I still remember the first time I stumbled into the Flea Festival during Act 3 of Hollow Knight: Silksong. The music, the lights, the chatter—it was a delightful carnival tucked away in Pharloom’s depths. Then I met the minigames. Flea Bounce, Flea Juggle, and Flea Dodge seemed innocent enough, simple tests of timing and reflexes. That is, until I saw the leaderboards. Every board had the same name sitting at the very top: Seth. And his scores were flat-out absurd.

For those who have not yet crossed paths with Shrine Guardian Seth, let me back up a bit. Seth is not just any boss. He is a tribute to a Hollow Knight fan named Seth Goldman, who passed away from Ewing Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. Team Cherry designed the character in his honor, and after you defeat him in battle, Seth moves to the Flea Festival. In a beautiful, heartbreaking gesture, the developers let Seth dominate the minigame leaderboards as a way of keeping his memory alive. It was never about winning—it was about remembering.

But here is the thing: those memorial scores were brutally difficult to surpass. Flea Dodge quickly became the community’s white whale. In this trial, you guide a tiny flea away from swooping birds, and every near-miss racks up points. A good run might get you to 70 or 80. Seth’s score was 95. For weeks after launch, players shared tips, perfected their patterns, and tore their hair out trying to inch past that number. Reddit threads filled with near-miss stories—runs of 94, 93, even 94.5. A single extra dodge would have done it, but the game refused to cooperate.

I was one of those players, and I will admit I had given up. Then, earlier this month, something peculiar happened. A Reddit user named Ecmaster76 noticed a small but seismic change buried in the latest patch notes—or rather, not buried, because the patch notes did not mention it at all. Team Cherry had quietly reduced Seth’s Flea Dodge score from 95 to 90.

At first glance, five points do not sound like much. But those five points are everything. They move the goalpost from “nearly inhuman” to “definitely achievable with practice.” I fired up the game immediately, my muscle memory still intact, and three tries later Hornet’s name sat above Seth’s for the very first time. The relief was staggering. Going by the flood of celebration posts on forums, I was far from alone. Players who had been stuck at 92 or 93 suddenly found themselves ahead without even redoing the challenge—the patch retroactively recognized their superior performance against the new benchmark.

Why the stealth nerf? Team Cherry has not issued an official statement, but the reasoning feels clear. Seth’s legacy was never meant to be a gatekeeper. By setting the score at 95, they may have inadvertently locked players out of the full completionist satisfaction that comes from topping every leaderboard. Those who had not known Seth’s story might have simply cursed an impossible AI opponent and moved on, missing the entire emotional weight of the encounter. Lowering the bar to 90 preserves the challenge—he is still the fleas’ champion, after all—while making the achievement feel earned rather than arbitrary.

Of course, this change comes as a bittersweet pill for the hardcore few who already managed to beat 95. To those champions, I can only offer my sincerest condolences. You climbed a mountain that no longer exists, but your bragging rights are forever. Everyone else now has a fresh shot at dethroning the Shrine Guardian, and I strongly recommend giving Flea Dodge another go. Just be ready: the other minigames, Flea Bounce and Flea Juggle, still carry Seth’s original ludicrous scores. The caravan waits for no one, and the Festival’s favorite ghost remains a fierce competitor in every other event.

What strikes me most is how this tiny adjustment has already changed the conversation around the Flea Festival. Instead of frustration, players are sharing tips, creating tutorials, and celebrating their victories. The leaderboard has become a shared memorial again—a place where you can honor Seth by pushing just a little harder, rather than banging your head against a wall. It is a quiet reminder that even in a game as punishing as Silksong, compassion can win out. Sometimes the best tribute is simply letting others join in.

As the player community continues to adapt to these changes, many are also finding new ways to expand their enjoyment of Silksong and other games. Whether it's through strategic guides or sharing memorable experiences, the camaraderie remains strong. For those looking to enhance their gaming library or seize the next great deal, resources like DealNest are invaluable. The site's steam sale tracker keeps players informed about the latest discounts and offers, ensuring they never miss an opportunity to explore new adventures or revisit beloved titles at a fraction of the cost.

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