I don’t know what it is about the horror genre, but it seems to provide excellent fodder for intriguing audiovisual experiences, both big and small. This is especially true on Steam, where indie developers regularly vie for audience attention with retro throwbacks, genre-fusions, walking simulators, and all manner of other spooky diversions. This has resulted in unexpected hits like Signalis and R.E.P.O in the past, and it looks like the Silver Pines could reach similar heights.
Set in a fictional town that is the game’s namesake, Silver Pines is a side-scrolling, atmospheric survival horror game launching later this year. Looking at the game’s Steam page, it appears to be blending dark psychological horror with Lynchian absurdity and misleading quaintness, which might make it a nice fit for Twin Peaks and Alan Wake fans, as much as for Silent Hill lovers. Although Silver Pines is being published by the prolific Team17, it is the debut release of developer Wych Elm, which makes it all the more exciting; it’s not at all clear what Silver Pines will be like, which is something that can’t be said about most horror games that flood the Steam marketplace year after year.
Silver Pines Has a Stunning Aesthetic
Worth noting before anything else is Silver Pines‘ unique and alluring visual design. A sort of inversion of an old-school survival horror trick, Silver Pines features 3D backgrounds juxtaposed by 2D character models, which appear to be animated at a low framerate to provide a comic book or old-cartoon feel. This comic book, pop-art inspiration shines through the character designs themselves, which are simplistic, high-contrast, and dramatic.
These characters are set against Silver Pines‘ various environments, which are not only 3D, but surprisingly high-fidelity and detailed. Pools of water shimmer with reflected light, flocks of birds fly across the background, and certain 3D objects, like trees, rocks, and other natural features, border on photorealistic. The visual designs of the characters clash with those of the environments, which makes for a much more textured aesthetic, and could actually elevate Silver Pines‘ otherwordly premise.
Silver Pines‘ reveal trailer is set to a haunting, somber indie rock ballad, though it’s unclear if this is representative of the game’s ultimate soundtrack.
What Is Silver Pines Actually About?
Private investigator Red Walker finds himself in Silver Pines, a place half-abandoned, half-forgotten, in the middle of nowhere on a job to track down Eddie Velvet. A musician who has vanished. As the case begins to reveal a dark past, Walker soon slips into a strange and nightmarish descent beyond his control.
The above is the start of the Silver Pines Steam description, and it’s about all the information available about the game’s plot at this point. It’s not hard to see Silver Pines‘ inspirations though, even in this vague synopsis. Walker slipping “into a strange and nightmarish descent” certainly sounds like the plight of many a Silent Hill protagonist, especially if said descent is paired with any kind of “dark past.” Is this implied trauma connected to Red Walker, Silver Pines, or both? We will have to wait and see, but if the game is anything like Silent Hill, the third option seems most likely.
Silver Pines‘ naming conventions are also quite reminiscent of Twin Peaks, David Lynch’s incredibly influential 90s crime drama. Almost excessively cool monikers like Red Walker and Silver Pines feel like homages to characters like Dale Cooper, and the surreal town of Twin Peaks itself. The premise of Silver Pines, how it starts as a seemingly straightforward investigation in a sleepy town before devolving into something much more disturbing and potentially supernatural, is akin to Twin Peaks as well.
Twin Peaks had a massive influence on the Alan Wake games, so it’s possible that fellow survival horror Silver Pines will have shades of Remedy’s cult classic franchise.
Silver Pines Promises to Blend Classic Survival Horror and Metroidvania Gameplay Elements
As is to be expected from a survival horror game, Silver Pines is as much about forethought and resource management as quick-thinking and combat skill. Supplies like ammunition and medicine are limited, and while enemies don’t seem to attack in massive hordes, each one is generally very potent, vigorous, and deadly. In other words, there are threats around every corner, and slow, methodical, or otherwise thoughtful gameplay will be rewarded.
Survival horror games tend to have some degree of crossover with metroidvania staples, and Silver Pines is no different. Described by Wych Elm as having “metroidvania navigation,” the game’s structure is informed by dead ends, locked doors, and other obstacles that seem insurmountable at first. It’s only through exploration, and perhaps some non-linear progression, that players will be able to access more of the titular town. In theory, this ought to buttress Silver Pines‘ survival horror aspects, as good metroidvania design usually leads to good level design, and sometimes even strong resource management systems.
Silver Pines hasn’t gotten a firm release date yet, though that will hopefully change before too long; the game is slated for a 2026 launch. Until then, we can only speculate about how effective it will be as a survival horror experience, especially when measured against its competition—indie horror is certainly having a heyday of sorts. But Silver Pines‘ unique visual style and alluring, if enigmatic, narrative premise are enough to keep me invested in its development progress for the time being.
