The objective of Silent Hill 2 is to guide player character, James Sunderland, through the monster-filled town of Silent Hill as he searches for his deceased wife. The game features a third-person view, with various camera angles.[5] The default control for Silent Hill 2 has James moving in the direction that he is facing when the player tilts the analog stick upwards.[6] Silent Hill 2 does not use a heads-up display; to check James' health, location, and items, the player must enter the pause-game menu to review his status.[7][8] Throughout the game, James collects maps, which can only be read if there is sufficient light or when his flashlight is on.[7] He also updates relevant maps to reflect locked doors, clues, and obstructions,[6] and writes down the content of all documents for future reference.[7]
Much of the gameplay consists of navigating the town and finding keys or other items to bypass doors or other obstructions, with less focus on killing enemies.[6] Occasionally puzzles will be presented, often with riddles left for the player to interpret.[6] The difficulty levels of the enemies and the puzzles are determined independently by the player before starting the game.[5] James keeps a radio with him, which alerts him to the presence of creatures by emitting static, allowing him to detect them even through the thick fog.[7] He also tilts his head in the direction of a nearby item or monster.[5] For combat, he finds three melee weapons and three firearms over the course of the game, with another two melee weapons unlocked during replays.[5] "Health" restoratives and ammunition can be found throughout the game.