Developer: Wych Elm
Platforms: PC (Reviewed), PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S
Genre: Action, Adventure, RPG
Publisher: team17
Silver Pines is a survival-horror game developed by Swedish studio Wych Elm and published by team17. Available on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, as well as Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, the game takes players into the shoes of private investigator Red Walker as he investigates the disappearance of musician Eddie Velvet in the seemingly abandoned town of Silver Pines. This review was played on PC.
I became quite engrossed in Silver Pines. The first thing that absolutely had me hooked was the animation, as the visuals are stunning. The animation has this subtle hand-drawn style with amazing detail in both the background and foreground. Every location that you encounter is filled with detail, and I love how moody the atmosphere is (amazingly captured with the overall neo-noir aesthetic). When it started raining, I thought the effect of the rain looking like drops on a window was so unique. Even the character portraits have this pastel, painted look to them, which matches the dark vibe of the game. The art style of the map is also so nice, as it looks like one of those travel brochures with your handwriting highlighting the points of interest.
The premise of the game is that you play as private investigator Red Walker, who has been tasked with finding Eddie Velvet, a musician who went missing in Silver Pines. You make your way around the seemingly abandoned town, searching various locations and uncovering clues, only to find yourself encountering weird monsters and having strange things happen to you. I found the narrative truly intriguing, and with the atmosphere especially, you find yourself getting engrossed in this slightly threatening feeling that follows you throughout the game.
Besides looking for clues, which may involve breaking locks, finding items to open cages or solving puzzles, the game also features combat. There are four difficulty settings: Relaxed, Tense, Survival Horror and Nightmare. I like how you can change the difficulty at any time, allowing you to adjust the experience depending on how challenging you want things to be.
Now, the combat in this game felt smooth and really plays well with the survival-horror aesthetic. You find yourself dodging fights, being resourceful with your ammo and learning enemy attack patterns to best avoid getting hurt. You can use your gun, where aiming feels smooth, and even the reload animation is really satisfying. Though I will say that, at times, I felt the melee combat fell a bit short, almost feeling a little clunky and leading to situations where you end up getting hit. However, it wasn’t something that completely derailed my enjoyment of the game. The game reminds me of elements from other titles like *Resident Evil* and Silent Hill, but Silver Pines does a great job of setting its own identity while taking inspiration from some of those gameplay mechanics. The survival horror creeps up on you without needing constant jump scares, which I was a big fan of.
I mean, even the voice acting is such a good addition because it adds so much to the characters’ personalities. The guy on the phone has this slight creepiness to his voice, while even the lady in Room 3 sounds oddly grinning. The soundtrack and sound effects add to the chilling experience, too. You get this distorted audio cue when enemies are nearby, which makes you feel even more uneasy. The game does a great job of keeping you pulled into the experience, even when you’re just exploring.
The game has several little details that you will enjoy beyond the main gameplay. For instance, the payphone being a means of saving your progress while using actual coins was such a cool touch. You also have the ability to buy items from vending machines and store items away when needed. The inventory management is another nice addition, giving you a grid that you need to fill with your items. Like other survival games, you have that element of combining items, which works really well here, especially when you’re trying to make the most of your limited resources.
I also felt that, after exploring each area, the game progresses in a way that leaves you with so much more to explore and unlock. There are little hidden areas where you can find things like hip bags, which encourage you to look a bit closer at your surroundings. With locked doors, hidden paths and items that help you reach previously inaccessible areas, exploration feels rewarding rather than just something you do to get from one location to another.
Normally, games like these aren’t as gripping if the atmosphere hasn’t been built well or if the narrative isn’t intriguing enough. Silver Pines nails those things while keeping the gameplay mechanics fresh. I thoroughly enjoyed this game and found myself super engrossed in it for quite some time before having to force myself to stop playing!
I would highly recommend this game, as it is perfect for Halloween but also does such a great job of getting the player roped into an enjoyable yet creepy experience. If you’re a fan of survival horror, atmospheric storytelling and exploring every little corner to uncover hidden secrets, then Silver Pines is definitely worth checking out!
Overall: 9.5/10
This is S & S. We are world game explorers. We play games. We have played over 10,000+ games! We travel, we write reviews AND we play more games!!!!
