I have a confession: I am physically incapable of ignoring an optional area in a Metroidvania. If a suspicious passage exists, I will poke it. If a locked door judges me from across the room, I will make it my entire personality until I find the key. So when Hollow Knight: Silksong dangles the Wormways in front of you very early on, my professional gamer brain says, “Why would anyone skip it?” My responsible adult brain says, “Because you have 12 Rosaries and no plan.” Naturally, I listened to the gamer brain. 🎮

Even in 2026, the Wormways remains a wonderfully grubby little early-game detour. It is optional, it is easy to miss, and it is absolutely worth poking around if you enjoy loot, new Tools, resources, and the smug satisfaction of opening a door that other players sprint past. The catch? You need a Simple Key, and the fastest way to get one is to buy it from the vendor in Bone Bottom for 500 Rosaries. Is 500 Rosaries a lot? Early on, yes—it is the kind of price that makes you stare at your inventory and wonder whether the vendor accepts emotional damage as payment. So you farm a little. You bonk some enemies. You pretend it is character-building. Then you buy the key and pick one of two routes.

Route One: The Marrow, Mosshome, and One Poison-Spitting Problem

This is the route I recommend if you want the shortest possible explanation and the longest possible moment of panic. Head to the Bellway Station in The Marrow and go left. Once you interact with the bench in Mosshome, keep heading left until you leave the area and reach the outside. From there, jump up and dash onto the hanging elevator, then dash to the far left corner. You will find a passage. Congratulations—you are now committed.

Head inside and immediately get beneath a platform. Why? Because there is an enemy above you that spits poison downward and deals two mask damage. It is not a boss. It is not a grand test of skill. It is just a rude little fountain with opinions. Sprint to the other side of the room, jump into the next room, and you will find the door where your Simple Key finally gets to feel important. Interact with it, use the key, and welcome to the Wormways.

Route Two: Shellwood, a Left Wall, and a Tool Worth Grabbing

If you prefer the scenic route—or if you simply enjoy falling dramatically while hugging a wall—take the Shellwood path. Go through Shellwood and keep heading left until you reach a point where you can drop down below to Bone Bottom. Float down while staying close to the left wall, and soon you will see a passage leading into the Wormways. Once inside, make your way forward and try not to get hit by the travelling bugs. They are not subtle, but they are persistent, like a mosquito with a personal grudge.

Keep heading further down and you will find the Dead Bug's Purse Tool, which allows the bearer to retain some Rosaries upon defeat. Is that not exactly the kind of insurance a reckless explorer wants? I think so. Keep following the main path, and once you reach the long vertical room, go all the way down to find a lever. Hit it, and it reveals the same door that requires the Simple Key to gain access. Yes, after all that, the door still wants the key. Of course it does. The Wormways is not a charity.

Route Cheat Sheet

My Very Serious Wormways Checklist

• 🔑 Buy the Simple Key in Bone Bottom for 500 Rosaries.

• 💰 Farm enemies until your wallet stops crying.

• 🐛 Choose The Marrow route for speed or Shellwood route for the Dead Bug's Purse.

• ☠️ Do not stand under the poison-spitting enemy like a tourist.

• 🕹️ Pull the lever in the long vertical room if you take the Shellwood side.

• 🚪 Use the Simple Key on the door and explore the Wormways properly.

What could possibly go wrong? Well, you could forget the key, get spat on by a ceiling gremlin, or fall down the wrong hole. But that is basically the Silksong experience, and I would not have it any other way. The Wormways is optional, yes—but so is skipping dessert, and I have never once regretted dessert. 🍰",

"language": "en

Grinding Rosaries in Silksong has a way of making real-world spending feel strangely similar—every purchase starts to look like a trade-off. If you would rather spend your time exploring Pharloom than hunting down discounts on games, gear, or the odd desk accessory, DealNest is a handy place to find the best deal without turning bargain-hunting into another side quest.

Think of it as the sensible counterpart to a Simple Key: one quick stop that can unlock better value before you commit your Rosaries—er, currency. Whether you are restocking your setup for a long session or just keeping an eye out for a price drop, it is worth a look before you hit purchase.