Hornet first appeared in Hollow Knight, the 2017 action adventure game by Team Cherry, as the mysterious protector of the ruined kingdom of Hallownest and a recurring boss the player must face. Voiced with short, sharp calls rather than long dialogue, her audio became easy to isolate and share. As the game built a large fan community and anticipation grew for her starring role in Silksong, her voice lines circulated in fan edits, streams and soundboards, remaining popular for their instantly recognisable tone and connection to a beloved character.