Silver Pines review: Silent Hill-style indie horror wins critics over
The debut from small studio Wych Elm Games blends survival horror with Metroidvania. Critics praise its atmosphere and puzzles: an OpenCritic average of 87, with 97 per cent recommending it.
Graphic: TERRA WORLD NEWS (own graphic based on the sources listed)
Trailer: YouTube · Team17 · youtube.com
Critics' rating
Scores: OpenCritic 87 · TheSixthAxis 9/10
- Platforms
- PS5 · Xbox Series X|S · PC · Switch 2 · Switch
- Studio
- Wych Elm Games
- Release
- 08.10.2026
+ Pros
- Dense, oppressive atmosphere
- Excellent puzzles
- Strong visual style
- Gripping story
– Cons
- Combat a little clunky, especially against bosses
- Some collectables easy to miss
Critics' verdict
An outstanding indie debut for fans of Silent Hill and Twin Peaks – critics are almost unanimously enthusiastic.
Summary of published reviews – sources below.
Silver Pines has been available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2 and PC since 8 October. It is the first game from Wych Elm Games, a small studio with members in Sweden and Norway, and is published by Team17. Players take on the role of private investigator Red Walker, who wakes up in an abandoned small American town and has to find the musician Eddie Velvet – the case turns into a surreal horror story. The team cites influences including Twin Peaks, The X-Files and the first Resident Evil games and the original Silent Hill.
TheSixthAxis awards 9 out of 10, praising the superb atmosphere, weighty combat and excellent puzzles in a 2.5D perspective with climbing, jumping, melee weapons and resource management. Its only criticism is that some collectables are easy to miss. GameSpew also gives it 9/10, calling it a strong debut with a great style and gripping story, but finds the combat – especially against bosses – a little clunky.
On OpenCritic, the top critic average stands at 87, with 97 per cent of critics recommending the game.