Japanese Gaming Collaboration Shines Spotlight on Indie Title
Silent Hill f, the grand return of Konami’s signature horror franchise, was released to great acclaim and quickly became one of the fastest‑selling titles in the series. At the same time, Urban Myth Dissolution Center, a mystery visual novel steeped in urban myth and the occult, became a Japanese indie gaming success story for developer Hakababunko, selling over 300,000 units within three months of its release last year. The partnership, which includes a real‑world mystery game including its own real-world mystery game, brings together two major 2025 Japanese successes whose development teams admire each other’s work.
Though the collaboration may seem unusual, there is more connecting the two games than meets the eye. Before Silent Hill f launched, its author Ryukishi07 was known for mystery visual novels such as Umineko and Higurashi. In Famitsu’s 2025 developer‑voted game‑of‑the‑year list, Silent Hill f producer Motoi Okamoto highlighted Urban Myth Dissolution Center as a standout release, and it ranked third overall, behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Ghost of Yotei and above Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World.
For this collaboration, character designer Kera created new artwork, and the games are offered in a reduced‑price bundle on Steam. Additionally, a short free mini‑game scenario blending both titles, featuring Hinako from Silent Hill f, is available in the visual style of Urban Myth Dissolution Center and can be played in a browser playable within your browser. The indie scene in Japan has been thriving, with smaller creators delivering unique experiences that attract domestic and international players. Konami has supported this growth by sponsoring game jams and events tailored to the growing scene in Japan, making this partnership a chance to spotlight a beloved indie title that many of its peers have admired.
