All Silent Hill games, ranked from worst to best for Halloween

Inarguably one of the most influential horror franchises in history, Silent Hill is still entrancing survival horror fans to this day. The games in the franchise list vary wildly in quality, with some of them being masterpieces and others being more acquired tastes.

Below, you’ll find The Escapist’s full ranking of every mainline Silent Hill game to help you pick your next title for Halloween. Spin-offs and adjacent titles won’t be included, but new titles will be added to the ranking once released, so make sure to check back.

The Escapist recaps

• Silent Hill is a vast franchise, encompassing some of the most influential survival horror and action games in the genre.
• Games like Silent Hill: Homecoming and Silent Hill: Origins might have their fans, but they’re not the best examples of the series in its prime.
• The newest addition to the roster, Silent Hill f, manages to hold its own with the classics.
• The original games like Silent Hill and Silent Hill 2 still stand out as some of the best examples of the genre, though.

Every Silent Hill game, ranked

While I could easily put the whole franchise in the first and second spots of this list – yes, all of them – there are some Silent Hill games that stand out as undeniably better than the rest.

I’ve ranked the Silent Hill games below based on narrative, gameplay quality, and aesthetic appeal. Once the next Silent Hill remake from Bloober Team hits, there should hopefully be another contender for the top spot.

12. Silent Hill: Homecoming (2008)

Unlike my ranking of the Resident Evil games, it wasn’t hard to decide which title should go in last place. Silent Hill: Homecoming is the most widely dunked-on game in the franchise, largely thanks to its lack of resemblance to other games in the franchise.

Homecoming misses the mark with what makes Silent Hill such an iconic franchise. It has a couple of likeable elements to it, but on the whole, it feels like a standard action-horror title without much substance to it.

11. Silent Hill: Origins (2007)

Unlike the first entry in this list, Silent Hill: Origins isn’t necessarily a game you should avoid. It’s a decent prequel with a few great scares, cameos, and action sequences that fans of the franchise will enjoy, despite some clunkiness

It’s not the best Silent Hill game by a mile, but it’s underwhelming when compared to some of the behemoths in this list. This PSP title is worth chasing down if you’re a die-hard fan of the franchise, but if you’re a newer fan, there are more engaging titles to pick up from the series.

10. Silent Hill: Downpour (2012)

I could’ve easily swapped Downpour and Origins ten times over in this list; both are fine enough, but don’t offer much substance. Silent Hill: Downpour had an intriguing premise, placing the player in the shoes of an escaped felon, but it didn’t deliver too much in the gameplay or narrative departments.

Downpour did feature some admittedly great monster designs, rivalling some of the more popular Silent Hill games, and there were plenty of lore tidbits that fellow franchise obsessives could get a kick out of. It’s one of the Silent Hill titles that could be intriguing to see as a remake.

9. Silent Hill: The Short Message (2024)

Silent Hill: The Short Message was hailed as a return to form for the franchise when it dropped, giving players a short but engrossing story to sink their teeth into. It’s not as gameplay-heavy as you might hope from a Silent Hill game, but it’s got plenty of scares and chases to keep things fun.

Is it the best short Silent Hill game? Not by a mile. It’s a decent, free-to-play experience, though, complete with an engaging story and neat monster designs. If you’re looking for a shorter game to pick up this Halloween, it’s worth your time.

8. Silent Hill 4: The Room (2004)

Silent Hill 4: The Room is the biggest departure from the typical style and themes of the series, to the point where there were rumours that it wasn’t even a Silent Hill game to begin with. If you’re willing to overlook its unique take on the franchise, it’s an enjoyable experience.

The narrative is suitably dark and twisted, and there are several turns that you likely won’t see coming. The Room has a cult following within the already niche following of the Silent Hill franchise; you’ll likely love it or hate it, very few players are ambivalent on it, from what I’ve seen in the community.

7. Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (2009)

Remakes aren’t typically viewed positively in the horror game community. It’s a bit of a generalization, I know, but horror fans are fiercely defensive of their favorite titles, arguably more so than other genre nerds, so remaking something like the original Silent Hill is always a risk.

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories hit the mark with most community members, though. While it certainly doesn’t outshine the original, it’s a decent standalone experience that shines a new light on the story and key characters.

It’s emotionally intense, dread-inducing, and story-driven, and while some may find the combat lacking, I’d argue it’s still worth playing to this day.

6. Silent Hill 3 (2003)

Just like Silent Hill 4, I’m conscious that Silent Hill 3 has its own cult following; some fans may be displeased to see it so far down the list. It’s an exceptionally fun and terrifying game, but it doesn’t quite snatch the crown from the gems of the franchise.

With an intriguing, if convoluted plot and a wide variety of genuinely startling scenes, Silent Hill 3 is a key part of the franchise that every fan should dip into at least once. It is one of the harder games in the franchise, particularly with its resource management and navigation, but I’d argue that it’s well worth the effort.

5. P.T. (2014)

P.T. is a legendary title in the Silent Hill world, which is saying something, as it’s not even a full game – it’s a generous demo for a game that never got released. It’s a nightmarish, looping experience that makes you constantly question the world around you while roaming an endless hallway.

Unfortunately, there aren’t any legitimate ways to play P.T. anymore, as it was delisted. This turned it into the franchise’s main urban legend of sorts, elevating it to a legendary status that’s hard to look past when ranking the Silent Hill games.

4. Silent Hill f (2025)

I almost put Silent Hill f higher up than the original Silent Hill; as a massive fan of the original game, I’m offended by myself for this. It’s well worth the sacrilege, though, as Silent Hill f is one of the most original, terrifying, and beautiful games in the franchise.

Completely shifting the location and core gameplay loop while managing to keep the ever-present dread and terror that Silent Hill fans have come to expect from its games, Silent Hill f is a masterpiece. If you’ve not played it yet, you’re missing out on one of 2025’s best gaming experiences.

3.Silent Hill (1999)

It’s a classic for a reason – Silent Hill is inarguably one of the most influential horror games in history, still managing to terrify players to this day with its dark story, genius monster designs, and unbeatably tense atmosphere.

If you’re a fan of games that don’t hold your hand and expect you to work for the story, you’ll love Silent Hill. It’s admittedly not the easiest game to crack as a first-time player, but the story is mesmerizing and the world manages to exude an unmatched level of dread that gives most modern horror games a run for their money.

2. Silent Hill 2 (Remake) (2024)

I’m sure I wasn’t the only Silent Hill nerd who was worried about Bloober Team’s Silent Hill 2 remake. The Bloober Team catalogue varies wildly in quality and tone, so I thought the remake might be mediocre at first – but I’ve never been so happy to be proven wrong with a game.

The Silent Hill 2 remake is exquisite, and I find myself returning to it more than the original Silent Hill. It’s dark and foreboding, with more of a focus on combat and immediate horror than its predecessor. The more violent approach to the game might be off-putting to fans of the original, but I found it made the remake more of a standalone gem than a beat-for-beat remake.

Bloober Team is working on another remake at the time of writing – details are limited, but a remake of the original Silent Hill is on the way. I’m hoping they can knock it out of the park once again.

1. Silent Hill 2 (2001)

Speaking of the original Silent Hill 2, it’s one of the most memorable horror games of all time. The remake is stellar, and the original Silent Hill is a masterpiece, but this game has an almost otherworldly energy to it.

With heavy, emotional themes, a well-crafted world, and iconic monsters, it’s an unforgettable game that I can’t recommend highly enough. There’s a reason why people were cautious about Bloober Team’s remake, after all. How can you remake something that is already a masterpiece?

The Silent Hill franchise is one of the best horror series in gaming. It’s full of dark and twisted stories, with some truly legendary monsters and protagonists. If you’re a fan of survival horror and action horror, it’s worth exploring the franchise fully – even the older titles that are harder to get hold of or the more divisive entries.

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