Highlights
- Konami's announcement of three new Silent Hill games in 2022 signals the long-awaited comeback of the iconic horror franchise.
- The new titles have the potential to take Silent Hill in new and interesting directions, but fans may be disappointed if they don't capture the essence of the original games.
- The success of these new games could lead to a future for Silent Hill similar to Resident Evil , with a combination of remakes and new releases.
Silent Hill is poised to make a comeback after years of silence from the landmark horror franchise. Konami dropped a bombshell when it announced three new horror video games within the world of Silent Hill all at once in the latter half of 2022. Very little is known about the gameplay of these titles at the moment, but it definitely seems as though Konami is attempting to cover a lot of new territory with the franchise moving forward.
Such a large number of new Silent Hill games coming in a short window of time makes sense considering how long fans of the series have been waiting to get anything new. All of the new titles also allow for the franchise to branch out in new and interesting directions, but it does come with some concerns as well. The return of Silent Hill and its many potential new paths could potentially be a double-edged knife, so hopefully Konami is well aware of the risks of its experiments.
New Territory Can Be Promising, But Scary for Silent Hill
After such a long waiting period between the last main-series Silent Hill game and now, many fans are probably hoping for something new as much as they're hoping for something familiar. While little is known about the actual gameplay of Silent Hill f or Silent Hill Townfall at the moment, it seems as though there's potential for the games to take dramatically different directions than what's known for the franchise. When it comes to Silent Hill f and its Japanese setting, the franchise seems to be making a fairly large departure. Fan reception towards these announcements is largely warm right now, but some disappointment may arrive when the games actually launch if they don't feel enough like the Silent Hill many are hoping for.
Another element of pressure being layered onto these titles is the elevated expectations raised after the cancellation of Hideo Kojima's Silent Hills. The PT demo was such a large moment in horror gaming, both for the quality of the demo and the drama that followed Konami and Hideo Kojima's falling out, that it seems almost impossible for fans to not compare anything new to what could have been. After all, PT was also boundary-pushing for the franchise, and it seemed rich with potential for the IP.
The Future of Silent Hill Looks Bright and Bleak
It seems like Konami is fairly aware of the potential risks involved with the future of the franchise, however, which is what makes the announcement of both new titles along with the Silent Hill 2 remake smart. It gives the diehard fans something familiar, and frankly, a game that's been in need of some modern updates thanks to the wear and tear of time. That remake can also potentially usher in a new era. The interactive experience Silent Hill Ascension, which promises to forever alter the lore of the series, certainly makes it seem as though a new era is almost here.
If this new series of Silent Hill titles winds up being successful, it seems likely that Konami may wind up taking a Resident Evil-like approach toward its flagship horror franchise in the future, with a similar release pattern that alternates between remakes of older titles and the addition of new main series titles. It definitely feels as though the future of the franchise could be bleak, which is a good thing in Silent Hill terms. If Konami plays its cards right, that bleakness can lead into a happy Silent Hill community.
Silent Hill f is in development.