Is it okay to skip Silent Hill 1?

As a long-time survival horror gamer and Silent Hill expert, I am often asked by newcomers to the series if it‘s advisable or even possible to skip the very first game and dive right into later entries. My short answer? Yes, absolutely. While the inaugural PS1 title established the disturbing fog-laden town that gives the series its name, most of the subsequent releases stand independently in terms of plot, gameplay and atmosphere. However, there are still compelling reasons to give the original Silent Hill a look before venturing deeper into its nourishing horror universe.

Silent Hill 2 Stands as a Self-Contained Masterpiece

Let‘s start by getting it out of the way – Silent Hill 2 is a true gaming masterpiece. Widely considered the crown jewel of the entire franchise, SH2 adopts a psychologically-driven approach to its horror and introduces players to the gut-wrenching tale of James Sunderland searching for clues about his deceased wife. This emotionally-gripping story combined with the eerie soundtrack and eye-catching graphics understandably makes it many fans‘ favorite entry. In my hundreds of hours playing through the series across platforms and difficultly modes, SH2 has managed to consistently top community polls and rating-focused discussions as the standout experience. Of course this beloved game makes virtually no references to the plot or events of the original title, making it a perfect entry point for those new to Silent Hill‘s fog-veiled streets.

Later Releases Build Their Own Mythos

And SH2 is far from the only standalone experience in the sprawling franchise. Both Silent Hill 4: The Room and more recent Downpour take the series signature sense of atmospheric dread in different directions without directly continuing old plot threads or leaned-upon characters. As a veteran contributor to Wikia pages and forums diving deep into the lore across these games, I‘ve analyzed the myriad monsters, environments and stories that don‘t require any familiarity with Harry Mason or Cybil Bennett‘s struggle in that first mysterious town visit. Each entry in the series has its own fascinating bits of lore to uncover should you take the plunge – from the haunting ghostly killer Walter in The Room to new cultish insights unearthed in titles like Homecoming. So starting fresh is not only possible but perhaps even advisable for some fans seeking focused, frightening journeys.

So Should You Completely Skip Silent Hill 1?

Well, not necessarily. As compelling as later Silent Hill tales can be all on their own, the first game on the harrowing streets of the lost Pennsylvania town still has some important connections that onboarding players may want to tap into for additional frightful flavor. Most critically – and without delving too far into spoilers – the third numbered title in the franchise serves as a direct sequel to Harry‘s ordeal in the original, with characters and references returning that reveal more about his motivation, relationships and the town‘s personal hold over him. Those hopping right into Silent Hill 3 risk missing many of these plot implications and may fail to recognize recurring secondary characters altogether without that initial mystifying adventure for context.

And while certainly showing some antiquities in graphics, sound design, and control scheme compared to successors, that first Silent Hill adventure still holds up remarkably well even compared many modern genre entries in terms of building tension, revealing its reality-questioning story at an artful pace, and spewing some still squeamish monster designs at players when they least expect it. Many look back on it as the most legitimately scary ride of the series thanks to its aggressive enemies that offer little reprieve. So for completists getting into one of gaming‘s most revered franchises, starting back at the beginning may provide an appreciable appreciation how far the series has come while also giving nods to horror inspirations likes Jacob‘s Ladder that fueled game director Keiichiro Toyama.