Silent Hill: Townfall review roundup — brilliant atmosphere, frustrating stealth
Silent Hill: Townfall lands on September 24 for PS5 and PC, and early reviews say it's one of the most atmospheric horror games in years — with one significant catch. Critics are nearly unanimous that repetitive stealth sequences in the second half undermine an otherwise exceptional psychological thriller. Scores sit at 81 on Metacritic and 82 on OpenCritic, with 92% of critics recommending it.
The Scottish angle
Screen Burn — a Glasgow-based studio formerly known as No Code, the team behind Stories Untold and Observation — handles development. That local credibility shows. The game is set in St. Amelia, a fictional fog-drenched Scottish island in 1996, and critics consistently call the world-building the series' best in years. Protagonist Simon Ordel arrives to "fix everything," and the island's dread sets in fast and stays. Puzzle design and audio design also draw praise across reviews. As VGC put it:
> "Silent Hill: Townfall offers one of the most terrifying, meticulously crafted locations in the series' history, plus a gripping story to match. But the 'game' lets it down: stealth sections toward the middle and end kill the pacing and frustrate. Without them, Townfall would be essential — instead it settles for being an imperfect gem."
The gameplay problem
The core issue is familiar to anyone who played Resident Evil 7 or Alien: Isolation — first-person survival horror lives or dies by its encounter design. Townfall's mid-to-late sections lean heavily on stealth, forcing players to avoid a roster of enemies critics describe as both repetitive and overpowered. That repetition turns tense into tedious quickly.
It's also worth noting what Townfall is historically: the first full mainline Silent Hill entry played entirely in first person. The September 24 release date was confirmed earlier alongside full DualSense haptic support on PS5.
Where it lands
Townfall scores below Silent Hill f's Japan Horror Game Awards win and below the Silent Hill 2 Remake's 86 — but it's far from a misfire. The story is described as engaging if somewhat linear for the series, and the horror atmosphere is genuinely effective throughout. If you can stomach a frustrating middle stretch, there's a strong game on either side of it.
The Deluxe Edition ($59.99) includes 48-hour early access, meaning buyers could have started today. A Steelbook edition is available in select regions. The standard release hits PS5 and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store on September 24. Xbox is not supported.