# Horror's golden age: Silent Hill and Resident Evil surge

> Gaming's two biggest horror franchises are thriving with bold new games and successful film adaptations.
- Title: Horror's golden age: Silent Hill and Resident Evil surge
- Summary: Gaming's two biggest horror franchises are thriving with bold new games and successful film adaptations. Resident Evil and Silent Hill, gaming's biggest…
- Keywords: resident evil, silent hill, horror games, video game franchises, survival horror, game adaptations, capcom, konami, technology, culture, Horror's, golden
- Source: The Verge — https://theverge.com/entertainment/1000595/silent-hill-townfall-resident-evil
- Author: Andrew Webster
- Published: 2026-09-25T14:10:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: resident evil, silent hill, horror games, video game franchises, survival horror, game adaptations, capcom, konami, technology, culture
## Silent Hill's remarkable turnaround
For the third year running, a new Silent Hill game has terrified players. After the franchise seemed moribund, it has roared back with remakes and new entries.
## Resident Evil's steady climb
Resident Evil 7 nearly a decade ago revived the series with a first-person perspective. Capcom has since alternated between remakes of classics and new spins on the formula.
## Resident Evil's experimental direction
This year's Requiem merged two types of Resident Evil games, mixing straight-up action with first-person terror in a bold attempt to expand the franchise's scope.
## Resident Evil film finds success
A new Resident Evil film directed by Zach Cregger premiered last week, centered on a hapless delivery driver instead of iconic characters. It had the best box office opening in franchise history.
## Silent Hill's path back from cancellation
After the two thousand fifteen cancellation of Silent Hills, Konami announced a franchise return in two thousand twenty-two. The Silent Hill two remake and Silent Hill F have both succeeded with players.
## Townfall expands Silent Hill's scope
Silent Hill: Townfall launches this week on PS five and PC, developed by Screen Burn. It blends walking simulator exploration with stealth horror as players uncover a Scottish town's dark secrets.
## Townfall's gameplay approach
The game emphasizes stealth and exploration over combat, with players sneaking past unpredictable monsters using a handheld device to track enemies, much like Alien: Isolation.
## Horror's cultural moment
Both franchises are hitting their stride as horror experiences breakout successes at the box office and a promising wave of streaming series. The genre is having a moment.
## Key takeaway

Resident Evil and Silent Hill, gaming's biggest horror series, are both experiencing creative and commercial peaks with new games and film reboots.