Silent Hill f Soulslike Comparison is “Disingenous’ According to Producer

According to the game’s producer, comparisons of Silent Hill f to soulslikes are "disingenuous." Read on to discover what the developers believe about these parallels and where their combat design truly draws inspiration.

Silent Hill f Soulslike Comparisons Debunked

Producer Insists It is Not a Soulslike

The action-focused combat in Silent Hill f has sparked significant community discussion, with many likening it to soulslikes. However, producer Motoi Okamoto maintains that labeling the game as such is "disingenuous." He defends their design choices despite frequent observations of similarities to the genre popularized by FromSoftware.

In a Gamescom 2025 interview with IGN, Okamoto noted that the term "soulslike" is often applied too casually. He explained that fans frequently assume any game featuring a stamina meter belongs to this category. "I think it’s a label that’s a little bit disingenuous," he said. "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

Okamoto clarified that while the game invites soulslike comparisons, its combat mechanics are actually rooted in earlier entries of the Silent Hill series, specifically Silent Hill 3 and 4. He pointed out, "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."

In addition to the stamina system, the game incorporates counterattacks, perfect dodges, a Focus meter, and a Sanity mechanic. According to an August 1 PlayStation blog post, these elements support the title’s emphasis on close-quarters combat and rapid strategic decision-making.

Okamoto emphasized that these features are not unique to soulslikes but have long been staples of the action horror genre. "They’ve been a part of action horror games for a very, very long time," he stated. "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."

Director Al Yang echoes this perspective, highlighting the unique experience the title offers. During Gamescom Day 1 interviews with GamesRadar+, Yang discussed the combat design and its relationship to other genres.

He explained, "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."

Despite debates surrounding its gameplay mechanics, Silent Hill f remains one of the most anticipated horror releases, transporting the iconic series to 1960s Japan. The game is scheduled for release on September 25 across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. To keep up with the latest news about Silent Hill f, click our article below!