Finally, we know why Silent Hill 2 Remake enhanced the scene where James sticks his hand into a disgusting toilet: there's a plot explanation

In the remake of the cult game Silent Hill 2 by Bloober Team, the developers decided to enhance one of the most memorable scenes of the original - the moment when the protagonist, James Sunderland, dips his hand into a dirty toilet. This scene became even more repulsive, emphasising the theme of disgust and serving as a kind of punishment for James for his actions as a man.

Here's What We Know

During the panel at GDC 2025, Anna Oporska-Szybisz, Senior Level Designer at Bloober Team, spoke about the decision to focus on the theme of disgust in the game. She noted that the "rottenness" of the environment symbolises James's feelings about his wife Mary's illness, which changed not only her body but also their relationship.

The toilet scene was specifically designed to make the player feel disgusted when James dips his hand into the dirty place, looking for a key object.

Thus, the intensification of repulsive scenes in the game serves not only to shock the player, but also to reveal the theme of guilt and punishment of the protagonist in a deeper way.

You can learn more about the Silent Hill 2 remake in our review here.

Source: GamesRadar