Silent Hill f Soulslike comparison is “disingenuous,” according to the game’s producer. Read on to learn more about what the developers think about these comparisons and where the combat is actually inspired by.
Silent Hill f Soulslike Comparisons Debunked
Producer Insists It is Not a Soulslike
Silent Hill f’s combat has been a hot topic within the community for its action-oriented approach being compared to soulslikes, but Producer Motoi Okamoto stated that labelling the game as such is "disingenuous." He stood firm in their combat, even though many pointed out its similarities with the famed genre popularized by FromSoftware.
In an interview with IGN at Gamescom 2025, Okamoto said that the term "souslike" is being thrown out easily, and most fans who see a stamina meter in a game automatically consider it to be of the genre. He stated, "And I think it’s a label that’s a little bit disingenuous. Modern players will see like, oh there’s a stamina meter, there’s a dodge, and they're like, ‘Okay, it’s a soulslike.’"
Combat Inspired by Classic Silent Hill Titles
Despite the comparisons to soulslikes, Okamoto clarified that Silent Hill f’s combat is actually inspired by previous titles from the Silent Hill series, particularly, Silent Hill 3 and 4. He explained, "Look at Silent Hill 4 — there’s a charge meter for your attacks, kind of like our Focus meter. And even for Silent Hill 3, there's a stamina meter. You see it later on."
Beyond the stamina meter, the game also features counterattacks, perfect dodges, the Focus meter, and the Sanity mechanic. As explained on a PlayStation blog post on August 1, these are tied to the game’s focus on close-range combat and quick-thinking strategy.
Okamoto noted that these features are not exclusive to soulsikes and have been a staple for the action horror genre. "They’ve been a part of action horror games for a very, very long time. If you have these things you’re labeled a soulslike. And we’d like to reiterate we are an action horror game, but we are not a soulslike," he said.
Director Al Yang shares the same sentiment and emphasized the new experience this title will bring. Speaking with GamesRadar+ during Gamescom Day 1, Yang elaborated on the game’s combat and its comparisons to other games and genres.
He stated, "We went back to look at a lot of classic Silent Hill titles to basically try to replicate that kind of classic experience in combat while refreshing some details to make Silent Hill f more of a true action-horror title."
Regardless of the contention about its combat, Silent Hill f remains a highly anticipated horror title that brings the classic series to 1960s Japan. Silent Hill f launches on September 25 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. To stay up to date with the latest information about Silent Hill f, click on our article below!
Source:
‘These Things Aren't New and Exclusive to Soulslike Games' — Silent Hill f Producer Wants to Set the Record Straight on Combat
You have a dodge, people are like, 'Ah, that's a Soulslike'
: Silent Hill f leads disagree
melee combat makes it a Soulslike, say the most authentic
way to play is story mode
Silent Hill f: hands-on report
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