Summary
Silent Hillremains one of the most influentialhorror gamefranchises of all games, thanks to its creative approach to the genre. Introducing the twisted grotesque and inspired ‘other world’ populated by rusted metal and fleshly abominations that barely resemble humans,Silent Hillis lauded by gamers and critics around the world.
With newSilent Hillgames finally dawning on the horizon following the cancelation ofSilent Hillsalmost a decade ago, now is the best time to pay homage to the games that kept the spirit of the franchise alive over the years.
Updated June 01, 2025, by Mara Cowley:By now, most Silent Hill fans have already 100% completed the Silent Hill 2 remake, and are eagerly awaiting the next project to emerge. While waiting, fans could always play older games in the franchise, or pick up a new horror game that encapsulates one or more elements that make the Silent Hill franchise so fantastic. Whether it’s the clunky combat system, an undeniably smothering atmosphere, or hitting certain tones of the narrative, thesegames like Silent Hillare sure to scratch the urge while waiting for the next title.
The 2024 remakeofAlone in the Darkwas hotly anticipated, as the franchise had been dormant for some time. Though it was viewed as a disappointment by many series fans, it is still a serviceable horror game if people are looking for something in a similar vein to theSilent Hillfranchise. In this installment, Emily Hartwood and Edward Carnby travel to the Derceto Manor to look into the disappearance of Emily’s Uncle Jeremy, and stumble upon a much bigger conspiracy than either could have anticipated.
The sleepy Louisiana setting can be likened to the quiet and empty city of Silent Hill containing only a few NPCs to stop and chat with, before they have to arm themselves to fight off the horrifying and inhuman monsters that prowl the streets.
The city of Oakmont became subjected to a flood that seemed more of a supernatural disaster than a natural one, bringing with it madness and monsters that are pushing this town towards extinction. Six months after this, Charles Reed is summoned there to look into the nightmarish visions haunting some of the citizens, as well as Reed himself. While investigating, he uncovers a conspiracy to summon forth Cthylla, daughter of Cthulhu and Idh-yaa.
Eldritch gods are a far cry fromSilent Hillgames, but there are otherworldly monsters aplenty to fight in these games that could be eldritch if squinted at, but it is more the mist-filled location that will make these players feel most at home. It circles in nearly every explorable area of the game, bringing with it a familiar feeling of dread, as it shrouds what could be hiding up ahead.
One of the most beloved and popular indie horror games of all time,Amnesia: the Dark Descentholds a special place in the hearts of many players, and is a must-play for fans of the genre. Suffering from a severe case of amnesia, player character Daniel exploresthe dark and eerie castleBrennenberg as the mysterious shadow grows ever closer, and monsters stalk the corridors. He pieces together the events that led to his memory loss through visions and scraps of diary entries scattered throughout the castle.
What makesThe Dark Descent so great is that the developers absolutely nailed the atmosphere, as exploring the castle by lantern light is a blood-chilling experience, and one fans of certainSHtitles are familiar with. What’s more, the amnesia storyline somewhat reflects James’s story inSilent Hill 2, as he has a very selective memory when it comes to Mary’s actual cause of death.
This original psychological horror game features a silent protagonist trying their best to survive in a city that has fallen to theravages of a disease, turning anyone infected into a shambling monster. Supplies are running low and the protagonists' mental state is worsening as they cling to what little embers of hope remain in what seems like a hopeless situation, with no sign that things will change, and that this is what the rest of their life will be like.
Hallucinations, shambling monsters, a fragile mental state, and a sense of isolation in a city populated by creatures are all quintessential ingredients of anySilent Hillgame, butLone Survivorincorporates them without feeling too derivative. It’s a game with its own identity that will feel familiar but also new and exciting to any Konami horror fans.
Many studios have set out to capture the magic of classic games on new hardware with fixed camera angles, inventory management and scarce resources.Hollowbodyis one such game that manages this masterfully, resulting in a game that is certainly reminiscent of the golden days of gaming, which some players still long for.
In a futuristicdystopian world, Britain has fallen to a sickness that has resulted to parts of the country being walled off to stop the spread of infection, but in typical horror game fashion, the plucky protagonist bypasses the quarantine in search of someone, and finds herself trapped in a nightmare. All the accouterments of old schoolSilent Hillgames are here: fixed camera angles, slow and clunky combat, environmental puzzles and shambling monsters that barely look human anymore.
Losing a dog is the owner’s worst nightmare, but it is even worse when the dog ends up inside a construct, which is what happens at the beginning ofLost in Vivo. During a storm, the protagonist’s dog ends up washing down a storm drain, and the owner must descend into the sewers in search of them. But rather than finding the generic underground sewer system, they find much worse things down there–creepy dark corridors, a sense of claustrophobia, and eerie monsters that defy explanation.
There are definite story parallels to the firstSilent Hill,as Harry explores a monster-filled city while searching for his daughter, and just like Harry, the player will arm themselves with weaponry to defend themselves against the monsters they face.
Tormented Soulswas a truly unique experience, despite clearlytaking inspiration from titles such asResident EvilandSilent Hill. It offers a glimpse into an alternate reality where these games were developed by an independent studio rather than a triple AAA company. In this fixed camera horror experience, player character Caroline Walker finds herself immersed in horror as she investigates the mysterious disappearance of her sister in the hospital that once was a mansion.
While the basic premise sounds simple enough, the true draw of this game is its similarities to fan horror fan favorites such asREandSH. Puzzles, terrifying monsters and an eerie environment,Tormented Soulsis a must-play for any fans of Konami’s horror title, or even just horror fans in general.
Set during the 1960s White Terror period in Taiwan, this title blends together real life horror with more fantastical horror thrown into the mix. Students Wei and Ray find themselves trapped in Greenwood High School following a storm that separated them from the rest of the city, but things soon take a turn for the worst, and Ray must find a way to escape the school and the monsters that lurk there.
Similar toSilent Hill,Detentionintermittently introduces a nightmare world, which is a dark and unsettling reflection of the real world infected by monsters. Though the gameplay widely varies from that ofSHasplayers must stealthpast the threats, this alternate world of horror and creatures is certainly a strong parallel.
Deadly Premonitionis one of the most infamous games of all time, with its content often verging towards hilarious with its absurdity rather than creating a sense of fear and dread horror gamers expect. Yet in spite of this, it still stands out as a game worthwhile of gamers attention for the comedic relief it could offer amidst the oversaturation of horror that comes with the month of October.
Clearly inspired by some of Lynch’s work, it also takes inspiration fromSilent Hillas the player wanders around a town that never seems quite right with monsters roaming streets the player can either bypass or take down with clunky combat gameplay.
September 22nd, 2022
Platform(s)
Microsoft Windows
The Sinner (Prologue)lends some of its features to other famous titles such asBeyond: Two Souls,Resident Evil, The Evil Within 2andSilent Hill. In fact, its so derivative of these titles it takes assets straight from the games to use without permission, as well as brands such as Apple. This, of course, landed the developer in legal trouble, and the game was subsequently pulled from Game Jolt.
The developer was attempting to deliver a haunted house experience in the vein of other such psychological game experiences that did indeed provide some gamers with enjoyment with its dark environments and scares, but the blatant copyright infringement cheapens the experience.
