This article has SPOILERS for Fear the Spotlight
The recently-released survival-horror gameFear the Spotlightincludes a surprise nod to Konami’s belovedSilent Hillfranchise.Fear the Spotlightwas technically first released in 2023, but then the game received backing from Blumhouse Games and was pulled from sale. A new and improved version ofFear the Spotlightwas then launched in October of 2024.Spoilers forFear the Spotlightfollow.
Thenew version ofFear the Spotlightgives players a brand-new scenario to complete where they play as Amy. Amy’s story features new locations to explore and puzzles to solve, not to mention fleshes out the backstory and helpsFear the Spotlightfeel like a much more complete experience. Those that play through both stories inFear the Spotlightand reach the end of the game will be treated to a neat nod to theSilent Hillfranchise.
At the very end ofFear Spotlight, players can read an online newspaper article bySunnyside Post. The article explains what happened in the aftermath ofFear the Spotlight’s story, and is set up like an actual webpage, complete with ads and links to other articles. In the bottom right-hand corner of the screen, players can see a link for a news article with the headline “Mysterious Fog Hits Toluca Lake,” complete with a sign that looks identical to the “Welcome to Silent Hill” sign from theSilent Hillgames.
Fear the Spotlight Silent Hill Easter Egg
Survival-horror fans will no doubt recognize Toluca Lake as the lake featured in multipleSilent Hillgames. It’s adjacent to the titular town and is an important location that players visit on more than one occasion. In fact,Silent Hill 2famously begins withprotagonist James Sunderlandlooking out over Toluca Lake before venturing into the nightmare that awaits him in the town itself. The headline also references the strange fog that covers Silent Hill and the surrounding areas, tied to the bizarre supernatural occurrences that happen to people unlucky enough to find themselves in the town.
It will be interesting to see if Toluca Lake pops up in futureSilent Hillprojects. Konami has a number of other newSilent Hillgames in active development at various studios, andSilent Hill 2remake developer Bloober Team has expressed interestin tackling other games in the series as well. It’s safe to say that many fans would jump at the chance to revisit the classicSilent Hillgames, so hopefully, we get some announcements on that front sooner rather than later.
Fear the Spotlight
WHERE TO PLAY
Fear the Spotlight is an atmospheric third-person horror adventure with a disturbing mystery to unravel. Sneak into school after hours with Vivian and Amy, survive a séance gone wrong, solve tactile puzzles, and, whatever you do, stay out of the spotlight…Sunnyside High has a dark history. When Vivian enters the deserted corridors for a seance with the rebellious Amy, she suddenly ends up alone, and at the mercy of the monster who wanders the halls. Vivian must avoid its gaze, find her friend, and uncover the disturbing, murderous truth of a decades old tragedy. Fear the Spotlight is a creepy love letter to classic 90s horror experiences with a focus of rich storytelling, puzzle solving, and a tense atmosphere. This is a perfect narrative horror game for those new to the genre.
