Screen Burn Interactive's Townfall is the third recent entry in Konami's Silent Hill revival, following the Silent Hill 2 remake and Silent Hill f. It arrives to strong notices. PC Gamer scored it 89/100, Eurogamer gave it 4/5, and Tom's Guide called it the best the series has been in 25 years. GamesRadar rated it 4.5/5, describing it as unrelentingly dark and disturbing.
Setting and story
The game leaves the series' namesake town behind for St. Amelia, a fictional Scottish town. The story is social commentary about big corporations, cover-ups and whistleblowers, with several endings to work through. Steam Deck HQ praised its pacing and late-game revelations. Not everyone was surprised, though. Wccftech felt the narrative and world offer few surprises because of their familiarity.
Gameplay
This is classic survival horror with a couple of new tools. Ammo is scarce, melee weapons degrade and break, and healing items can be crafted into better ones. The main additions are Simon's CRTV device and an IV bag that acts as a second life. PC Gamer highlighted the CRTV as a puzzle-solving and stealth tool. The puzzles lean on analogue tech, and floppy disks, printers and cassette tapes feature in them. Push Square also liked how lived-in the homes feel, as if their owners had just stepped out.
Where it stumbles
The stealth is the sticking point. Wccftech said the stealth-heavy sections start to drag as you sneak past the same enemies repeatedly, and compared the design to Alien: Isolation. User reviews on Metacritic point to limited enemy variety and uneven pacing. Opinion on the gameplay is split. Some players call it clunky, while others praise the soundtrack, characters and town design.
Length
Expect at least a dozen hours, possibly more if you get stuck.
Bottom line
Townfall isn't trying to reinvent the franchise. Its strengths are atmosphere, sound and a story with something to say, and most critics rate it highly on those. Its weaknesses are repetitive stealth and a familiar formula. Push Square's verdict was that it won't be remembered as a classic, but it is a solid entry that keeps the hallmarks of the series. Fans of slow, atmospheric horror should find plenty to like.
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