Silver Pines: A Critical Success Built on Rotoscoped Horror and Frustrating Puzzles

Key points

• Silver Pines launched on October 8, 2026, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, achieving an 87/100 score on OpenCritic.
• The game is developed by Wych Elm and published by Team17, featuring a 2.5D side-scrolling perspective with rotoscoped character animations.
• Players control Red Walker, a detective searching for missing musician Eddie Velvet in a town isolated by a storm, using payphones for communication and saving.
• The development process involved over 1,800 hand-drawn frames for the protagonist and the use of reversed video footage to create uncanny monster animations.
• Critics praise the game's atmospheric blend of Twin Peaks and Silent Hill influences, though some note frustration with locked doors and obtuse puzzles.

Background

Silver Pines arrived during a period of heightened interest in atmospheric horror titles, following the launch of End of Abyss in early October 2026. While End of Abyss faced criticism for map bugs and inconsistent difficulty, Silver Pines was positioned as a more polished contender for Game of the Year, with earlier archive coverage noting its near-perfect scores on Metacritic and OpenCritic prior to its official release.

How outlets are covering it

Rock Paper Shotgun highlights the game's strong horror atmosphere and visual style but criticizes its 'worst bits' from adventure games, specifically citing frustrating backtracking and locked doors that hinder progression. In contrast, The Guardian emphasizes the game's 'brilliant sense of style' and 'wonderfully constructed mythology,' viewing the puzzle complexity as part of the intended noir experience. 80 Level provides a technical perspective, detailing Wych Elm's labor-intensive pipeline, including the use of Unity, ProBuilder, and rotoscoping to achieve the game's unique aesthetic. iXBT.games summarizes the critical consensus, noting the 87-point OpenCritic score and praise for the blend of 2D Metroidvania and psychological horror, without mentioning the specific gameplay criticisms raised by Rock Paper Shotgun.

Why it matters

Silver Pines demonstrates the viability of hybrid genre games that combine narrative-driven mystery with survival horror mechanics. Its critical success, despite mixed opinions on gameplay mechanics, indicates that strong atmospheric design and visual innovation can outweigh traditional gameplay frustrations for a significant portion of the audience. The game's high scores position it as a major title in the 2026 horror landscape, influencing future indie projects in the Metroidvania-horror niche.

What to watch

Wych Elm has acknowledged player feedback regarding specific puzzle areas, such as a river crossing that was unintentionally obscure, and indicated they are looking at reworking these scenes. Players are expected to continue exploring the game's interconnected town, with the narrative unfolding through dynamic telephone calls, TV shows, and environmental clues. The game's performance in the coming weeks will determine if it secures a Game of the Year nomination, given its strong initial critical reception.