Silent Hill is one of the scariest video franchises of all time. It’s also one of the most developmentally challenged as the series has fun into numerous struggles, cancellations, and hard development cycles. From the very first game, the series set the groundwork for survival horror games and scare factor ever since. This is the best Silent Hill games ranked worst to best and the best versions when appropriate.
9. Silent Hill: Downpour – 2012
Downpour is by far the absolute worst game in the franchise, as it’s just abysmal and unplayable. The game is ugly as sin for starters, has awful controls, and tries to introduce a large open world design with awfully frustrating puzzles to unlock fast travel spots, more enemies than you have health, or weapons for, and the level design is so bad and frustrating, not to mention the boring story and terrible characters. This game just should not have existed period.
Best Version: PlayStation 3
8. Silent Hill: Book of Memories – 2012
At least playable, Book of Memories was a Vita exclusive that threw the series into a Diablo-like clone and did it poorly. Boring combat, uninteresting story elements, no characters, and shallow game design. The game wasn’t scary, wasn’t interesting, and the entire game felt like the first level. I can only imagine curious fans trying this out.
7. Silent Hill 4: The Room – 2004
The worst game in the main series by far, The Room took out all the elements that made the series memorable. Sure, the controls were still frustrating, the combat was wonky, but the scare factor, insane monsters, and memorable environments are absent. It feels like a generic experience and wasn’t scary or tense at all. It also had confusing level design and awful puzzles.
Best Version: Xbox
6. Silent Hill: Shattered Memories – 2009
An interesting reinterpretation of the first game, Shattered Memories was a spin-off that was actually quite interesting albeit easy. Using your cell-phone camera as part of the gameplay, and running away from things, it was a cinematic experience, but still not very scary. It was a weird departure for sure, but an interesting project that any Silent Hill fan should try out.
Best Version: Wii
5. Silent Hill: Homecoming – 2008
While not most fan’s favorite game, I quite enjoyed it as it improved on a lot of elements that plagued the series. It had better combat, scary moments, and an interesting world to explore, it was a little more action-oriented, but it felt good to play and wasn’t as bad as most people say. It’s very entertaining and worth multiple playthroughs. It took the best of all the elements and tried to make them into a good experience.
Best Version: PlayStation 3
4. Silent Hill 2 – 2001
This game was a massive hit as it pushed the PS2 to its limits and was one of the most highly anticipated games of that generation. It was scarier, bigger, and had more complex puzzles than ever before and had interesting characters. There are many memorable moments in this game it has a lot of replay value. It didn’t improve on controls or combat much, but it made a decent effort. One of the scariest games I have ever played for sure.
Best Version: Xbox
3. Silent Hill: Origins – 2007
Origins didn’t get as much attention as it should have, as it was the last game in the main series that was good. It was a PSP exclusive, at first, and looked fantastic and was extremely scary. It’s actually the scariest game in the series next to Silent Hill 3. It featured horrifically claustrophobic environments, insanely grotesque monsters, and improved combat and controls. It’s one of the most underrated game in the series and it’s a shame.
Best Version: PSP
2. Silent Hill – 1999
The original has been difficult to top as it revolutionized the survival horror genre and pushed the PS1, controversy, and parents to their limits. The dark ominous fog, silent ambiance, and nasty monsters are just something you have to experience. The controls and combat aren’t great, but to experience this masterpiece is something that helped establish the PS1 as a great as a console as it is.
1. Silent Hill 3 – 2003
Not only is this a fantastic looking game, but it’s the scariest game in the series and has a great story and characters. It haunting, and hard to finish, and sadly the only game I couldn’t get through growing up. It starts off intensely frightening and never loosens its grip on your soul. Silent Hill 3 is very memorable and will leave a mark on you for sure and scar you for some of the most horrific scenes in video game history.
Best Version: PS2
