The next chapter in the Silent Hill saga, Silent Hill f, is just four months away, promising to bring a fresh yet controversial gameplay experience to fans of the franchise. Revealed during the June 2025 PlayStation State of Play, the game will launch on September 25 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
One of the biggest talking points is the confirmed shift towards more action-oriented gameplay with a stronger emphasis on melee combat. According to producer Motoi Okamoto’s recent PlayStation Blog post, Silent Hill f aims to challenge players with intense enemy encounters and “unique combat” mechanics that stand in contrast to the 2024 Silent Hill 2 remake.
A Shift from Psychological Horror to Action
While Silent Hill 2 remake was already known for leaning more into action than earlier titles, Silent Hill f seems to take this trend even further. This has stirred a debate among fans: some are excited for the increased combat depth and faster pacing, especially with the game’s intriguing Japanese setting and new characters. Others, however, worry this might come at the cost of the franchise’s signature psychological horror and puzzle-driven gameplay.
Okamoto reassures fans that puzzles and psychological elements will still play a major role, promising they will be “grounded in psychological anguish and suffering.” This balance could help preserve the eerie atmosphere that makes Silent Hill unique, despite the gameplay shift.
What Fans Can Expect
The recently released trailer showcased new weapons, enemies, and areas of the eerie town of Ebisugaoka, highlighting the blend of exploration and combat players will experience. With the game launching across multiple platforms soon, fan anticipation remains high—but the divisive gameplay direction is likely to be a hot topic within the community.
As Silent Hill f approaches its release, the move toward action-heavy melee combat marks a significant evolution for the series. Whether this will enhance or detract from the Silent Hill experience depends largely on how well the game balances new gameplay with the franchise’s iconic psychological horror roots. Fans will soon have their chance to explore Ebisugaoka and decide for themselves.