New Steam Game is Like Silent Hill Meets Metroid With a Dash of Twin Peaks

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There’s something about horror that consistently inspires creative and engaging games, both large and small. This is particularly noticeable on Steam, where independent developers are constantly releasing spooky games – from retro-style titles and unique genre blends to atmospheric exploration games and more. We’ve seen surprise successes like Signalis and R.E.P.O. emerge from this scene, and Silver Pines looks like it could be the next big hit.

I’m really excited about this new game, Silver Pines. It’s a side-scrolling survival horror set in a town of the same name, and it’s coming out later this year. From what I’ve seen on its Steam page, it looks like it’s mixing really dark, psychological horror with this weird, unsettling vibe – kind of like Twin Peaks or Alan Wake, but with a touch of Silent Hill thrown in. What’s cool is that it’s the first game from a new developer, Wych Elm, even though it’s being published by Team17. Honestly, that makes it even more interesting because it’s a total unknown – unlike a lot of horror games on Steam where you pretty much know what you’re getting.

Silver Pines Has a Stunning Aesthetic

One of the first things you’ll notice about Silver Pines is its striking visual style. It cleverly flips the typical approach to survival horror by combining 3D backgrounds with 2D characters. These characters move with a deliberately limited animation style, giving the game the look of a classic comic book or old-school cartoon. This pop-art influence is also clear in the character designs, which are simple, bold, and visually dramatic.

The game’s characters inhabit the detailed and surprisingly realistic 3D world of Silver Pines. Water realistically reflects light, birds fly across the sky, and elements like trees and rocks look almost like photographs. This contrast between the character designs and the environments creates a unique and visually interesting style that enhances the game’s fantastical setting.

The reveal trailer for Silver Pines features a melancholic indie rock song, but it’s unknown whether this track will be included in the final game’s soundtrack.

What Is Silver Pines Actually About?

Private investigator Red Walker takes a case that leads him to Silver Pines, a nearly deserted town, to find a missing musician named Eddie Velvet. As Walker digs deeper, the investigation uncovers a disturbing history, and he quickly finds himself caught in a terrifying and uncontrollable situation.

This is the beginning of the Steam description for Silver Pines, and currently, it’s all we know about the game’s story. However, even with this brief overview, it’s easy to see what inspired the game. The protagonist’s journey “into a strange and nightmarish descent” strongly resembles the experiences of characters in Silent Hill, particularly when combined with a hint of a “dark past.” The question is whether this past trauma is linked to the character Red Walker, the town of Silver Pines, or both. We’ll have to play to find out, but if Silver Pines is similar to Silent Hill, it’s likely the answer is all of the above.

The naming in Silver Pines strongly echoes that of Twin Peaks, the iconic 90s crime drama by David Lynch. Character names like Red Walker and Silver Pines feel intentionally cool, like a nod to figures like Dale Cooper and the mysterious town of Twin Peaks itself. Similarly, the story of Silver Pines—beginning as a simple investigation in a quiet town before becoming increasingly strange and possibly supernatural—shares a lot of similarities with Twin Peaks.

The popular show Twin Peaks greatly inspired the Alan Wake games, so it’s likely the new survival horror game Silver Pines will also show some influence from Remedy’s famous series.

Silver Pines Promises to Blend Classic Survival Horror and Metroidvania Gameplay Elements

Like most survival horror games, Silver Pines requires you to think ahead and carefully manage your limited supplies, not just react quickly in combat. While you won’t face huge groups of enemies, each one is tough and dangerous. This means you’ll need to be cautious and play strategically to succeed – careful, thoughtful gameplay is key.

Survival horror games often share elements with metroidvania-style games, and Silver Pines is similar in this regard. As Wych Elm noted, the game features “metroidvania navigation,” meaning players will encounter blocked paths, locked doors, and initially impassable obstacles. Progress is made by exploring and often tackling challenges in a non-linear order, gradually unlocking more of the town. This design choice should enhance the game’s survival horror elements, as well-designed metroidvania levels typically lead to good overall level design and can even include effective resource management.

We don’t have a confirmed release date for Silver Pines yet, but the developers are aiming for 2026. Until then, it’s hard to say how well it will stack up against other survival horror games, especially with so many great indie titles coming out. However, Silver Pines‘ distinctive look and intriguing story are enough to keep me following its development closely.

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2026-01-19 15:04