Excitement for the future ofSilent Hillhas been renewed over the course of the past year, doubly so following the reveal trailer forSilent Hill f, the first new, non-remake entry in the series sinceSilent Hill: Downpour. Of course, that’s if oneomitsSilent Hill: The Short Messagefrom their memory, which seems to be the case for many.
It’s not just a sense of novelty or franchise fanaticism that has players hyped forSilent Hill f:the story, which is penned by renowned author Ryukishi07, will be the first game in the series set in Japan, taking place in the fictional village of Ebisugaoka. Ryukishi07 has commented onSilent Hill f’s more explicitly Japanese themes, such as the notion of horror coming by way of overwhelming beauty or perfection, which certainly seems like great fodder forSilent Hillnarrative beats and enemies, and the isolated, unfamiliar nature of Ebisugaoka is sure to ratchet up the tension, especially for non-Japanese players. But more than anything, this fundamental shift in setting raises a lot of questions about the broader lore and future ofSilent Hill. Such questions could be even more pronounced comeSilent Hill: Townfall.
Silent Hill Is at a Crossroads with f, Townfall
Silent Hill: Townfall Could Determine the Series' Ongoing Setting
At the time of writing, virtually nothing has been revealed aboutSilent Hill: Townfallaside from the fact that it’s being developed by Glasgow outfit No Code and published in collaboration with Annapurna Interactive.Townfallwas revealed during the same showcase asSilent Hill fandAscension, making it the most mysterious title of the trio, and likely to be illuminated relatively soon.
But when viewed alongsideSilent Hill f, themost pressing question aboutTownfallis with respect to its setting. There’s no reason to assume thatTownfallwill be set beyond the town of Silent Hill, and this adherence to series tradition would makeSilent Hill f’s dramatic setting shift all the more jarring and meaningful. Put another way, ifTownfalltakes place in Silent Hill itself,Silent Hill fwill be even more unique. Moreover,Silent Hill fwould become the only non-USA-based game in the franchise, making it either a black sheep or a spearhead.
Silent Hill: Townfall’s brief 2022 teaserstrongly suggests a direct connection to Silent Hill itself, with hidden messages referencing “this town,” and obfuscated dialog possibly referencing Alessa Gillespie, a character with an inextricable link to the series' titular setting.
What Silent Hill: Townfall’s Setting Could Mean
IfSilent Hill: Townfalldoes indeed take place in the series' namesake, the lore implications would be significant. There has been plenty of theorizing about if and howSilent Hill fwill incorporate already-established worldbuilding elements, such as The Order, which transformed Silent Hill into the hellscape seen in the games. It’s been posited thatSilent Hill fcould be the seedfor a new narrative tree, perhaps kicking off another “Silent Hill” town, only in Japan rather than in Maine.
This theory would be far more plausible ifTownfallwere to be set in Silent Hill proper. WereTownfallto take place in another distinct location, it would effectively establishSilent Hillas a franchise unrooted from physical space:Silent Hillcould become more like an anthology, the name itself carrying a spiritual or metaphorical meaning rather than a literal one.Silent Hill fwould be far more refreshing, yes, but it would also indicate Konami’s loose plans for the future of the franchise, and how the company hopes to handle the fictional town that was its sole stage for so long.
Silent Hill f
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.
