Silent Hill f is officially on the way, and we only have a few months to wait for its arrival, with a September release date also confirmed. We've gone hands-on with the first five hours of Silent Hill f, spoken with the developers, and seen plenty more details as well, and we've come away confident that it's set to be one of the biggest upcoming horror games on the near horizon.
Combining that will what we already know (courtesy of the recent Konami Press Start presentation) means we already know a surprising amount about this otherwise enigmatic survival horror. While the vibes are as Silent Hill as ever, the 1960s Japanese setting is a big departure from the American towns we're used to.
Playing as a young schoolgirl called Hinako, the new game also promises to be more action orientated than 2024's Silent Hill 2 remake. For a full overview of everything that's been revealed about Silent Hill f in the lead up to launch, read on below.
Silent Hill f release date confirmed
Silent Hill f is set to release on September 25, 2025.
The release date was revealed during our very first look at Silent Hill f in action during a gameplay trailer in the State of Play June showcase. Konami also confirmed following the showcase that it's a standalone entry that can be enjoyed by those new to the series, but there will be plenty of Easter eggs for longtime fans, too.
Silent Hill f platforms
It's been confirmed that Silent Hill f will launch on PC, Xbox Series X, and PS5!
Having an Xbox confirmation is big news, especially considering how the 2024 Silent Hill 2 remake was a PC and PlayStation exclusive. It also seems like every gamer will have access to the title on day one, as no exclusivity deals have been mentioned either. Currently, you can already wishlist the title on your platform of choice!
What platform we are still waiting on, however, is the Switch and Switch 2. We are holding out hope that Silent Hill f gets added to our list of upcoming Switch 2 games in the future. But as it currently stands, Nintendo is avoiding all the nightmares and mayhem for now. Seeing the game in action, the fidelity of the world is very high, so expect it to be demanding.
We'll keep you posted if any news heads our way. In the meantime, if you need something to hold you over while you wait for a release, you can also check out our list of the best Silent Hill games to play today.
Silent Hill f trailer
PlayStation revealed a new Silent Hill f trailer in March 2025 and its a dozy. Running for almost four minutes long we are treated to cinematic shots of the game's setting, the fictional town of Ebisugaoka, Japan, and we get to meet our protagonist, the high school student Hinako Shimizu.
The town is ominous from the get-go in the trailer, immersed in a thick fog that soon has Hinako wandering around empty streets. However, things really kick off when we spot some Red Spider Lilies blooming (you know that flower that symbolizes death?). Hinako is transported to another plane of existence, walking through a temple that seems to be filled with a myriad of monsters.
While not much is given away in terms of story, the trailer does promise one thing: expect to be creeped out. If you doubt that fact, make sure you rewatch the last few seconds of the teaser above, they end things with a gruesome punch as Hinako's skin starts peeling off her face. Delightful!
Silent Hill f story and setting
Silent Hill f is an original story, meaning that you won't need to have played any of the previous games in the series ahead of its release. It's also the first Silent Hill game to give us a story set in Japan! That's right; we are moving away from the titular New England town seen in Konami's past main-line entries to a new continent.
During this upcoming horror game, you'll be navigating the Japanese town of Ebisugaoka during the 1960s. A fun fact: the town of Ebisugaoka is based on a real place called Kanayama, Gero, in the Gifu Prefecture. Written by Japanese author and artist Ryukishi07, the story of Silent Hill f will follow the high schooler Hinako Shimizu, who lives an ordinary life until a mysterious fog engulfs her town and begins to change it in horrific ways. Separate from her friends, she has to find them while trying to escape from the town, all while finding out more about the individual fears that haunt them all.
"When it comes to exploring time periods, if you go too far back in time it obviously becomes so detached from our familiar reality that it basically becomes a fantasy, whereas the present, of course, is very much grounded in reality and there's really no room for interpretation, because everything is very clear cut," Ryukishi07 tells us when we ask about the choice of time period. "I've grown very fond and mesmerized by the possibilities that arise from the period in between the past and present, where those two ideas of fantasy and reality will intersect. [...] When it comes to Silent Hill f the types of themes that I was exploring, the themes that I wanted to portray for Silent Hill f, I believe that that crossroads landed right around the 1960s."
Along with the foggy town, the teaser for Silent Hill f shows Hinako being transported to shrines that echo the game's Japanese setting, diving into some mythology and history as well. From the trailer, we know that there will be some psychological elements at play throughout Hinako's journey as well. The teaser has a voice-over asking us if we "want to stay with our friends forever" before discussing how they may betray us and that it's up to us to decide their worth.
From our time playing the game, it's clear that a lot of the psychological horror in Silent Hill f is drawn from the pressures around Hinako to grow up, especially when it comes to the 1960s pressures for young women. Haunting radio messages, girl mags, and other journal comments often revolve around the expectations society has on the value of women when it comes to marriage and housekeeping.
Silent Hill f's director Al Yang also said during the PlayStation June State of Play 2025 that it was "absolutely critical" for the team not to "merely copy" previous Silent Hill games, but to "really understand what key atmospheric elements define the classic Silent Hill titles were, in order to evolve them".
With that said, during our hands-on, series producer Motoi Okamoto did say that "the influence of Silent Hill 2 is probably the most present" before elaborating that "simply just repurposing Silent Hill 2 too closely will quickly lead players to get bored of the project. So rather than simply repeating, we try our best to make [the series] more versatile."
Silent Hill f gameplay
Like every other Silent Hill game, Silent Hill f is a survival horror game that will have you solving puzzles and trying not to die as gruesome monsters wander around the map, poised to kill you if given the chance.
Slowly exploring the fogged up map, you're kept on a somewhat rigid path with side bits to explore as you have to make it to each objective, usually following in the footsteps of your school friends. Once there, you have to explore denser areas, ranging from real world locations like schools, to strange foggy expanses, and a huge shrine that seems to fill the role of earlier games' Otherworlds.
Beyond simply enemies blocking the way are plenty of puzzles and riddles. Scriptwriter Ryukishi07 has even been involved with the puzzle design to ensure that no conundrum is there for the sake of it, but actually adds to the narrative design. They always tell you something more about the world, its characters, and the tapestry of relationships they share. So far we've been impressed with the variety of puzzles on offer.
In an official PlayStation blog post following the showcase, Konami producer Motoi Okamoto detailed the team's approach for Silent Hill f's feel and gameplay, revealing that the "puzzles are grounded in psychological anguish and suffering. These are deeply connected to the story by scriptwriter Ryukishi07, as well as elements of Japanese culture, such as scarecrows".
We also got to play plenty of combat sections. We're told by the developers the entire game is limited to melee, with most weapons in the real world being destructible too. Hinako has a surprising amount of options during a scuffle, including the ability to perfect dodge to activate slow down, charge up a focus-bar-draining special attack, and to counterattack enemies when they glow a special color. She can even switch between light and heavy attacks depending on how much time you have to wind-up a strike. With narrower streets than the US, the idea is that Hinako "has no choice but to confront fears head-on" and must use "adrenaline" to survive.
Collectibles range from notes that reveal more about the complicated story and recovery items like food. Some of the latter can be traded in at shrines to earn Faith, which can be redeemed to increase Hinako's stats and get equipment that provides buffs, such as enhancing evasion, defence, or stealth capabilities.
The developers have also confirmed with us there will be multiple endings to Silent Hill f, including the series' iconic UFO ending. The first playthrough, however, will always go the same way. Repeat playthroughs will add elements like new branching pathways, bosses, and, of course, lore. It seems that to get the true experience, you'll need to play more than once, suggesting the overall plot of Silent Hill f may incorporate some kind of looping nature.
For more, check out our selection of the best survival games to play today while you wait for Silent Hill f to arrive.
Can you pre-order Silent Hill f?
Yes! Currently, pre-orders are live for physical copies of Silent Hill f on PS5 and Xbox Series X.
The game is currently up on Amazon and Best Buy's (for US readers) storefronts. At the time of writing, there is only one edition of the game available, and it costs $69.99/ £69.99.
You can also currently pre-order the digitally on PC (via Steam), or on the PS5 and Xbox Series storefronts.
For more future releases, check out our guides on all the upcoming PS5 games and upcoming Xbox Series X games racing towards us.
