“Silent Hill f” Review by Nick Navarro
The time has finally arrived for a brand-new mainline Silent Hill game, and I instantly had to give it all my attention, but I wasn’t prepared for just how different “Silent Hill f” would feel compared to the rest of the series (last year I had the pleasure of reviewing the “Silent Hill 2” remake, you can check that out HERE). Developed by NeoBards Entertainment and published by Konami, this entry steps away from the familiar American settings and drops us into 1960s Japan. Playing as high school student Hinako Shimizu, I found myself navigating the fog-choked streets of the fictional town of Ebisugaoka, where every corner twisted into a nightmare of grotesque monsters, eerie puzzles, and suffocating dread.
From the very beginning, the setting hooked me. The shift to Japan doesn’t just change the backdrop; it infuses the entire experience with a unique flavor. Shrines act as save points and places to grow Hinako’s Health, Stamina, and Sanity bars, reinforcing the cultural grounding while doubling as a practical system that shaped how I approached each new stretch of the game. It felt like an authentic new chapter that still carried the psychological weight I associate with the franchise. Hinako’s journey is driven by themes of regret, conformity, and sacrifice, written by renowned author Ryukishi07. I’ve always appreciated how Silent Hill stories resist giving you clean answers, and that’s fully intact here. The narrative never overexplains; instead, it leaves space for interpretation, making me feel like an active participant rather than just a passive viewer. This subtle trust in the player added a richness to Hinako’s personal descent. It didn’t matter whether I played in Japanese or with the English dub; both offered that detached, uncanny quality that made every scene more unsettling.
The presentation is nothing short of stunning. I was struck by the game’s deliberate contrasts, beautiful blossoms that slowly rot into horrors, fog-drenched streets suddenly illuminated by unsettlingly serene visuals, and serene shrines that mask deeper corruption. The artistic direction constantly played with the tension between beauty and ugliness, normality and monstrosity, until the boundaries blurred completely. Akira Yamaoka’s contributions to the soundtrack, paired with other haunting pieces, worked their way under my skin. It wasn’t just the music; it was an atmosphere that never let me breathe easily. On the gameplay side, things were more of a mixed bag. Weapons, limited by durability, forced me to constantly rotate between up to three carried at once. While I liked the tension this created, the combat itself was the weakest part of the game for me. Encounters mostly boiled down to dodging and swinging a weapon, often just a pipe, and when stamina ran dry, which happened often, I felt helpless in the least fun way possible. Not every enemy needs to be fought, but the forced encounters really highlighted the combat’s shortcomings. I often found myself wishing those moments leaned harder into psychological dread rather than action.
Adding to that, the item system could get overwhelming. With different consumables for Health, Stamina, Sanity, and then various combinations of the three, I had to spend more time than I liked just remembering which item did what. It wasn’t enough to ruin the flow, but it was clunky compared to the elegance of the rest of the design. Still, these frustrations melted away whenever the game leaned into its strengths. The psychological horror isn’t found in jump scares, though a few monsters did make me leap from my seat, but in the thematic terror that hits much deeper. The idea of Hinako literally sacrificing herself to conform to others wasn’t just disturbing; it was the kind of horror that lingers long after the credits roll. That fear of society, of losing oneself to expectations, felt far more terrifying than any monster lurking in the mist.
Technically, “Silent Hill f” isn’t flawless. I noticed occasional performance hitches on my PS5 Pro, but they never derailed the overall experience. The bigger picture, the narrative mastery, the atmosphere, and the sheer artistry overshadowed those issues. From start to finish, I was thoroughly invested, and despite frustrations with combat, I still needed to see it through to the end. The game also delivers multiple endings, so you will be required to play the game more than once to see everything, but luckily the game itself isn’t painfully long. I believe I finished my first playthrough in eleven or so hours. The real question is how much dread can you handle? This is a very dreadful game (in the best way possible), and with the amount I played in so little time, I noticed I often brought that feeling of dread with me when I was going to sleep.
What impressed me most was how this game managed to evolve the series while staying true to its roots. The folklore-inspired horror, the psychological weight, and the suffocating fog all feel familiar, yet they are presented in a way that breathes new life into the franchise. Where Bloober Team’s remake of “Silent Hill 2” felt like a respectful return, “Silent Hill f” feels like a bold new step. It’s an emotional, unsettling, and deeply human tale that replants the series’ return in a way I didn’t think was possible. Despite the combat dragging down the experience at times for me, “Silent Hill f” stands as one of the most powerful entries in the franchise. It’s not just a return to form; it’s an evolution that blends classic psychological horror with striking artistic vision. Hinako Shimizu’s story is unforgettable, a haunting reflection of society’s darkest truths, and one that left me disturbed in the best way possible. For me, “Silent Hill f” isn’t just survival horror done right; it’s a new benchmark for what the genre can achieve.
9/10
Related: Nick Navarro Reviews
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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