Silksong’s Hidden Permadeath Mode Is Live — Here’s the Simple Button Code to Enable Steel Soul
If you’re craving a real challenge in Hollow Knight: Silksong, there’s a hidden option that turns the game into a single-life endurance test. It’s available now and you don’t need any mods — just a secret menu input.
How to unlock Steel Soul
First, go to the main menu and choose Extras. Then, while on the Extras screen, enter the following sequence: up, down, up, down, left, right, left, right. You’ll hear a thud and see a flash when the code is accepted.
After that, start a new game on a fresh save slot. On the new game screen you’ll be offered a choice between Classic and Steel Soul. Pick Steel Soul to enable permadeath for that file.
What Steel Soul actually does
Steel Soul is a hardcore mode that makes death permanent. If your character dies during a Steel Soul run, the save file will be marked as “Defeated.” You can then select that file and choose to clear it and start again, but you cannot revive or continue from that death.
In short: one life per file, no revives, and the save gets locked after death.
Background and notes
Steel Soul first appeared in the original Hollow Knight and was unlocked after beating that game once. However, Team Cherry included this secret unlock in Silksong so players can enable it at any time with the input above.
Fans discovered the method very quickly after launch; you can see the original community discussion in this Reddit thread. Also, although Silksong is already noted for its difficulty, Team Cherry has said they will slightly tone down the game’s challenge.
Quick recap
To unlock Steel Soul: open Extras → enter up, down, up, down, left, right, left, right → start a new game and choose Steel Soul. If you die, the file becomes “Defeated.”
