No, you cannot play Silent Hill: Townfall in third person. Konami’s own description says the game is “experienced entirely in first person,” and there is no camera toggle, no third-person mode and no over-the-shoulder option in the launch version on PS5 or PC.
That makes Townfall the first full-length Silent Hill played this way, and the camera is not a setting bolted on top: the CRTV, the stealth and the combat were all designed around it. Below we cover why, what first person actually changes, and the comfort settings worth adjusting if the view makes you queasy.
Why Townfall Is First Person Only
The first-person view was the starting point, not a late decision. Developer Screen Burn (formerly No Code) made its earlier games, Stories Untold and Observation, from a first-person perspective too, and the studio has explained that the CRTV only works as intended when you are looking at its screen yourself. The pocket television shows enemy positions and story clues on its display, so the device and the camera were designed together.
Konami producer Motoi Okamoto gave the other half of the reasoning on the PlayStation Blog: a limited field of view makes sound crucial. That is why Townfall leans so heavily on 3D audio and, on PS5, DualSense haptics that let you feel approaching footsteps. Our PS5 features breakdown covers that side in detail.
What First Person Changes
The official PlayStation Blog rundown of how first person changes the formula lists the practical differences, and they are worth knowing before you start:
- You see less. The game uses a letterboxed 2.35:1 frame, so the view is cinematic but narrow.
- The CRTV sits in your hands. Holding L1 raises it in front of you while you move, and tuning it shows nearby enemies.
- Melee is close and personal. Monsters come straight at your face, and blocking with a plank or pipe is your main defense. Our combat guide explains how fights work.
- Doors are dangerous. Opening one means checking the other side quickly or walking into something.
- The map blocks your view. Checking it with Triangle means holding it up in front of you, so it is not a free pause. Our map guide explains how to read Simon’s markings.
- Motion aiming is optional. On PS5 you can tilt the DualSense to aim firearms and thrown objects.
Reviewers have largely backed the choice. Tom’s Guide wrote that Townfall “would be a weaker horror experience if played in third-person,” while Worthplaying noted that the game still keeps the series’ slow pace, so the switch does not fundamentally change how it feels to play.
Has Silent Hill Been First Person Before?
Only in parts. The PlayStation Blog points to Silent Hill 4: The Room, whose apartment sections are played in first person, and to Silent Hill: The Short Message, the free 2024 release. Townfall is the first full-length entry built entirely this way. If you want the wider context, our guide to how Townfall connects to other Silent Hill games covers where it sits in the series.
Settings That Help with Motion Sickness
Some players report dizziness and nausea in Townfall even if they are used to first-person games. MP1st’s editors said they felt it themselves and recommended the following changes in the options menu:
- Turn Override Field of View on.
- Raise Field of View to its maximum (MP1st reports the cap as 85).
- Turn Head Bob off.
- Turn Motion Blur off.
- Lower aim sensitivity (MP1st used 0.5).
- Turn letterboxing off, which widens the image during gameplay.
Player threads reported by games press describe the same fixes, with a wider field of view and no head bob being the two that help most. The Steam page also lists Camera Comfort options, and the PlayStation Store lists the game as playable without camera movements and effects that can cause visual discomfort. Take a break at the first sign of nausea; it rarely improves by pushing through. On PS5, choosing Performance mode can also help, and our PS5 graphics modes guide compares the two options.
Will a Third-Person Mode Be Added?
Nothing has been announced. Konami’s first post-launch notice on Steam covers a PC performance patch, not new camera options (our launch and PC patch report has the details). Given how much of the game depends on the CRTV screen being in your view, we would not expect one. For everything else we cover, head to the Silent Hill guides hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Silent Hill Townfall first person only? Yes. Konami describes it as experienced entirely in first person, with no third-person option.
Can you change the camera in Silent Hill Townfall? You can adjust field of view, head bob, motion blur and letterboxing, but you cannot switch to a third-person camera.
Why is Silent Hill Townfall in first person? The developers built the CRTV and the sound-driven stealth around a limited first-person view.
How do I stop motion sickness in Silent Hill Townfall? Players report the most help from turning on Override Field of View, maxing the field of view, and turning off head bob and motion blur.