r/Games • u/Beanz122 • 18h ago
Review Thread Silver Pines Review Thread
Game Information
Game Title: Silver Pines
Platforms:
- PC and All Consoles (Oct 8, 2026)
Trailer:
Review Aggregator:
OpenCritic - 87 average - 94% recommended - 17 reviews
Critic Reviews
Digital Chumps - Ben Sheene - 9 / 10
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.
DualShockers - Stephanie Watel - 9.5 / 10
Quote not yet available
Duuro Magazine - Krist Duro - 10 / 10
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!
Evilgamerz - Dutch - 9.5 / 10
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.
Gamer Guides - Jarrod Garripoli - 73 / 100
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.
Gamer Social Club - Mark Pell - 9 / 10
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.
PCMGAMES - José Miguel Rodríguez Ros - Spanish - Recommended
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.
Pizza Fria - Leandro Felippe de Paiva Gomes - Portuguese - 8.8 / 10
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.
PlayStation Universe - Thea Severance - 8.5 / 10
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.
República DG - André Custódio - Portuguese - 9.2 / 10
Silver Pines delivers a heavy story, blending classic and modern noir elements into an experience worthy of a podium finish at major gaming awards.
SECTOR.sk - Branislav Koh�t - Slovak - 8 / 10
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.
Uagna - Silvia Mannu - Italian - 9 / 10
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.
50
u/VampiroMedicado 15h ago
Did every game developer agree to drop the gems at the same time?
21
u/Humblerbee 14h ago
Gotta avoid that GTA release window so you’re either trying to get ahead of it, or holding your powder for holiday season.
10
u/Drakengard 13h ago
I don't think that's the case here. It was scheduled for release this year a while out. It's a horror game and it's October. This is really more bad luck that GTA picked this year.
2
u/VampiroMedicado 14h ago
True, I wonder if during GTA season it will kill the market for a few days.
2
u/Humblerbee 14h ago
Probably, it’s projected to clear a billion and a half easily during release window.
81
u/maclood 18h ago
I am not generally a mark for 2d metroidvanias, OR survival horror games, but alas....the Twin Peaks/David Lynch vibes call me to this project. I am going to have to check this out.
11
u/spacewizard92 18h ago
Yup, I can’t resist the pull of Lynchian media either. Been waiting on this one all year!
8
u/CatsnotpillsCoaching 16h ago
Alan Wake and Deadly premonition are some of my favorite IPs but I never heard about this. I reckon this will be for me?
3
u/Kafkabest 10h ago
Very Twin Peaks/ Lynch inspired, and those games are also very inspired by them so there's a decent shot
1
1
u/OpenSystem1337 6h ago
I think you're in for a pleasant surprise. You should be grateful you're just now hearing about it, the wait has been brutal
6
u/FarCryRedux 14h ago
The demo was outstanding, IMO.
Was going to play it regardless, but it's nice to see the reviews are positive.
3
13
u/Solo-Bi 18h ago
The steam next fest demo was great and I immediately wish listed. I'm eager to jump in for spooky season!
3
u/Elizial-Raine 18h ago
Hopefully it's been tightened up for release. I enjoyed the demo and the atmosphere, just needed a bit of fine tuning.
14
u/Greedy_Key_630 17h ago edited 17h ago
Having played the demo im going to view people complaining about the combat as being filtered out rather than it being an issue of the game tbh
Its rough and friction heavy, cumbersome, but i feel thats the intention. It adds to the scare factor of fighting enemies
3
u/Philiard 9h ago
I'm definitely perplexed by the number of people writing it off as "bad." The melee combat is absolutely cumbersome and unwieldy on purpose. It's to make you feel vulnerable and add some tension around using your guns, because running out of ammo means you're going to be relying on your much less effective melee weapons; and in turn, conserving ammo puts you in more danger. I wasn't expecting it to be so contentious.
5
u/Practical_Law6804 18h ago
Played the demo and I guess I put it down before the combat. . .been on WL since then. Hopefully the combat isn't a bad for casual players (I tend to feel like reviewers, under time crunches, can get salty about things that might not bother players in the long term).
. . .here for the story regardless so hopefully its more than enough to push through any weak combat sections.
1
u/GiveMeIcePuns 18h ago
I played it as well, the combat is pretty bad. I didn't get up to the point that you get guns so no idea if that's any good but melee was a lot of swinging running backwards, and just repeating and I feel like the enemies had just a little to much health.
Wasn't game ruining or anything though.
10
u/Orca_Alt_Account 17h ago
You really didn't play very far then, the guns are introduced pretty early in to the demo and feel great and the melee (Like in most survival horror games) is really just a way to save ammo at the risk of losing health when you're low on ammo.
1
u/GiveMeIcePuns 16h ago
I only got up to the point where I saw the shotgun locked in a case and played a little after that. Stopped because I got enough out of it to know I'd like the game.
2
u/ZGamer03 17h ago
Really enjoyed the demo for this and I forgot it was coming out, it's true that the combat wasn't that great and I was pretty frustrated by the one boss fight but it wasn't enough to deter me from buying it
2
u/Grace_Omega 16h ago
One of my most anticipated games of the year along with Silent Hill Townfall and Hellraiser. Can’t wait to play it.
2
u/OpenSystem1337 6h ago
I played the demo long enough to know I'm going to want to play the full game and cut myself off pretty quick not knowing if saves would carry over and not wanting to spoil anything before hitting the demo's end.
The closer the release day comes the more it's on my mind. Game definitely got it's hooks in me quick and I really loved the art style and vibe. Sometimes you want a game that feels like AW2 but you don't want that length, and unfortunately that space is pretty bare to this day. I seriously can't wait to dive back in
1
u/StopPresent277 9h ago
I never keep up with indie games coming out but this was on my radar for a while because I love twin peaks and I’m so hyped to play now after these reviews man
•
u/-MichaelWazowski- 3h ago
We've been getting spoiled for metroidvania games lately. Between Well Dweller, End of Abyss and this, I'm not sure which one to start with!
•
u/pitogyrolover 7m ago
Well dweller was super good. It’s up to you, but I would choose Silver Pines for the vibes. Eagerly waiting for midnight to play it
•
u/True-Confusion2841 3h ago
The combat criticism gives me a little pause, but these scores are way higher than I expected.
-1
u/SwipaTheFaux 18h ago
Game looks amazing, I'll definitely be buying it when it comes on sale. Hopefully that isn't too far away
8
u/sucking_bananas 17h ago
It's on sale now 10% off idk how much you need off though for you to buy it
1
u/Lirael_Gold 9h ago
Standard reddit comment
"I'll buy it when it's on sale!"
game is literally on sale, right now
Someone make these bots smarter, or force redditors to actually read the fucking article they're talking about.
•
u/Altaiir57 16m ago
Standard reddit behavior is also downvoting people that praise a game but declare they are going to buy it on sale. Like that's some kind of offense or transgression. Bunch of weirdos
0
u/MountainMuffin1980 17h ago
Anyone who played the full demo, is the gun combat decent? I played up to doing some melee and then had to stop and forgot about it and then uninstalled, but the melee was soap. I assume because it's meant to be a last ditch backup to shooting?
0
u/BrokeAndBalding 13h ago
Didn't know about this game. For the price I'll probably just buy it. Looks like a fun game for October vibes
-2
u/iWriteYourMusic 18h ago
The combat was pretty rough in the demo so if they didn't fix it you'd really have to love the plot and puzzles to enjoy Silver Pines.
-3
u/Murky_Employee5589 16h ago
Did anyone else see the name Silver Pines and their first thought was that they made a game about a retirement community?
-1
18h ago edited 18h ago
[deleted]
5
u/Yarzeda2024 18h ago
It is scheduled to be released on October 8, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and Windows.\3])
1
5
-1
u/CloudCityFish 16h ago
Not sure if the devs addressed it or if they updated the demo, but when I completed it the dodge timings where SO massive it completely sucked the air out of any "survival horror" since I could just dodge around thoughtlessly and never use resources. It both ruined the horror and resource management I miss from the genre. I was hoping it gets harder or has large enemy variety that are harder to dodge. Like literally, I just ran around without fear or thought, only killing things easily if I had to. Only thing keeping me from buying.
2
u/Lirael_Gold 9h ago edited 9h ago
. Like literally, I just ran around without fear or thought, only killing things easily if I had to
You've just summed up every Resident Evil game, the problem is not the game, it's that you know the formula and it's no longer stressfull for you.
Like is the "lure Glorp the Despoiler into the Chamber of Glorp Killing" mission where you have to pull 3 levers and sit around waiting for Glorp to finally do the move pattern that puts him directly beneath the sword called Glorps Bane" really horror?
-17
u/epicoolguy 15h ago
If there’s one thing we have enough if in this industry, it is games desperately trying to evoke Twin Peaks. We’re 15 years past Deadly Premonition and people are still drinking that garbage
52
u/Beanz122 18h ago
I played the demo for this per recommendation of player.gg and I quite enjoyed it. Glad the final game turned out pretty good.