We’ve all been buzzing about Silent Hill f, right?
Konami’s been busy reviving the franchise, and after the Silent Hill 2 remake, this one feels like it’s carving out its own terrifying path. The official rating just dropped, and it’s screaming: prepare for seriously disturbing content. It’s rated M18 for strong violence, gore, and unsettling imagery. Definitely not one for the faint of heart. Mark your calendars, this one hits shelves and digital storefronts on September 25, 2025.
It feels like Konami is finally bringing back that classic Silent Hill dread, but with a much-needed twist. There’s a lot that’s new here, and Silent Hill f looks like a real evolution for the series. Let’s break it down.
Silent Hill f: Setting the Stage in 1960s Japan
Forget the foggy American town. Silent Hill f takes us back to 1960s Japan, to a fictional town called Ebisugaoka. This is a huge shift. Konami is steering the series back to its Japanese roots after years of Western-focused entries. Ebisugaoka is apparently inspired by Kanayama in Gero, located in Gifu Prefecture.
The protagonist is a high school student named Hinako Shimizu. She starts off living a fairly normal life, until a supernatural fog rolls in and transforms the town into a nightmare. She’s trapped, hunted by monsters, and trying to unravel the mystery behind what’s happening. She’s also separated from her friends and needs to find them, all while confronting their individual fears. The psychological horror here draws from the pressure on young women in 1960s Japan, especially around marriage and household expectations.
This game is a standalone spin-off. If you’re new to the Silent Hill universe, you don’t need to play the older titles first. For longtime fans, there will still be Easter eggs. The writer, Ryukishi07, chose the 1960s setting because it sits at a crossroads between fantasy and reality. Director Al Yang said it was critical to evolve the key atmospheric elements of Silent Hill, not just copy them. Producer Motoi Okamoto noted that the team is aiming for versatility to avoid the formula getting stale. It’s a reimagined take with a distinctly Japanese feel.
Silent Hill f: Gameplay and Combat
At its core, Silent Hill f is survival horror. You’ll explore decaying environments, solve puzzles, and fight off terrifying enemies. The game sticks with the third person perspective.
Exploration is guided, but with optional side content. You’ll often follow trails left by Hinako’s missing friends. Some areas are realistic, like schools. Others are abstract, fog-drenched spaces. There’s even a massive shrine that seems to replace the traditional “Otherworld.”
Combat is all melee, without firearms. You’ll be using axes, knives, and metal pipes. Many of these weapons are destructible. That means your weapon could break in the middle of a fight.
Hinako has a set of combat mechanics. You can perfect dodge to slow time, charge a special attack using a focus bar, and counter enemies that glow in specific ways. You switch between light and heavy attacks depending on how much time you have. The developers say this doesn’t make it a Soulslike. The story mode is still the core experience. Combat is meant to feel tense and desperate. The narrow streets and layout force you to confront threats directly, using adrenaline to survive.
Puzzles are back and heavily tied to the story. Ryukishi07 helped design them, so they aren’t just there for challenge. They reveal more about the world, the characters, and Japanese cultural elements. Some puzzles revolve around scarecrows and are tied to psychological suffering.
Healing items include bandages and divine water. You’ll also find collectibles like notes and food. Some food can be traded at shrines for a currency called Faith, which boosts Hinako’s stats or gives her gear that affects stealth, defense, or evasion.
The game includes multiple endings. Yes, including the classic UFO ending. The first run gives you a standard experience. Later playthroughs unlock new paths, bosses, and more lore. This hints at a looping or evolving narrative.
Silent Hill f: Visuals and Horror
Silent Hill f earned its rating. You can expect gore, mutilated bodies, and lots of blood. Combat scenes show enemies being impaled, slashed, and dismembered. Blood sprays everywhere, coating walls and floors.
It gets darker. Some scenes show self-mutilation in ritual settings. Characters may sever limbs or reveal grotesque injuries. Even when not fully shown, the implications are disturbing. One trailer shows Hinako’s skin peeling from her face.
There are some unsettling sexual themes too. One scene shows a character pasting a classmate’s face onto a swimsuit model in a magazine. It’s a small moment, but it adds to the creepy tone.
A trailer at Gamescom 2025 had a voice promising to save Hinako’s soul by killing her old self. That says a lot about where this story is headed.
Silent Hill f: The People Making It
NeoBards Entertainment is developing the game. Konami brought in strong talent to make sure this entry feels right.
Ryukishi07 is the writer. If you know his visual novel work, you know he can build deeply psychological, haunting stories. He helped with the puzzles too, ensuring narrative and mechanics are tightly linked.
Akira Yamaoka returns to handle the music. His work is a staple of the series. His eerie soundscapes are part of what made Silent Hill what it is.
Director Al Yang said the team didn’t want to copy past games. They wanted to understand what made them work, then push those ideas forward and that’s a good sign.
Silent Hill f: Release Info
The game launches September 25, 2025. This was announced during the State of Play showcase in June.
It will be available on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X and S. This is a big shift, since the Silent Hill 2 remake was console exclusive for PlayStation and PC. Now, more players can access the game on day one. No Switch version has been announced.
You can get it physically for PS5 and Xbox, or digitally on all platforms.
Final Thoughts
Silent Hill f looks like a bold move. A new setting, all-melee combat, ritual horror, and a strong Japanese influence all point to a game that wants to do more than just bring Silent Hill back. It wants to reinvent what Silent Hill can be.