The Suffering of Silksong: How Video Games Helped Me Find Solace in Pain
For months, I've been stuck in a battle that's both literal and metaphorical. Silksong, the latest installment in Team Cherry's Hollow Knight series, is a game that's pushed my limits in ways I never thought possible. With its punishing difficulty and atmospheric world, it's been a journey of self-discovery and perseverance.
The game takes place in the realm of Pharloom, where the once-great kingdom has fallen into chaos. The player character, Hornet, is a masked spider who must navigate treacherous landscapes, fight off hordes of enemies, and solve complex puzzles to uncover the secrets behind Pharloom's downfall. It's a journey that feels like a pilgrimage – one that takes me through dark caverns, abandoned temples, and treacherous mountain ranges.
But as I play Silksong, I'm reminded that there's more to gaming than just winning or losing. There's a world of suffering and pain that we all face at some point in our lives. And it's exactly this aspect of the game that has resonated with me.
My own life hasn't been easy lately. I've been struggling with chronic pain, which has made everyday tasks feel like climbing mountains. But as I played Silksong, I began to realize that there's a different way to approach suffering. Instead of trying to overcome it or find some magical solution, perhaps the goal is simply to learn how to live with it.
The game teaches us that difficult challenges require tenacity and resilience. We must keep throwing ourselves at problems until we defeat them – but what if the problem isn't just a physical obstacle? What if it's our own mind's way of trying to protect us from pain?
Silksong has shown me that acknowledging pain is the first step to learning to live with it. By observing and acquiescing, my brain might put away its megaphone and learn to listen instead. It's a message that resonates deeply – one that I've been searching for in my own struggles.
Four months and 40 hours into the game, I'm still fighting the final boss. But more importantly, I've learned how to live with my pain. I've realized that there doesn't need to be a point to suffering; it just is what it is. But by working around it – by finding ways to manage it, to adapt to it – we can make our way through.
Silksong has taught me a valuable lesson about the human condition – one that I'll carry with me long after the credits roll. It's a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is always hope. And sometimes, all it takes is a little bit of courage and determination to find solace in the suffering.
For months, I've been stuck in a battle that's both literal and metaphorical. Silksong, the latest installment in Team Cherry's Hollow Knight series, is a game that's pushed my limits in ways I never thought possible. With its punishing difficulty and atmospheric world, it's been a journey of self-discovery and perseverance.
The game takes place in the realm of Pharloom, where the once-great kingdom has fallen into chaos. The player character, Hornet, is a masked spider who must navigate treacherous landscapes, fight off hordes of enemies, and solve complex puzzles to uncover the secrets behind Pharloom's downfall. It's a journey that feels like a pilgrimage – one that takes me through dark caverns, abandoned temples, and treacherous mountain ranges.
But as I play Silksong, I'm reminded that there's more to gaming than just winning or losing. There's a world of suffering and pain that we all face at some point in our lives. And it's exactly this aspect of the game that has resonated with me.
My own life hasn't been easy lately. I've been struggling with chronic pain, which has made everyday tasks feel like climbing mountains. But as I played Silksong, I began to realize that there's a different way to approach suffering. Instead of trying to overcome it or find some magical solution, perhaps the goal is simply to learn how to live with it.
The game teaches us that difficult challenges require tenacity and resilience. We must keep throwing ourselves at problems until we defeat them – but what if the problem isn't just a physical obstacle? What if it's our own mind's way of trying to protect us from pain?
Silksong has shown me that acknowledging pain is the first step to learning to live with it. By observing and acquiescing, my brain might put away its megaphone and learn to listen instead. It's a message that resonates deeply – one that I've been searching for in my own struggles.
Four months and 40 hours into the game, I'm still fighting the final boss. But more importantly, I've learned how to live with my pain. I've realized that there doesn't need to be a point to suffering; it just is what it is. But by working around it – by finding ways to manage it, to adapt to it – we can make our way through.
Silksong has taught me a valuable lesson about the human condition – one that I'll carry with me long after the credits roll. It's a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is always hope. And sometimes, all it takes is a little bit of courage and determination to find solace in the suffering.
. I can relate to the struggle, you know? Chronic pain's no joke 
. But what really resonated with me was how the game made me think about suffering. It's not all about overcoming it or finding a cure, sometimes it's just about learning to live with it 
. The way Hornet navigates those dark caverns and abandoned temples reminded me that even in the darkest places, there's always a way forward 
. And honestly, it gave me hope that I can find a way to manage my pain too 
. 40 hours of beating that final boss was worth it! 
. also feeling you on the pain thing - chronic fatigue has been my bff lately 
. glad to see someone else is talking about managing it instead of just trying to "overcome" it 
!!! I MEAN IVE BEEN GOING THROUGH SOME TOUGH TIMES LATELY TOO WITH MY CHRONIC PAIN BUT THIS GAME HAS HELPED ME SEE THINGS FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. ITS LIKE THE GAME IS TELLING YOU THAT SUFFERING ISNT SOMETHING TO BE AFRAID OF OR SUPRESSED ITS JUST PART OF LIFE SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL GET USED TO IT AND FIND WAYS TO MANAGE IT INSTEAD OF TRYING TO ESCAPE OR OVERCOME IT COMPLETELY. I MEAN THE GAME IS HARD BUT THATS WHAT MAKES IT SO ADDICTIVE AND REWARDING WHEN YOU FINALLY OVERCOME THOSE CHALLENGES IT FEELS LIKE A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT!!!
but I'm still trying to figure out how to get my PC to run smoothly lol... like, why does it take forever to load a single level?! And have you tried to do a 4K resolution on high graphics? Forget about it! 
Anyway, back to the game... I've been thinking maybe we should make a list of games that are good for people with chronic pain or something? My friend has fibromyalgia and she's always looking for new games to try 
. i love how the game encourages you to find ways to manage your struggles, rather than trying to overcome them all at once 
. and honestly, that message has stuck with me long after I finished playing 
pain and chronic illness can be such a drag, but what struck me was how the game approaches dealing with it instead of finding some magic solution silksong shows us that its not about winning or losing its about learning to live with what we got 
and i think thats something were all struggling with in our own lives
. But I think you're right on the money when you say that sometimes just acknowledging our struggles is the first step to dealing with them. It's like, we don't have to be in control of it all the time, we just gotta learn to coexist 
. The way the game makes you feel like you're learning to navigate this treacherous world, I think that's a beautiful metaphor for life itself 
. And hey, beating 40 hours into a game is no joke! You must be pretty determined 
.
I mean, what about when you're just stuck on a game for weeks on end because you can't be bothered to take care of yourself? 
It sounds like a recipe for burnout, right?
Is gaming ever really going to help people confront and overcome their pain, or are we just avoiding it? I don't know, man... maybe Silksong is doing something right and I'm just not getting it 