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It’s time for our annual countdown to award the very best games this year had to offer. Over the next ten days, we’ll count down our top ten games of 2025.
As always, the votes of each Press Start team member, weighted from #10 through to #1, were collated to compile our collective very best for the year that was. Games worthy of one’s top spot would be awarded a maximum of 10 points, and the values would descend to their tenth selection, which would receive a single point.
After sensing that the Silent Hill franchise had succumbed to a relatively bland westernisation throughout its most recent iterations, which perhaps explained their lukewarm reception, Konami decided to ensure that Silent Hill f would be an authentic Japanese horror in absolutely every sense. In perhaps the most surprising move, they opted to move the franchise away from the foggy, titular town, seen in a restless dream, before settling on a quaint, rural Japanese town.
By enlisting Ryukishi07, a writer with a handle on the macabre nature of Japanese horror, Silent Hill f recaptured the dread and tone the series had long been known for, wrapping it partly in some outdated, uncomfortable aspects of Japan’s culture, while retaining the series’ common threads of tackling its characters’ inner demons.
Silent Hill f became a critical darling and became the fastest-selling title in the franchise to date, proving right Konami’s inkling that the series was in dire need of a shot in the arm. After a stretch of watching Resident Evil lurch from strength to strength, it’s wonderful to see Konami string together a couple of strong outings for their horror IP after Bloober Team’s reimagining of Silent Hill 2 earned a place in our Game of the Year last year.
Harry Says
“In many ways, it feels as though the odds were stacked against Silent Hill f. Series legacy aside, f’s reimagining of the titular town within the framework of rural Japan is a bold one, electing to delve into horrors that are closer to home for Silent Hill than those of other games in the franchise. It’s a risk that ultimately pays off, lending greatly to Silent Hill’s core conceit without losing any of the identity that makes it special.
This setting, combined with one of the best horror protagonists in recent memory and a story that gets right under your skin, makes for an unforgettable psychological horror experience. Silent Hill f is a confident, haunting, and unsettling return from one of gaming’s greatest, opening the door to what is hopefully a well-earned resurgence after years of hapless floundering.”
In our review, James scored Silent Hill f a 9 out of 10, stating:
“Silent Hill f resoundingly demonstrates a clear grasp of what makes Silent Hill work. Its storytelling is equal parts sinister and restrained, bolstered by a combat system that’s simple but satisfying. Throw in some challenging boss battles, and you’ve got a Silent Hill experience that meaningfully expands on the original games.
It’s a subtly scary adventure that dares to be different, while at the same time retaining the core that makes Silent Hill so special. While some elements and the difficulty might be grating for people, and the skill system is bizarrely undercooked, Silent Hill f is an enjoyable and chilling experience from beginning to end, and unlike anything you’ve ever played.”
On the review aggregator Metacritic, Silent Hill f is resting at an average of 86.
Congratulations to Konami for earning a place in our top ten for 2025.
Game of the Year 2025
#7 – Silent Hill f
