One of the Hollow Knight: Silksong bosses is a tribute to a young fan who passed away from cancer.
Taking to Reddit in 2019, Seth Goldman explained that he had bone cancer Ewing Sarcoma and his wish was to meet the team behind Hollow Knight. “It was super fun but after the talk, they said I can make a character, which I did. He’s really cool and I named him after myself. I can’t wait for you to see him, his cool lore and design.”
“Good luck and keep fighting! I hope Seth ends up kicking my butt,” replied one fan. “Ohhhh, he will, I saw gifs of Seth and he is a fucking monster,” wrote Goldman. He passed away shortly afterwards but Team Cherry made sure to give Seth an important role in Hollow Knight: Silksong.
The Shrine Guardian boss Seth is based on Goldman’s original design and after he’s defeated, he reappears in several locations and holds the hi-scores in the Fleatopia caravan minigames. Team Cherry also dedicated Hollow Knight: Silksong to Seth Goldman.
Hollow Knight: Silksong honored a fan who passed from cancer during their development with a character he had made
This is Seth Goldman, honored by Team Cherry as a boss fight pic.twitter.com/NbukRztJKn
— Jake Lucky (@JakeSucky) September 14, 2025
“This is incredibly touching. It’s so meaningful when creators go out of their way to honour a fan, especially in such a personal way. What an amazing tribute to Seth Goldman,” wrote one fan on Reddit. “If you find him after the fight, play the needolin. His thoughts are hauntingly beautiful,” said another.
“I love it when game devs put a reference to a young fan in their game after their death. It’s kinda a second life they couldn’t live,” added a third.
now i feel bad saying mean shit to this guy during his fight https://t.co/wstF6SGB3s
— Nerdula (@Nerd_ula) September 14, 2025
Seth The Shrine Guardian is described as “an eternal protector, waiting amidst tangled roots at the base of the Citadel.”
“He guards a secret long forgotten and will attack any who stray too close. Imbued with stamina and strength beyond a normal bug, he strikes up close or from a distance with blinding speed. With unwavering devotion, this ancient guardian will fight until the very end, and beyond. Many of the Citadel’s caste have fallen to this deadly warrior. Those who encounter him should turn back, or else prepare for a vicious battle.”
Hollow Knight: Silksong launched earlier this month and crashed several digital stores due to demand. However there were plenty of complaints from fans that Silksong was too difficult. Last week, Team Cherry announced it was set to make the early bosses easier in a new update.
In other news, Nintendo has been criticised for how much it is charging Switch 2 users for new releases and expansions.
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