Hollow Knight Fan Seth Immortalized in Silksong as Boss, NPC, and Sidequests
- Sagar Mankar
- Sep 18
- 2 min read
A late Hollow Knight fan has been memorialized in Hollow Knight: Silksong as a full boss fight, a non-playable character (NPC), and a series of sidequests, creating one of the game’s most emotional moments.
Hollow Knight: Silksong arrived after years of anticipation, following Team Cherry’s critically acclaimed 2017 indie hit Hollow Knight. The original game became a benchmark for modern indie design, praised for its hand-drawn art, challenging combat, and expansive underground world. Naturally, expectations for the sequel were high, and Silksong managed to deliver.
The game launched on both Steam and Nintendo Switch, quickly breaking sales records and attracting critical acclaim. Reviewers highlighted its expanded combat mechanics, larger environments, and refined movement system. However, early feedback about certain boss encounters prompted Team Cherry to release balancing patches, making some early-game fights slightly more accessible without compromising the game’s signature difficulty.
Despite those adjustments, Silksong remains one of the toughest releases of the year, reinforcing Team Cherry’s reputation for designing demanding but rewarding experiences. Beyond gameplay, though, what’s resonated most with players is the inclusion of Seth, a boss fight rooted in a real-life story that reaches far beyond traditional design.
The Story Behind Seth’s Boss Fight
The origins of Seth’s in-game presence date back six years, when a fan named Seth Goldman shared on Reddit, under the username big_boi878, that he was battling Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Alongside his story, he expressed his wish to connect with the developers of Hollow Knight.
Through the Marty Lyons Foundation, which grants wishes to children with life‑threatening illnesses, Seth’s dream came true.
What began as a single video call turned into multiple conversations. Team Cherry went a step further: they invited Seth to design his own character for the sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong.
He revealed to the community that the character would carry his name, adding unique lore and gameplay mechanics. According to his posts, Team Cherry even promised to send him a code on day one so that he could face his own creation in-game.
Sadly, Seth passed away in 2019, years before the release of Silksong. Yet his vision lives on. In the final game, players encounter Seth in Eastern Greymoor as an agile, ant‑like warrior wielding a needle and a cymbal‑like shield.
He stands out among bosses. He speaks directly to Hornet instead of attacking immediately. He has a two‑phase fight with deliberate, almost melancholic music.
After defeat, Seth doesn’t vanish. He appears in various locations across Pharloom, like in Greymoor, Shellwood, the Grand Gate, and Fleatopia, offering sidequests and even minigames.
Players can compete against him in caravan games to beat his high score, earning the Guardian’s Memento, described as "A gift given in respect of great skill."
A Lasting Tribute
Beyond the battle itself, Team Cherry honored him with a special thanks in the credits. For many fans, this heartfelt gesture stands as one of Silksong’s most moving inclusions, a reminder that behind every great game community are real people with stories worth remembering.