While it’s always smart to do your homework, you don’t need to know Silent Hill’s 26-year history to dive into its latest installment — Konami has confirmed that Silent Hill f is a standalone experience.

Despite being dormant for over a decade, 2024 marked a major turning point for the Japanese horror franchise. After Konami introduced a “new era” with a Silent Hill 2 remake and a handful of original titles, it was Silent Hill f that truly caught fans’ attention. Not only is this the first time a Chinese studio has taken the reins, but it’s also set to be entirely self-contained — no prior knowledge of the franchise’s 26-year backstory required.

This was made official through a recent social media post, in which Konami emphasized that Silent Hill f is “a completely new title, independent of the series” and is designed to be played by newcomers who have never touched a Silent Hill game. The storyline intentionally avoids classic characters like James Sunderland or Heather Mason, opting instead for a fresh perspective on psychological horror.

Silent Hill f Breaks Away From the Series Timeline

This new direction is echoed in the setting. Taking place in 1960s rural Japan, Silent Hill f embraces a surreal and stylized visual tone, heavily influenced by natural decay and Japanese folklore. The village of Ebisugaoka, which already left a chilling impression in the March teaser trailer, will serve as the main stage for this unsettling tale.

While the game discards the narrative continuity, it still preserves familiar elements like the Otherworld. However, creative director Al Yang has said they’re reimagining this concept to make it both eerie and emotionally resonant. One of the focal points will be the Dark Sanctuary — a grim, almost ritualistic location hiding malevolent forces behind a calm facade.

Silent Hill f is set to launch on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, although a release date is still unknown. So far, fans only have a single trailer to go on, but with Ryukishi07 at the helm of the narrative, expectations are sky-high.

Source: 3djuegos