Silent Hill F Preview – A Bold New Chapter with Terrifying Monsters and a Japanese Twist

Silent Hill has always been a series about risk. Sometimes those risks led to masterpieces, sometimes to missteps. Last year’s Silent Hill 2 remake was safe and familiar. Silent Hill F, arriving September 25, 2025, is the opposite: bold, divisive, and already stirring heated debate among fans and critics alike.

A New Setting: Japan, 1960s

For the first time, Silent Hill doesn’t take place in the usual foggy American town. Instead, the story is set in Ebisugaoka, a made-up Japanese village in the 1960s.

The setting stands out right away: you’ll walk through muddy rice fields, visit shrines, drink ramune soda, and solve puzzles inspired by Japanese folklore. These small touches give the game its own unique style.

Some players think this change is exciting and makes the game feel fresh. Others feel it’s too different and takes the series away from its roots.

Hinako Shimizu

A Different Kind of Protagonist

The lead this time is Hinako Shimizu, a high school student dealing with an abusive father and a complicit mother. Her trauma bleeds into reality as the village twists into a living nightmare.

Instead of the typical middle-aged male leads Silent Hill has leaned on for years, Hinako is vulnerable, flawed, and forced to confront horrors that mirror her pain. Her story is shorter—around nine hours—but replayable thanks to multiple endings.

Community reaction here is mixed: some applaud the choice of a younger female lead, while others mock it. One YouTube comment read, “The idea of a small Japanese schoolgirl taking down countless horrifying monsters in hand-to-hand combat is comical, and ruins the scare factor for me.”

Grotesque Monsters, Disturbing Themes

What’s not in question is the monster design. Scarecrow-like figures that only lunge when your back is turned. Bloated corpses that burst into screaming horrors. Knife-wielding mannequins lurking around corners. The designs are pure nightmare fuel, tying directly into Hinako’s trauma.

Themes of abuse, discrimination, and regret run throughout the story, often manifesting in disturbing body horror. One scene in particular has been compared to making Heavy Rain’s infamous finger-cutting look like a paper cut.

Fans are split on whether the game feels scary enough. Some say the atmosphere is chilling, while others comment, “The character design and settings are nice but it doesn’t have a horror atmosphere—it’s not scary at all.”

The Combat Debate

The biggest flashpoint is combat. Unlike past games, Silent Hill F is melee-only—no guns at all. Weapons break quickly, stamina drains fast, and dodging is often more effective than fighting.

Reviewers like IGN called it “all risk and no reward,” arguing it turns combat into a chore. But players are pushing back. One fan responded: “Dude is looking for gratification in fights in a survival horror game. The reward here is that you’re still alive.”

Others mocked the reviewer for expecting Souls-style combos: “It’s not Dark Souls or DMC so combat is bad 7/10. Nuanced storytelling—what’s that?”

This tug-of-war is everywhere. Some think the clunky melee perfectly suits survival horror, others think it ruins the tension.

Critical Scores vs Fan Reactions

The game’s early reviews highlight this divide. IGN scored it a 7/10, focusing heavily on combat frustrations. That immediately set off the community, since most other outlets scored it higher and some even critique that IGN scoring system is flawed.

Here is the scoring from different Reviewers:
IGN=7/10

GameSpot=90

Eurogamer=80

GAMINGBible=90

Some community responses on these scores are:

• “IGN 7 is usually an 8–9 and IGN 8–9 is usually a 7–6.”
• “Gamespot gave it a 9/10. It’s a buy for me.”
• “The game currently has an 86 on Metacritic after 59 reviews—IGN’s 7 is definitely an outlier.”

Some fans turned their fire not on the game, but the reviewer. Dozens of comments criticized the delivery, tone, and even fact-checking of the IGN video. “Why complain that guns aren’t common in 1960s Japan compared to a fictional American town? 0 credibility.”

Others defended the review, saying a 7/10 was fair if you didn’t click with the combat. But overall, the wider gaming press has landed closer to an 8.5/10 average, making IGN the exception, not the rule.

Editions, Bonuses, and System Requirements

Editions, Bonuses, and System Requirements

Deluxe Edition Contents:

• Full Game
• Digital Artbook
• Digital Soundtrack (MP3/WAV)
• Pink Rabbit Costume

Pre-purchase Bonuses:

• White Sailor School Uniform
• Omamori: Peony (equipable item)
• Item Pack (Shriveled Abura-age, Divine Water, First Aid Kit)
• Deluxe Edition buyers also get 48-hour early access.

System Requirements:

• Minimum: i5-8400 / Ryzen 5 2600, GTX 1070 Ti / RX 5700, 16 GB RAM, SSD recommended.
• Recommended: i7-9700 / Ryzen 5 5500, RTX 2080 / RX 6800XT, 16 GB RAM, SSD required.

Silent Hill F – FAQs

❓ What is the release date of Silent Hill F?

Silent Hill F is set to release on September 25, 2025. Deluxe Edition pre-orders include 48-hour early access, allowing players to start on September 23, 2025.

❓ Is there a Silent Hill F review?

Yes. Early reviews are already live. IGN gave it a 7/10, focusing on clunky melee combat, while outlets like GameSpot scored it higher at 9/10. On Metacritic, Silent Hill F currently averages around 86/100, with most reviews praising its story, atmosphere, and monster design but noting combat as a weak spot.

❓ How much does Silent Hill F cost?

Konami hasn’t officially confirmed the final global price yet, but expect Silent Hill F to be priced around $69.99 USD for the Standard Edition and $79.99 for the Deluxe Edition on Xbox and PlayStation which includes the Digital Artbook, Soundtrack, and Pink Rabbit Costume. On Epic games store it base game is 36.99$ and on Steam it is 25.99$ for the base game.

❓ Is Silent Hill F coming to PS5?

Yes. Silent Hill F will launch on PlayStation 5 alongside PC. The game is also expected to be released on Xbox along with PlayStation 5

❓ Can I pre-order Silent Hill F?

Yes. Pre-orders are live on Steam and PlayStation Store , Xbox as well as Epic Games Store. Pre-order bonuses include:

• White Sailor School Uniform (cosmetic)
• Omamori: Peony (equipable item)
• Item Pack (Shriveled Abura-age, Divine Water, First Aid Kit)
• Deluxe Edition pre-orders also include 48-hour early access.

❓ What is the gameplay like in Silent Hill F?

Silent Hill F is a survival horror game that ditches firearms in favor of melee-only combat. Hinako, the protagonist, uses improvised weapons like pipes, bats, and crowbars, which break over time. Players also manage stamina, sanity, and weapon durability, adding layers of tension.

Beyond combat, the game emphasizes puzzle-solving and exploration in a haunting 1960s Japanese village. Puzzles are story-driven and often tied to folklore, making them a highlight of the experience.

Final Thoughts

Silent Hill F is shaping up to be one of the most divisive horror games in years. Its Japanese setting, disturbing narrative, and grotesque monsters are winning praise, while its melee-focused combat is splitting opinion down the middle.

Fans are excited, critics are arguing, and the community is louder than ever—exactly the kind of conversation you want around a new Silent Hill.

Come September 25, 2025, we’ll see where the dust settles. For now, one thing’s clear: Silent Hill F is bold, unsettling, and impossible to ignore.

🔥 Verdict so far: If you love Silent Hill for its atmosphere, story, and psychological horror, Silent Hill F is a must-play. If combat is a dealbreaker, you may struggle but we can see improvements in the game updates as the community gives feedback.