It’s hard not to think of theSilent Hillfranchise when discussing psychological horror. In these games, nothing is ever what it seems on the surface. For the many protagonists of the series, reality itself has proven to be malleable. Thus, assigning hard and fast dates to every event is notoriously difficult.
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Every new entry in the series tends to shed some light on various longstanding mysteries. Unfortunately,Silent Hill’s history still isn’t as clear-cut as most fans would like. However, when broken down into their individual pieces, it’s possible to create a decent outline of the franchise’s major events.
10Silent Hill’s Beginnings: 16th-19th Centuries
Anyone trying to make sense ofSilent Hill’s convoluted lore would do well to learn about the town itself. Before the European colonization of the Americas, native tribes referred to the land that would encompass the future town as the “Place of Silent Spirits.” English settlers eventually ousted the Native Americans and established a village on the sacred ground.
A strange plague ravaged the budding village at some unknown point in the 18th century and was abandoned. Silent Hill was officially reoccupied in the early 19th century, where the mining business became quite lucrative. However, by the dawn of the 20th century, strange happenings in the form of disappearances began to occur in the town.
9Growing Influence Of The Occult: Early 20th Century
By the 1900s, like other cities across America, Silent Hill began to grow. It’s also during this expansionary period that the town started to acquire a dark reputation. The once-successful mining operations ceased their activities after a series of freak accidents and reports of occult activity. In 1918, the passenger steamboatLittle Baronesssank in Toluca Lake for unknown reasons.
Indeed, it was during the early 20th century that a secret society, known as the Order, first took root. Throughout the subsequent decades, members of this shadowy cult slowly wormed their way into the town’s public institutions. By the time ofSilent Hill: Origins, the Order is the dominant force in the community.
8Silent Hill: Origins - 1976
From a chronological standpoint,Silent Hill: Originsis the first game in the series. It explores the trials and tribulations of Travis Grady, a truck driver who decides to investigate the town after almost hitting a young girl standing in the road. The girl is revealed to be Alessa, the daughter of Dahlia Gillespie.
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Dahlia is the Order’s leader, who seeks to use her daughter to birth the cult’s “god.” Alessa is immolated and tortured as part of the cult’s gruesome ritual. Nevertheless, afterovercoming his own demons, Travis manages to derail the ritual and free part of Alessa’s soul. This spirit, taking the form of a baby, is found by Harry Mason and his wife. The newborn is adopted by the Masons and given the name Cheryl.
7Silent Hill - 1983
For the next seven years, the Masons raise Cheryl (actually Alessa) as their own. However, in an attempt to complete the ritual once and for all, Dahlia uses a spell that lures Harry and Cheryl back to Silent Hill. Dahlia’s goal is to reunite both halves of Alessa’s spirit so that the latter may finally give birth to the cult’s deity.
Although the plan initially succeeds, Harry manages to defeat the deity, and Dahlia is killed in the process. Alessa, at last free from her tyrannical mother, reincarnates herself as yet another baby. Harry takes the infant girl and once again raises her as his own, naming her Heather.
6The Curious Case Of Silent Hill 2’s Chronology
Arguably the franchises' most popular entry,Silent Hill 2is a bit tricky to nail down chronologically. The game follows the story of James Sunderland, a widower who believes his wife is somehow located in Silent Hill. For James, the journey turns out to bea torturous examination of his own psyche.
There are two theories regardingSilent Hill 2’s place in the timeline. Many fans posit the year 1993 as the correct date, citingSilent Hill: Homecomingas their evidence. However, certain developers at Team Silent have specified the late 1970s or early 1980s as the setting. Both explanations have their merits, although it’s impossible to know with absolute certainty which theory is correct.
5Silent Hill 3 - 2000
Harry Mason raises Heather for the next seventeen years. In that time, the Order manages to regain its strength under the leadership of Claudia. Still intent on birthing the cult’s deity, Claudia lures Heather to Silent Hill by murdering her adoptive father, Harry.
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After overcomingthe many dangers of the corrupted town, Heather defeats Claudia. This marks the end of the Order’s many attempts to establish their “god” as a physical presence on Earth.
4Silent Hill 4: The Room - 2001
With the conclusion of the Harry Mason saga,Silent Hill 4: The Roomexplores a new cast of characters. With the appearance of an unusual hole in his bathroom wall, protagonist Henry Townshend must unravel the dark mysteries surrounding his apartment.
The main antagonist of the game is revealed to be the spirit of the deceased Walter Sullivan, a notorious serial killer. Sullivan hopes to enact his own dark ritual by completing twenty-one murders within the apartment. With the help of allies obtained along the way, Henry manages to defeat Sullivan and purify the apartment.
3Silent Hill: Downpour - 2004 (Possibly)
Silent Hill: Downpouris a self-contained story with few direct ties to previous entries. The game relates the story of Murphy Pendleton, an inmate who finds himself stranded in the eponymous Silent Hill. As usual, Murphy must contend with his own repressed demons as he navigates the treacherous Maine town.
Considering thatDownpourbears few ties to other games in the series, the date possesses some ambiguity. Fans of the franchise typically attribute the year 2004 as the earliest date for this particular title.
2Silent Hill: Homecoming - 2007
Silent Hill: Homecomingexplores the nefarious history behind Shepherd’s Glen,a small community not unlike Silent Hill itself. The player takes the role of Alex Sheperd, a returning veteran who finds his home engulfed in a mysterious fog. In addition, several of his neighbors have also gone missing.
As the game progresses, Alex learns the truth about Sheperd Glen’s sordid history. Every fifty years, the four descendants of the town’s founders must sacrifice one of their children to placate their god. In the end, Alex must decide if he can forgive those around him as well as himself.
1An Alternative Timeline - Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
Taking place in 2008,Silent Hill: Shattered Memoriesis a reimagining of the original title. As such, it takes place within its own continuity and disregards all the other events present on this list. Once againtaking control of Harry Mason, the player navigates Silent Hill and its alternative “Nightmare” dimension.
Nevertheless, the game throws quite a curveball at the player by the story’s conclusion. It turns out that Harry has been dead since 1990, killed in an unfortunate car accident. The crux of the game’s theme centers around his daughter, Cheryl Mason’s, attempts to come to terms with his death.
NEXT:5 Reasons Silent Hill Is The Best PS1 Era Game (& 5 Why It’s Resident Evil)
