(Image courtesy of SteamDB. “‘Silent Hill f’ twists the series’ formula on its head and provides a new but familiar experience.”)
Rick Dalton
Connector Staff
“Silent Hill f,” is the latest entry in Konami’s long running survival horror franchise. The game was published by Konami, developed by NeoBards Entertainment and released on Sept. 25, 2025. A spinoff from the main series, this title trades the traditional contemporary setting of Silent Hill, Maine, for 1960s Ebisugaoka, Japan. Despite the new location, the game offers the same cryptic storytelling, chilling atmosphere, challenging puzzles and crushing combat that fans of the franchise know and love.
The story follows Hinako, a high school student living with her parents in the rural town of Ebisugaoka. Her older sister, Junko, recently married and moved away. Hinako’s father is an abusive drunk, and her mother is powerless to stop him. Following a fight with her parents, Hinako storms out of the house and hopes to meet up with her friends. She finds them, but something feels off. Ebisugaoka is mostly abandoned, and ominous fog envelops the town. Making matters worse are creeping red spider lilies armed with ensnaring tendrils, along with hideous knife-wielding monsters that resemble stitched together human-sized doll parts. Hinako must navigate the fog to uncover what is going on in her town, while fighting horrifying creatures along the way.
Hinako’s journey is fascinating. As she navigates the town, Hinako updates her journal with commentary about herself, her friends and her family. She also finds notes that give insight into the situation. Cutscenes are surreal, unsettling and often gruesome. Powerful themes of patriarchy, gender roles and mental health emerge. The first ending provides answers, but there is much more to learn. New Game Plus offers alternate endings, new content, and additional narrative elements to give a clearer picture of Hinako’s dilemma.
Atmosphere is incredibly important to survival horror, and “Silent Hill f” absolutely nails it. The franchise is known for an uncanny feeling, and that feeling is present from the outset. The graphics are equal parts gorgeous and grotesque, featuring beautiful Japanese architecture in a picturesque, rural forest town gone mad. Monsters are disturbing and inventive, ranging from contorted human scarecrows to collections of doll heads, to bulbous fungal blob beasts. Lighting is excellent, and Hinako often needs a lantern to help her find the way through fog and dark corridors. Splashes of red are frequent, which dramatically contrasts with the otherwise subdued color palette. The sound design is impeccable. Shrill tones, foreboding music, unexpected crashes and ghostly footsteps are ever present, and these elements amplify during tense moments. There is a constant sense of dread, and danger lurks around every corner. Headphones are highly recommended to boost immersion and hear where monsters are before they pounce at Hinako.
Puzzles are key elements of the franchise, and “Silent Hill f” is no different. Hinako must solve riddles and logic problems to progress. Many puzzles involve searching for notes to acquire all the necessary information. Searching every nook and cranny is very helpful, as healing items and weapons are also spread throughout town. Enemies are generally present while solving puzzles, so there is constant tension while exploring. It often feels like Hinako is being chased while searching for the right path. Most puzzles are fun, intuitive and do not overstay their welcome, but a couple of sections are a bit obtuse or require lots of backtracking. Puzzles can be brute forced if the solution is not readily apparent. There are three difficulty settings for puzzles, which allow for new experiences over multiple playthroughs.
Combat is solid and suits the atmosphere, although its intentionally slow nature may not appeal to everyone. Hinako is a high school student, not an action movie star. She is adept at dodging but runs out of stamina frequently. She needs several seconds to recover, which is devasting if poorly timed. Only melee weapons are present, so Hinako must get close to her enemies. Attacks are limited to simple light and heavy swings, along with a special move that staggers. Weapons degrade quickly, which makes deciding which weapons to use on weaker enemies and which weapons to save for tough encounters important. Only three weapons can be carried at a time, and healing items are in short supply. Managing resources is key. Running away is often an option, but monsters chase Hinako for a long way. Care must be taken while fighting in confined spaces, with wide swings likely to bounce off walls; overall, combat feels appropriately weighty and brutal. For example, with puzzles, combat comes with three difficulty settings to choose from. Story mode is recommended for the first playthrough.
“Silent Hill f” is a must play for fans of survival horror. Its intriguing story and oppressive atmosphere are major highlights. Puzzles are mostly very fun, and combat is tense and unnerving. Look no further for the perfect new release to play during spooky season.
Grade: A-