With the release of Silent Hill f just around the corner, one can’t help but wonder how the game ranks on the best Silent Hill games list. Let’s find out!
The Silent Hill ranking dates back to 1999, when the first installment of this legendary survival horror series was released, helping to redefine the genre. With several later installments, the franchise has gone down in history as one of the most terrifying, influential, and thought-provoking.
Today, we can enjoy nine main games in the series, but only one truly captures its unique essence. Let’s see how these titles fare on our Silent Hill tier list, ranked worst to best – with Silent Hill f included!
Criteria for Ranking
To rank these top survival horror games, we considered three criteria.
The first is, of course, story and atmosphere – extremely important when evaluating such an immersive video game genre.
The second is gameplay and mechanics, which are crucial to any gameplay experience. And finally, replayability and fan reception – both ultimately determine which title truly deserves its place in this horror games ranking. With all that sorted, let’s see how the Silent Hill main games have fared over the years!
Silent Hill: Book of Memories
| Release date: | 2012 |
| Genre: | Action RPG / Dungeon Crawler |
| Developer: | WayForward Technologies |
| Historicity: | Spin-off, not core survival horror |
Book of Memories launched exclusively for PlayStation Vita as a single-player and multiplayer action game in a top-down perspective.
As one player commented on Reddit, it’s “Bad dungeon crawler, horrible Silent Hill game… just a bad game overall.” – and this one player isn’t alone in this opinion.
Many fans of the series wonder why this title includes the phrase “Silent Hill,” since it doesn’t share any gameplay mechanics with other installments. On the other hand, Book of Memories has also managed to gather a considerable fan base that recommends treating it as an atmospheric spin-off.
Silent Hill: Homecoming
| Release date: | 2009 |
| Genre: | Survival Horror (combat-focused) |
| Developer: | Double Helix Games |
| Historicity: | More combat-driven, film-inspired |
Releasing Homecoming, the developer decided to abandon the classic Silent Hill survival horror approach in favor of a game focusing on combat, and it was a massive mistake.
While the title phenomenally expands the Silent Hill universe, incorporating elements from the first Silent Hill movie (2006), its atmospheric design wasn’t enough to win over all fans. Many loved it for its story and setting, but players found its combat system and mechanics rather unpolished and lacking.
Silent Hill: Downpour
| Release date: | 2012 |
| Genre: | Survival Horror |
| Developer: | Vatra Games |
| Historicity: | Rain-soaked SH with mixed combat |
Although this installment ranks quite a ways behind the winner of this list, it has gathered a significant fan base, loving its story, puzzles, combat mechanics, and spooky atmosphere.
However, many also criticized its dated graphics, repetitive combat, and enemy design, the latter of which is considered the worst in the series. But at the end of the day, it’s not a bad game, and you should definitely play it if you’re a fan of everything Silent Hill.
Silent Hill: Origins
| Release date: | 2007 |
| Genre: | Survival Horror |
| Developer: | Climax Studios |
| Historicity: | Prequel homage to SH1-3 |
The original PSP release of this title enjoyed mostly positive reviews, with Eurogamer describing it as “No doubt mindful of remaining faithful to the series’ legacy.
Climax pays such close attention to the ingredients of the first three Silent Hill games that it’s essentially an unapologetic homage to them.” And that’s true, as many fans find this title particularly ambitious, atmospheric, and engaging in terms of the story.
But as always, there are also flaws – some players criticize Origins for its predictable plot, overly ambitious design, and the fact that it’s a prequel to the original Silent Hill video game, developed by a different team. Nevertheless, it’s a must-play, especially if you liked the first three installments in the series.
Silent Hill 4: The Room
| Release date: | 2004 |
| Genre: | Survival Horror |
| Developer: | Team Silent |
| Historicity: | Apartment hub, isolation themes |
As the last title developed by Team Silent, The Room is considered one of the most underrated in the entire series.
And while some players criticize its excessive length or a noticeably weaker second half, most praise it for its “wonderfully creative monsters,” “the way events are pieced together,” and “unnerving feel of isolation.” Sure, it’s not perfect, but it’s an excellent (and absolutely creepy!) complement to the original trilogy.
Silent Hill 1
| Release date: | 1999 |
| Genre: | Survival Horror |
| Developer: | Team Silent |
| Historicity: | Fog, radio static, psychological dread |
And that’s how we reached the first game in the series! How does it rank on our list?
Although the title has earned a reputation of legendary over the years, opinions on it are divided.
Some fans love it for its pure horror vibe, story structure, masterfully designed soundtrack, and unforgettable atmosphere. The other half perceive Silent Hill as a bit inferior when compared to the other two installments in the original trilogy, but for purely subjective reasons.
Silent Hill f
| Release date: | 2025 |
| Genre: | Survival Horror |
| Developer: | Neobards Entertainment |
| Historicity: | Set in 1960s Japan |
This recent entry in the series began collecting surprisingly high scores from critics even before its release (9.5/10 from DualShockers, 36/40 from Famitsu), so it’s no surprise it took third place in this ranking.
The audience praised it for its terrifying visuals, branching storyline, multiple endings, and exciting combat system. It also truly captures the spirit of the original trilogy, bringing it into the world of modern gaming. While the title has its flaws, the pros definitely outweigh its weaknesses.
Silent Hill 3
| Release date: | 2003 |
| Genre: | Survival Horror |
| Developer: | Team Silent |
| Historicity: | Direct sequel with intense atmosphere |
Released on PC and PS2, this survival horror classic faced the challenging task of meeting the high bar set by Silent Hill 2.
How did it fare? Opinions are divided, as some fans consider its story less engaging and the controls more frustrating.
Nevertheless, the title still perfectly maintains the atmosphere of the two previous installments, scares, and features a remarkably relatable female protagonist.
Silent Hill 2 / Remake
| Release date: | 2001 (Original), 2024 (Remake) |
| Genre: | Psychological & Survival Horror |
| Developer: | Team Silent (Original), Bloober Team (Remake) |
| Historicity: | Exploration of guilt and trauma |
As you’ve probably already guessed, the winner is Silent Hill 2.
While the game is considered a masterpiece for its psychological horror, immersive atmosphere, and unsettling themes, the remake enhances the experience by modernizing it with updated mechanics, sounds, and visuals.
This isn’t just a game about fighting monsters in a grotesque setting, but a tale of guilt and trauma, where the protagonist unravels the most terrifying secrets hidden within his mind.
Why Silent Hill 2 Stands Out
Unlike other installments, Silent Hill 2 brilliantly uses the complex psychology of the playable character to tell a dramatic story about guilt, regret, depression, and ultimately, punishment. Instead of relying on cheap jump scares, the title slowly but steadily builds an atmosphere of suffocating dread that no one can escape.
And the monsters? While terrifying, they provide an excuse for unraveling the symbolic meaning of this dark adventure, where a single true morality doesn’t exist. It also doesn’t hold players’ hands, forcing them to uncover the answers on their own.
Why Silent Hill F Fits Into the Ranking
For the first time in the series, Silent Hill f switches its setting to 1960s Japan, and it’s a significant change in atmosphere and aesthetic. Considering its story was written by Ryukishi07 (a renowned creator of visual novels with horror and mystery features), the title introduces a strong narrative that fans have been eagerly anticipating. Like Silent Hill 2, Silent Hill f maintains the atmosphere, symbolic value, and psychological aspects of the series that have earned a special place in players’ hearts.
Final Thoughts
What a ride! As you can see, the Silent Hill series has had its ups and downs – but each installment has gathered a loyal fan base, regardless of its official reception. And what can we expect in the future?
Considering Silent Hill F is a solid representative of the action-horror balance, its release might mark a breakthrough in the series’ revival, inspiring a wave of new similar projects. And what if it doesn’t? Only time will tell, but in that case, we can expect mistrust from the fan community regarding future installments. Whatever happens, we should all acknowledge that the franchise has come a long way to reach its current, impressive level!