Silent Hill f differs from other installments in the series with its unusual setting — the action unfolds in 1960s Japan. Producer Motoi Okamoto emphasized in an interview at Gamescom 2025 that the choice of decade was not accidental.
This time symbolizes strong pressure on women, but at the same time — the first steps towards change and the growth of the movement for their rights.
The main character, Hinako Shimizu, is described as a young girl pushed to the margins of society for refusing to submit to expectations: early marriage, motherhood, and obedience to the family. At the center of the story is her struggle with isolation and her attempt to turn trauma into a source of strength. This approach directly refers to the tradition of Silent Hill, where characters face nightmares that reflect real inner wounds.
The 1960s were also chosen as a convenient balance between the past and the present. According to game director Al Yang, this is a time when people recognize the telephone, but many have never held a rotary dial phone. This combination of the recognizable and the distant creates fertile ground for psychological horror based on both memory and symbols.
Okamoto added:
"The 60s were a time when such oppression prevailed, but also became an important stage in the history of women's movements in Japan. That's why recognizable objects coexist with a sense of myth."
Silent Hill f will be released on September 25, 2025 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
