Ranking the Silent Hill Games: From Forgettable Nightmares to Masterpieces

Silent Hill f is now available, and after experiencing Hinako’s story, it’s clear that it’s as disturbing as fans hoped. The new gameplay direction from NeoBard and Konami feels genuinely innovative, and Hinako’s internal conflicts are expressed through creative and frightening scenarios.

Now that players can experience the game, it’s a good time to look back at what’s always made the *Silent Hill* series so special, and how this new installment both pays tribute to and builds upon that history.

Here’s a ranking of the core Silent Hill games, from least to most enjoyable. We’re focusing on the main games and not including the visual novels or mobile versions, though those can be fun too.

14. Silent Hill: Ascension

Konami and Genvid Entertainment deserve recognition for their innovative approach to Silent Hill. They successfully adapted the game’s story for a unique, live, interactive experience. The story followed two families uncovering the dark secrets of Silent Hill, and viewers actually got to influence what happened to the characters – a truly new concept.

Despite a clever concept, the show or video game didn’t manage to capture its audience’s attention and ultimately fell short. We appreciate the attempt, but *Ascension* is unfortunately the least successful installment in the series and ranks lowest among the others.

13. Silent Hill: Book of Memories

Wayforward Technologies’ game, based on the popular franchise, was a solid dungeon crawler. The multiple endings added significant replay value, making it a great fit for the PlayStation Vita. The story was particularly strong, blending psychological themes with the franchise’s classic horror elements, resulting in a captivating narrative and addictive gameplay.

Ultimately, the game felt a little too simple for most players, and it didn’t quite capture the unique atmosphere that makes a *Silent Hill* game special enough to be considered a classic. We still enjoy playing it, but other games do similar things, and do them better, which keeps it from ranking higher.

12. Silent Hill: The Short Message

This game had a lot going for it. Not only was it free, but it offered a fresh setting, moving away from the typical Silent Hill locations. More importantly, the story was as strong as the best games in the series. Following Anita’s search for her friend Maya was a thoughtful exploration of teenage bullying and its damaging psychological effects – the kind of deep, character-driven horror that originally made Silent Hill so famous.

While the story has potential, it doesn’t quite reach its full promise because it lacks action and the outcome feels somewhat obvious. It’s a shame, given the interesting ideas it presents, but ultimately, it is what it is.

11. Silent Hill: Homecoming

It’s a bit odd to see criticism of the combat in *Silent Hill f*, considering the main character in *Homecoming* was a highly skilled soldier who already knew several fighting techniques from *Origins* while searching for his brother and trying to uncover what happened to their hometown.

Okay, so Shepherd’s Glen definitely *felt* like Silent Hill – all creepy and unsettling, which is what I expect. But honestly, the story within it didn’t quite grab me. There was this one fight that reminded me *so* much of Smeagol from Lord of the Rings, it was almost funny! It just didn’t feel original enough for Silent Hill, you know? That series always had such unique, disturbing stories. Still, it wasn’t *bad*. It definitely delivered on the horror side of things, and it was genuinely scary at times.

10. Silent Hill: Origins

Travis Grady’s story felt like a strong return to the core of the Silent Hill series, cleverly connecting the beginning of the first game to one of its endings. It successfully captured everything fans loved about Silent Hill, while also creating a gameplay experience that was both deeply immersive and genuinely frightening.

I really loved the story and world-building in this game, but honestly, the fighting felt pretty awkward and it didn’t really bring anything new to the table. Plus, the PlayStation 2 version just didn’t capture what made the original special, so it wasn’t worth playing through again. It’s a game you should experience for the story, definitely, but I don’t see myself replaying it even after getting the ‘true’ ending or watching Grady chase his truck into space with the UFO. Once the credits rolled, I was pretty much done with it.

9. Silent Hill: Downpour

Downpour successfully brought back the classic survival horror feel of Silent Hill, and its story offered a compelling look into the mind of a flawed character who could almost be seen as a hero. The way the game explored his thoughts, using the series’ signature psychological horror elements, was engaging and makes it a game worth playing.

Honestly, this game had a lot of potential, but it just didn’t quite deliver. The combat felt a little clunky, and there were a bunch of bugs when it first came out that really annoyed a lot of people – it definitely split the player base. While it’s fun in short play sessions, it doesn’t stand out enough compared to the other amazing games still on my list to push it higher in my rankings.

8. Silent Hill: Shattered Memories

Okay, so *Shattered Memories* is like an alternate take on the original game, and honestly, the whole idea behind it is super creative. I thought everything about it was really well done – the graphics, how the game played, even the enemy designs and voice acting were all solid. So, it’s a good game, but I’m still wondering why it doesn’t quite crack my top tier list, you know?

The movie felt too short, leaving viewers wanting more. Additionally, some unusual creative decisions prevented it from reaching the same impressive level as other films we’ll be covering. It had a promising concept, but ultimately didn’t quite live up to its potential.

7. Silent Hill 4: The Room

A protagonist trapped in his own apartment with an undead serial killer? Sign us up!

Combine a character vulnerable to the game’s monsters with a strong storyline, and you have the potential for a really compelling Silent Hill-style experience, even if it’s not set in the familiar town. While the story was widely praised by both critics and players, the gameplay didn’t quite live up to the developers’ expectations.

Despite its flaws, this game is still among the best in the series, though it doesn’t quite reach the level of the very top titles.

6. Silent Hill

As a huge fan, I think it’s no surprise that the very first game in the series is still one of the best. When it came out, everything about it – the story, the world it created, how it played, and even the main character – was just incredible. It really pioneered psychological horror in gaming, and honestly, it deserves all the praise it gets as one of the all-time greats.

Although the voice acting wasn’t perfect and the controls had a few minor issues, this game is still worth playing and we’re excited to replay it when the remake by Bloober Team is released.

5. Silent Hill 2 Remake

We really enjoyed playing The Bloober Team’s remake of *Silent Hill 2*. It’s a faithful recreation of the original game, updated with modern graphics and features, making an already fantastic title even more appealing.

We’re about to discuss what made *Silent Hill 2* so good, but first, we want to acknowledge the excellent work the Polish studio did in updating this classic game while staying true to its legacy.

4. P.T.

Man, I’m still bummed about *Silent Hills* getting canceled. Seriously, getting Hideo Kojima – the guy behind *Metal Gear* – involved felt like it could have completely revived the series. His games are so deep and thought-provoking, and that kind of storytelling just felt like exactly what *Silent Hill* needed to be truly amazing again. It would have been a perfect match for the creepy, psychological horror the series is known for.

Unfortunately, the project was cancelled, meaning Norman Reedus never got to play a character in a *Silent Hill* game. It’s a shame, especially given how well he did with *Death Stranding*.

3. Silent Hill 3

Man, playing the early *Silent Hill* games was something else. Seriously, they were creepy, unsettling, and just got under your skin. I remember being totally hooked on Heather’s story – getting mixed up with that weird cult in Silent Hill was a wild ride. It wasn’t just scares, though; the game really made you *think* about some heavy stuff, and it kept me gripped the whole time. It was peak *Silent Hill*, for sure.

Despite some frustrating controls, this game still captures the essence of what makes Silent Hill great, earning it a spot on our list.

2. SILENT HILL f

Silent Hill f is the first major installment in the series after a thirteen-year hiatus, and it’s a fantastic comeback. The game takes place in 1960s Japan, in the isolated town of Ebisugaoka, where players control Hinako Shimizu, a high school student battling terrifying creatures. Boasting incredible sound design, stunning graphics made with Unreal Engine 5, and well-crafted levels, Silent Hill f is a strong contender for one of the best games of the year.

1. Silent Hill 2 (2001)

Silent Hill 2 is widely considered the best game in the Silent Hill series. It’s no surprise that Konami and Bloober Team chose it to remake for modern gaming consoles and players.

The story and characters were incredibly memorable, and many still stick with us today. Playing as James and searching for his wife in Silent Hill was both engaging and genuinely disturbing. It’s one of our all-time favorite PS2 games, and we wish we could replay it for the first time, even without the improvements found in the new remake.

So, there’s our ranking of the core *Silent Hill* games! Do you share our opinions on how they stack up? Is there any game you feel we underrated?

2025-09-24 14:44