Silent Hill f is looking extremely promising, even more so following the recent Transmission deep-dive and trailer, which shed new light on its narrative and tone. Of course, there are still plenty of questions swirling around the title, the largest of which being about its setting: Silent Hill f is not set in the iconic Maine town, but rather in Ebisugaoka, a fictional small town in Japan.
Ebisugaoka is based on the real town of Kanayama, per writer Ryukishi07's suggestion.
According to Ryukishi07, the idea to set Silent Hill f in Japan came from Konami, and this fundamental change in setting ostensibly brought with it a number of fundamental changes to the game's story. Nevertheless, as Ryukishi07 points out, Silent Hill is about more than just a geographical location. The series as a whole is more about fighting one's internal demons, made physically manifest by inexplicable, supernatural forces. This is exemplified by the fact that previous Silent Hill games, most prominently Silent Hill 4: The Room, have been set outside Silent Hill itself, proving that the series doesn't need to be landlocked, as it were.
Why Silent Hill f's Protagonist Focus is a Wonderful Sign
With the most recent Silent Hill f trailer drawing back the curtain on the game, audiences can get a good look at its promising protagonist.
Silent Hill f Could Have Significant Implications for Broader Silent Hill Lore
Silent Hill f Is Still 'Silent Hill'
Although there's a precedent for previous Silent Hill games being set beyond the confines of the titular town, such entries are still linked to it. For instance, Silent Hill 4 takes place in Ashfield, but the bizarre supernatural events of the game come about via the influence of Walter Sullivan, a psychotic serial killer indoctrinated by The Order, Silent Hill's highly influential cult, as a child. Similarly, when Heather Mason experiences supernatural phenomena at the start of Silent Hill 3, before she actually arrives in the town, it can be explained by her being part of Alessa Gillespie's split soul, not to mention an early encounter with Dahlia Gillespie.
All of this is to say that, while Ryukishi07 is correct in stating that Silent Hill is more about psychological torture and the human soul than it is about occult shenanigans, the series is still connected by some sort of internal logic. As such, it is likely that there will be some explanation for the goings-on of Silent Hill f, even if it's a cursory one. A connection to the other games in the franchise, however tenuous, is therefore quite likely.
How Silent Hill f Links to the Rest of the Games Could Have Serious Ramifications
Assuming that the lore of Silent Hill will follow its essential themes and iconography (e.g. Fog) into Silent Hill f, it will certainly be interesting to see what the connection will be. It's probably safe to say that the game will be separate from the rest of the franchise when it comes to the meat of its narrative—it would be disappointing if characters from other Silent Hill games showed up, for example—but more high-level worldbuilding elements could carry over. For instance, perhaps The Order could have a Japanese chapter operating out of Ebisugaoka, calling down the same otherworldly, nightmarish entities.
Alternatively, the connection between Silent Hill f and its predecessors could be even more vague. Perhaps the supernatural phenomena in the town are indeed caused by some kind of cult, but one that has no direct relationship with The Order of prior entries. Or maybe, instead of a cult attempting to call down a malevolent god, Silent Hill f could feature an entity that acts more independently. Either way, this approach could effectively make Ebisugaoka another "Silent Hill," in the sense that it is another haunted town, manipulated by the same supernatural factors, but wholly separate from the town in Maine. This would set a meaningful precedent for future games in the series, as any location could theoretically wind up like Silent Hill.
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.
- Franchise
- Silent Hill
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Action
