For nearly three decades, the Silent Hill series has evolved through new protagonists, settings, and approaches to psychological horror. Silent Hill: Townfall continues that tradition by introducing the franchise’s first full-length first-person experience, a new setting outside the typical Silent Hill town, and a cast featuring acclaimed actors from film, television, and games.
While previous entries have largely centered on the town of Silent Hill itself, Townfall takes you to St. Amelia, a remote Scottish island that’s been abandoned by its residents. Although the setting differs, the game continues to explore themes that have long defined the franchise.
You play as Simon, a man with a connection to the island who begins the game armed with nothing more than a handheld CRTV, which serves as an evolution of concepts familiar to longtime fans. Similar to how earlier games used radio signals and environmental cues to build tension, Townfall’s handheld device becomes a central tool for uncovering story details and navigating threats.
These story details are tied to narrative-driven puzzles that will reveal past events or allow you to see how people lived in St. Amelia before it fell into its current state. They go a long way toward filling out the world and adding important details between major plot moments.
When you use the CRTV to detect enemies, you’ll then have to choose how to deal with them. If you’re the type who likes to rush in and destroy as many enemies as you can, there are options for that. You’ll pick up melee weapons that you can use to block or swing in face-to-face combat, or you can use firearms for longer range damage while managing your limited ammo.
For the more cautious among us, stealth is also a viable (and often preferable) option. The first-person perspective limits visibility and heightens the sense of danger, but that’s where the CRTV can help. It allows you to track movement even from behind cover, so you’re not forced to potentially reveal yourself just to figure out where enemies are. You can also use things in the environment to distract enemies and lure them away long enough for you to sneak past.
The sense of tension is heightened by the sound design and music, with all the creaks, cries, and creepy noises you’d expect from the series. Townfall uses a dynamic soundtrack created by Canadian musician Pilotpriest that reacts to actions you and enemies make and shifts with the ebb and flow of combat and stealth.
The voice cast is also a standout, including Emmy Award nominee Jovan Adepo, Emmy winner Terry O’Quinn, and Kezia Burrows from Observation, one of developer Screen Burn’s previous titles. Adepo plays Simon, while O’Quinn plays Richard, a voice beckoning Simon back to the island. Burrows plays Zoe, a former resident of St. Amelia whose voice reaches out to Simon through his CRTV.
The cast brings to life a story that’s haunting for more reasons than just the creepy monsters plaguing the island. It deals with introspection, loss, and the consequences of past decisions, with the island and its current nature shaped by that past.
Silent Hill: Townfall brings several notable firsts for the franchise, but it still focuses on the psychological horror that has defined Silent Hill for nearly 30 years. That combination of new and familiar makes it approachable for series newcomers as well as veterans. It’s out now on PlayStation 5 and PC.