Why People Are Calling Silent Hill f a Soulslike Game

The fans of Silent Hill f emerged into heated discussions once the news broke that Silent Hill f might include Soulslike mechanics.

Some of you might wonder, what exactly is a Soulslike game? And does Silent Hill f combat really belong to that genre?

What is Soulslike?

The term Soulslike refers to games that focus on action challenges like Dark Souls and Demon's Souls.

These games feature difficult punishments, heavy dependency on pattern learning, a system where dying costs resources that can be used for your recovery, and sparse checkpoints. Environmental storytelling and minimal guidance are also trademarks.

Developers behind Silent Hill f, including director AI Yang and producer MotoiOkamoto, have confirmed their decision to add more action and thrilling combat, which aims at younger players who can enjoy challenging encounters.

They clearly state that they did not want to just recreate Silent Hill 2 again but still wanted to stand out with more engaging melee and boss fights.

Why Is Silent Hill f Being Called Soulslike?

We have seen from previous previews that Silent Hill f shows dodging, light and heavy attacks, stamina management, and precise parrying. These combat elements echo what fans think of as Soulslike combat.

Why Fans Say Silent Hill f is not True Soulslike

Major voices in the fandom, like Reddit threads, emphasize that none of the above aspects necessarily makes it a Soulslike. One popular comment points out: "If you have even the smallest possibility of failing, it does not make the game a Soulslike… Dodging and boss fights are in most modern action games."

These backlashes clearly show how vaguely the term Soulslike is being practically used. Many fans argue that having a stamina bar or dodge roll does not automatically transform something into a Dark Souls-type experience. And some others point out that the fans themselves often cannot define the genre consistently, making the term vague and overused.

Some previews have provided reference aspects such as parry-heavy combat, stiff boss encounters, and deliberate pacing, suggesting that Silent Hill f borrows from Soulslike concepts without fully committing to the genre.

Critics who do not personally enjoy Soulslike rhythm have expressed concern about the shift in tone for the franchise.

In amidst all these, developers confirm that it is nothing like Dark Souls. Their focus is on balancing the survival horror, atmosphere, and more robust melee action to renew the series for a modern audience, not follow trends blindly.

Final Conclusion

When Silent Hill launches on September 25, 2025 across PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, players will be able to judge for themselves whether it just borrows some gameplay tone from Souls games or stands as something different entirely.