Split-screen on PC

Hollow Knight: Silksong

Up to 5 players on one PC, with controllers or keyboard and mouse.

5Verified handler

Handler “Silksong” by Talos91, version 2

P4+1 more players

What works

With Nucleus Co-op, up to 5 players can play Hollow Knight: Silksong together on one PC, each in their own part of the screen, with controllers or keyboard and mouse. The free community handler “Silksong” by Talos91 does the setup and was checked by hub moderators: version 2, updated 29 Apr 2026. Hollow Knight: Silksong is a platformer, adventure and indie game from 2025.

Players5
ControllersSupported
Keyboard and mouseSupported
Several keyboards and miceNot supported
Hub moderatorsVerified

How to play Hollow Knight: Silksong split screen on PC

Get Nucleus Co-op
Download Nucleus Co-op, free for Windows 10 and 11, and unzip it into its own folder, for example C:\NucleusCo-op. There is no installer.
Keep it out of Program Files, your user folder and OneDrive.
Download Nucleus Co-op
Install the Hollow Knight: Silksong handler
In Nucleus Co-op, search the Hub for Hollow Knight: Silksong and install its handler, or download the handler file from this page and drop it on the Nucleus window. Then show Nucleus where Hollow Knight: Silksong is installed.
Download the handler file (.nc)
Take a seat
Each player presses a button on their own controller to join and takes a spot on the screen. Pick a layout that fits your players.
Launch and connect
Press Launch: Nucleus opens one copy of Hollow Knight: Silksong per player and lays the windows out on your screen. Then link them in game, usually one player hosts a LAN or online session and the others join it. The handler notes say how.

What you need

A Windows 10 or 11 PC
Nucleus Co-op runs on Windows only. System requirements
Hollow Knight: Silksong for Windows
Installed on that PC. Nucleus starts every player's window from that one install.
Nucleus Co-op, free
With .NET Framework 4.7.2 or later and the Visual C++ 2015–2022 runtimes (x86 and x64). Download
Something to play with
One controller per player; one player can use the keyboard and mouse. Controllers
A PC that can run 5 copies
Each player runs their own copy of Hollow Knight: Silksong, so the PC carries several times the usual load. Lower the graphics settings if it struggles. Performance tips
A multiplayer mode
Nucleus links the windows through the game's own LAN or online mode; the handler takes care of it.

Handler notes

Tested and working with latest Steam version.
Split-screen setup guide.
To connect the instances and see other players install the Silksong Multiplayer mod in your main game files using BepInEx (all credit for the mp mod goes to its authors).
Select Start Multiplayer in the main menu, select Direct IP and write the port number in the Port field (e.g. 26950) then click start hosting to start the server and select a save, only start a server in one instance, to connect the other instances to the same server write localhost in the IP field, then the same port number as the server, write your nickname and click connect using the mouse cursor.
Alt-tab between instances to use the keyboard and mouse, pause the game with start or escape in-game if you can not move the mouse cursor to other instances. Disable Steam Input for this game or the gamepads will not restrict correctly.
Read the FAQ if you have any further questions and want to know more about Nucleus Co-op.
Handler by Talos91. Support the Nucleus Co-op team if you love the project.

About Hollow Knight: Silksong

Hollow Knight: Silksong is the epic sequel to Hollow Knight, the epic action-adventure of bugs and heroes. As the lethal hunter Hornet, journey to all-new lands, discover new powers, battle vast hordes of bugs and beasts and uncover ancient secrets tied to your nature and your past.

Summary from IGDB