Before you buy, see what players and critics are saying about Silent Hill f, a bold new horror set in 1960s Japan. Discover its story, gameplay, divisive difficulty and fan reactions.
-Wright Robinson, 23rd September 2025
Silent Hill f officially launches on 25 September 2025, though players who bought the digital deluxe edition have already been able to step into its unsettling world. This time the series leaves behind fog-drenched American towns and instead transports us to 1960s Japan, where we follow Aya, a withdrawn teenager dealing with bullying and personal trauma. It is a daring shift in tone and setting that critics have largely praised, but players are split on the game thanks to its punishing combat and pacing issues.
What Silent Hill f Gets Right
Fans hoping for a true horror experience will find plenty here. The fictional town of Ebisugaoka oozes dread and unease, drawing heavily on themes of social pressure, trauma, and isolation. Written by Ryukishi07, the mind behind Higurashi, the story has been widely praised for its disturbing psychological depth and emotional weight.
Visually, the game is striking. Built on Unreal Engine 5, it trades the iconic fog for surreal, body-horror imagery that constantly unsettles. Critics have also pointed to the sound design as a highlight. Ambient noises, distorted melodies, and quiet moments of silence keep players on edge. Together, the art direction and audio create a suffocating atmosphere that feels both fresh and authentically Silent Hill.
The Combat and Difficulty Debate
Where things get tricky is in the gameplay. Unlike earlier entries that leaned on puzzles and exploration, Silent Hill f introduces heavier survival-action mechanics. Dodging, parrying, and stamina management are essential to this game, and enemies can be grotesque, relentless, and often overwhelming.
Many players can be seen frustrated due to the tension but some feel this makes every encounter meaningful. For others the combat feels frustrating and clunky, pulling away from the psychological horror vibe the series is known for. Online debates have raged for weeks, even before the game’s release, with many comparing the design to Soulslike titles, a comparison that remains controversial among long-time fans.
Divided Reception
On Metacritic, the game currently holds an 86 percent critic score just 2 days before its official release, suggesting strong appreciation for its bold storytelling. Reviewers can be seen consistently praising the atmosphere and willingness to experiment, even if they note flaws in the combat system.
Player response, however, is mixed and far less unified. The story is widely considered a success, but complaints about combat, performance hiccups, and uneven pacing are common. Some argue that the brighter, cleaner visuals in certain areas undercut the horror mood. Others find the puzzles repetitive, dragging down the flow of the game.
Is Silent Hill f Worth Buying?
Ultimately, Silent Hill f is a daring reintroduction for the long-dormant series. It succeeds in creating a deeply unsettling world and telling a story that lingers long after you put down the controller.
But it is not for everyone. Players expecting a faithful return to the classic formula of the Silent Hill franchise might be disappointed and find the combat jarring and the difficulty punishing. For those willing to embrace something new and endure a few frustrations, this could be one of the most memorable horror experiences of 2025. Either way, Silent Hill f has made sure the franchise is firmly back in the spotlight, sparking discussion again across the gaming community.
What Silent Hill f means for the popular horror franchise?
Silent Hill f isn’t just another sequel slapped onto a fading name – it’s Konami trying to shake the series awake and set it in a new direction. Moving the nightmare from misty American suburbs to 1960s Japan instantly changes the mood, and bringing in a well-known horror writer like Ryukishi07 gives the story sharper teeth. On top of that, the combat leans harder into action than before, a gamble that shows Konami is willing to tinker with the formula rather than endlessly recycle what worked twenty years ago. It’s risky, but at least it feels alive, which is more than you could say about the franchise for the last decade.
