Silver Pines Reviews
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Review in Italian | Read full review
Silver Pines tries to mesh two very different genres, combining survival horror with 2D Metroidvania. This makes for a refreshingly paced approach to the formula, asking you to step into the shoes of a down-on-his-luck detective as he tries to figure out what happened in Silver Pines. The horror elements may not weigh very heavily on the experience, but it helps to build intrigue for the Metroidvania side of the game, making it very compelling to explore the map. Silver Pines makes a name for itself in spades.
Silver Pines is a masterpiece, blending gorgeous animation, a compelling mystery and rewarding exploration that makes its haunting town hard to leave.
Silver Pines has all the makings of a Lynchian classic by way of a Metroidvania. Though it has a handful of shortcomings, this welcome and fresh take makes the most of its ambition and Americana horror.
2.5 survival horror Metroidvania set in a creepy town in the middle of nowhere
Silver Pines is a stunning debut for Wych Elm, being a game that combines the survival horror and Metroidvania genres to great effect. This is a game dripping with atmosphere that will quickly get its hooks in you and not let go. Only its clunky combat brings it down a little, but not enough to stop you from having a blast with it.
Silent Hill isn't the only dilapidated, spooky town where something evil lurks. Welcome to Silver Pines. The game also brings the Resident Evil series to mind, though it is presented in 2D and makes significant use of Metroidvania elements.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Silver Pines proudly wears its darkened, beating heart right on its sleeve, and it is in that unabashed love for its influences that it emerges a confident, distinct experience for survival-horror fans both new and old. Its central mystery will keep you awake and desperately thinking for an answer, while its old-school horror gameplay is a fun, uncompromising love-letter to the genre that remains compelling despite the rough edges. It’s an acquired taste that’s a lot like black coffee: strong, bold, and deeply engaging. To that end, Silver Pines is a damn, fine cup that’ll keep you wired for days.
Silver Pines evokes the likes of Resident Evil, Silent Hill and Twin Peaks. Fans of those, or of a strong metroidvania, should treat this as a must-play. In a year as stacked as 2026, it’s difficult for games to get the time they deserve, but it would be criminal to let this one slip through your fingers. One of my favourite horror games this generation.
Resident Evil, Silent Hill and even Dead Space are among the greatest survival horror classics that can easily be seen as inspiration for Silver Pines. Rather than just being a love letter to this era, Silver Pines strongly carves out its own identity with Metroidvania inspired level design without the backtracking pitfalls. Like many survival horror, combat is the weakness, especially at the bosses, and coincidentally, it suffers the same problems that Prince of Persia had due to its visual style with a lack of precision. Outside of that and a few other minor complaints, Silver Pines is one of the most unique survival horror games in years and an absolute must for fans of the 90’s and early genre icons.
The dark visual style, the Lynchian atmosphere, the clever puzzles, and the map that slowly opens up and rewards exploration. Silver Pines is one of the big surprises of the fall, and in many ways I enjoyed it even more than Silent Hill: Townfall – despite the considerable differences in the size and budgets of the teams behind them. For its price point, Wych Elm’s debut is a highly recommendable thriller for fans of the genre, and it certainly doesn’t lack atmosphere.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Silver Pines delivers a heavy story, blending classic and modern noir elements into an experience worthy of a podium finish at major gaming awards.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Silver Pines feels like a true work of art, but it does have one minor drawback, and that is that you sometimes have to persevere a bit to find your next key to success by navigating the map. However, that also has its charm. Especially in the beginning, you really stand there with your mouth open, gazing at the style of this title, and I find that admirable. The world opens up with every step you take and every item you find. The dialogues are short enough and not long-winded, meaning you practically never skip them, making you genuinely want to and try to keep following the story, no matter how many hours you’ve already put into the game—and that is certainly at least fifteen by the end. Furthermore, you don’t necessarily have to discover everything, but you do want to. For that reason alone, Silver Pines might well be one of the most surprising games of this autumn, and there are still quite a few top titles to come. As far as I’m concerned, this game deserves a great deal of respect, even though many people probably haven’t seen this title pass by in the crowded lineup yet.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
I went in hoping for a clever blend of two genres and came away with one of my favorite games of the year. The bosses can be punishing, and the Xbox Ally X has occasional dips, but neither issue took much away from the mystery, the remarkable art, or the simple joy of finding a new way through Silver Pines. I loved every minute of the 14 hours it took me to complete. An essential game!
Silver Pines is one of the biggest surprises of the year. Its blend of Metroidvania and survival horror works wonderfully thanks to well-crafted exploration, an intriguing story, and an atmosphere that draws you in from the start. The combat is a bit clunky and doesn't quite measure up to the rest of the game, but it doesn't detract from an adventure that comes highly recommended, especially if you're a fan of Resident Evil.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Silver Pines is an atmospheric game, a Metroidvania-style survival horror title that draws heavily from genre classics like Silent Hill, Resident Evil, and Alan Wake, as well as from television and film, such as Twin Peaks, The X-Files, and The Shining. However, these inspirations don’t reduce Wych Elm’s work to a mere collection of references; thanks to excellent storytelling, they allow the game to carve out its own path between nightmare and mystery. Solid gameplay underpins the experience, reinterpreting the genre’s conventions without forcing a radical overhaul. It’s also impossible not to mention the excellent art direction, featuring rotoscoped animations, and the soundtrack, with atmospheric music that heightens the tension. Silver Pines is a haunting adventure, a glimpse into the mystery of identity that straddles the line between reality and imagination.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The greatest compliment that I can give to Silver Pines, is that if David Lynch envisaged a Twin Peaks game, I expect it’d look something like Wych Elm’s sensational Metroidvania. The collision of a Twin Peaks-like town, 2D survival horror gameplay and Castlevania exploration was an ambitious project, but I’m delighted to say it has comfortably delivered. The town of Silver Pines is a wonderfully sinister place to explore, it’s story deep and intriguing, and presentation a horrific delight. Silver Pines is the best horror game you can play for Halloween 2026.
Silver Pines is a decent Metroidvania game that plays like a solid survival horror title. However, its poor combat can detract from the overall experience, although fans of the genre should still have this on their radar.
Silver Pines is an excellent survival horror game. Although it falters in some aspects of its narrative development, the game masterfully leverages its greatest strength: adding Metroidvania-style exploration to a combination of ideas that were already very good on their own.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review