Silent Hill f is the best the series has ever been, and you should be excited

✓ VideoGamer Summary

• Silent Hill f is being hailed as the best entry in the series since Silent Hill 2, receiving praise for recapturing the franchise’s signature psychological horror atmosphere and deeply unsettling monster design.
• Written by acclaimed horror creator Ryukishi07, the game explores complex themes of womanhood and societal pressures in 1960s Japan, delivering a nuanced, slow-burn horror experience rather than relying on jump scares.
• Classic survival horror mechanics return while introducing melee-focused, Souls-like combat and weapon durability for a new layer of challenge.
• Though set in the same universe as previous titles, Silent Hill f tells a completely separate story, using familiar mechanics and motifs while laying the groundwork for the series’ future.
• Launching September 25, 2025, on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, the game offers four major endings (plus a secret one) and signals a bold new era for the Silent Hill franchise.

Silent Hill is easily one of the most iconic horror game franchises, with titles from the series commonly gracing listicles of best horror games across the internet. Despite this, the later entries in this series have had a much messier reception. However, despite this messy history, fans are excited. 

The success of this recent release is clear with our Silent Hill f review, which hails the title as a “hair-raising return to form”. Many previews for the game have been positive, citing deeper themes and a revival of the high standard of horror for which the Silent Hill games are known. 

Why Silent Hill f could be the best yet

In recent years, Konami has been making a clear effort to revive this survival horror titan with series producer Motoi Okamoto being heavily involved. He has experience working on beloved Nintendo franchises such as Pikmin and Luigi’s Mansion. In addition, he was also a producer on last year’s well-received Silent Hill 2 remake. 

In this spirit, Silent Hill f trailers and previews have indicated a concerted effort to return to the roots of Silent Hill. Thanks to these teasers, we’ve seen that Silent Hill f monsters boast incredibly unsettling designs promising much in the way of standout horror. Akira Yamaoka, who is returning for Silent Hill f, has a sterling reputation as the series’ staple composer. His standout score adds haunting ambiance and weight to the tone. 

The main story scenario especially has no shortage of depth. In addition to spotlighting a female protagonist, the game looks set to wrestle with the meaty and uncomfortable social issues of 1960s Japan. This offers ripe seams of thematic meaning for Silent Hill f to explore.

Why you should be excited for Silent Hill f’s story

The standout talent is Silent Hill f writer and Japanese horror icon Ryukishi07, the creator of the When They Cry trilogy of visual novels. A social worker turned indie visual novel writer, he brings a more nuanced and cerebral style of horror that is much more akin to something like 2018’s psychological horror film Hereditary than Five Nights at Freddy’s. 

This should have fans of Silent Hill’s earlier era especially intrigued, as this style of nuanced, less jumpscare-centric horror plays to the franchise’s roots. The rural Japanese town of Ebisugaoka in the 1960s acts as the game’s backdrop,

Rykishi’s work often uses horror as a means to explore real-world issues. I cannot wait to see how he tackles the socially and emotionally repressive period in which the game takes place. The use of a female protagonist, too, positions the game to explore themes of patriarchy, misogyny, and gender in a horror tradition as old as the genre itself. 

Silent Hill f gameplay expectations

Silent Hill f promises much in the way of standard survival horror gameplay. Players will be dodging monsters, solving puzzles, and fighting to stay alive. However, Silent Hill f gameplay builds on series and genre norms. The promise of a melee-heavy combat system, for instance, promises a notable departure from Silent Hill orthodoxy. 

Instead of bullets, Hinako will be fighting back with whatever weapons may be at her disposal, ranging from a kitchen knife to an ornate spear. This power is balanced by enemies often feeling overwhelming in damage and movesets mixed with the ever-present worry of weapon durability. While this is likely to be the most divisive part of Silent Hill f, it demonstrates a willingness on the part of the developers to experiment and not to be constrained by nostalgia or legacy. 

How Silent Hill f connects to the wider series

While Silent Hill f does not take place in the titular Silent Hill, it does exist in the same universe, underpinned by the same metaphysical horrors. Hinako’s journey sees her combat the series’ iconic fog and the psychological horror manifested within.

However, this does not mean that the game necessarily directly connects to any of the other entries. Silent Hill f is entirely standalone, telling a distinct story of its own. This leaves room for this story to tread its own path and create a unique horror experience that will thrill and terrify in ways different from prior entries. 

While I’ve not played the game myself, all of these signs suggest that Silent Hill f will likely spell a return to form for the series, offering a genuine iteration on the beloved horror formula while, simultaneously, staying true to its roots.  

Silent Hill f release date and platforms:

The Silent Hill f release date is September 25 across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. However, for those who pre-ordered the game’s deluxe edition, it was released earlier this week.

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