Silent Hill f

It is the first new instalment in the Silent Hill series in over ten years. Since its announcement and the switch to a Japanese setting, Silent Hill f has been popular with many players. And it remains true to its roots.

Silent Hill f is set in 1960s Japan. Teenager Shimizu Hinako leads an uneventful life in the remote mountain village of Ebisugaoka - until a thick fog descends and transforms her once familiar home into a desolate place. With the town seemingly deserted and an unknown threat lurking in the fog, she must confront the ghosts of her past, solve puzzles, and battle terrifying creatures if she is to survive. However, it's not just the monsters that terrorise the teenager. There are also psychological aspects relating to the portrayal of women at that time, as well as the pressure of societal expectations and the battle against her inner demons.

The game incorporates classic Silent Hill elements, such as dense fog, psychological horror, and survival mechanics, alongside new gameplay features like close combat with improvised weapons and a focus system that affects the protagonist's mental state. It offers a slow, story-driven journey with cultural and psychological depth, as well as horror. Compared to previous instalments, it places a stronger emphasis on action, especially in the second half of the game. Nevertheless, Silent Hill f creates an impressive horror atmosphere that relies less on terror and more on psychological aspects, set against a beautiful, peaceful backdrop haunted by a blood-red, plant-like infestation. This horror relies less on shocks and more on the oppressive and the unspeakable. Rather than an urban nightmare setting, it focuses on the mythical and grotesque. However, players should be aware that the story is fragmented, with hints and gaps that deliberately leave room for interpretation, and that more than one playthrough is required to understand it fully. "Your first playthrough ends in a fixed conclusion. But from the second onward, your choices shape the outcome. There are five endings in total - revisit the game to uncover the full truth behind the mystery," said Konami. The first playthrough is expected to take approximately ten to twelve hours.

As with its predecessors, the gameplay consists of exploring largely linear but winding levels to find optional story elements, experiencing the story, solving puzzles and engaging in action involving light and heavy attacks, tactical resource management (dodging and stamina), counterattacks and timing. However, the combat sometimes struggles with camera issues in tight areas and a lack of precision (hit feedback). However, weapons have durability, and Hinako has a mind gauge in addition to life energy and stamina. Despite some long battles later on that severely punish mistakes, the battles are not Soulslike. There are two difficulty levels for the action and three for the puzzles.

The story was written by Ryukishi07, who is renowned for his work on Higurashi When They Cry and Umineko When They Cry. Following the success of the Silent Hill 2 remake, the project is being headed up by producer Motoi Okamoto. Okamoto emphasises the game's horror approach, combining traditional psychological elements with the aesthetics of Japanese folklore. Kera, an illustrator and designer, contributed his expertise to the creature designs. Akira Yamaoka, who has shaped the Silent Hill series for over 25 years, is also on board, as is Kensuke Inage. Together, they have created a soundtrack contrasting the two worlds of fog and madness.

"I still remember the feeling I had when I first encountered the oppressive, claustrophobic atmosphere of Silent Hill. It still haunts and fascinates me. It is an honour to work on a series that holds so many memories for me. I poured all my energy into this story - so much so that I wouldn't mind if it were the last thing I ever wrote. To me, the Silent Hill series is more than just a collection of stories. It's a medium - an amazing and phenomenal way to explore and experience the heart and mind of a person. I hope players will come to appreciate it in the same way. I hope our friends overseas enjoy seeing what Silent Hill might look like if it were set in a different place, such as Japan." - Author Ryukishi07, commenting at the game's announcement

Silent Hill f is the first fully fledged new instalment in the series in over ten years and was developed by NeoBards Entertainment. The studio was founded in 2017. It is headquartered in Hong Kong, with development hubs in Taipei and Suzhou. The studio has collaborated with Capcom on D.R. Deluxe Remaster, Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection, Resident Evil Re: Verse and Resident Evil: Resistance. They also developed the mobile game Dynasty Warriors M, licensed by Koei and published by Nexon, and participated in the development of Square Enix's Marvel's Avengers and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Apart from working on Silent Hill f with Konami, they are also developing their own game.

For Konami, Silent Hill f is already the second AAA release this year after Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. The publisher has been very active this year, releasing Ninja Five-O, the Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection, the Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars, Deliver At All Costs, Edens Zero, Gradius Origins, and Survival Kids for Switch 2 - thus making greater use of its rich portfolio of familiar brands. Last year, the Japanese publisher released the remade version of Silent Hill 2 (over two million sales), developed by Bloober Team. In the summer, it was confirmed that the first game in the series would also be remade by Bloober Team.

Silent Hill f is launching today, 25 September 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store and Microsoft Windows. Flashpoint is distributing the physical console versions.

Conclusion

Silent Hill f is a worthy addition to the series. It is an intense and atmospheric horror journey that is sometimes disturbing, but could have done with a little less fighting.