Silent Hill f: Worth Your Time? (And Money?)

How much of your precious time will this fog-filled nightmare actually consume? Nowadays, with our jobs taking up most of our time and energy, the total time it takes to complete games has become the biggest deciding factor on which we actually end up playing (other than if we can AFFORD them, of course.) So with Konami’s latest release, Silent Hill f, what can you expect?

Campaign Length: Buckle Up, Horror Fans

While everyone’s time will vary due to a plethora of factors, Silent Hill f’s runtime seems to average around 9-12 hours for your first playthrough on Hard difficulty (which they oddly call “normal,” because apparently Konami thinks we’re all masochists). If you’re anything like me, not having the mind for puzzles, this may extend by an extra hour or two (or six; I REALLY suck at puzzles.) And that’s not even mentioning the time some may spend getting lost in the immersion of the hauntingly beautiful streets of fictional 1960s Ebisugaoka, Japan.

Now, if you’re one of those players who’d rather focus on the interactive story aspect of the game, not to worry! You can always dial it down to its Story difficulty. This essentially turns the game into a glorified walking simulator with jump scares, potentially shaving off a few hours from your completion time.

Got Spare Time? Silent Hill f’s Replayability Factor

But wait, there’s more! (I can practically hear the infomercial music playing.) Silent Hill f, while a linear story-focused game, was designed with multiple playthroughs in mind, which means your initial 9-12 hour investment is just the tip of the iceberg. The developers have packed in five different endings, because nothing says “replay value” like making players suffer through the same content multiple times to see how things could’ve gone differently.

You’ll encounter fresh cutscenes, different boss encounters, and new story revelations that actually make sense of the convoluted plot. And you’re not starting from scratch like some amnesia-riddled protagonist, either! Instead, you maintain your character progression, which means you can focus more on uncovering story secrets rather than repeatedly grinding through the same upgrade paths. Apparently, Hinako learns from her traumatic experiences, unlike most horror game protagonists. So while the initial playthrough can be fulfilling in its own right, have peace of mind that if you manage to unlock more time IRL, you can still get more out of the game, which I feel is something of a lost art these days. So props, Konami!

You’ll need multiple runs to unlock everything anyway. The trophy hunters and achievement completionists out there will find themselves playing through the campaign several times to earn enough “Faith” currency (yes, that’s what they’re calling it) to purchase all upgrades and omamori accessories.

So between hunting down all the omamori locations, experiencing every possible ending, and maxing out your character progression, you’re looking at a significant time investment that could easily stretch into the 40-50 hour range. Which is honestly quite impressive! Talk about bang for your buck!

Is Silent Hill f Worth Your Time Investment?

If you’re a survival horror fan who’s been starving for genuine quality content, Silent Hill f stands to be a strong contender for your efforts (and your wallet!) The 9-12 hour main campaign feels substantial without overstaying its welcome, and the multiple endings and New Game Plus features provide legitimate reasons to return.

The game manages to balance accessibility for newcomers while throwing enough callbacks and familiar themes at longtime fans to keep everyone reasonably satisfied. It’s not revolutionary, but it’s competent, which honestly feels like a minor miracle given Konami’s track record with this franchise.

Whether you’re planning to sprint through the story mode or become a completionist obsessive, Silent Hill f offers a hearty enough experience to make the journey worthwhile. Just don’t expect it to reinvent the wheel. Sometimes, a solid, fog-filled wheel is exactly what we need. Just be thankful they didn’t try to incorporate a battle pass!