Silent Hill f is a 2025 survival horror game developed by NeoBards Entertainment and published by Konami. It’s a standalone story set in a rural Japanese town in the 1960s, following a high school student named Hinako Shimizu. The story, sees Hinako navigating her town after it is consumed by a mysterious, beautiful but unsettling fog and a spreading infestation of red spider lilies. The game’s narrative delves into psychological themes and Hinako’s personal trauma, including the societal pressures on young women in 1960s Japan, abuse, and family issues. The gameplay shifts from the traditional Silent Hill formula, focusing on a more action-oriented, melee-based combat system. Hinako utilizes weapons like pipes and bats, and the combat incorporates elements like dodging, a “focus” attack that drains a sanity meter, and a stamina bar. Puzzles are also a key element, often tied to Hinako’s psychological anguish and local folklore. Reception for the game has been largely positive, though somewhat divisive among fans. Critics have praised the game’s bold new setting, its unsettling atmosphere, and its deeply written and compelling psychological story. The combat, however, has been a point of contention, with some finding it clunky and frustrating, while others appreciate the challenge and the new direction for the series. Despite the mixed opinions on the gameplay, the game’s narrative and themes have been almost universally acclaimed, with many critics calling it one of the best-written entries in the Silent Hill franchise.
