Board
Remove curse first, Act 2 only

2
Buy all map pieces from Shakra
Don't skip this!

3
Complete first two wish batches
Progress gates

4
Defeat Cogwork Dancers, get Melodies
Architect's & Vaultkeeper's

5
Follow rings in Bilewater
Use clawline & double jump

6
Reach waterfall, meet Shakra
Quest complete!

Why Bother? The Reward

After all that climbing, jumping, and dodging, you finally reach the waterfall. Shakra is there with her master, and the quest completes. Your reward? The Throwing Ring — a powerful tool that I've been using ever since. It's a game-changer for ranged combat, especially against flying enemies. Was it worth the headache of triggering the quest? Absolutely.

Final Thoughts

Silksong doesn't always make its quest triggers obvious. The Trail's End quest is a perfect example: you need the right map pieces, the right wish progress, and even specific Melodies. But once you know the steps, it's a breeze. So, have you triggered Trail's End yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Grab that quest, head to Bilewater, and give Shakra a hand. Trust me — you'll be glad you did.

If there's one lesson this quest teaches, it's that a little patience and the right route pay off far better than brute force. That same mindset carries over into how I shop for games now — instead of grabbing the first full-price listing I see, I take a few extra minutes to compare prices and see what's actually discounted before committing. Lately, that habit has led me to [game deals today]( where DealNest rounds up current discounts across a range of platforms so you don't have to sift through a dozen storefronts yourself.

Whether you're filling the gap between Silksong sessions or finally clearing out your wishlist, it's worth checking what's on offer before you buy. A quick look at DealNest can save you enough to justify picking up that next adventure — no backtracking required.

https://dealnesthq.com

McDonald’s China’s Black Myth: Wukong Mid-Autumn Feast Still Wows Fans in 2026

McDonald’s China and Black Myth: Wukong fused Mid-Autumn Festival tradition with gaming culture in a unique, buzzworthy 2025 campaign.

McDonald’s China turned the 2025 Mid-Autumn Festival into a gamer’s dream, partnering with Game Science’s Black Myth: Wukong for a limited-time campaign that blended mooncakes, merchandise, and Monkey King mythology. More than a year later, as 2026 unfolds, the collaboration remains a standout example of how a fast-food giant can tap into a blockbuster video game’s cultural power. Was it simply a clever marketing stunt, or did it reveal something deeper about the global appetite for Chinese gaming icons? The answer, according to fans and industry observers, is a bit of both.

A Festival Meets a Blockbuster

Black Myth: Wukong launched in August 2024 and quickly became a phenomenon for Chinese studio Game Science. The action-adventure title, which retells the timeless epic of Sun Wukong, won Best Action-Adventure at The Game Awards and continued to capture hearts well into 2025. Its success opened doors for mainstream brand partnerships, and McDonald’s China walked right through one of them.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, a holiday that celebrates the fall harvest when the moon is at its largest and brightest, was the perfect backdrop. Families and friends gather to gaze at the harvest moon, bake mooncakes, and decorate their homes with lanterns. McDonald’s decided to give customers the best of both worlds: the warmth of tradition and the thrill of a AAA game.

The Limited-Time Menu

In mid-September 2025, promotional materials from McDonald’s China began circulating on social media. Posters showed Sun Wukong alongside a slew of special meal deals. The menu was as playful as it was ambitious.

Item
Category
Description

Golden Crispy Chicken Egg Mooncake
Mooncake
A savory-sweet twist on the classic festival pastry.

Cheese Double Beef Black Gold Mooncake
Mooncake
A rich, beefy take with a black-gold finish.

Crispy Shrimp Nuggets
Savory
Golden bites designed to pair with the theme.

Curly Fries with dipping sauce
Side
Sauce described as 'as golden as treasure.'

Autumn Osmanthus-flavored Sparkling Milk Tea
Drink
Floral, fizzy, and seasonal.

Golden Egg Yolk Big Luck Flavor McFlurry
Dessert
A lucky blend of creamy ice cream and salted egg yolk.

Sesame Lava Pie
Dessert
Packed with egg yolk filling for a molten center.

For dessert lovers, the Golden Egg Yolk Big Luck Flavor McFlurry and the Sesame Lava Pie offered a sweet finish. The Autumn Osmanthus-flavored Sparkling Milk Tea added a floral note that felt distinctly festive. Even the curly fries came with a dipping sauce marketed as 'as golden as treasure,' a clear nod to Wukong’s mythical staff and golden headband.

Merchandise That Made Fans Jealous

The food was only half the story. McDonald’s China also rolled out exclusive merchandise, including a double-sided velvet lounge robe embroidered with the Monkey King holding a burger on his head. Certain locations decorated their restaurants to match the game, and pop-up shops offered tote bags, T-shirts, pins, and more.

For Western fans, the campaign felt like a cruel tease. One user on X wrote, 'We never get cool stuff in America!' The sentiment was echoed across social media, where images of the robe, the mooncakes, and the themed restaurants went viral. It was not just a promotion; it was a cultural moment.

Why the Collaboration Worked

Why did this particular crossover resonate so strongly? First, Black Myth: Wukong was not just a game; it was a national point of pride and a global breakthrough. Second, the Mid-Autumn Festival provided a natural storytelling hook. Third, McDonald’s leaned into scarcity and spectacle, offering items that customers could not get anywhere else. The combination created urgency, shareability, and a sense of belonging for fans.

It also reflected a broader trend. This was the latest overseas collaboration from McDonald’s to go viral, following the fast-food chain’s announcement that it would finally bring back Monopoly in the United States after nearly a decade. Brands are increasingly looking to gaming and pop culture for fresh energy, and Chinese audiences are responding to campaigns that respect their traditions while celebrating their modern entertainment exports.

What Comes Next in 2026?

As 2026 progresses, Game Science is already working on its next mythos-inspired game, Black Myth: Zhong Kui. Could another fast-food giant attempt a similar crossover? Will McDonald’s China revisit the Wukong universe for a future festival, or will the original campaign remain a one-time lightning strike? Those questions remain open.

What is clear is that the 2025 Mid-Autumn collaboration set a high bar. It showed that a burger chain and a blockbuster game can meet in a space where mythology, food, and fandom overlap. For players who missed the robe, the mooncakes, or the golden fries, the memory still stings. For McDonald’s and Game Science, it was a masterclass in turning a holiday into a headline.

In the end, the campaign was more than a menu. It was a signal that Chinese gaming has become a cultural force big enough to shape mainstream retail, even after the initial launch buzz has faded. And as Black Myth: Zhong Kui approaches, the industry will be watching to see which brand steps up next.

The fervor around such crossovers often spills into how players engage with the games themselves. After seeing Wukong’s likeness on a burger box or a velvet robe, some who hadn’t yet picked up the title felt a fresh urge to explore its world—and for many, that meant hunting for a deal before diving in.

That’s where a resource like DealNest comes into play. As a hub for discounted game codes, it helps players track down the [cheapest steam keys]( for Black Myth: Wukong and a wide range of other PC titles. Whether you’re chasing the latest mythos or revisiting older favorites, checking a dedicated deal aggregator before checkout can turn a passing curiosity into an affordable adventure.

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How I Unlocked Jubilana: The Wandering Merchant Wish in Silksong

Complete the Wandering Merchant wish in Hollow Knight: Silksong by finding Jubilana in Choral Chambers and unlocking Songclave.

I still remember the moment I dropped into Choral Chambers in Hollow Knight: Silksong. It was 2026, long after the game's release, and I was replaying Act Two on a fresh save. The golden halls hummed with danger, my needle felt under-upgraded, and I had one stubborn goal: complete the Wandering Merchant wish. I had heard it unlocked Jubilana, a trader with high-tier goods in Songclave, and I was not going to skip her.

The wish itself does not appear until Songclave exists. That is the first trap. You cannot simply wander into Choral Chambers and expect Jubilana to be waiting. You need to reach Act Two and beat the Last Judge to enter the Citadel. Before the main stretch of Choral Chambers, you must pass through the Underworks. By the time I stumbled out of those pipes and into the choir-lit city, I was already bruised. But the route was clear enough: head all the way to the right edge of Choral Chambers, climb upward, and look for an open space at the top.

There, I found the entrance to the First Shrine. Inside, I used my Silk Skills to clear away the thick silk blocking the way. The moment the last strand snapped, the Shrine opened and became Songclave. It felt like a small victory before the real hunt began. Outside the shrine, a wishboard waited. I took the Wandering Merchant request from it, and the objective appeared on my screen with a simple, tantalizing hint: find Jubilana, last seen in the bottom parts of Choral Chambers.

So I set off. The route to Jubilana is not long, but it is easy to overshoot if you are impatient. I started at the Choral Chambers bellway on the bottom right side. From the bellway, I exited to the vertical area on the left and began climbing. The first exit on my left looked tempting. I ignored it. Instead, I took the second exit as I went up. Then I kept moving left until I reached another large vertical area.

Here is where I nearly got lost. In that second vertical shaft, you want to go directly left and take the first exit you see. That exit leads to a small room with a dead end. It looks like a mistake at first. It is not. Two enemies guard the space. I defeated them both, and then I talked to Jubilana. The wish completed, and she was safe.

That was not quite the end of my curiosity, though. One of Jubilana's wares sits high up in that vertical area, and at first glance it looks like a double-jump puzzle. In 2026, most players know the trick, but I still enjoy it: bring a flying enemy close to that spot and downward strike it. The bounce launches you high enough to reach the ledge. It is a classic Silksong moment, turning a movement limitation into a combat opportunity.

After saving Jubilana, I returned to Songclave and found her selling her wares near the First Shrine. Seeing her set up shop was satisfying. She offers high-tier items, and for a mid-Act Two player, her stock can change how you approach the next few bosses. I picked up what I could afford and immediately felt stronger.

If I were giving advice to my past self, I would put it in a short checklist:

Step
What to do

1
Beat the Last Judge and enter the Citadel in Act Two.

2
Pass through the Underworks and reach Choral Chambers.

3
Go to the right edge, climb up, and enter the First Shrine.

4
Use Silk Skills to clear the silk and create Songclave.

5
Take the Wandering Merchant wish from the wishboard outside.

6
Start at the bottom-right Choral Chambers bellway.

7
Exit left into the vertical area and climb.

8
Ignore the first left exit; take the second.

9
Keep left to the next big vertical area.

10
Take the first left exit into the dead-end room.

11
Defeat the two enemies and talk to Jubilana.

12
Return to Songclave to shop near the First Shrine.

What I love about this wish is how much it rewards attention. It is not a boss fight. It is not a massive dungeon. It is a test of whether you have learned to read Choral Chambers. The bellway, the vertical shafts, the false dead end, the flying enemy trick—all of it feels like a compact lesson in Silksong's design. And the payoff is a merchant who stays with you.

In 2026, with so many guides and route maps available, it is easy to reduce a quest like this to a checklist. But I still recommend doing it slowly. Let yourself get turned around. Fight the two guards with your current build. Try the downward strike trick even if you have already unlocked double jump. The Wandering Merchant wish is short, but it captures everything I enjoy about Hollow Knight: Silksong: exploration, danger, and the quiet relief of finding a friendly face in a hostile city.

If you are stuck, remember the core path: Songclave first, wishboard second, bottom-right bellway third, dead-end room last. Save Jubilana, and she will be waiting near the First Shrine, ready to sell you the tools you need for whatever horror comes next. ️

Silksong is the kind of game that makes you want to see what else is out there in the same vein—other metroidvanias, other punishing action-platformers, whatever studio Team Cherry's long shadow has inspired. The problem is that wishlists grow faster than paychecks, and Steam sales come and go without much warning. Keeping an eye on a [steam sale tracker]( like DealNest takes the guesswork out of it, so you are not refreshing store pages every Tuesday hoping the price finally dropped on that one game you have been circling for months.

It is a small thing, but it fits the same instinct this whole quest rewards: paying attention. You learned to read Choral Chambers instead of brute-forcing it, and you can read a store page the same way—know when a discount is real, know when to wait, know when to buy. DealNest just makes that part a little less tedious.

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Hell is Us: The Great Game That 2025 Buried (And I'm Still Sad About It)

Hell is Us, a grimdark semi-open-world action game, was crushed by Hollow Knight: Silksong's same-day 2025 launch. Horrible timing, brilliant game.

Ever shown up to a party only to realize you're wearing the same outfit as the host, but the host is a literal rockstar and everyone is screaming their name? That's basically Hell is Us in 2025. I played it, I loved it, and then I watched Hollow Knight: Silksong drop on the exact same day and absolutely obliterate the internet. Now it's 2026, and I'm still here, nursing a grudge and a save file.

Hell is Us is Rogue Factor's greatest creative leap so far. It's a grimdark, semi-open-world action game that refuses to hold your hand. No map markers? Check. No quest arrows? Check. Just you, a weird drone, and a world that wants you dead. It's the kind of game that makes you feel smart when you figure something out, and then immediately stupid when you walk into an ambush. But that's the charm. It rejects traditional open-world design with passion and panache, as the reference article says. And I agree. It's respectable and fascinating.

But here's the thing: 2025 was an absurdly packed year. Every month felt like a new blockbuster. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2? Great, but forgotten. Death Stranding 2? Wild. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33? A masterpiece. And then there's Hell is Us, a brand-new IP with no established fanbase, launching into a hurricane. I'm not saying it's a tragedy, but it's definitely a 'what if' scenario.

Now, let's talk about the elephant in the room: Horizon. Remember Horizon Zero Dawn? Gorgeous game, new IP, launched five days before The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Five days! And then Horizon Forbidden West launched a week before Elden Ring. A week! Talk about bad timing. Here's a handy table:

Game
Release Date
Competitor
Competitor's Release Date

Horizon Zero Dawn
Feb 28, 2017
Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Mar 3, 2017

Horizon Forbidden West
Feb 18, 2022
Elden Ring
Feb 25, 2022

Hell is Us
Sep 4, 2025
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Sep 4, 2025

Notice a pattern? Hell is Us didn't just compete with Silksong; it shared the same birthday. And Silksong wasn't just popular—it literally broke Steam. I tried to buy it on launch day and got stuck in a queue longer than my morning commute. Meanwhile, Hell is Us was sitting there, looking cool, but nobody had time.

The real kicker? Hell is Us and Silksong appeal to the same demographic. We're talking grimdark, semi-open-world, no hand-holding, 'figure it out yourself' energy. If you love Silksong's obtuse Metroidvania structure and labyrinthine world design, you're probably the target audience for Hell is Us. But if you bounce off Silksong, you're not going to suddenly love Hell is Us. So there's no 'well, I'll just play the other one' escape hatch. It's a direct collision.

So where does that leave us in 2026? Hell is Us is a good game. Not a masterpiece, but an 8/10 that tries something different. It's not perfect—I could complain about the combat for hours—but it's memorable. And the Horizon games eventually found a strong foothold despite their stiff competition. Maybe Hell is Us can do the same. Maybe in a year or two, people will discover it on sale, or through word of mouth, and realize they missed out.

Or maybe it'll just be that game that got crushed by Silksong. Either way, I'm glad I played it. And hey, if you're one of the few who skipped Silksong (are you okay?), give Hell is Us a shot. It's weird, it's frustrating, and it's got a drone that beeps at you. What more do you want?

If you're planning to circle back to a game like this months later, timing the purchase can be almost as tricky as the game itself. Prices bounce between storefronts, regional discounts pop up without warning, and a good sale can disappear in a day.

That's the gap DealNest fills. Rather than manually checking every launcher and key seller, you can use [this price tracking tool]( to monitor price history, set alerts, and grab a deal when it finally lines up with your backlog. It won't make the release calendar any less crowded, but it can make catching up a lot cheaper.

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How I Beat Lumble the Lucky's Dice Game Every Time in Silksong

Beat Lumble the Lucky in Silksong's dice game with the 14-shake trick to earn Magnetite Dice, a tool that can negate damage.

Silksong is hard. Water is wet. The sky is blue. And I, a simple gamer with the reflexes of a sleepy grub, spent my first week getting absolutely folded by bugs that looked like they belonged in a plushie collection. Team Cherry even nerfed some early-game bosses after everyone screamed into the void, which was nice, but it did not stop me from walking into the Blasted Steps and immediately questioning my life choices.

The thing that eventually saved me was not skill. It was tools. Silksong gets a lot easier once you start building up Hornet's roster of tools, because they provide buffs, passive effects, and occasionally the kind of miracle that makes you whisper thank you to your screen. One of the best tools in the game has a chance of completely negating damage. Completely. As in, a boss hits you with a truck-sized attack and Hornet just shrugs. That tool is the Magnetite Dice. And getting it means beating Lumble the Lucky at his own dice game ten times. Ten. Times.

Lumble the Lucky Is a Menace to My Wallet

A fair bit into your journey, you will reach the Blasted Steps. That is where you meet Lumble the Lucky, a stout bug who sits around waiting for someone to play dice with him. Hornet can be that someone. If you play normally, the result of your roll is completely random. You only know whether you won by Hornet's reaction after she throws the dice. That is already stressful, but here is the worse part: playing costs Rosaries, and you need ten wins to unlock Lumble's unique reward. Ten wins in a random dice game. My Rosary count wept. My patience packed its bags and left.

The 14-Shake Trick That Saved My Sanity

Then I learned the cheese. According to the community, and later my own sweaty experimentation, you can guarantee a win by waiting until Hornet has shaken the dice exactly 14 times, then letting go at that precise moment. That is roughly four to five seconds of waiting, because the animation plays the same way every single time. It is not a myth. It is not a rumor born from one lucky night. It works. ️

Getting the timing down is a little tough. I missed it maybe five times before I found the rhythm. Then I won. Then I won again. Then I won ten times and felt like a genius who had outsmarted a fictional beetle. Here is the routine I used:

Step
What I did
Why it matters

1
Found Lumble in the Blasted Steps
He is waiting for a victim, I mean, a player

2
Started the dice game
It costs Rosaries, so focus

3
Watched Hornet shake the dice
Count every shake, not just the vibe

4
Released on shake number 14
This is the magic moment

5
Repeated ten times
Magnetite Dice, here I come

Magnetite Dice: The Reward for My Dice Crimes

Beating the dice game unlocks the Magnetite Dice. These dice have a chance of completely negating any damage Hornet takes. Fittingly, it is entirely luck-based and not guaranteed. But when it procs, it feels like the game itself blinked first. Against some of the truly tough late-game boss battles, that random save can be the difference between a triumphant scream and a defeated sigh. It is one of the best tools in Silksong, and I will die on that hill. Probably to a boss, but still.

A 2026 Check-In: Does the Cheese Still Work?

As of 2026, Silksong has had plenty of patches, plenty of discourse, and plenty of players discovering new ways to suffer. The 14-shake trick remains a beloved community shortcut. I have not heard of Team Cherry removing it, and honestly, I hope they never do. Some cheeses are not bugs. They are emergency snacks.

Should You Feel Bad About Cheesing Lumble?

No. Absolutely not. Silksong is a game that will happily kick you down a well, steal your lunch money, and then ask you to parry the well. If a dice minigame has a timing exploit, use it. Lumble is lucky. You are clever. That is fair. Besides, you are not cheating another player. You are cheating a fictional bug who probably has loaded dice anyway. Have you seen that guy's face? He knows something.

So if you are stuck in the Blasted Steps, low on Rosaries, and dreaming of a tool that occasionally says no to damage, try the 14-shake method. Count. Breathe. Release. Win. Then go use your Magnetite Dice to survive whatever nightmare comes next. And if you miss the timing, well, at least you are not alone. We have all been out-lucked by a bug.

If your hunt for game-saving tools extends beyond the Blasted Steps, you might be the kind of player who enjoys squeezing every advantage out of a purchase. Whether it is a new title to test your parrying reflexes on or a discounted expansion to lose another hundred hours to, it pays to know where the bargains are hiding. That is where a site like DealNest comes in — a place to [find the best deal]( on games and gear without having to grind through endless storefronts.

Think of it as the shopping equivalent of counting shakes: a little patience, a little attention to detail, and suddenly the odds tilt in your favor. Cheap doesn't have to mean compromised, and a smart buy is its own kind of victory.

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Hollow Knight: Silksong Twisted Bud Quest Guide: From Crying Bud to Witch Crest

Hollow Knight: Silksong Twisted Bud guide: find it in Bilewater, deliver it to Shellwood for the cursed Rite of Rebirth.

In the sprawling world of Hollow Knight: Silksong, few side quests are as bizarre and unsettling as the one involving the Twisted Bud. This living, crying item—yes, it actually cries every time the player opens their inventory, map, or quest log—sets off a chain of events that leads to dark rituals, a nasty curse, and ultimately a powerful reward. Even in 2026, with countless guides and patches, this quest remains a rite of passage for any serious player. So, how does one find this twisted little thing, and what exactly should be done with it? Let's break it down step by step.

Where to Find the Twisted Bud

First things first: the player must have reached Act 2 of the story or unlocked the Faydown Cloak in Mount Fay. While the cloak route is possible, it involves navigating poisonous lakes and tough enemies from Sinner's Road. A far easier path is to simply progress through Act 2 until reaching the Whispering Vaults. There, the player should find the first room with puzzle boxes, then strike the right wall near the ceiling with the Nail to reveal a secret passage. Inside, one can either grab a Memory Locket (highly recommended) or drop down to Bilewater.

Before descending, the player should rest on a Bench and convert all Rosaries into Rosary Strings—because the plan is to grab the bud and then deliberately die to escape Bilewater quickly. Equipping the red tool Cogfly helps with flying enemies. Once in Bilewater, the player should follow the left path until dropping into an area with multiple routes. The player should keep going left as far as possible, hitting walls to reveal secret passages. Eventually, the player will reach a dead-end room where a baby's desperate crying can be heard. Follow that sound to collect the Twisted Bud. Then, let an enemy defeat the player to return to the last Bench. Now, the player can check the menu: the bud will cry constantly, and it looks like something straight out of Bloodborne.

What to Do With the Twisted Bud

With the bud in inventory, the player should fast-travel to Bellhart, rest on the Bench, and again ensure no Rosaries are carried—convert them into Rosary Strings if needed. While in Bellhart, the player should talk to Pavo; he offers valuable lore about these living buds, explaining they were once common in Shellwood and used as offerings in dark rituals. After that, the player should head straight to Greyroot's cabin in Shellwood. However, this requires having completed her earlier quest, "Rite of the Pollip," which involves finding six Pollip Hearts in the region. Without that done, she won't accept the Twisted Bud.

Once the bud is delivered, the player should accept the "Rite of Rebirth" quest and brace for one of the weirdest cutscenes in the game. Shortly after, Hornet appears in a new, dark area within Shellwood, now cursed: she cannot heal, and her Crest and tools are gone. But fear not—this is temporary. The player should go all the way left to leave the dark area, then head up to find a shortcut leading to one of Shellwood's main bottom areas. From there, the player should walk right to reach Bellhart again, and use fast travel to Greymoor, where a doctor named Yanarby awaits.

How to Find Yanarby

In Greymoor, the player must locate Yanarby, a doctor exiled from Bellhart for her "strange methods." Her house sits on the upper western side of Greymoor, near where one first meets Garmond. From the fast-travel area, the player should go left until reaching a room inside the main structure filled with scissor-wielding enemies, moving platforms, and rats. The player should make their way up and enter the last room on the left. There, an area with vegetation and a bell enemy appears. The player should keep walking left to find Yanarby's house. Talk to her, explain Hornet's situation, and after some dialogue, accept the "Infestation Operation" quest.

How to Complete Infestation Operation Quest

Once the quest is accepted, the player should head straight to Sinner's Road. The player should go to the Halfway Home tavern, use the elevator, and climb the platforms until reaching the entrance. Rest on the Bench, then visit Benjin and Crull's cabin—the same duo who offer the cockroach guts quest. They have the item Yanarby needs, but they won't hand it over for free; the price is 260 Rosaries. This is where those Rosary Strings come in handy. If more Rosaries are needed, the player should return to Greymoor and farm enemies there, as they drop plenty of coins and the area is easier than Sinner's Road (especially since healing is disabled). After paying, the player should immediately return to Yanarby's house to watch Hornet finally get rid of those horrible tentacles.

The Infestation Operation Quest Rewards

Completing this quest does more than just remove the curse. It unlocks the Witch Crest, which grants Hornet sweeping swings reminiscent of a whip and allows her to drain life from enemies through twisted roots. This crest introduces a playstyle centered on unleashing a devastating attack with the Silk Bind, and it permits equipping three blue tools and two red ones. For many players, the Witch Crest becomes a favorite, offering a fresh way to approach combat.

To summarize the entire quest chain, here's a quick table:

Step
Location
Action

1
Whispering Vaults → Bilewater
Find and collect Twisted Bud

2
Bellhart → Shellwood
Talk to Pavo, deliver bud to Greyroot

3
Shellwood → Greymoor
Escape curse, find Yanarby

4
Sinner's Road
Buy item from Benjin and Crull for 260 Rosaries

5
Greymoor
Return to Yanarby, complete quest, get Witch Crest

So, is the Twisted Bud worth the trouble? Absolutely. Despite the crying, the curse, and the backtracking, the Witch Crest alone makes it one of the most rewarding side quests in Silksong. And in 2026, with the game's community still thriving, this quest remains a shared experience that every hunter should undertake. Just remember: no Rosaries, bring Cogfly, and don't panic when the bud starts wailing.

The shared experience of overcoming these challenges is what makes the game so special, and if you're looking to bring more friends into the fold or explore other titles in the genre, finding the right price is key. DealNest provides a reliable [game price comparison]( service that can help you score the best deals across platforms. So before you dive into your next adventure, give it a look—your wallet will thank you.

https://dealnesthq.com

Hollow Knight: Silksong Twisted Bud Quest Guide: From Crying Bud to Witch Crest

Hollow Knight: Silksong Twisted Bud guide: find it in Bilewater, deliver it to Shellwood for the cursed Rite of Rebirth.

In the sprawling world of Hollow Knight: Silksong, few side quests are as bizarre and unsettling as the one involving the Twisted Bud. This living, crying item—yes, it actually cries every time the player opens their inventory, map, or quest log—sets off a chain of events that leads to dark rituals, a nasty curse, and ultimately a powerful reward. Even in 2026, with countless guides and patches, this quest remains a rite of passage for any serious player. So, how does one find this twisted little thing, and what exactly should be done with it? Let's break it down step by step.

Where to Find the Twisted Bud

First things first: the player must have reached Act 2 of the story or unlocked the Faydown Cloak in Mount Fay. While the cloak route is possible, it involves navigating poisonous lakes and tough enemies from Sinner's Road. A far easier path is to simply progress through Act 2 until reaching the Whispering Vaults. There, the player should find the first room with puzzle boxes, then strike the right wall near the ceiling with the Nail to reveal a secret passage. Inside, one can either grab a Memory Locket (highly recommended) or drop down to Bilewater.

Before descending, the player should rest on a Bench and convert all Rosaries into Rosary Strings—because the plan is to grab the bud and then deliberately die to escape Bilewater quickly. Equipping the red tool Cogfly helps with flying enemies. Once in Bilewater, the player should follow the left path until dropping into an area with multiple routes. The player should keep going left as far as possible, hitting walls to reveal secret passages. Eventually, the player will reach a dead-end room where a baby's desperate crying can be heard. Follow that sound to collect the Twisted Bud. Then, let an enemy defeat the player to return to the last Bench. Now, the player can check the menu: the bud will cry constantly, and it looks like something straight out of Bloodborne.

What to Do With the Twisted Bud

With the bud in inventory, the player should fast-travel to Bellhart, rest on the Bench, and again ensure no Rosaries are carried—convert them into Rosary Strings if needed. While in Bellhart, the player should talk to Pavo; he offers valuable lore about these living buds, explaining they were once common in Shellwood and used as offerings in dark rituals. After that, the player should head straight to Greyroot's cabin in Shellwood. However, this requires having completed her earlier quest, "Rite of the Pollip," which involves finding six Pollip Hearts in the region. Without that done, she won't accept the Twisted Bud.

Once the bud is delivered, the player should accept the "Rite of Rebirth" quest and brace for one of the weirdest cutscenes in the game. Shortly after, Hornet appears in a new, dark area within Shellwood, now cursed: she cannot heal, and her Crest and tools are gone. But fear not—this is temporary. The player should go all the way left to leave the dark area, then head up to find a shortcut leading to one of Shellwood's main bottom areas. From there, the player should walk right to reach Bellhart again, and use fast travel to Greymoor, where a doctor named Yanarby awaits.

How to Find Yanarby

In Greymoor, the player must locate Yanarby, a doctor exiled from Bellhart for her "strange methods." Her house sits on the upper western side of Greymoor, near where one first meets Garmond. From the fast-travel area, the player should go left until reaching a room inside the main structure filled with scissor-wielding enemies, moving platforms, and rats. The player should make their way up and enter the last room on the left. There, an area with vegetation and a bell enemy appears. The player should keep walking left to find Yanarby's house. Talk to her, explain Hornet's situation, and after some dialogue, accept the "Infestation Operation" quest.

How to Complete Infestation Operation Quest

Once the quest is accepted, the player should head straight to Sinner's Road. The player should go to the Halfway Home tavern, use the elevator, and climb the platforms until reaching the entrance. Rest on the Bench, then visit Benjin and Crull's cabin—the same duo who offer the cockroach guts quest. They have the item Yanarby needs, but they won't hand it over for free; the price is 260 Rosaries. This is where those Rosary Strings come in handy. If more Rosaries are needed, the player should return to Greymoor and farm enemies there, as they drop plenty of coins and the area is easier than Sinner's Road (especially since healing is disabled). After paying, the player should immediately return to Yanarby's house to watch Hornet finally get rid of those horrible tentacles.

The Infestation Operation Quest Rewards

Completing this quest does more than just remove the curse. It unlocks the Witch Crest, which grants Hornet sweeping swings reminiscent of a whip and allows her to drain life from enemies through twisted roots. This crest introduces a playstyle centered on unleashing a devastating attack with the Silk Bind, and it permits equipping three blue tools and two red ones. For many players, the Witch Crest becomes a favorite, offering a fresh way to approach combat.

To summarize the entire quest chain, here's a quick table:

Step
Location
Action

1
Whispering Vaults → Bilewater
Find and collect Twisted Bud

2
Bellhart → Shellwood
Talk to Pavo, deliver bud to Greyroot

3
Shellwood → Greymoor
Escape curse, find Yanarby

4
Sinner's Road
Buy item from Benjin and Crull for 260 Rosaries

5
Greymoor
Return to Yanarby, complete quest, get Witch Crest

So, is the Twisted Bud worth the trouble? Absolutely. Despite the crying, the curse, and the backtracking, the Witch Crest alone makes it one of the most rewarding side quests in Silksong. And in 2026, with the game's community still thriving, this quest remains a shared experience that every hunter should undertake. Just remember: no Rosaries, bring Cogfly, and don't panic when the bud starts wailing.

The shared experience of overcoming these challenges is what makes the game so special, and if you're looking to bring more friends into the fold or explore other titles in the genre, finding the right price is key. DealNest provides a reliable [game price comparison]( service that can help you score the best deals across platforms. So before you dive into your next adventure, give it a look—your wallet will thank you.

https://dealnesthq.com

Hollow Knight: Silksong Guides That Saved My Shell in 2026

Hollow Knight: Silksong boss guides and map tips help players conquer this challenging, thrilling Metroidvania sequel.

I still remember telling everyone I’d mastered Hollow Knight. Then Hollow Knight: Silksong came along in 2025, and by 2026 it has officially become my favorite kind of humiliation. This game is a thrilling follow-up to the indie smash, but it is also a much tougher evolution of the formula. Even if you breezed through the first game without many issues, you will likely find yourself stuck on some challenges here. I know I did. So I pulled together the guide topics that actually helped me push forward, from brutal bosses to cryptic hunts, and I’ll keep this hub updated as the community discovers more. Grab your needle, sit by a Bellhart bench, and let’s talk about the parts that made me want to throw my controller—and then pick it back up.

Boss Guides ️

Not every boss in Silksong is likely to trip you up, but things start intensifying toward the end of Act 1. That’s when the training wheels come off and the game asks whether you really understand Hornet’s mobility. The Last Judge is the wall I hit hardest. Between the runback and the actual fight, I lost an embarrassing amount of time. If you’re there too, check out video and tips for the runback in the Last Judge guide, which can save you a lot of time on one of the game’s trickiest platforming segments. Trust me, the shortcut alone is worth it.

I also learned that boss attempts go better when I stop treating every death as a skill issue. Sometimes I was missing a tool, a crest, or a simple timing read. Sometimes I just needed to sleep on it. The guide collection covers the community’s most-asked boss questions, so if you’re stuck on a specific fight, start there before you burn out.

Map Guides ️

True to the Metroidvania genre, Silksong areas can be convoluted. It doesn’t help when they’re also full of challenging pogo jumps and environmental hazards that can make every step of exploration a threat. I’ve gotten lost in ways that felt almost artistic. My map guides for Hunter’s March and Bilewater will get you through two of the most infamous locations in the game, and my guide to the Slab explains how to access and escape a mid-to-late-game area as early as Act 1.

If you’re like me, you’ll try to brute-force your way through Hunter’s March and then wonder why your rosaries are gone. Don’t do that. Use the maps. Bilewater is another place where the environment is the real boss. The Slab, meanwhile, is a detour that can pay off early if you’re brave—or foolish—enough to poke around before the game expects you to.

Location Guides 🧭

Silksong’s quests, known as Wishes, task Hornet with tracking down all manner of objects. In some situations, you should also hunt out things that haven’t been requested, like the Silkeater Grubs that can end up saving some of your precious rosaries from being lost forever. I ignored them at first, and I paid for it. If you’re tired of traversing Shellwood to find the last Pollip Heart or listening for the sounds of Lost Fleas across the lands, these guides are for you.

What I love about this part of the game is how much it rewards curiosity. A random corner can hide a quest item, a hidden bench, or a NPC who changes everything. What I don’t love is combing the same room for the tenth time because I missed a ledge. So when I say the location guides are useful, I mean they respect your time without flattening the adventure.

Key Upgrades and Unlocks

Whenever you’re hard stuck on something in Silksong, there’s a decent chance that an available upgrade could help out. They aren’t always easy to find, though. Seeking out the first needle upgrade or swapping out your crest can turn a boss fight from a nightmare into a manageable affair, so it’s worth making sure you’re always up-to-date. Pinmaster Plinney is one of those characters you should visit the moment you can. I put off a needle upgrade once, and the next boss made me feel like I was tapping the enemy with a spoon.

Crests are another rabbit hole. I stuck with one for too long because it felt safe, then switched and suddenly had the tools I needed. If a fight feels impossible, ask yourself: is this a skill problem, or is my build just wrong for this room?

Quick Guide Checklist

Problem
What I Check First

Boss keeps winning
Runback shortcuts, crest swap, needle upgrade

Lost in a region
Hunter’s March, Bilewater, or Slab map guide

Missing quest item
Pollip Heart, Lost Fleas, Silkeater Grubs

Low rosaries
Silkeater Grubs and safer exploration routes

Feeling weak
Pinmaster Plinney and available needle upgrades

Final Thoughts

Even in the best scenario, triumphing over Hollow Knight: Silksong’s ordeals won’t be easy. With the right guides at your side, however, you can see Hornet through all the way to the end. In 2026, I’m still playing, still dying, and still finding new reasons to love this beautiful, punishing sequel. If you’re stuck, you’re not alone. Take a breath, check the guide for the wall you’re facing, and get back in there. Hornet wouldn’t quit, and neither should you.

Once the credits roll, though, the itch doesn’t really go away — it just changes shape. You start hunting for the next punishing metroidvania, the next soulslike that will humble you all over again, and that hunt usually comes with a price tag attached. I’ve learned the hard way that paying full price for every game I’m curious about adds up fast, especially when half of them sit untouched while I’m still chasing one last collectible in something else.

That’s why I keep [game deals today]( bookmarked on DealNest. It’s a simple way to see what’s currently discounted before committing, so the next obsession costs a little less and the backlog stays a bit more affordable. If you’re the type who finishes one game and immediately needs another, it’s worth a look.

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My First-Person Feast: Completing Great Taste of Pharloom in Silksong

Hollow Knight: Silksong’s Great Taste of Pharloom quest blends needle upgrades with epic culinary challenges for Hornet.

I thought upgrading Hornet's needle in Hollow Knight: Silksong would be as simple as sharpening a pencil. Then I met Loyal Mergwin in the Pharloom Citadel, and he turned a blacksmith's errand into a cross-continental tasting menu. In 2026, after many patches and countless deaths, the Great Taste of Pharloom quest remains one of the most memorable side stories in the game. This is how I, a lone hornet with a needle and a stubborn streak, gathered every ingredient and finally earned the Pale Oil. The quest was less a grocery list and more a chandelier I had to assemble while it was already falling.

Mossberry Stew: The Easy First Course

Mergwin's list begins with Mossberry Stew, and for once, the game offers mercy. I backtracked to Mosshome, the starting area, and spoke to the friendly Druid of the Moss Temple. If you have not completed his berry-picking quest, you may need to do that first. I had already done it, so he handed over the rare ingredient without much fuss. The reward for helping him earlier is a handy defensive tool, which made the backtrack feel less like a chore and more like visiting an old friend who happens to cook with forest magic.

Vintage Nectar: A Barkeep's Toll

Vintage Nectar sits at the Halfway Home in Greymoor, but Creige will not part with it for free. He demands 480 Rosaries, a fee that feels like paying a toll bridge to cross a river of wine. I farmed Rosaries in the Citadel and to the right of Greymoor, then stocked up on equipment and silk. The real trap comes after you pay: when you enter the cellar and try to grab the nectar, waves of Hunter's March enemies ambush you. Their movesets tested my memory and my patience. After surviving the ambush, I grabbed the Vintage Nectar and returned upstairs to give Creige a piece of my mind.

Courier's Rasher: The Nightmare Delivery 🥩

Courier's Rasher is the hardest part of the quest. It is Silksong's answer to Hollow Knight's Delicate Flower, and it punishes every careless step. First, I saved both Courier bugs through Bellhart's quest board, rescuing them from Greymoor and the Sinner's Road. They gave me the Rasher for free, but with a brutal condition: hand-deliver it to Mergwin under a strict time limit. You cannot use elevators or the Bell Beast, because fast travel instantly destroys the item. Taking damage, hitting walls, or falling from a great height also reduces its durability timer.

Carrying that Rasher felt like balancing a soap bubble on a needle tip through a bramble maze. I practiced the route several times before attempting a real run. The path I chose had the least chance of failure while still being fast. Compared to the Delicate Flower, Silksong is more forgiving: you can take roughly one to three hits depending on your speed and charms. I equipped movement boosters like the Silkspeed Anklets and Flea Brew, and I used the save-and-quit trick to return to Greyhart between attempts. If you feel discouraged, take breaks or gather other ingredients first.

Crustnut: Parkour Above the Blasted Steps

The Crustnut is the second-to-last ingredient, tucked in one of the farthest corners of the map. I traveled past the obstacles on the western side of the Blasted Steps and used the Clawline ability from the Underworks. I hooked onto the hanging rings left of the Pinstress' home, then parkoured upward into the Sands of Karak. The climb is painful: challenging jumps, aggressive enemies, and a hidden wall at the marked point. After breaking through, I faced more deadly environmental hazards. It took a few tries, but eventually I claimed the Crustnut.

Pickled Muckmaggot: Dinner with a Haunted Chef 🪱

The last ingredient, Pickled Muckmaggot, sends you back into the unforgiving Sinner's Road. Go straight after entering until you reach a hole in the ceiling that requires the Faydown Cloak. Climb up, and you will face a unique boss fight with a haunted chef. The Muckmaggot only drops upon their death. By this point in the game, I had enough upgrades to handle the fight without too much trouble. On the way back, I checked with Styx to farm Rosaries and save Silkeater bugs.

The Feast and the Pale Oil ️

With every ingredient in my inventory, I returned to the Citadel and gave Mergwin the feast of his life. The reward is the Pale Oil needed to upgrade Hornet's needle a second time. But the quest is not over until you pay an additional 500 Rosaries to finish the upgrade. That final payment felt like finding the last puzzle piece under the couch after I had already flipped the table in frustration. Still, the boost was worth every Rosary, every death, and every failed delivery.

Here is a quick summary of the ingredients:

Ingredient
Location
Difficulty

Mossberry Stew
Mosshome, Moss Temple Druid
Easy

Vintage Nectar
Greymoor, Halfway Home
Medium

Courier's Rasher
Bellhart Courier bugs, timed delivery
Very Hard

Crustnut
Sands of Karak, past Blasted Steps
Hard

Pickled Muckmaggot
Sinner's Road, haunted chef boss
Medium

If you are attempting Great Taste of Pharloom in 2026, my advice is simple: do the Rasher last, practice your route, and bring patience. Silksong may be deadlier than its predecessor, but moments like this prove that its world is also richer, stranger, and more delicious.

After all those deaths and deliveries, you might be ready for a break—or a new challenge. If you're planning to pick up Silksong for yourself, or you want to dive into another punishing metroidvania, it's worth doing a little real-world reconnaissance before you spend your hard-earned cash.

Games, gear, and accessories can vary wildly in price depending on where you look. Rather than paying full price out of impatience, take a moment to [compare prices here]( at DealNest. A smart shopper's patience can be just as rewarding as a perfectly executed parkour route.

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Hollow Knight: Silksong Guides That Saved My Shell in 2026

Hollow Knight: Silksong boss guides and map tips help players conquer this challenging, thrilling Metroidvania sequel.

I still remember telling everyone I’d mastered Hollow Knight. Then Hollow Knight: Silksong came along in 2025, and by 2026 it has officially become my favorite kind of humiliation. This game is a thrilling follow-up to the indie smash, but it is also a much tougher evolution of the formula. Even if you breezed through the first game without many issues, you will likely find yourself stuck on some challenges here. I know I did. So I pulled together the guide topics that actually helped me push forward, from brutal bosses to cryptic hunts, and I’ll keep this hub updated as the community discovers more. Grab your needle, sit by a Bellhart bench, and let’s talk about the parts that made me want to throw my controller—and then pick it back up.

Boss Guides ️

Not every boss in Silksong is likely to trip you up, but things start intensifying toward the end of Act 1. That’s when the training wheels come off and the game asks whether you really understand Hornet’s mobility. The Last Judge is the wall I hit hardest. Between the runback and the actual fight, I lost an embarrassing amount of time. If you’re there too, check out video and tips for the runback in the Last Judge guide, which can save you a lot of time on one of the game’s trickiest platforming segments. Trust me, the shortcut alone is worth it.

I also learned that boss attempts go better when I stop treating every death as a skill issue. Sometimes I was missing a tool, a crest, or a simple timing read. Sometimes I just needed to sleep on it. The guide collection covers the community’s most-asked boss questions, so if you’re stuck on a specific fight, start there before you burn out.

Map Guides ️

True to the Metroidvania genre, Silksong areas can be convoluted. It doesn’t help when they’re also full of challenging pogo jumps and environmental hazards that can make every step of exploration a threat. I’ve gotten lost in ways that felt almost artistic. My map guides for Hunter’s March and Bilewater will get you through two of the most infamous locations in the game, and my guide to the Slab explains how to access and escape a mid-to-late-game area as early as Act 1.

If you’re like me, you’ll try to brute-force your way through Hunter’s March and then wonder why your rosaries are gone. Don’t do that. Use the maps. Bilewater is another place where the environment is the real boss. The Slab, meanwhile, is a detour that can pay off early if you’re brave—or foolish—enough to poke around before the game expects you to.

Location Guides 🧭

Silksong’s quests, known as Wishes, task Hornet with tracking down all manner of objects. In some situations, you should also hunt out things that haven’t been requested, like the Silkeater Grubs that can end up saving some of your precious rosaries from being lost forever. I ignored them at first, and I paid for it. If you’re tired of traversing Shellwood to find the last Pollip Heart or listening for the sounds of Lost Fleas across the lands, these guides are for you.

What I love about this part of the game is how much it rewards curiosity. A random corner can hide a quest item, a hidden bench, or a NPC who changes everything. What I don’t love is combing the same room for the tenth time because I missed a ledge. So when I say the location guides are useful, I mean they respect your time without flattening the adventure.

Key Upgrades and Unlocks

Whenever you’re hard stuck on something in Silksong, there’s a decent chance that an available upgrade could help out. They aren’t always easy to find, though. Seeking out the first needle upgrade or swapping out your crest can turn a boss fight from a nightmare into a manageable affair, so it’s worth making sure you’re always up-to-date. Pinmaster Plinney is one of those characters you should visit the moment you can. I put off a needle upgrade once, and the next boss made me feel like I was tapping the enemy with a spoon.

Crests are another rabbit hole. I stuck with one for too long because it felt safe, then switched and suddenly had the tools I needed. If a fight feels impossible, ask yourself: is this a skill problem, or is my build just wrong for this room?

Quick Guide Checklist

Problem
What I Check First

Boss keeps winning
Runback shortcuts, crest swap, needle upgrade

Lost in a region
Hunter’s March, Bilewater, or Slab map guide

Missing quest item
Pollip Heart, Lost Fleas, Silkeater Grubs

Low rosaries
Silkeater Grubs and safer exploration routes

Feeling weak
Pinmaster Plinney and available needle upgrades

Final Thoughts

Even in the best scenario, triumphing over Hollow Knight: Silksong’s ordeals won’t be easy. With the right guides at your side, however, you can see Hornet through all the way to the end. In 2026, I’m still playing, still dying, and still finding new reasons to love this beautiful, punishing sequel. If you’re stuck, you’re not alone. Take a breath, check the guide for the wall you’re facing, and get back in there. Hornet wouldn’t quit, and neither should you.

Once the credits roll, though, the itch doesn’t really go away — it just changes shape. You start hunting for the next punishing metroidvania, the next soulslike that will humble you all over again, and that hunt usually comes with a price tag attached. I’ve learned the hard way that paying full price for every game I’m curious about adds up fast, especially when half of them sit untouched while I’m still chasing one last collectible in something else.

That’s why I keep [game deals today]( bookmarked on DealNest. It’s a simple way to see what’s currently discounted before committing, so the next obsession costs a little less and the backlog stays a bit more affordable. If you’re the type who finishes one game and immediately needs another, it’s worth a look.

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How I Beat Lumble the Lucky's Dice Game Every Time in Silksong

Beat Lumble the Lucky in Silksong's dice game with the 14-shake trick to earn Magnetite Dice, a tool that can negate damage.

Silksong is hard. Water is wet. The sky is blue. And I, a simple gamer with the reflexes of a sleepy grub, spent my first week getting absolutely folded by bugs that looked like they belonged in a plushie collection. Team Cherry even nerfed some early-game bosses after everyone screamed into the void, which was nice, but it did not stop me from walking into the Blasted Steps and immediately questioning my life choices.

The thing that eventually saved me was not skill. It was tools. Silksong gets a lot easier once you start building up Hornet's roster of tools, because they provide buffs, passive effects, and occasionally the kind of miracle that makes you whisper thank you to your screen. One of the best tools in the game has a chance of completely negating damage. Completely. As in, a boss hits you with a truck-sized attack and Hornet just shrugs. That tool is the Magnetite Dice. And getting it means beating Lumble the Lucky at his own dice game ten times. Ten. Times.

Lumble the Lucky Is a Menace to My Wallet

A fair bit into your journey, you will reach the Blasted Steps. That is where you meet Lumble the Lucky, a stout bug who sits around waiting for someone to play dice with him. Hornet can be that someone. If you play normally, the result of your roll is completely random. You only know whether you won by Hornet's reaction after she throws the dice. That is already stressful, but here is the worse part: playing costs Rosaries, and you need ten wins to unlock Lumble's unique reward. Ten wins in a random dice game. My Rosary count wept. My patience packed its bags and left.

The 14-Shake Trick That Saved My Sanity

Then I learned the cheese. According to the community, and later my own sweaty experimentation, you can guarantee a win by waiting until Hornet has shaken the dice exactly 14 times, then letting go at that precise moment. That is roughly four to five seconds of waiting, because the animation plays the same way every single time. It is not a myth. It is not a rumor born from one lucky night. It works. ️

Getting the timing down is a little tough. I missed it maybe five times before I found the rhythm. Then I won. Then I won again. Then I won ten times and felt like a genius who had outsmarted a fictional beetle. Here is the routine I used:

Step
What I did
Why it matters

1
Found Lumble in the Blasted Steps
He is waiting for a victim, I mean, a player

2
Started the dice game
It costs Rosaries, so focus

3
Watched Hornet shake the dice
Count every shake, not just the vibe

4
Released on shake number 14
This is the magic moment

5
Repeated ten times
Magnetite Dice, here I come

Magnetite Dice: The Reward for My Dice Crimes

Beating the dice game unlocks the Magnetite Dice. These dice have a chance of completely negating any damage Hornet takes. Fittingly, it is entirely luck-based and not guaranteed. But when it procs, it feels like the game itself blinked first. Against some of the truly tough late-game boss battles, that random save can be the difference between a triumphant scream and a defeated sigh. It is one of the best tools in Silksong, and I will die on that hill. Probably to a boss, but still.

A 2026 Check-In: Does the Cheese Still Work?

As of 2026, Silksong has had plenty of patches, plenty of discourse, and plenty of players discovering new ways to suffer. The 14-shake trick remains a beloved community shortcut. I have not heard of Team Cherry removing it, and honestly, I hope they never do. Some cheeses are not bugs. They are emergency snacks.

Should You Feel Bad About Cheesing Lumble?

No. Absolutely not. Silksong is a game that will happily kick you down a well, steal your lunch money, and then ask you to parry the well. If a dice minigame has a timing exploit, use it. Lumble is lucky. You are clever. That is fair. Besides, you are not cheating another player. You are cheating a fictional bug who probably has loaded dice anyway. Have you seen that guy's face? He knows something.

So if you are stuck in the Blasted Steps, low on Rosaries, and dreaming of a tool that occasionally says no to damage, try the 14-shake method. Count. Breathe. Release. Win. Then go use your Magnetite Dice to survive whatever nightmare comes next. And if you miss the timing, well, at least you are not alone. We have all been out-lucked by a bug.

If your hunt for game-saving tools extends beyond the Blasted Steps, you might be the kind of player who enjoys squeezing every advantage out of a purchase. Whether it is a new title to test your parrying reflexes on or a discounted expansion to lose another hundred hours to, it pays to know where the bargains are hiding. That is where a site like DealNest comes in — a place to [find the best deal]( on games and gear without having to grind through endless storefronts.

Think of it as the shopping equivalent of counting shakes: a little patience, a little attention to detail, and suddenly the odds tilt in your favor. Cheap doesn't have to mean compromised, and a smart buy is its own kind of victory.

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My Missing Courier Wish: Finding Tipp in Hollow Knight Silksong

Silksong My Missing Courier Wish guide: track Tipp in Lower Shellwood, free Bellhart, unlock Multibinder, Spool Fragment, Memory Locket.

During my latest pilgrimage through Hollow Knight: Silksong in 2026, I finally resolved the My Missing Courier Wish—a side quest that had been taunting me from Bellhart’s wish board like a half-remembered melody. I had put it off for weeks, distracted by the game’s sprawling map and brutal bosses, but the promise of new shop inventory was too tempting. So I sharpened my needle, stocked up on silk, and set out to find a courier named Tipp who had vanished somewhere in Lower Shellwood.

Before I could even accept the wish, I had to free Bellhart from its curse. That meant breaking the town’s grim spell so its townsbugs could walk freely, open their shops, and speak with me again. Once Bellhart breathed easy, the wish board appeared, and My Missing Courier became available. The description pointed me toward Lower Shellwood, and I felt the familiar itch of a trail gone cold.

Tracking Tipp: A Trail of Four Clues

The hunt for Tipp unfolded like a silk thread snagged on a bramble—each clue a knot I had to untie. The tracking nodes were not marked on my map, so I relied on environmental hints. Here is how the trail broke down for me:

• Location Hint #1 — I found the first clue almost exactly in the middle of Lower Shellwood, with fragments lying on the ground. Inspecting them triggered a prompt to track Tipp. The trail pulled me west and up into a dead-end corridor, where the second node waited.

• Location Hint #2 — From that first drop, I headed further west, still in the bottom section of the map, until I reached the exit toward Bone Bottom. At the end of that area, the third hint glimmered.

• Location Hint #3 — This one led me into the western portions of the map, into the bench room leading to Bone Bottom. It was a shorter tracking hint, guiding me downward into a small corner where several bugs skittered around the final hint.

• Final Hint — For the last node, I descended the vertical shaft to its middle section. Tipp’s location was on the left-hand side, on a cliff facing inward toward the drop. Two bugs surrounded him. I killed both to free him, and he spoke with me before making his way back to Bellhart.

The vertical shaft swallowed me like a hollow reed drinking rain, and for a moment I wondered if I had missed a turn. But the final clue was unmistakable: a courier trapped, not by chains, but by the quiet menace of Shellwood’s fauna.

What Tipp Unlocks in Bellhart

Once Tipp returned to Bellhart, I headed back to see what the shop now offered. The inventory had expanded with a few expensive but powerful items. If you are short on rosaries, you may need to grind, but these are worth the effort:

Item
Effect

Multibinder Tool
Extends the act of binding to gain greater healing.

Spool Fragment
Adds extra silk to your reserves.

Memory Locket
Expands your Crests.

With Tipp saved and the town inventory stocked, I felt my kit grow sharper. Greater healing, extra silk, and a memory locket to expand my Crests—each upgrade felt like adding a new verse to a song I was still learning to sing. The Multibinder Tool alone changed how I approached boss fights, letting me bind longer and recover more health in tight spots.

Final Thoughts from a 2026 Run

Even in 2026, with countless patches and community discoveries, My Missing Courier remains one of Silksong’s more humane wishes. It does not demand a boss fight or a pixel-perfect platforming gauntlet. Instead, it asks you to pay attention, to read the land, and to follow a trail that unspools like a spool of silk caught in a thornbush. For me, that quiet detective work was a welcome pause between Hornet’s more violent errands.

If you are still wandering Pharloom, I recommend finishing this wish before you push into the game’s later regions. The shop upgrades are practical, the tracking puzzle is satisfying, and Tipp’s return to Bellhart adds a small but meaningful warmth to the town. So grab your needle, free Bellhart if you have not already, and head to Lower Shellwood. Tipp is waiting—and he has been waiting far too long. 🧭️

If you are the kind of player who likes chasing side quests and hidden vendors before moving on, that same patience can pay off when building out your library. I usually keep a shortlist of games I want to try next and check [game deals today]( on DealNest before paying full price—especially useful when a sale lines up with a lull between Silksong sessions.

It is not tied to Pharloom or Tipp, but if you enjoy the rhythm of exploring, upgrading, and discovering quiet corners, DealNest is a handy place to spot discounts on similar metroidvanias and indie adventures without breaking your rosary budget.

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McDonald’s China’s Black Myth: Wukong Mid-Autumn Feast Still Wows Fans in 2026

McDonald’s China and Black Myth: Wukong fused Mid-Autumn Festival tradition with gaming culture in a unique, buzzworthy 2025 campaign.

McDonald’s China turned the 2025 Mid-Autumn Festival into a gamer’s dream, partnering with Game Science’s Black Myth: Wukong for a limited-time campaign that blended mooncakes, merchandise, and Monkey King mythology. More than a year later, as 2026 unfolds, the collaboration remains a standout example of how a fast-food giant can tap into a blockbuster video game’s cultural power. Was it simply a clever marketing stunt, or did it reveal something deeper about the global appetite for Chinese gaming icons? The answer, according to fans and industry observers, is a bit of both.

A Festival Meets a Blockbuster

Black Myth: Wukong launched in August 2024 and quickly became a phenomenon for Chinese studio Game Science. The action-adventure title, which retells the timeless epic of Sun Wukong, won Best Action-Adventure at The Game Awards and continued to capture hearts well into 2025. Its success opened doors for mainstream brand partnerships, and McDonald’s China walked right through one of them.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, a holiday that celebrates the fall harvest when the moon is at its largest and brightest, was the perfect backdrop. Families and friends gather to gaze at the harvest moon, bake mooncakes, and decorate their homes with lanterns. McDonald’s decided to give customers the best of both worlds: the warmth of tradition and the thrill of a AAA game.

The Limited-Time Menu

In mid-September 2025, promotional materials from McDonald’s China began circulating on social media. Posters showed Sun Wukong alongside a slew of special meal deals. The menu was as playful as it was ambitious.

Item
Category
Description

Golden Crispy Chicken Egg Mooncake
Mooncake
A savory-sweet twist on the classic festival pastry.

Cheese Double Beef Black Gold Mooncake
Mooncake
A rich, beefy take with a black-gold finish.

Crispy Shrimp Nuggets
Savory
Golden bites designed to pair with the theme.

Curly Fries with dipping sauce
Side
Sauce described as 'as golden as treasure.'

Autumn Osmanthus-flavored Sparkling Milk Tea
Drink
Floral, fizzy, and seasonal.

Golden Egg Yolk Big Luck Flavor McFlurry
Dessert
A lucky blend of creamy ice cream and salted egg yolk.

Sesame Lava Pie
Dessert
Packed with egg yolk filling for a molten center.

For dessert lovers, the Golden Egg Yolk Big Luck Flavor McFlurry and the Sesame Lava Pie offered a sweet finish. The Autumn Osmanthus-flavored Sparkling Milk Tea added a floral note that felt distinctly festive. Even the curly fries came with a dipping sauce marketed as 'as golden as treasure,' a clear nod to Wukong’s mythical staff and golden headband.

Merchandise That Made Fans Jealous

The food was only half the story. McDonald’s China also rolled out exclusive merchandise, including a double-sided velvet lounge robe embroidered with the Monkey King holding a burger on his head. Certain locations decorated their restaurants to match the game, and pop-up shops offered tote bags, T-shirts, pins, and more.

For Western fans, the campaign felt like a cruel tease. One user on X wrote, 'We never get cool stuff in America!' The sentiment was echoed across social media, where images of the robe, the mooncakes, and the themed restaurants went viral. It was not just a promotion; it was a cultural moment.

Why the Collaboration Worked

Why did this particular crossover resonate so strongly? First, Black Myth: Wukong was not just a game; it was a national point of pride and a global breakthrough. Second, the Mid-Autumn Festival provided a natural storytelling hook. Third, McDonald’s leaned into scarcity and spectacle, offering items that customers could not get anywhere else. The combination created urgency, shareability, and a sense of belonging for fans.

It also reflected a broader trend. This was the latest overseas collaboration from McDonald’s to go viral, following the fast-food chain’s announcement that it would finally bring back Monopoly in the United States after nearly a decade. Brands are increasingly looking to gaming and pop culture for fresh energy, and Chinese audiences are responding to campaigns that respect their traditions while celebrating their modern entertainment exports.

What Comes Next in 2026?

As 2026 progresses, Game Science is already working on its next mythos-inspired game, Black Myth: Zhong Kui. Could another fast-food giant attempt a similar crossover? Will McDonald’s China revisit the Wukong universe for a future festival, or will the original campaign remain a one-time lightning strike? Those questions remain open.

What is clear is that the 2025 Mid-Autumn collaboration set a high bar. It showed that a burger chain and a blockbuster game can meet in a space where mythology, food, and fandom overlap. For players who missed the robe, the mooncakes, or the golden fries, the memory still stings. For McDonald’s and Game Science, it was a masterclass in turning a holiday into a headline.

In the end, the campaign was more than a menu. It was a signal that Chinese gaming has become a cultural force big enough to shape mainstream retail, even after the initial launch buzz has faded. And as Black Myth: Zhong Kui approaches, the industry will be watching to see which brand steps up next.

The fervor around such crossovers often spills into how players engage with the games themselves. After seeing Wukong’s likeness on a burger box or a velvet robe, some who hadn’t yet picked up the title felt a fresh urge to explore its world—and for many, that meant hunting for a deal before diving in.

That’s where a resource like DealNest comes into play. As a hub for discounted game codes, it helps players track down the [cheapest steam keys]( for Black Myth: Wukong and a wide range of other PC titles. Whether you’re chasing the latest mythos or revisiting older favorites, checking a dedicated deal aggregator before checkout can turn a passing curiosity into an affordable adventure.

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