As more gameplay details for "Silent Hill f" (サイレントヒルf) trickle out, a burning question has been haunting fans: Is this new horror entry secretly a Souls-like game? Well, Konami is finally putting those rumors to rest. At Gamescom 2025, producer Motoi Okamoto stepped up to officially declare: "'Silent Hill f' is NOT a Souls-like game."
"Silent Hill f" is set in 1960s Japan, casting players as Hinako Shimizu, a young girl grappling with horrific threats stemming from family, peer, and societal pressures. The game boasts a close-quarters combat system where players can dodge, unleash light and heavy attacks, and extend their counterattack opportunities using a special "focus mode."
Since Hinako is just an ordinary girl, her attacks are deliberately slow and weighty, giving combat a gritty, realistic feel. This design choice has led some players to draw parallels with challenging action games like "Sekiro."
▼Fans have even created GIFs like this online:
However, Okamoto didn't mince words in an interview with IGN, calling the "Souls-like" label "dishonest." "Players now, the moment they see a stamina bar or a dodge, immediately scream 'Souls-like'," he explained. "But honestly, many of our design choices are rooted in the classic 'Silent Hill' series. Take 'Silent Hill 4''s charge attack bar, for instance – it's quite similar to our focus system. And 'Silent Hill 3' even had a stamina bar!"
He doubled down, stressing that these elements have been staples in action horror games for ages, long before the Souls-like genre took off. "These aren't new concepts, nor are they exclusive to Souls-like games," Okamoto asserted. "If a game gets slapped with the 'Souls-like' tag just for having a dodge and a stamina bar, it completely misses what we're actually going for. Let us be crystal clear: 'Silent Hill f' is an action horror game, full stop. It's not a Souls-like."
Konami had previously hinted that they were beefing up combat elements to appeal to younger players who crave high-challenge action games. That statement initially sparked some debate within the community, but with Okamoto's recent clarification, the official word is out, hopefully putting an end to the speculation.
"Silent Hill f" is slated to launch on September 25, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
via： IGN