Two of the leaders behind Silent Hill f have explained why the game is more action-oriented than earlier entries in the series. While combat is not a new concept in the long-running horror franchise, previous titles have largely focused on puzzle-solving and building a haunting atmosphere over fighting enemies. Naturally, some fans have expressed concern over Silent Hill f's direction, but its producer and director defend this new approach.
Shortly after the game's release date reveal, producer Motoi Okamoto confirmed that Silent Hill f would feature more action than the series has in the past. He reassured fans that psychological horror and puzzles would still play a prominent role in the game, but players can expect more melee combat than they normally would from Silent Hill. Now, Okamoto has offered more insight into what led to that decision.
Konami Clarifies Where Silent Hill f Fits in the Franchise
Konami clears up some confusion and shares some details on Silent Hill f and how it relates to the rest of the series.
Silent Hill f's Combat Aims to Attract New Players and Differentiate It From Silent Hill 2
In an interview with Game*Spark, Okamoto explained how a heavier emphasis on combat could help the game draw in new users who hadn't played earlier Silent Hill games. He stated that the franchise doesn't have a reputation as a "fun action game" but that challenging and engaging action is precisely what a younger audience wants. Many hands-on previews have confirmed that Silent Hill f is akin to a Soulslike, and given the massive popularity of recent games such as Elden Ring, it's easy to see how that could be an intentional choice to attract a broader audience today.
Game director Al Yang added that Silent Hill f's combat was also a way to differentiate it from the recent Silent Hill 2 remake. While that game was an undeniable hit, Yang said the company didn't want to keep relying on its previous successes. Bloober Team's Silent Hill 2 remake became the fastest-selling Silent Hill title to date, but NeoBards Entertainment wanted to make an impact on its own instead of repeating the past, which might've grown stale had the team gone that route. Yang explains, "we couldn't keep making clones" of Silent Hill 2.
How that effort to separate Silent Hill f from the rest of the series will come across to gamers remains to be seen. The title comes out on September 25, 2025, and fans can look forward to a new Silent Hill f trailer on August 19 for a closer look before launch day. So far, fan opinions on its combat seem mixed, but there are a lot of positive impressions of the game out there, so it will be interesting to see how it lands among both longtime fans and newcomers to the series.
Silent Hill f
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 86 /100 Critics Rec: 87%
- Released
- September 25, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity
- Developer(s)
- Neobards Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Konami
WHERE TO PLAY
In 1960s Japan, Shimizu Hinako's secluded town of Ebisugaoka is consumed by a sudden fog, transforming her home into a haunting nightmare.
As the town falls silent and the fog thickens, Hinako must navigate the twisted paths of Ebisugaoka, solving complex puzzles and confronting grotesque monsters to survive.
Immerse yourself into Hinako's world imagined by renowned author Ryukishi07, with entrancing music, including pieces by Akira Yamaoka, and beautiful visuals in a gripping tale of doubt, regret, and inescapable choices. Will Hinako embrace the beauty hidden within terror, or succumb to the madness that lies ahead?
Discover a new chapter in the SILENT HILL series, blending psychological horror with a haunting Japanese setting.
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Franchise
- Silent Hill
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Playable
- PC Release Date
- September 25, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- September 25, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- September 25, 2025
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Action
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
