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There may be "Silent Hill" in the name, but this isn't the Silent Hill I love.

Silent Hill f is one of the most imaginative, compelling, and striking experiences I’ve had this year. Neobards has also made one of the most tedious, infuriating, and badly designed survival horror games I’ve ever played. We’ve all seen fascinating ideas mired by flawed mechanics countless times in the past, but it’s been a long time since I’ve wanted to completely walk away from a game just as much as I want to press on to see what revelations it has for me.

It’s this back-and-forth that I’m struggling to reconcile when settling on what I really think about Silent Hill f. Some will despise it for its dire combat, inconsistent atmosphere, and poor execution. To others, this will be a game of the year contender, with its beguiling mythology, gorgeous cinematic direction, and audacious design choices. I support the argument from both sides.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
Release date: September 25, 2025

We play as Hinako, a young adult in 1960s Japan. She’s dealing with an abusive alcoholic father, a despondent mother, and a previously tight-knit friendship group that’s starting to show some cracks as emotions and hormones run high. The game’s themes are heavy, with gender, puberty, marriage, motherhood, family, friendship, and maturity just some of the topics that cult-favorite writer Ryukishi07 engages with throughout the story. I don’t have enough praise for the daring and uncompromising ways it engages with these big ideas.

Beautiful nightmare

(Image credit: Konami)

It helps that the outstanding performances, stellar cinematic presentation, and moody music elevate many of the game’s biggest story beats and give them the weight they deserve. Silent Hill f may sometimes look a bit plain, but it certainly knows how to frame some grotesque and gorgeous imagery or give a performance the time and attention it needs to shine, especially in the game’s original Japanese dub.

Best bit

(Image credit: Konami)

It's hard to talk about my favorite part of Silent Hill f because it's all to do with the game's ending. Obviously, I won't spoil anything here, but the strong writing, excellent performances, and big story revelations in the final few hours do so much to rescue the game from the drudgery of its repeatedly tedious combat sections. So much so that I was compelled to start a second playthrough to seek out what I'd missed.

It’s a shame the same can’t be said for all of the game’s environments, which swing from the signature foggy alleyways and disgusting visera-covered hallways of the series, to places that are too bright, too mundane, and too, well, clean.

There were brief moments where I was creeped out by the atmosphere (those scarecrows are pure nightmare fuel), but mostly I felt like a tourist taking a casual stroll through a town or temple in some inclement weather. That's a shame for a series that has mastered creating a feeling of dread with every step so many times in the past.

Silent Hill f also mixes up the exploration with a smattering of puzzles that we’ve come to expect from these games. These range from neat little brainteasers to cryptic nonsense, sometimes actually making less sense than what’s supposed to be the easier puzzle difficulty.

What also doesn’t help with the pacing is the way the game jumps between what is ostensibly the real world and a mystical otherworld throughout. Naturally, the two are intrinsically linked, but the transitions between the two are often contrived or completely unexplained, giving the game an inelegant and disjointed structure.

But these disappointing missteps are nothing in comparison to the one element that Silent Hill f gets severely wrong: the combat.

Lost in the fog

(Image credit: Konami)

The majority of Silent Hill protagonists have (intentionally) never been adept at fighting, which has led to a series of awkward and cumbersome combat systems. Most of them, though, are serviceable. Silent Hill f’s is one of the worst I’ve experienced.

It’s all melee-based and a basic light and heavy attack affair, but it layers on unnecessary system after unnecessary system to try and stretch out of its terrible combat mechanics. There’s stamina, there’s a sanity bar, there are focus attacks, there’s weapon durability, there’s perfect dodges, and counterattacks. All of this mess just to try and bolster the simple act of whacking a horrific manifestation with a lead pipe.

None of it helps. It’s painfully slow and frustratingly sludgy, like Hinako is always trying to swing through mud. Hits have no satisfying impact unless you charge up attacks every time, which you will have to do continuously, because it's the only consistent way to stun and kill enemies with any speed.

Enemies, meanwhile, are such jittery and erratic nightmares that it’s impossible to read them, and the dodge is so janky or the window to counter so small that by the time you realise an attack is coming in, it’s too late, you’ve already been slashed or spat on or lunged at. The dodge is the most hilarious and out-of-place choice, which sees Hinako dart about six feet in a straight line in any direction in a split second, like she’s borrowed powers from Goku.

(Image credit: Konami)

Some sections thankfully make the combat far more trivial in some unique and utterly bonkers ways that I won’t spoil. Ultimately, that’s still not much better, as it’s just as unsatisfying as it’s always been; it just requires less thought to get through it.

Every time I had to deal with the game’s combat, I thought it would be better just to let the Silent Hill fog take me. It wouldn’t be quite as bad if you could simply run past all enemies, but the game regularly forces you to engage with it, with creatures that block your path, walls that only drop once certain enemies are killed, and entire combat gauntlets that are thematically interesting but mechanically horrid.

And that brings me back to the dichotomy that makes Silent Hill f a curiosity that’s so hard to judge. There will be staunch defenders of this game for all of the incredible work it does with characters, story, and presentation. Others will be quick to trash it as a clunky, poorly designed, and maddening experience.

As is always the case with these things, I feel that the truth is somewhere in the middle. At times, it filled me with rage, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that it captivated me in equal measure.

Should you play Silent Hill f?Play it if…

You want a thematically rich story
Silent Hill f takes the same approach as other greats in the series by telling a remarkable, complex, and gruelling personal story through the lens of psychological horror, with multiple layers to uncover.

You want to play something unique
For all of its flaws, there's little else out there quite like Silent Hill f, and for that reason, I'm glad that it exists. If you want to experience something different from the norm, creatively ambitious and uncompromising in its vision, you owe it to yourself to give it a go.

You miss the PS2 era
At times, Silent Hill f feels like it comes from an entirely different generation of gaming, where bold ideas and creative risks led the way over things like, well, precise and well-refined game design.

Don’t play it if…

You can't look past janky combat
I know I'm going on about this a lot, but the combat in Silent Hill f is so monotonous and unwieldy that it almost put me off the game entirely. If the issues sound too frustrating for you to look past, then you may find it too aggravating to play.

You don't enjoy repeat playthroughs
The story of Silent Hill f does offer a conclusion after you complete the game for the first time, but like Nier Automata and other works by Ryukishi07, there is still much more to uncover after the credits roll.

Accessibility

Silent Hill f doesn't have an extensive list of accessibility options. There are three filters for green, red, and blue color blindness, as well as subtitle customisation options to change the font, size, and color. There are also three different controller layouts to choose from on console, but you cannot create your own custom layout or edit specific button bindings.

The game has separate difficulty settings for the combat and puzzles, ranging from a standard 'Story' option, a more difficult 'Hard' mode, and the most challenging 'Lost in the Fog' setting. These cannot be changed once you begin the game.

How I reviewed Silent Hill f

I played Silent Hill f for around 14 hours on a PlayStation 5 Pro on a Samsung S90C OLED TV using a DualSense Wireless Controller and playing audio through a Samsung HW-Q930C soundbar. In that time, I completed the game twice, with my first playthrough clocking in at a little over eight hours.

The game does not have different graphics modes to choose from, but performance was excellent throughout, although I got the impression that cutscenes were disappointingly locked to 30 frames per second (fps).

Its atrocious combat system and uneven atmosphere almost bring it down, but Silent Hill f is an audacious, thematically rich and spellbinding survival horror like little else out there.

Silent Hill f stands among the series best by prioritizing atmosphere and storytelling.

(Image credit: Konami)

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Although Wix is best known as one of the best website builder platforms on the market, it also offers a host of other helpful business tools to its users, including an easy to use logo maker.

The Wix Logo Maker is an AI-powered tool that helps businesses and individuals create professional logos without needing graphic design skills. By answering a few quick questions about your brand, the tool generates logo options that you can customize to match your vision.

Accessing the Wix Logo Maker is easy — you can find it on the official website and the mobile app. The tool is free to try, so you can make unlimited edits before purchasing. Plans range from basic logo downloads to full branding kits that include extras like business cards and social media assets - you may be able to save when you buy by using one of our Wix promo codes.

Features

Wix Logo Maker offers a range of features that make logo design easy and efficient. Its standout feature is the AI-driven design process, which generates logo suggestions based on your business name, industry, and style preferences. This ensures logos are tailored to your brand, though the initial designs can sometimes feel generic and may require extra customization to stand out.

The platform’s customization options are another strong point. With a drag-and-drop editor, you can easily adjust fonts, colors, icons, and layouts. You can even upload custom fonts or images to give your logo a personal touch. It's a really versatile tool, especially compared to competitors like Tailor Brands, which offer fewer editing tools.

Another key feature that I really liked is the ability to download high-resolution files, including scalable vector formats (SVG), perfect for both digital and print use. Wix also provides mockups that show how your logo will appear on merchandise or marketing materials before finalizing it. Recent updates have made SVG files available in basic plans, a significant improvement and not something I expected to see.

The tool also integrates seamlessly with the broader Wix platform, allowing you to align your logo with websites, social media kits, and business cards. This all-in-one approach helps create cohesive branding. But the AI recommendations could be improved by offering a wider variety of icons and style options upfront to give users more diverse starting points.

Ease of use

Wix Logo Maker is easy to use, making it a great choice for beginners or those with no design experience. The onboarding process is straightforward: answer a few questions about your brand’s name, industry, and style, and the platform generates logo suggestions for you. But while quick and efficient, the initial designs often need some tweaking to fit specific needs.

The drag-and-drop editor is intuitive and offers plenty of customization options without being too complicated. Features, like undo/redo buttons and side-by-side comparisons, make it easy to experiment with different styles. However, some users may feel overwhelmed by the number of design options at first, especially if they’re new to design principles.

For accessibility, Wix includes features like keyboard navigation and screen reader compatibility, ensuring the platform is usable for people with different needs. While these tools are mainly aimed at website design, they demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity and ease of use.

Overall, Wix Logo Maker strikes a good balance between simplicity and functionality. It’s user-friendly enough for beginners to create polished designs while offering enough tools for those who want more control over their logos.

Wix Logo Maker strikes a good balance between simplicity and functionality. (Image credit: Wix.com)Customer support

Wix Logo Maker offers a solid range of customer support options to help users resolve issues quickly. Self-help resources include a detailed Knowledge Base, covering common topics like logo creation, customization, and file downloads. Step-by-step guides and FAQs are also available through the Wix Support Center.

For personalized help, Wix provides live chat support in multiple languages during set hours and a callback service for more complex issues. These support options can be accessed directly from your Wix account dashboard for a smooth experience.

Wix also has active social media channels where users can ask questions or get advice. The community forum is another useful tool, allowing users to share tips and solutions. However, one downside is that making edits to a purchased logo comes with an extra fee, which some users may find frustrating.

Compliance

Wix Logo Maker provides full commercial usage rights once you purchase and download your logo files through any paid plan. This means you can legally use purchased logos for all business applications, websites, marketing materials, merchandise, and print advertising without any additional licensing fees.

However, there's an important caveat that sets Wix's tool apart from traditional design services. Logo elements (icons, fonts, colors, and other design components) are provided on a non-exclusive basis to all users of the platform. According to Wix's terms of use, that means the company cannot guarantee that your Wix Logo will not be similar, or even identical, to other companies using the tool.

Multiple businesses could theoretically end up with nearly identical logos if they select similar design elements during the creation process, which could pose challenges for brand differentiation and potential trademark registration. Wix also explicitly states that users "may or may not be able to register or use your Wix Logo as a trademark." It's always better to consult with an attorney regarding trademark availability.

Moreover, using the tool means you waive the right to legally challenge the validity or registration of similar logos created by other users using the same logo elements. Also, purchased logos cannot be modified after download (creating a derivative work requires purchasing a new logo), and individual logo elements cannot be used independently outside of the complete logo design.

All of this stuff is pretty standard for any similar logo generator you find on the internet, including most competitors. That said, you might want to do some research and consult an attorney if you want to use your generated logo for legal purposes.

Competition

Wix Logo Maker competes with other popular tools like Looka, Tailor Brands, and Canva.

Compared to Looka, Wix offers more customization, allowing users to adjust fonts, colors, and layouts in greater detail. Tailor Brands offers an all-in-one branding suite but doesn’t match Wix when it comes to customization.

Canva is another strong competitor with its beginner-friendly interface and huge library of templates. While it is better for creating a wide variety of marketing materials, Wix stands out for its seamless integration with its website builder and branding tools.

Generally speaking, Wix offers more control than most other logo designers, which is ideal for users who want to fine-tune their logos. However, the associated learning curve may confuse new users, which is especially perilous given that edits cost extra.

Pricing

Plan

Price

Payment Type

Key Features

Just Logo Plans

Basic Plan

$49

One-time fee

High-resolution PNG files, commercial usage rights, standard logo files

Advanced Plan

$99

One-time fee

Everything in Basic, plus scalable SVG files, 40+ social media formats, brand guide, favicon

Logo + Website Bundles

Value Plan

$11/month

Annual billing

Logo design, commercial usage rights, free domain (1 year), Wix Combo website plan

Professional Plan

$16/month

Annual billing

Everything in Value, plus resizable logo files, social media assets, business cards, Wix Unlimited plan

Deluxe Plan

$24/month

Annual billing

Everything in Value, plus priority customer support, optional graphic designer touch-ups

Wix Logo Maker has two main pricing options: Just Logo plans and Logo + Website bundles.

Just Logo Plans:

- Basic Plan ($49 one-time fee): Includes high-resolution PNG files for online use.

- Advanced Plan ($99 one-time fee): Adds scalable SVG files and formats for social media and print.

Logo + Website Bundles:

- Value Plan ($11/month): Includes a logo design, commercial usage rights, one free domain for a year, and Wix Combo website features.

- Professional Plan ($16/month): Adds resizable logo files, social media assets, and business cards.

- Deluxe Plan ($24/month): Includes priority support and optional graphic designer touch-ups.

Wix's plans are competitively priced compared to platforms like Looka or DesignEvo. However, extra fees for post-purchase logo edits can be a drawback unless you upgrade to a higher-tier plan, like "Brand Plus." Additionally, subscription plans renew automatically each year, so users should keep an eye on renewal dates to avoid unexpected charges.

Final verdict

Wix Logo Maker is an AI-powered tool that helps individuals and small businesses create professional logos easily. It offers customization options, high-resolution files, and seamless integration with Wix’s branding tools. While its initial designs can feel generic and some pricing aspects may be restrictive, it’s a great option for startups and entrepreneurs seeking an affordable, quick, and professional branding solution.

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