Silent Hill Games in Order: Your Guide to the Fog

Ever stared into the fog and wondered where to begin with Silent Hill? You're not alone. With roughly 18 games and a new entry, Silent Hill f, out now, it's tough to know which order to play them in. But don't worry—we've got your back.

First, let's clear up the numbers. Since 1999, about 18 Silent Hill games have hit shelves. The first four were made by Team Silent between 1999 and 2004, and they form the "major canon." After that, various studios across Japan and North America took the reins. Konami also dropped four mobile games—The Orphan trilogy and Silent Hill: The Escape—but those have murky connections, so we're skipping them for now. Same goes for the Play Novel and the interactive series Silent Hill: Ascension.

If you just want the quick hits, here's the main release order: Silent Hill, Silent Hill 2, Silent Hill 3, Silent Hill 4: The Room, Silent Hill: Origins, Silent Hill: Homecoming, Silent Hill: Downpour, Silent Hill ƒ, and Silent Hill: Townfall. The first four are the ones most fans consider essential canon.

But where should you actually start? It depends on what you're after. If you want a modern taste, Bloober Team's Silent Hill 2 remake is a faithful recreation with some quality-of-life improvements. If you're here for the lore, starting at the beginning or with the original Silent Hill 2 works fine. Unless you still have a PS1 and a rare original copy, emulation guides are your best bet.

Now, for the timeline order—it's not the same as release order. The timeline actually kicks off with Silent Hill ƒ, which takes place in 1960s Japan in the town of Ebisugaoka. It's the first game set outside the American Silent Hill, and while it has loose connections through memos, its characters and Otherworld are entirely distinct. You play as Hinako, a teen girl facing her fears, with writing by Ryukishi07.

Next up is Silent Hill: Origins, a prequel set in the late '70s. It directly connects to the original Silent Hill and Silent Hill 3, forming the "Alessa Gillespie" arc. You follow Travis, a truck driver who crashes into town and uncovers its cult secrets. The "Good" ending leads directly into the first Silent Hill.

Then comes the original Silent Hill, set in the late '80s. Harry Mason crashes and searches for his missing daughter, Cheryl, while facing the Otherworld. It's the foundation of the series, and its canon ties to Origins' "Good" ending. Note: Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is a reimagining of this first game with different narrative beats, so it's in its own timeline.

After that is Silent Hill 2, released in 2001. It's a standalone story about James Sunderland, who receives a letter from his deceased wife and returns to Silent Hill. It's widely considered a masterpiece of psychological horror.

So, whether you're a newcomer or a veteran, there's no wrong way to dive into the fog. But if you want the full picture, starting with the major canon and then exploring the timeline is a solid plan. What do you think? Will you be picking up Silent Hill f or revisiting the classics?