Filled with promise and looking delightfully disturbing, Silent Hill f has garnered quite a bit of excitement since its official reveal this year. The goodwill Konami established with the Silent Hill 2 remake has helped with this positive buzz, of course, but Silent Hill f is appealing for a number of other reasons as well, such as its radical pivot to a rural Japanese setting, and its decidedly terrifying visuals.
But perhaps more than anything, hardcore horror fans are excited about Silent Hill f because of the involvement of Ryukishi07, one of Japan's most iconic horror authors. A self-proclaimed longtime fan of the Silent Hill franchise, Ryukishi07 is well-known for his unique and evocative writing style that, while perhaps not a direct sibling of Silent Hill's, is at least a close cousin. Ryukishi07's most prominent work is the When They Cry series, a visual novel franchise that the writer built from the ground-up after becoming disillusioned with his job as a Japanese civil servant. For those seeking a taste of what they might expect from Silent Hill f, When They Cry is required reading, not just because it's a sneak peek at Ryukishi07's skills, but also because it's a truly brilliant piece of horror literature.
The first entry in the When They Cry series, Higurashi When They Cry Ch. 1: Onikakushi, is available for free on Steam.
Why Silent Hill f Could Make or Break the Franchise
Silent Hill f looks promising, and one can only hope that it lives up to high expectations, for the sake of the franchise as a whole.
When They Cry Is a Horror Masterpiece
It's very hard to discuss When They Cry without spoiling it, but perhaps the best way to think about it would be as a precursor to Doki Doki Literature Club, in the sense that it subverts the expectations of the visual novel genre to create a discomfiting, uncanny experience. But even that elevator-pitch description is a bit of a disservice, as When They Cry is far more subtle and effective with its various twists and turns than DDLC, which should be taken as high praise.
Be forewarned: When They Cry is a slow burn. The games lean heavily into the slice-of-slice elements of most romance VNs or casual anime franchises, making the reader as comfortable as possible before ripping that comfort away in tragically impactful fashion. The subversion itself is a key part of When They Cry, but the specifics of the story, the personalities of each character, the pacing, and Ryukishi07's strong, simple prose also play invaluable roles in making the series so effective. It is uncomfortable, eerie, and disturbing in both explicit and nuanced ways.
When They Cry also makes one of the strongest arguments for visual novels being respected pieces of mainstream art. The genre is often criticized by both gamers and readers, with the former lamenting its intentional and complete lack of gameplay and the former arguing that it's merely an adulterated form of traditional literature. In reality, visual novels, when done right, leverage atmosphere, sound, visual stimuli, and POV for affecting storytelling, and this is exemplified by When They Cry.
Why When They Cry Is Perfect for Silent Hill Fans
As previously noted, When They Cry shares some similarities with Silent Hill, and perhaps the most significant parallel between the two stories is their focus on subjectivity and emotional tumult. In Higurashi When They Cry, protagonist Keiichi isn't portrayed as a stalwart hero: he is a vulnerable young man who goes through a great deal of complex emotions throughout the narrative, doubting others and himself, making excuses, and generally navigating messy battles of the heart. This character-centric approach, and the sensitivity with which it is handled, is quite akin to the psychological deep dives of many Silent Hill games. Both franchises are bold, clever, and emotionally generous in spite of their disturbing subject matter, and that's what makes them both so uniquely special.
Silent Hill f
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 86 /100 Critics Rec: 87%
- Released
- September 25, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity
- Developer(s)
- Neobards Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Konami
WHERE TO PLAY
In 1960s Japan, Shimizu Hinako's secluded town of Ebisugaoka is consumed by a sudden fog, transforming her home into a haunting nightmare.
As the town falls silent and the fog thickens, Hinako must navigate the twisted paths of Ebisugaoka, solving complex puzzles and confronting grotesque monsters to survive.
Immerse yourself into Hinako's world imagined by renowned author Ryukishi07, with entrancing music, including pieces by Akira Yamaoka, and beautiful visuals in a gripping tale of doubt, regret, and inescapable choices. Will Hinako embrace the beauty hidden within terror, or succumb to the madness that lies ahead?
Discover a new chapter in the SILENT HILL series, blending psychological horror with a haunting Japanese setting.
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Franchise
- Silent Hill
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Playable
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Action
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
