Silent Hill: Townfall Review: Strong Atmosphere, Weak Stealth Mechanics

The review embargo for Silent Hill: Townfall lifted today, and the first reviews paint a clear picture. The horror reboot from developer Screen Burn (still known to many as No Code) and publisher Konami takes a bold step: for the first time, the series leaves its familiar third-person camera, sending you through an isolated Scottish island entirely from a first-person perspective. You slip into the role of Simon Ordell, who, while searching for answers, finds himself amidst the series' familiar fog and rust.

Silent Hill: Townfall launches on September 24, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store) at a price of around $50 USD; in this region, the Standard Edition costs approximately 45 to 50 Euros. Those who purchase a Digital Deluxe Edition can, according to Konami, start playing 48 hours before the official release. On PS5, the game is announced as a console exclusive for six months, before presumably landing on other consoles as well.

What Do the Silent Hill: Townfall Reviews Say?

The consensus among publications like VGC, PC Gamer, IGN, and Eurogamer is remarkably consistent: the atmosphere is universally praised. According to reviewers, the sound design, the oppressive island setting, and the new first-person view create goosebump-inducing moments worthy of the series. The downside: nearly every review criticizes the stealth sections as cumbersome and unfair, largely due to a mismatch between enemy AI and the hiding mechanics. VGC sums it up perfectly in their headline: “Outstanding horror marred by infuriating stealth”. On OpenCritic, Townfall has an average score of around 82 points from 37 rated reviews and is classified as “Strong”, with approximately 92 percent of reviewers giving a recommendation. German-speaking colleagues from GameStar and GamePro have also already posted their video impressions online.

How Does Townfall Fit into the Silent Hill Series?

For comparison: Last year's reboot, Silent Hill f, and the Silent Hill 2 remake both scored slightly higher in critic ratings. This indicates that the change in perspective is a risk that doesn't fully pay off, even if the foundation is solid. The classic third-person view has been a hallmark of the series since its first installments, as it consciously creates distance between you and the horror. The first-person perspective, however, draws you much closer to the action, which, according to reviews, horror fans find more intense, but also more strenuous.

For prospective buyers, this means: If you primarily enjoy Silent Hill for its story and atmosphere, you can confidently pick it up. However, if stubborn trial-and-error in stealth sequences has annoyed you in other games, you might want to read one or two more reviews or wait for a patch before purchasing.

From our perspective, Townfall sounds like a must-play for horror fans, but not a perfect game. The consistently strong atmosphere and the bold change in perspective deserve respect, especially because Konami consciously took a risk with it. However, the fact that the stealth mechanics, in particular, stand out as a weakness across multiple independent reviews is a warning sign that should not be downplayed.

Source: PlayStation Blog, VGC, IGN

Have you pre-ordered Townfall, or are you waiting due to the stealth criticism? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!