Silent Hill: Townfall review – Another unique and brilliant entry into the seminal horror series

At one point it seemed like we’d never get a Silent Hill game again, but now, with Silent Hill: Townfall, we’ve had three in three years. Even better, it continues the trend of them being quite brilliant, too. Developed by Screen Burn (previously No Code), this latest entry in the survival horror series once again is quite a departure from what has come before in numerous ways, but it will utterly enthral Silent Hill and horror fans alike.

Like most Silent Hill games, the story at the heart of Silent Hill: Townfall is its biggest asset. Taking control of a man called Simon Ordell, you wake up on the shores of St. Amelia, a Scottish town that seems eerily quiet. As you begin to explore you’ll see signs that something terrible has happened, but why exactly are you there? That’s something you’ll be trying to work out for most of the game, with a great effort put in by Screen Burn to keep things mysterious.

Aside from the unique setting, there are other things that make Silent Hill: Townfall stand out from previous games in the series. It’s played entirely from a first-person viewpoint, for example, which heightens the tension as you explore the picturesque yet foreboding streets and dark interiors. There’s an emphasis on stealth, too, with you able to crouch to lower your profile and move more silently. You can even lean to get a peek of the horrors that might be waiting for you around a corner.

Perhaps the most unique thing about Silent Hill: Townfall, though, is how it makes a handheld CRT TV an essential survival tool. With the push of a button you can raise it up, and by tuning into the correct frequencies you can track nearby enemies. Sometimes you’ll also detect frequencies that might give you a clue as to where you need to go next. Just don’t get too reliant on it, as there are moments in the game where it won’t be at your disposal.

Despite all the things Silent Hill: Townfall does to stand out, though, it still very much looks and feels like a Silent Hill game. So, while there’s not a great deal of enemy variety, they’re are all suitably grotesque and very symbolic. Meanwhile, the town of St. Amelia is quaint, shrouded in heavy fog, and manages to fill you with trepidation while also drawing you to explore.

Ultimately, the vibe of Silent Hill: Townfall is very similar to that of Silent Hill 2, which can only be a good thing in my eyes. And there are other similarities, too, such as the fact you’ll be making use of wooden planks and steel pipes to batter enemies. Be careful though, because they will eventually break. And while there are some firearms available, ammo is limited, and using them draws enemy attention, which you definitely do not want.

Being a survival horror game, there’s a big emphasis on resource management here, as well as hunting down items and solving puzzles. In fact, the puzzles of Silent Hill: Townfall are one of its biggest assets, with plenty of them being extremely tricky but also very rewarding to solve. Put it this way: you’ll certainly need to put your thinking cap on to make it to the end – this isn’t a game that holds your hand.

Playing on PS5 Pro for review, Silent Hill: Townfall looks stunning – it’s pretty much photorealistic at times. There is the occasional bit of stutter, though, which will hopefully be dealt with at or shortly after launch. In any case, it shouldn’t really affect your enjoyment of the game all that much. The voice acting is superb, too, really helping to draw you into the harrowing story at the heart of the experience.

The only thing I’m not particularly enamoured by in Silent Hill: Townfall is one bothersome enemy which will insta-kill you should it catch you. It makes you more fearful of it, sure, but it also leads to some undue frustration if you’re not careful. There is at least an IV bag system that allows you to revive on the spot should you die, but like most things in the game, they’re limited.

It will likely take you around 12-14 hours to complete your first playthrough of Silent Hill: Townfall, and thanks to New Game Plus as well as multiple endings to discover, chances are you’ll play through it multiple times. What’s more, with its gripping story, tense encounters and challenging yet varied puzzles you’ll be on the edge of your seat throughout. This is yet another unique and brilliant entry in the Silent Hill series.