SILENT HILL F Writer Explains How the Horror in the Game Is Like Salad Dressing

Silent Hill f is shaping up to be one unsettling, unforgettable entry in Konami’s legendary horror franchise, and writer Ryukishi07 just served up the perfect metaphor for it. Speaking at Anime Expo 2025, he compared the blend of supernatural and psychological horror in the game to salad dressing.

“It’s like salad dressing,” Ryukishi07 said, describing the narrative style of Silent Hill f. “You shake herbs and oil and it blends together. But after some time, it slowly separates and you can see the layers.”

That imagery actually tracks if you’re familiar with how Silent Hill works. Ever since Silent Hill 2, the series has thrived on weaving supernatural terror with the inner psychological unraveling of its characters.

You’re never quite sure if what’s happening is real or just a manifestation of the protagonist’s trauma. Ryukishi07 even used Silent Hill 2 as a prime example of this style, where the truth and the protagonist James’ fractured perception are constantly at odds.

Known for his dense, emotionally charged work in the When They Cry visual novels, Ryukishi07 said he approached Silent Hill f differently. Instead of building the characters with heavy backstories first, he started with a central theme and built the characters around it.

“This time, I wanted to create the characters with a focus on the theme,” he said, likening the theme to the “salad”.

Set in 1960s Japan, Silent Hill f follows high school student Hinako Shimizu as she finds herself trapped in a fog-choked nightmare filled with horrific creatures. It sounds like a classic Silent Hill setup, but Ryukishi07 teased that the story isn’t just about fear.

“I want people to understand that this is a story about sadness and love, not only horror,” he explained. “These elements are necessary to build a real, impactful horror experience.”

There’s still so much we don’t know about Silent Hill f’s plot, but it’s clear we’re getting an emotionally complex, mind-bending, terrifying experience with an unreliable narrator at its core. If Ryukishi07’s metaphor is any indication, things will start off smooth but eventually reveal a darker, fragmented reality hiding beneath the surface.

The game marks Konami’s first mainline Silent Hill title since 2012, and fans of survival horror and psychological storytelling are watching closely. It’s a new era for Silent Hill, and it’s being stirred up with a flavorful, twisted recipe that promises to leave players deeply unsettled.