It seems any game with a dodge button gets slapped with the "Souls-like" label these days. Developers aren’t always happy about this quick judgment. The team behind the upcoming Silent Hill f is now speaking up, making it clear their game is not what some people think it is.
During a chat with Gamesradar+ at gamescom 2025, producer Motoi Okamoto and director Al Yang addressed the comparisons head-on. Okamoto explained that even with melee combat in the game, its heart lies elsewhere. He was firm that Silent Hill f should not be put in the Souls-like box.
“We see a lot of people calling [Silent Hill] a Souls-like game, which we disagree with,” Okamoto said. Yang jumped in to pinpoint the source of the confusion. “When you have stamina, have the ability to dodge, other people will think, ‘Ah, this is a Souls-like’.”
So, if it’s not about tough-as-nails combat, what is the focus? According to the developers, it’s all about the story. “What we want to emphasize is that the core experience of the game will heavily focus on the game’s script, which is handled by Ryukishi07,” Okamoto stated through an interpreter. He even gave a tip for the best way to play. “For the best experience, we recommend everyone try playing on the Story difficulty mode.”
The game’s mechanics are also rooted in the series’ own history, not other genres. “But honestly, we went back to look at many classic Silent Hill games to bring back that kind of experience,” Yang explained. He brought up a specific example from a past game. “In part 4, there was a Charge bar in the game, which serves the same function in this game.”
The team’s goal is to create a fresh take that honors the franchise’s past. Yang summed it up nicely. “Even though Silent Hill f is something new, it will still provide the atmosphere and feeling of a classic entry.”
Silent Hill f is set to launch on September 25 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.