Those still lamenting a lack of new Silent Hill games may have another horror experience to scratch that itch, as indie game Mirror Forge has a free playable demo that aims to offer similar spooks and scares. The last game in the Konami series, Silent Hills was canceled back in 2015, though its playable teaser titled simply P.T, has lived on in infamy, inspiring countless other horror games.
P.T was made available for download via the PlayStation Store during Gamescom 2014, where it was advertised as an indie project from a new developer. Upon the demo's completion, fans soon discovered that this was merely a ruse, and the game was in fact a teaser for a Silent Hill reboot named Silent Hills. The game project from Konami had famed developer Hideo Kojima on board, along with acclaimed movie director Guillermo Del Toro, and The Walking Dead actor, Norman Reedus. Following the game's cancellation shortly after, the trio went on to work together for Kojima Productions' Death Stranding, and the future of Silent Hill and any new games has remained in flux ever since.
The upcoming horror Mirror Forge might present something new for those unable to access the P.T demo, as it promises to deliver a host of scares in a Silent Hill-inspired world. The game, from developer MystiveDev, is a first-person psychological survival-horror, in which players must explore, solve puzzles, and "roam between realities of fear, madness & machinery." The game's trailer shows off a world that doesn't just harken back to Silent Hill, but also to other staples of the genre including Outlast and Resident Evil. Those interested can try out the free PC demo on Steam, ahead of Mirror Forge's September 30 release.
Fans of Silent Hill should notice a lot of homages within the trailer for Mirror Forge. The game's mysterious and faceless enemies call back to the earlier games in the SH canon, while traveling between realities seems to take inspiration from the hole in Silent Hill 4: The Room. Eagle-eyed fans might also notice similarities between the protagonist Thomas Jackson and Silent Hill 2's James Sunderland, with the former seen in the Mirror Forge trailer in a bathroom that echoes the opening of James' journey to Silent Hill.
While not the official Silent Hill that many are still hoping for, Mirror Forge looks unique and terrifying enough to scare even the most seasoned survival-horror fans. Lots of games have taken inspiration from the esteemed series in the past, but plenty of these have managed to stand on their own two feet in providing an immersive and chilling experience. Much like the Silent Hills-inspired Visage, Mirror Forge - and its free demo - should be one for any horror gamer to try out.
Mirror Forge comes to PC on September 30. A free demo is available on Steam now.
Source: Mirror Forge/Steam, MystiveDev/YouTube