Silent Hill fis shaping up to be one of the series' most exciting and pivotal releases. While Bloober Team shocked the games industry last year with itssurprisingly fantastic remake ofSilent Hill 2,that game is still a new rendition of a much-beloved classic—it didn’t need to conjure up its own novel, impactful narrative or broader structural elements.Silent Hill fdoesn’t have this same advantage, as it’s a wholly new idea within theSilent Hilloeuvre.
This is part of what makes it so exciting. Yes, theSilent Hill 2remake was great, but it was essentially an alternate version of an already-released story;Silent Hill fis uncharted waters, for both Konami and gaming audiences. It’s no mere copy of previousSilent Hilltitles, either, as it’s set in Japan, long before the events of the firstSilent Hillgame, complicating the lore significantly while offering a fresh perspective on the series' long-standing narrative and tonal trends. In other words,Silent Hill fis a breath of fresh air, and if it’s executed well, it could be just what the series needs to get back on track. Luckily, for those seeking a warm-up before the game’s release, there are plenty of games that could serve such a purpose.
Best Games to Play While Waiting for Silent Hill f
The following list will omit fairly obvious suggestions,such as olderSilent Hillgamesand theResident Evilfranchise.
Based on theinformation currently available aboutSilent Hill f,it looks to be leaning into the same psychological horror that made the series so unique in the first place, leveraging themes like guilt and trauma for a more impactful narrative. Thus, many of the best games to play while waiting forSilent Hill fto release focus on similarly intimate subject matter, with complex characters at their center. Games likeOmori,Signalis, andMouthwashingfit the bill in this respect, as they are designed around well-written predefined characters, their stories centered on their psyches. The horror of these games comes from the hearts and souls of their protagonists and tertiary characters, more so than from shock value or momentary scares.
Naturally, one of the most widely publicized elements ofSilent Hill fis its Japanese setting, so psychological horror games set in Japan could constitute an appropriate amuse-bouche. It should go without saying that theHigurashi: When They Cryfranchise, which was created bySilent Hill flead writer Ryukishi07, is a great choice for anyone looking to get familiar with Japanese horror games, especially those that hone in on the psychological.Ghostwire Tokyo,Siren,Corpse Party, andFatal Frameare also strong picks for aSilent Hill fwaiting playlist, as these follow Japanese protagonists and Japanese themes, both implicit and explicit. While not from a Japanese team,Doki Doki Literature Clubis clearly anime-inspired, with more than a few direct references to Japanese culture. Like the aforementioned games, it is highly psychologically disturbing.
It’s worth noting thatFatal Frame,Corpse Party,Doki Doki Literature Club, and some parts ofSirenfollowteenage protagonists, just likeSilent Hill f.
Ryukishi07 has a penchant for writing surprising twists, so it’s a fool’s errand to try and predictthe particulars ofSilent Hill f’s story. That said, there are some clear indications that it will be a deeply unsettling, intimate horror experience, taking players on a winding journey through the unknown. Going off this broad-strokes description, the above games are certainly among some of the better options for those looking to prepare for Konami’s next majorSilent Hillventure.
Silent Hill f
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.
