The Silent Hill series is usually associated with its fog-covered little town, somewhere deep in America. The games began with Harry Mason searching for his daughter, continued with James Sunderland returning to the mythical town, and then followed Heather Mason as she faced her own personal reasons for being drawn back. All of this culminated in Silent Hill 4, which expanded the story of the town to the outside world. I am not a lore expert on the series, but I have played almost every game in the franchise. So when I heard that Konami was developing a new Silent Hill game written by Ryukishi07, best known for the When They Cry visual novels, I was curious to see how it would turn out.
Konami found major success with the Silent Hill 2 remake by Bloober Team, and while they are now also working on a remake of the first game, Silent Hill f serves as a brand-new entry in the series. Set in the 1960s in the fictional Japanese town of Ebisugaoka, it focuses on the life of Hinako Shimizu. Like earlier Silent Hill titles, the introduction does not reveal much at first, but slowly hints that the town is anything but normal. Strange occurrences and disturbing phenomena spread throughout the setting, gradually pulling players deeper into the mystery.
The story explores both personal struggles and supernatural horror. Hinako lives with an abusive family, and her inner conflicts are subtly woven into the narrative. Early on, she is pulled into an alternate reality where Ebisugaoka is haunted by terrifying creatures. In another layer of reality, she encounters a Dark Shrine, where a figure in a fox mask helps guide her. This is not a story that can be fully grasped in a single playthrough. It requires multiple runs to piece together Hinako’s experiences and how they connect to the abuse she endured in her life. This type of narrative will not appeal to everyone, but as someone who thoroughly enjoyed every detail of the Silent Hill 2 remake, I found Silent Hill f to be a thrilling and rewarding new entry.
Silent Hill f is another visually striking game, thanks in large part to its impressive art direction. At times, I found myself wondering whether the cutscenes were running in real time or pre-rendered, because they look that good. The game is also well-optimized on PC, and with just a few tweaks, it runs smoothly. My main testing setup was an RTX 4070, and with DLSS enabled, I was able to consistently play above 60 FPS. There is no frame generation option, but honestly, it does not feel necessary. Compared to the Silent Hill 2 remake, this game is definitely better optimized.
The gameplay in Silent Hill f emphasizes two main elements, with melee combat being the most notable. The system is fairly robust, including dodging, parrying, and both light and heavy attacks. It is a big change from the more straightforward approach in the Silent Hill 2 remake. Here, quick reflexes can make it possible to handle most of the threats with ease. That said, the hit detection and combat animations feel clunky at first, and the flow can be a bit abrupt until you get used to it. The healing system is also very simplified, which at times gives the game a light RPG feel. Multiple healing items are available, accessed through a radial menu with a shortcut button. Consumables are found while scavenging, and melee weapons come with durability limits. They can break, but also be repaired with a toolkit.
The second key element is the puzzles. There are plenty of them in the game, and they are not easy by any means. Silent Hill 2 remake already had its fair share of tough puzzles, and Silent Hill f follows in that tradition. They are well designed and carefully integrated into both the lore and the environment. Solving them requires close attention to detail and a willingness to examine every possible clue. Combined with the combat, this entry feels very much like the classic Silent Hill games but with modernized systems. I do not mind this balance, though some purists might.
One aspect that deserves a lot of praise is how the developers have created a world packed with clues and bits of lore. Missing them means missing out on much of the context that makes the story and its ending so impactful. The soundtrack also deserves credit, as it heightens the atmosphere and delivers a macabre experience. Resource management, along with the reflex-driven combat, constantly keeps you alert. The game world had me eager to uncover its mysteries, and I was not disappointed when the truth finally came out. While it did not hit me as emotionally hard as the Silent Hill 2 remake, I still enjoyed every moment. Hinako is a well-written character with strong development, and I can easily see her becoming one of the franchise’s most beloved protagonists.
I did miss the hand-drawn map system from the older games, but the new interpretation of the map here is not bad either. The UI is very clean, which I appreciated. Shortcuts are easy to use, and being able to heal without diving into menus was a game-changer that fits perfectly with the dynamic combat system. Enemy variety is also solid. While there are some repetitions, I never felt bored fighting the same enemies again. Their designs are worth highlighting too, as they are incredibly detailed and deeply unsettling. Even though Hinako can dispatch them quickly in skilled hands, their creepy animations and grotesque designs always kept me on edge.
One thing worth mentioning is that while the game starts off leaning heavily into survival horror, the second half shifts toward a more action-focused approach. This may not sit well with everyone. The increased number of enemies later on makes it clear why the combat was built the way it was. The overall length of the game sits around 10 to 15 hours, with subsequent playthroughs being shorter. Multiple runs are actually necessary to reach the proper ending, which I recommend seeing.
Is Silent Hill f the best entry for newcomers? I would say that honor still belongs to the Silent Hill 2 remake, which edges out Silent Hill f in terms of story, characters, and gameplay balance. That said, Silent Hill f is easily one of the strongest entries in the franchise and a massive step up from the games released after Silent Hill 4. Konami took a big risk with this new direction, and it has paid off. I am excited to see what Konami and NeoBards can deliver for the future of the series.
Silent Hill f Game Information
- Price: $69.99
- Publisher: Konami
- Developer: NeoBards
- Platform: PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
