Silent Hill fis the next major entry in the critically acclaimedSilent Hillfranchise and the first new entry in the mainline canon in over a decade. First revealed atKonami’s Silent Hill Transmissionevent in October 2022, the title has remained a talking point for fans ever since. Nearly two years later,Silent Hill f’s story and characters remain a mystery, leaving fans to speculate how changes to the two may affect the overall experience. However,Silent Hill f’s best decision is already clear, as its unprecedented setting introduces a bold new era in theSilent Hillfranchise.
Silent Hill fis the ninth mainline entry intheSilent Hillfranchise, and the first since 2012’sSilent Hill: Downpour. Games in theSilent Hillseries traditionally revolve around an individual being transported to the titular fog-covered town, before being forced to confront a gauntlet of psychological horrors. While the series has enjoyed a steady fan base since its original title’s release in 1999, its later entries failed to live up to the classic trilogy’s originality, suspense, and storytelling. WithSilent Hill f, Konami hopes to reinvigorate the series after a long hiatus, and the title’s setting makes it immediately clear.
Silent Hill f Transports the Series to Japan
Silent Hill f’s announcement trailerintroduced fans to an unexpected new setting, marking a bold departure from the series’ previous entries. Instead of taking place in the titular town ofSilent Hillitself,Silent Hill fwill transport players to an eerie Japanese village. What’s more, the title’s narrative takes place in the 1960s, meaning its events precede those of the originalSilent Hillby approximately 20 years. While little is known about the narrative itself,Silent Hill f’s setting opens the door to a variety of new elements, including new creatures and a renewed focus on dark atmospheric storytelling.
Unlike previous entries in the series,Silent Hill f’s psychological horrors and enemies will feature a new aesthetic. In line with its Japanese setting, the title’s creatures and environments will be infested with a flowery corruption, adding disconcertingly colorful flourishes toSilent Hill f’s bleak village. It is currently unknown how or why this corruption has taken hold ofSilent Hill f’s setting. The announcement teaser forSilent Hill fshows the corruption to be active, with a Japanese woman seen trying to outrun a vine-like growth, before a different shot of chrysanthemum-like growths spreading throughout a woman’s body.
Silent Hill f’s Setting is the Series’ Best Decision in Decades
Silent Hill’s titular town will forever be one of the most famous settings in survival horror history, with the classic series cementing its foggy streets as a realm of unimaginable horrors. However, the town, like the series, lost its luster toward the end of the 2000s. WithSilent Hill f’s shift to aJapanese setting, the series potential is reinvigorated. Not only does the setting open the door to a host of new concepts, enemies, and environmental manifestations of trauma, but its period and events could have big implications for the largerSilent Hilluniverse.
Silent Hill f’s new setting shines for another reason, with its shift to Japan arriving at an important, and crowded, time for the series. Alongside the title’s initial reveal, Konami announced theSilent Hill 2 Remake,Silent Hill: Townfall, anda new film based onSilent Hill 2, all of which are set to feature the titular town.Silent Hill f’s Japanese village stands as a clear differentiator, marking the entrance of a new era, and isolating it from concurrent projects in theSilent Hillfranchise. Until more details emerge surroundingSilent Hill fand its unprecedented new setting, fans can look forward to visiting the original town one more time, whenSilent Hill 2 Remakeis released on July 31, 2025.
Silent Hill 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Investigating a letter from his late wife, James returns to where they made so many memories - Silent Hill. What he finds is a ghost town, prowled by disturbing monsters and cloaked in deep fog. Confront the monsters, solve puzzles, and search for traces of your wife in this remake of SILENT HILL 2.High-end Graphics and SoundWith ray tracing and other cutting-edge technical enhancements, the world of SILENT HILL and its unsettling ambiance is even realer than before.And with the inclusion of new, immersive soundscapes, you’ll feel like you’re standing in the thick of it.Larger EnvironmentsExplore locations and buildings that were once inaccessible, or are newly added in the remake. Enjoy the same acclaimed story, even while you experience the town of Silent Hill with fresh eyes across an expanded map.Over-the-shoulder CameraThe remake moves from the original’s fixed-camera viewpoints to an over-the-shoulder perspective, putting you closer to what James sees, for a more thrilling, more immersive experience as you explore the town and come face-to-face with monsters.Evolved Combat GameplayFamiliar weapons like the steel pipe and handgun make their return, but now with an updated combat system. Avoid attacks with carefully timed dodges, aim down sights, and more, making monster encounters more engaging and nerve-wracking than ever.
