Everything We Know About Silent Hill f

Last night, a half-hour presentation for Silent Hill f took place, showcasing the new chapter of the legendary horror series. Unfortunately, the developers did not reveal any gameplay, slightly dampening the overall impression of the broadcast. However, they did share a fresh trailer and numerous intriguing details, allowing us to get a sense of some aspects of the game. Here are the key takeaways.

The project is being developed by NeoBards Entertainment, the studio behind the lukewarmly received online action game Resident Evil: Resistance and the failed Resident Evil Re:Verse. This might raise concerns for some, but don't rush to write off Silent Hill f just yet. Remember that Bloober Team also faced skepticism due to their portfolio, yet they did an excellent job with the Silent Hill 2 remake. The same could happen with NeoBards Entertainment.

Silent Hill f is set in 1960s Japan, following a young girl named Hinako Shimizu. According to the official description, "she struggles under the weight of expectations from friends, family, and society. As a child, she was cheerful and lively, but she has since become much more reserved and rarely smiles."

Shimizu lives in the fictional town of Ebisugaoka, which is inspired by several real-life Japanese settlements. At the beginning of the game, a thick fog descends upon Ebisugaoka, the town becomes eerily empty, and terrifying monsters begin to roam the narrow streets.

The game's script is penned by renowned Japanese horror master Ryukishi07, who claims to be a longtime fan of the franchise. He asserts that he has played every Silent Hill game and knows how to best capture the series' spirit. While it is too early to judge the accuracy of this claim, his understanding of the franchise does seem genuine. Ryukishi07 explained that Silent Hill is fundamentally about characters battling the evil within themselves — confronting their sins and internal conflicts. According to him, Silent Hill f, like its predecessors, will be a psychological horror experience focused on the struggles of the human mind.

It is difficult to say how deep Silent Hill f's narrative will be in terms of themes and subtext, but it is clear that players can expect a mature and complex story. This is evident from the disclaimer on the official website:

The drastic change in setting has left some fans puzzled — how did we go from the American East Coast to 1960s Japan? However, the developers justify this shift by pointing out that the older games in the series were already Japanese in spirit, particularly in their storytelling and philosophical undertones.

After Team Silent disbanded, the franchise fell into the hands of Western developers and gradually lost its Japanese essence. Konami has now decided to rectify this and is going all-in by setting the game in its home country.

If you are concerned about lore and wondering why a town like Ebisugaoka is experiencing the same horrors as Silent Hill, there is an explanation. In last year’s Silent Hill: The Short Message, a document introduced a new concept to the series — the "Silent Hill Phenomenon." This phenomenon causes the boundary between subconscious thoughts and reality to blur, leading to the manifestation of illusions in various locations worldwide. In short, the horrors of Silent Hill can now occur anywhere, in any city.

The creatures that Hinako must face are spawned from an otherworldly dimension, taking shape based on her teenage fears and traumas. Konami and NeoBards Entertainment wanted these monsters to stand out from the creatures in previous games, so they brought in Japanese artist kera to design them. He shared insights into the creative process:

The developers emphasize that one of Silent Hill f's core themes is finding beauty in everything. "There is beauty in horror — find it" is essentially the game's slogan.

Konami announced that legendary composer Akira Yamaoka will be contributing to the soundtrack. However, this time he is only responsible for the music in Ebisugaoka’s Fog World.

In the Silent Hill universe, the otherworldly dimension shifts between phases. The eerie Otherworld in Silent Hill f, referred to as the "Dark Sanctuary," will feature music composed by Kensuke Inage, known for his work on Tekken 8, Samurai Shodown and Star Fox Guard.

Unfortunately, gameplay details remain under wraps. The trailer suggests that the game will include melee combat, as Hinako is seen wielding the franchise’s signature rusty pipe. Additionally, it was briefly mentioned that Silent Hill f will feature puzzle-solving elements.

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One thing we still don't know is the release date for Silent Hill f. However, the game is already available to wishlist on Steam, where you can also check the system requirements. The fact that requirements have been posted gives hope that the game might release sooner rather than later — possibly even this year. Stay tuned for more updates on our website.

What are your thoughts on the project? Did you like the trailer? Share your impressions in the comments.