The Silent Hill Franchise
The Silent Hill franchise is one of the most iconic horror game series of all time, with Silent Hill 2 in particular often being praised as one of the greatest horror games ever made. The series is famous for taking horror games as a whole away from using simple “there’s a scary monster” plots, and instead choosing to explore the more psychological aspects of horror.
As such, many people have been pretty excited by the recent release of a new instalment to this franchise, but what is it and how does it measure up against previous titles? We’re going to dig into this, but first, let’s explore another gaming option open to horror-lovers who want something a little outside of the norm.
The world of casino horror games. That might sound like a jump, but bear with us. These casino games can appeal to a vast range of players, perhaps an even greater number than those who might play traditional horror games, for a few different reasons. Firstly, they’re less hard-core – meaning they’re open to folks who like a creepy vibe, but don’t want to be scared out of their wits (yes, we’re looking at you, Silent Hill).
For example, Zombie World. A horror-themed slot game complete with all kinds of creepy undead creatures. The music, just like in the Silent Hill franchise, builds up the ambience and sets you on edge, while the creepy graveyard setting and open crypts add to the vibe.
At the same time, it’s a game anyone can enjoy. The cartoon-style stops it from being too scary, and the mechanics are super simple. With wilds and scatter symbols, it’s more exciting than a standard slot game, and perfect for getting you into the Halloween mood.
What’s more, these kinds of games are ideal for folks just venturing into the world of gaming for the first time, since they don’t require fast reactions the way Silent Hill f does. A beginner can focus on understanding the mechanics and concepts of gaming in a gentler environment before they graduate to the full-on horror games.
Furthermore, Silent Hill enthusiasts might use this kind of option to intersperse their sessions, giving themselves a break from the creepy vibe and a rest from the more intense style of gameplay. This kind of mental reset can actually make you a better player, so if you’re struggling with a tough fight or a difficult puzzle, you can do something else for a while without having to step out of the spooky atmosphere.
For now, though, let’s start unfolding the new Silent Hill and see how it holds up to players’ expectations and whether it’s a worthy continuation of this much-loved series.
The New Silent Hill f
Silent Hill f has already gained a vast amount of attention, even for a title in a legendary series. Konami states that it reached the 1,000,000 sales mark on its first day.
Silent Hill f continues the series classic approach of giving its games multiple endings. If you’re an avid lover of the franchise, you’ll already know that the games all opt for a very creepy setting, but provide many different ways for players to navigate it, with different potential outcomes depending on what choices are made.
However, this version has transported us from the American town of Maine to a rural Japanese prefecture, set in the 1960s – offering players a totally new backdrop, although the unsettling atmosphere has been beautifully maintained. This is the first mainline entry in the series since 2012, so it makes sense to explore new settings and approaches, but fans can rest assured that they will still feel chilled by the backdrop.
This time, the main character is a girl named Hinako Shimizu, who lives in the mountain community of Ebisugaoka. A bit of a tomboy, she faces serious bullying for her lack of interest in fashion and makeup, and this is combined with a miserable homelife. When the mysterious fog bank – such a familiar mechanic to any fans of the series – rolls in, most of her community suddenly disappears.
Next come the body-horrors, and the sinking fear as the player realises Hinako is the next target for whatever vicious force is concealed by the mist. Can they get her safely out of town? That’s the question.
Will Silent Hill f Revive The Video Game Series’ Legacy?
Of course, it’s going to ask who you ask, but we would have to argue, yes. Silent Hill f is fresh. It doesn’t just rerun the tired storyline of the older instalments; it offers players a very different flavor by shifting time and space. And if you want character depth and trauma before the game even begins… well, you’ve got it in spades. This world feels chaotic and violent before the real danger even starts.
At the same time, the developers haven’t lost what made Silent Hill great, that classic, unsettling aura creeping behind every movement and decision. After more than a 10-year gap, we needed a change, but the challenge is always how to revive and refresh without losing. In our opinion, that’s been successful.
Where Can You Play Silent Hill f?
As you might expect for any major title, the game is available on most of the standard gaming platforms, including Xbox, PC, and PS5. And in terms of price, it’s surprisingly not that high – it’s $69.99 on Xbox and PlayStation, with Epic Games charging a slightly higher $79.99 for PC versions. With a lot of games hitting the shelves at around $99.99 (or even higher), that’s not bad for such a mainstream, well-anticipated title.
The Silent Hill Series
But when we talked earlier about the essence of the game, what did we really mean? Why does Silent Hill stand out so much in a genre like horror, where – as we saw with our casino examples – there is a positive slew of titles and options?
Silent Hill is a series that makes players question themselves, that explores fate and death. The choices you make produce totally different outcomes; it’s not about choosing one rigid, set path. It’s about finding a narrative thread that will take you through the horror and out the other side.
That’s almost par for the course for a Japanese game. Its USP lies in the choices, the ability to change your character’s fate… or fail them and lose. Not many other games take that approach.
And of course, we can’t ignore the way the setting steals your breath and has you on the edge of your seat without you even realising it. Hinako’s internal troubles paint a darker colour over the quaint mountain village she lives in, sharpening the contrast between everyday life and horror, and reminding us of the darkness in our own world. Indeed, that contrast goes further with Hinako’s iconic pink outfit set against the bleak grey of her world. Her vulnerability is absolute.
As rot and decay creep in, the iconic Silent Hill mist feels an inevitability. Indeed, it’s the parallels with real life that perhaps breathe the coldest edge into this game’s atmosphere. It’s no stretch to imagine such a fog slipping into our real world when the game manages to so closely parallel reality.
If you haven’t yet let this franchise get its icy grip on your heart and you want to play the preceding games before you start Silent Hill f, here are the titles in the correct order:
- Silent Hill (1999)
- Silent Hill 2 (2001)
- Silent Hill 3 (2003)
- Silent Hill 4: The Room (2004)
- Silent Hill: Origins (2007)
- Silent Hill: Homecoming (2008)
- Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (2009)
- Silent Hill: Downpour (2012)
Of course, there are other minor spinoffs in this highly popular series, but these are the major ones. With so many games before it, it’s amazing that Silent Hill f has achieved that sense of uniqueness and succeeded in standing alone, without too big a departure from the other titles.
It’s worth noting that Silent Hill, Silent Hill 2, and Silent Hill 3 are sequential, and it’s worth playing them in order, but Silent Hill f is a separate story and doesn’t require you to have played these or any of the other options to enjoy it. If you want to just get stuck in with Silent Hill f, you’ll still experience the franchise’s true chilling quality, without needing the other titles.
So to summarise, does Silent Hill f continue the legacy? Will the die-hard fans of this series be impressed after a lengthy wait? We think so. The characters and setting may have changed, but this world’s soul remains as unsettling and disturbing as ever.
