Silent Hill Franchise at a Crossroads

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Excitement for the future of Silent Hill has been renewed over the course of the past year, doubly so following the reveal trailer for Silent Hill f, the first new, non-remake entry in the series since Silent Hill: Downpour. Of course, that’s if one omits Silent Hill: The Short Message from 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 for Silent 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 on Silent 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 for Silent Hill narrative 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 of Silent Hill. Such questions could be even more pronounced come Silent Hill: Townfall.

Silent Hill Is at a Crossroads with f, Townfall

Silent Hill: Townfall Could Determine the Series’ Ongoing Setting

Currently, very little is known about “Silent Hill: Townfall,” except that it’s being developed by Scottish studio No Code in partnership with Annapurna Interactive. During the same event, both “Townfall” and “Silent Hill f” along with “Ascension” were unveiled, making “Townfall” the least detailed of the three titles, and it’s expected to be clarified soon.

But when viewed alongside Silent Hill f, the most pressing question about Townfall is with respect to its setting. There’s no reason to assume that Townfall will be set beyond the town of Silent Hill, and this adherence to series tradition would make Silent Hill f‘s dramatic setting shift all the more jarring and meaningful. Put another way, if Townfall takes place in Silent Hill itself, Silent Hill f will be even more unique. Moreover, Silent Hill f would 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 teaser strongly 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

If Silent Hill: Townfall does indeed take place in the series’ namesake, the lore implications would be significant. There has been plenty of theorizing about if and how Silent Hill f will incorporate already-established worldbuilding elements, such as The Order, which transformed Silent Hill into the hellscape seen in the games. It’s been posited that Silent Hill f could be the seed for 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 if Townfall were to be set in Silent Hill proper. Were Townfall to take place in another distinct location, it would effectively establish Silent Hill as a franchise unrooted from physical space: Silent Hill could become more like an anthology, the name itself carrying a spiritual or metaphorical meaning rather than a literal one. Silent Hill f would 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.

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2025-03-17 17:34