Silent Hill: The Short Message

Your description is accurate. Silent Hill: The Short Message is a free psychological horror game co-developed by Konami Digital Entertainment and HexaDrive, released on January 31, 2024, exclusively for PlayStation 5[4]. The game is set in the economically depressed German town of Kettenstadt and centers on exploring an abandoned apartment complex called the Villa, which is infamous as a suicide hotspot for teenage girls[1][4].

Players assume the role of Anita, a teenage girl who receives mysterious text messages from her friend Maya, a graffiti artist who died by suicide[4]. The gameplay is presented from a first-person perspective and emphasizes exploration and evasion rather than combat[1][4]. As Anita searches the Villa for clues about Maya's death, she is pursued by a large humanoid creature covered in cherry blossoms[4].

The game explores contemporary themes including [1]. Rather than traditional combat mechanics, the gameplay focuses on where players must flee from the monster and find the correct path to escape, with trial-and-error navigation being central to the experience[2][6]. The game received mixed reviews, with praise for its visuals, atmosphere, and thematic depth, but criticism for its repetitive chase sequences and dialogue[4].