Silent Hill f breaks sales records, what's new?

After more than a decade without a fully original release, the Silent Hill saga has returned to consoles and PC with a title that promises to mark a new chapter: Silent Hill f. Its launch on September 25, 2025, not only represents Konami’s comeback to the psychological horror genre but also a bold experiment that shifts the classic setting to 1960s rural Japan.

The big question is whether this new chapter lives up to a legacy that seemed dormant since Silent Hill: Downpour in 2012.

A different, yet faithful setting

Unlike previous entries set in fictional American towns, Silent Hill f takes players to Ebisugaoka, a mysterious Japanese community shrouded in fog. The protagonist, Hinako Shimizu, returns to her hometown only to face strange phenomena and disturbing visions that twist reality.

Konami has confirmed this is a standalone work, accessible to newcomers yet carrying familiar elements: symbolism, puzzles, and psychological horror.

The script is written by Ryukishi07 (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni) and music is once again handled by Akira Yamaoka, the legendary composer of the franchise.

Gameplay and mechanics

The game blends exploration, puzzles, and action sequences. The combat system introduces dodge and counterattack mechanics, adding dynamism—though some critics argue it disrupts the fragile balance of psychological horror.

Additionally, the mechanic of collecting “offerings” to empower the character adds strategy, but can also slow down the narrative.

The first playthrough lasts around 12 to 13 hours, with multiple endings encouraging replayability.

Critical reception

The return of Silent Hill was well received:

• Metacritic: average 85/100 on PS5 (86 on PC, 83 on Xbox Series X|S).
• Famitsu: 36/40, praising its atmosphere, monsters, and replay value.

The highlights are the Japanese setting, the branching narrative, and the art direction. On the downside, the demanding combat and technical issues on PC (stuttering, glitches, motion blur) have been the main criticisms.

Commercial impact

The launch was an immediate success: over one million copies sold within just four days.

This makes Silent Hill f the fastest-selling title in the saga, surpassing even the Silent Hill 2 Remake released in 2024.

A truly original Silent Hill?

Since Silent Hill: Downpour (2012), there hadn’t been a mainline original release. The intervening titles were remakes or spin-offs, making Silent Hill f the true return of the saga with new story, characters, and setting.

Its originality lies in this cultural and narrative shift, which does not abandon the essence of psychological horror but instead presents it through a different lens. It balances innovation with tradition. Its atmosphere, setting, and storytelling position it as one of the most relevant entries in the series in recent years.