Silent Hill: Townfall brings the horror franchise to a Scottish island

Silent Hill: Townfall has brought the long-running Japanese horror franchise to a fictional Scottish island for the first time. Developed by Glasgow-based Screen Burn, the game is set in 1996 and follows Simon Ordell, an American man who washes up on St Amelia wearing a hospital identification band and connected to an intravenous drip. He has no memory of how he arrived or why he is there.

Director Jon McKellan said the team drew inspiration from the Fife fishing village of St Monans and aimed for an authentic setting rather than a collection of Scottish stereotypes. The game includes familiar 1990s details such as red postboxes, speed-limit signs, charity boxes and telephone boxes requiring coins and cards. A council estate level uses the stark appearance of grey concrete buildings, while everyday technology, including electricity meters, becomes part of the puzzles.

The story gradually explores trauma and guilt and also examines the effect of large corporations on small communities. The game’s monsters are fleshy, distorted creatures, while weapons such as planks and steel pipes deteriorate. Ammunition is scarce, encouraging players to avoid direct confrontation.

A portable CRT device updates the series’ traditional radio mechanic by showing fuzzy images of nearby monsters. Sound designer Byron Bullock and composer Pilotpriest contribute to the oppressive atmosphere. The game has three combat difficulty settings and two puzzle settings, including one that offers more hints.

McKellan said the game did not rely on jump scares, although the review experience described several alarming moments. Reviews praised its atmosphere, while some players reported performance problems. The game was released on Thursday for PlayStation 5.