After spending time with Silent Hill f, I honestly think this is one of the strongest horror games the series has had in a very long time. Instead of relying only on nostalgia, the game takes Silent Hill in a completely different direction by moving the setting to 1960s Japan, and surprisingly it works really well. The atmosphere feels different from the older games, but it still keeps that psychological horror feeling the series is known for.

The biggest thing that stood out to me while playing was how uncomfortable the game constantly feels. A lot of horror games rely too much on jumpscares, but Silent Hill f creates fear through atmosphere, sound design, and disturbing visuals. Walking through fog covered streets while hearing strange noises in the distance genuinely kept me tense during long sections of the game. Some of the creature designs are honestly nightmare fuel once the game fully leans into the body horror side.

The story also ended up being much better than I expected. The game focuses heavily on psychological trauma and emotional themes instead of just throwing monsters at you nonstop. I actually got invested in Hinako and what was happening around her, which made certain moments hit harder. The slower pacing will not work for everyone, but personally I think it helps build the atmosphere instead of hurting it.

Combat is probably the weakest part for me though. It’s not terrible, but there were definitely moments where fights felt clunky or more frustrating than scary. Some enemy encounters dragged on longer than they should have, and I found myself enjoying the exploration and horror sections much more than the combat itself.

Visually, the game looks incredible. The mix of beauty and horror is what really makes it stand out. There are scenes that look peaceful at first until you start noticing how twisted everything actually is. The art direction carries a huge part of the experience.

Overall, Silent Hill f feels like a proper revival of the franchise instead of just another attempt to reuse the name. It still has some rough edges, especially with combat, but the atmosphere, writing, and horror design easily make it one of the most memorable horror games I’ve played in quite a while.